Updated on October 31, 2023

20+ Cruelty-Free Korean Skincare & Makeup Brands To Try in 2023

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Cruelty-Free K-Beauty Brands

Looking for some cruelty-free Korean skincare and vegan Korean makeup brands to try? In this ethical shopping guide, I share some cruelty-free K-beauty brands that don’t test on animals, along with some vegan Korean makeup options.

What To Look For:

Let’s first begin by asking, is Korean skincare cruelty-free?

Unfortunately, most affordable and high-end Korean skincare and makeup brands are still engaging in animal testing like Laneige, Erborian, Amorepacific, Innisfree, Skinfood, Sulwhasoo, and Too Cool For School, and should be avoided when looking for cruelty-free K-beauty brands to buy from.

Additionally, if you’re for cruelty-free and also vegan Korean skincare and makeup brands, then you’ll want to find brands that don’t use any animal-derived ingredients and by-products like snail mucin, horse oil, beeswax, honey, lanolin, carmine, animal-based glycerin, stearic acid, or other animal-derived additives.

What Korean beauty brands are cruelty-free with vegan options then?

Note: to qualify as a K-beauty brand and be included on these lists, brands must either originate and/or manufacture their products in Korea.

Cruelty-Free Korean Skincare Brands

The following is a list of Korean cruelty-free skincare brands that are either 100% vegan or offer one or more vegan products:

Cruelty-Free Korean Makeup Brands

And below is a list of Korean cruelty-free makeup brands that are either 100% vegan or have at least one or more vegan item:

I also share some of the K-beauty brands that DO test on animals and should be avoided at the end of this post.

List of K-Beauty Cruelty-Free Brands

Saturday Skin

Saturday Skin uses cutting-edge research and technology to achieve skin’s perfect balance and well-being with solutions to reset and reveal visibly brighter, glowing skin. Saturday Skin’s products are made in Korea and their products are free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic colors, and fragrances.

Price Range: $6 – $45

Is Saturday Skin Cruelty-Free? Saturday Skin is cruelty-free to our standards.

Is Saturday Skin 100% Vegan? All of Saturday Skin products are 100% vegan.

Where to buy Saturday Skin in the US & Canada? saturdayskin.com, Nordstrom, Peach & Lily, and on Amazon.


COSRX

COSRX is a K-Beauty skincare brand that helps individuals to find solutions according to their personal skin conditions. COSRX is mostly known for its snail mucin skincare products and although those products are obviously not vegan, COSRX does offer many other vegan-friendly skincare products that don’t contain snail mucin or any other animal-derived ingredients. All COSRX products are 100% made and manufactured in Korea.

Price Range: $5 – $32

Is COSRX Cruelty-Free? COSRX is cruelty-free to our standards, meaning none of its products or ingredients are tested on animals.

Is COSRX 100% Vegan? Not all of COSRX products are vegan but they have some vegan products. To know which items are vegan-friendly, look for the Vegan logo on COSRX’s website.

Where to buy COSRX in the US & Canada? cosrx.com, Ulta, Dermstore, Beauty Bay, and Amazon.

Benton cruelty-free Korean skincare brand

Benton

Benton offers a variety of cruelty-free Korean skincare products including sunscreens, masks, and serums, all formulated with natural and ethically-sourced ingredients and designed to restore your skin back to its original, youthful condition with healthy recipes.

Price Range: $3 – $32

Is Benton Cruelty-Free? Benton is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, PETA’s.

Is Benton 100% Vegan? Not all of Benton’s products are vegan but they have some vegan products. To know which items are vegan-friendly, view all Benton vegan skincare items here.

Where to buy Benton in the US & Canada? bentoncosmetics.us, Amazon, iHerb, and Soko Glam


Klairs - Cruelty-Free Korean Skincare Brand

Klairs

As a skincare brand that began in 2010 in Seoul, Klairs focuses on developing functional products meant for sensitive skin. Klairs makes the best simple skincare products that are effective, functional, safe for sensitive skin, and made without any harsh ingredients.

Price Range: $3 – $31

Is Klairs Cruelty-Free? Klairs is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, PETA’s.

Is Klairs 100% Vegan? All of Klairs products are 100% vegan.

Where to buy Klairs in the US & Canada? Soko Glam, iHerb, Ulta, and Amazon.


Purito Korean cruelty-free cosmetics company

Purito

Purito is a Korean cruelty-free cosmetics company offering simple skincare products enriched with safe and clean ingredients. Their vegan skincare products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances & dyes.

Price Range: $8 – $25

Is Purito Cruelty-Free? Purito has met all of the criteria in our Cruelty-Free Checklist and has been verified as cruelty-free to our standards.

Is Purito 100% Vegan? All of Purito’s products are vegan.

Where to buy Purito in the US & Canada? Amazon and iHerb.


Sweet Chef clean Korean skincare

Sweet Chef

Sweet Chef offers a range of fun and clean Korean skincare products formulated with skin-loving vitamins and veggies inspired by all things natural, healthy, and fresh-pressed. Clean, effective, cruelty-free skincare formulated with fresh, antioxidant-rich vegetable and vitamin ingredients – quenching your skin’s thirst has never been so sweet. Mix and match treatments for glowing, healthy skin.

Price Range: $3 – $25

Is Sweet Chef Cruelty-Free? Sweet Chef is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, Leaping Bunny.

Is Sweet Chef 100% Vegan? All of Sweet Chef products are vegan.

Where to buy Sweet Chef in the US & Canada? sweetchefskincare.com, Amazon and Target.


Tonymoly is now cruelty-free

TonyMoly

TONY MOLY, known for its adorable packaging and best-selling sheet masks, offers a wide selection of Korean makeup, skin, bath, and body care products for all skin types and budgets.

Price Range: $3.50 – $50

Is Tonymoly Cruelty-Free? TONYMOLY is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, PETA’s.

Is Tonymoly 100% Vegan? Not all of TONYMOLY products are vegan but they have some vegan products. To know which items are vegan-friendly, look for the vegan leaf icon on their website.

Where to buy Tonymoly in the US & Canada? tonymoly.us, Amazon, Ulta, Soko Glam, and Urban Outfitters.


Touch in Sol - Cruelty-Free Korean Makeup Brand

Touch in Sol

Touch in Sol, known for having the best Korean makeup primer, carries a collection of fun and functional makeup products, manufactured in Korea.

Price Range: $11 – $40

Is Touch in Sol Cruelty-Free? Touch in Sol has met all of the criteria in our Cruelty-Free Checklist and has been verified as cruelty-free to our standards.

Is Touch in Sol 100% Vegan? Not all of Touch in Sol products are vegan. I’m currently verifying a list of its vegan products.

Where to buy Touch in Sol in the US & Canada? touchinsol-us.com and on Amazon


Glow Recipe cruelty-free Korean skincare line

Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe is a natural, fruit-powered, cruelty-free Korean skincare line designed to help bring out your inner glow. Some of its products are made in South Korea and all are formulated with the highest quality natural ingredients including antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and clinically proven actives.

Price Range: $10 – $45

Is Glow Recipe Cruelty-Free? Glow Recipe is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, Leaping Bunny.

Is Glow Recipe 100% Vegan? All of Glow Recipe products are vegan.

Where to buy Glow Recipe in the US & Canada? glowrecipe.com, Sephora, and Amazon.


CLE Cosmetics minimalist makeup and skincare line

CLE Cosmetics

CLE Cosmetics is a minimalist makeup and skincare line. All of its cosmetics were curated, sourced, and inspired by the latest Korean beauty technology. All of CLE Cosmetics are manufactured in South Korea.

Price Range: $12 – $68

Is CLE Cosmetics Cruelty-Free? CLE Cosmetics has met all of the criteria in our Cruelty-Free Checklist and has been verified as cruelty-free to our standards.

Is CLE Cosmetics 100% Vegan? CLE Cosmetics offers mostly vegan options. Be sure to check the ingredients list.

Where to buy CLE Cosmetics in the US & Canada? clecosmetics.com, Revolve, and Amazon


Then I Met you premium cruelty-free skincare

Then I Met You

Then I Met You is a premium skincare brand founded by the creator of Soko Glam, Charlotte Cho. All of its cosmetics are manufactured in South Korea and formulated with clean ingredients, free of artificial colorants, parabens, silicones, and alcohol.

Price Range: $22 – $58

Is Then I Met You Cruelty-Free? Then I Met You is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, Leaping Bunny.

Is Then I Met You 100% Vegan? Almost all of Then I Met You products are vegan with the exception of its Honey Dew Lip Mask which contains honey.

Where to buy Then I Met You in the US & Canada? thenimetyou.com and Soko Glam


I Dew Care

*I Dew Care (MBX)

I Dew Care believes that skincare should be fun, effortless, and effective. With K-Beauty at its core, I Dew Care is sought out as the next generation of skincare.

Price Range: $10 – $25

Is I Dew Care Cruelty-Free? I Dew Care is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, PETA’s. *But note that I Dew Care is owned by MBX, a parent company that owns other brands that are NOT cruelty-free.

Is I Dew Care 100% Vegan? All of I Dew Care’s products are 100% vegan.

Where to buy I Dew Care in the US & Canada? idewcare.com, Ulta, Beautylish, Target, and Amazon.


Kaja

*Kaja (MBX)

Kaja creates adorable, bite-size makeup products packed with Korean innovation. Kaja is the first co-developed K-Beauty brand with Sephora, and its unique makeup products are available at Sephora nationwide.

Price Range: $15 – $30

Is Kaja Cruelty-Free? Kaja has met all of the criteria in our Cruelty-Free Checklist and has been verified as cruelty-free to our standards. *But note that Kaja is owned by MBX, a parent company that owns other brands that are NOT cruelty-free.

Is Kaja 100% Vegan? Not all of Kaja products are vegan, find a list of Kaja vegan products here.

Where to buy Kaja in the US & Canada? Sephora and Amazon.


KraveBeauty

KraveBeauty

KraveBeauty was created by beauty influencer, Liah Yoo, for people who want skincare without the confusion. All of KraveBeauty products are made in Korea and designed to be simple, easy, and uncomplicated.

Price Range: $12.50 – $28

Is Krave Beauty Cruelty-Free? KraveBeauty is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, PETA’s.

Is KraveBeauty 100% Vegan? All of KraveBeauty products are vegan.

Where to buy KraveBeauty in the US & Canada? kravebeauty.com


Peach & Lily

Peach & Lily

Peach & Lily Collection offers a range of Korean cruelty-free skincare products that claim to transform your skin with good, clean ingredients. The collection contains no toxins and no irritation, without compromises. Formulated with clinically proven ingredients so that you can achieve stellar results while using their skincare products.

Price Range: $6 – $55

Is Peach & Lily Cruelty-Free? Peach & Lily is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, Leaping Bunny.

Is Peach & Lily 100% Vegan? Almost all of Peach & Lily Collection is vegan with the exception of its KBeauty Rescue Balm which contains beeswax.

Where to buy Peach & Lily in the US & Canada? peachandlily.com, Target, and Ulta


sioris

Sioris

Sioris believes that clean, natural ingredients grown through the four seasons with great care – stems, roots, grains, fruits, flowers, and leaves – have the power to cultivate the healthiest skin. That’s why Sioris strives to ensure all of the seasonal ingredients used in their skincare products are fresh and produced within 12 months.

Price Range: $10 – $38

Is Sioris Cruelty-Free? Sioris is cruelty-free to our standards.

Is Sioris 100% Vegan? Most of Sioris’s products are certified by the Vegan Society. But they told me two of their products contain organic beeswax and are not vegan.

Where to buy Sioris in the US & Canada? Amazon and Ohlolly


good light

Good light is gender-inclusive, vegan and cruelty-free K-beauty skincare brand delivering clean, gentle, and super-hydrating skincare for ALL people. Good light’s products are multi-purpose, layerable, and makes your skin better with each use.

Price Range: $12 – $28

Is good light Cruelty-Free? good light is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, Leaping Bunny.

Is good light 100% Vegan? All of good light products are vegan.

Where to buy good light in the US & Canada? goodlight.world and Soko Glam


Superegg

Clean and cruelty-free, Superegg formulas are made with you and our planet in mind. Formulated to match an egg’s nutritional value through 100% vegan ingredients, Superegg’s plant-based egg beauty rituals restore and balance your skin to a smooth radiant complexion.

Price Range: $11 – $72

Is Superegg Cruelty-Free? Superegg is cruelty-free to our standards.

Is Superegg 100% Vegan? All of Superegg products are vegan.

Where to buy Superegg in the US & Canada? superegg.nyc, Soko Glam, and Amazon.


SMD Cosmetics

SMD Cosmetics is a natural, award-winning, patented, herbal, cruelty-free Korean skin care offering a collection of powerful and effective, certified, and proven to be anti-aging skincare products.

Price Range: $82 – $220

Is SMD Cosmetics Cruelty-Free? SMD Cosmetics is cruelty-free to our standards.

Is SMD Cosmetics 100% Vegan? Almost all of SMD Cosmetics’ products are vegan except for their Saromae Snail Serum.

Where to buy SMD Cosmetics in the US & Canada? smdcosmetics.com, Saks Fifth Ave and Amazon!


d’Alba Piedmont

d’Alba was born and inspired by the world’s most prized ingredients White Truffles, grown in an Italian sanctuary full of natural gifts which are known as the ‘diamond underground”.

Price Range: $22 – $144

Is d’Alba Piedmont Cruelty-Free? d’Alba Piedmont is cruelty-free to our standards.

Is d’Alba Piedmont 100% Vegan? All of d’Alba Piedmont’s products are certified vegan.

Where to buy d’Alba Piedmont in the US & Canada? Soko Glam and Amazon


Youthforia

Youthforia is a clean and sustainable makeup brand that makes makeup that’s good for your skin and safe to sleep in. Youthforia follows Green Chemistry principles – formulating with at least 90% naturally derived (instead of fossil fuels) and their products are certified by the USDA BioPreferred Program.

Price Range: $26 – $38

Is Youthforia Cruelty-Free? Youthforia is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, Leaping Bunny.

Is Youthforia 100% Vegan? All of Youthforia’s products are vegan.

Where to buy Youthforia in the US & Canada? youthforia.co, Ulta, Credo Beauty, and Amazon


Unleashia

Unleashia is a cruelty-free Korean makeup brand offering a collection of vegan and biodegradable glitter in eco-friendly packaging. Make yourself shine with a variety of Unleashia’s creative makeup products.

Is Unleashia Cruelty-Free? Unleashia is cruelty-free to our standards, as well as, PETA’s.

Is Unleashia 100% Vegan? All of Unleashia’s products are vegan.

Where to buy Unleashia in the US & Canada? Amazon


K-Beauty Brands to Avoid

The following Korean beauty brands are NOT cruelty-free. Almost all of the below brands sell its products in mainland China where animal testing is required by law. As a result, they cannot be considered cruelty-free to our standards.


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What do you think

40 thoughts on “20+ Cruelty-Free Korean Skincare & Makeup Brands To Try in 2023”

  1. I was looking at CLE products and noticed that one of their products contains pearl powder. I think that makes the product non-vegan, no?

    1. Hi Lydia,

      Hmm.. you’re right. I see that CLE’s Essence Moonlighter Cushion states Pearl Powder in the ingredients. And this product is also labeled as Vegan by the brand. I reached out to them to confirm the source. Hopefully, I hear back from them soon with an explanation. If not, then I will have to remove the “100% Vegan” label from CLE Cosmetics.

      Thanks for catching this and for letting me know!

  2. Thank you for sharing this comprehensive list of cruelty-free Korean skincare and makeup brands! As someone who is passionate about animal rights and environmental sustainability, it’s important to me to support brands that align with these values. It’s great to see that there are so many options available in the Korean beauty market, and I’m excited to try out some of the brands on this list. I appreciate the time and effort you put into researching and compiling this resource, and I look forward to seeing more content from you in the future!

  3. Just as a warning/correction – you don’t need to publish this – Purito says “most” of their formulas are vegan, and I think I remember coming across one product which wasn’t. I think it was the B5 barrier cream. But it wasn’t beeswax. With that line on their site, I’d not call them 100% vegan – but mostly like they said.

    And Dear, Klairs is unfortunately not all vegan. They have an amazing Midnight Blue Calming Cream that I got free on a sample, then discovered it’s not vegan when I was won over and wanted to buy it! Boo.

    1. Hi Rose, I was told by someone working at Purito, “All PURITO products are vegan and cruelty-free.” I checked the B5 Panthenol Re-barrier Cream and it’s labeled with a Vegan icon on their website. I also checked the ingredients, and the only ingredient I spotted that could be problematic is Squalane but they state it’s from sugarcane.

      As for Dear, Klairs, I was recently informed by them (In March 2023) that “please kindly note that all products from Dear, Klairs are vegan-friendly, thus, all ingredients used are plant-derived.” I checked the ingredients (using Double Check Vegan Ingredient Search) for the Midnight Blue Calming Cream and a few ingredients popped up as “Maybe Vegan” but Dear, Klairs labels this item with their Vegan Friendly icon on their website, so I’m under the impression that they’ve verified those ingredients are from plant-derived and vegan sources. Were you told otherwise by Dear, Klairs?

      If so, could you please forward me the information that was provided? I’d love to look into this some more as I wouldn’t want to list either Purito or Dear, Klairs as being entirely vegan brands when it’s not the case. You can email me directly at [email protected]

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