Clean beauty may be the newest buzzword at major beauty retailers like Ulta and Sephora, but the most important thing you can do to upgrade your beauty routine takes a little more research: go cruelty-free. Primarily, cruelty-free beauty means not buying products that are sold in mainland China; however, there are several things to take into consideration.

Is Cruelty-Free the Same as Animal-Free?

Cruelty-free does not mean animal-free. Perhaps the most confusing part of cruelty-free products is that they are not necessarily animal-free, otherwise known as vegan. Carmine is a red dye made from the cochineal beetle. Many products that want to be vegan, or animal-free will use other red lake dyes to avoid the pervasive use of carmine. That's because vegan products can't contain animal or animal byproducts. On the other hand, the only criteria for cruelty-free is animal testing status. If you are looking to go completely vegan, cruelty-free isn't enough. Begin by looking for plant based skin care and makeup.

Cruelty-free only means that a company doesn't buy from suppliers who might test on animals, don't test on animals themselves, and don't potentially pay for a third-party to test on animals on its behalf. Going vegan can be more difficult so here are some guidelines on the easier first step of going cruelty-free.

Can I Trust the Company Website?

The short answer to this question is "no." Companies are relying on you to trust their marketing. Phrases like "only where required by law" or "unfortunately, some countries require additional testing" are red flags that a company wants you to think that they are against animal testing while still allowing animal testing on its behalf.

There are several organizations that certify a company as cruelty-free, and it is up to you to decide what standard satisfies your requirements for cruelty-free. For example, Leaping Bunny certified means that a company has met the above mentioned standards for cruelty-free. Look for the Leaping Bunny when buying at major retailers. The Leaping Bunny Program though, does charge to use its logo. If you're a fan of buying from smaller indie brands, the cost of using the logo may be out of their range. As a consumer it then falls to you to determine a company's cruelty-free status. The first thing you can do is ask if it is Leaping Bunny certified. Using the logo comes with a price tag, but certification is free. If a company is not certified cruelty-free, it doesn't mean they aren't. Ask about whether it tests on animals, buys from suppliers which test on animals or would potentially pay a third party to test on animals if required.

Do I Have to Do This Forever?

Thankfully, mainland China is the last place that requires animal testing, and due to ongoing international pressure, it is rapidly changing its practices. Where a few short years ago, companies new to the China market had to pay for their completed products to be tested on animals before sales were allowed, China now has post-market testing only. Animal testing may be required when a product has to be pulled from shelves. Beware however that these new post-market requirements do not apply to items like sunscreen. These post-market requirements are not much different than what may be required in any country. It can be hoped that within the next few years we will see a wide-scale international ban on animal testing.

There are big problems in the world. Do you really need to worry about whether your face cream was put in a bunny's eye? With all the independent companies providing high-quality, clean ingredients in formulations that have never been near an animal, it's not that difficult to make the more ethical choice.