If you’re new to being cruelty-free, then it might seem daunting to shop for cruelty-free products for the first time. And as someone who’s been cruelty-free for almost a decade, I’ve built up an arsenal of the best shopping tips that I want to share with you.

5 Tips to Shopping for Cruelty-Free Products

1. Educate Yourself

First, you must learn what cruelty-free actually means. Understanding what makes a product cruelty-free, being familiar with cruelty-free terminology, and being able to spot cruelty-free certifications, will help make you an expert shopper.

I talked more in-depth about the cruelty-free process here.

Related: What to Do With Your Old Products After Going Cruelty-Free

2. Do Online Research

Luckily, cruelty-free products have really taken off the past few years. Springing up tons of websites dedicated to sharing information on the cruelty-free status of almost any brand, and the best cruelty-free shopping guides.

Just Google any brand + cruelty-free, and there is probably an article that answers your questions.

Here are my favorite websites for finding cruelty-free products:

• Ethical Elephant
• Logical Harmony
• Cruelty-Free Kitty

3. Read FAQ Pages

Additionally, brands oftentimes have a page on their website where they answer frequently asked questions. So you may be able to find their animal testing policies on this page.

If not, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t cruelty-free. However, this can be a great starting point to further your research.

Related: The Do’s and Don’ts of Going Cruelty-Free

4. Email Companies

If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for online, then you could try emailing the companies directly to ask about their cruelty-free status.

This is actually how big websites, like the ones mentioned above, get their information.

Check out Cruelty-Free Kitty’s guide to emailing companies.

5. Shop In Familiar Stores

Lastly, you don’t have to shop at obscure health stores to find good quality cruelty-free products.

And thanks to the ever-growing interest in shopping cruelty-free, it’s easy to find clearly marked cruelty-free products in everyday stores like Target, Walmart, and popular drug stores.

Related: 10 Affordable Cruelty-Free Skincare Brands

A Final Note

Have anymore questions on how to shop for cruelty-free products? Share in the comments below!