Cruelty-Free Korean Skincare Brands & Products

If you care about the environment and animals rights you have probably considered using cruelty-free Korean skincare brands and products. This post follows my review of the best vegan Korean skincare brands so here is a full guide to cruelty-free Korean skincare brands.

What Are Cruelty-Free Skincare Brands?

Cruelty-free skincare products are products that have the following characteristics:

• The product was never tested on animals at any point in the production process.
• The suppliers of the ingredients didn’t test any of the raw ingredients on animals.
• The products aren’t sold in regions or countries where the law requires the products to be tested on animals. (Until 2019, China required all products to be tested on animals.)
• Third parties did not test the products on animals.

Cruelty-free skincare products are not to be confused with vegan skincare products. These two terms have a completely different meaning.

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The Korean Animal Testing Law

In 2018 a law was passed in Korea that companies are not allowed to test their skincare products on animals. South Korea was the 2nd Asian country to ban animal testing following India. This does not mean that all Korean skincare brands are cruelty-free as many Korean companies are testing on animals in China.

Where To Buy Cruelty-Free Korean Skincare

I would highly recommend buying cruelty-free Korean skincare products on the online Wishtrend shop. Wishtrend is an Korean online skincare shop which sells a wide variety of vegan and cruelty-free Korean beauty products.

Other online shops that sell cruelty-free Korean brands are:

• YesStyle – Click here for 10% discount
• iHerb – Click here for 5% discount
• Amazon US

The prices of certain products differ depending on the online shop you are using. Make sure to check all of them out and find the cheapest one based on your location.

The Best Cruelty-Free Korean Brands

Korean skincare has taken the world by storm with its innovative and effective products, gaining a reputation for being some of the best in the market. With a growing concern for animal welfare, the demand for cruelty-free skincare products has also increased. Fortunately, there are now many Korean skincare brands that have made the commitment to being cruelty-free. These brands use only plant-based ingredients and have eliminated animal testing from their production process. In this article, we will explore some of the best Korean cruelty-free skincare brands that are not only gentle on the skin but also environmentally friendly. Whether you’re looking for a moisturizer, cleanser, or toner, these brands offer a wide range of options that cater to various skin types and concerns, without compromising on quality or ethics.

Listed below are some of the best cruelty-free Korean brands. This is not an exclusive list as there are way more brands which are cruelty-free. The brands mentioned in this post are 100% certain cruelty-free.

1. Klairs

Klairs is probably the most famous cruelty-free brand as they are also completely vegan. Klairs does sell products in China but only through online portals which exempts them from doing mandatory animal testing.

Midnight Blue Calming Cream

This calming cream is made in Korean and is excellent for sensitive skin as the Guaiazulene and Centella Asiatica have powerful calming effects and hydrate the skin.

Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on Wishtrend.
Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on iHerb and get 5% off.
Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Midnight Blue Calming Cream on Amazon US.

Click here to read a full Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream review.

TIP! It is highly recommended to combine this product with the Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop.

2. By Wishtrend

By Wishtrend is a Korean skincare brand that offers innovative and effective products for a variety of skin concerns. The brand was founded in 2015 by a group of skincare experts who were passionate about creating products that deliver visible results while being gentle on the skin. By Wishtrend focuses on using high-quality, natural ingredients in their formulations to help improve the overall health and appearance of the skin. The brand is known for its minimalist approach to skincare, with products that are simple yet powerful in addressing specific skin issues such as acne, hyperpigmentation, and aging. With a commitment to clean beauty and sustainability, By Wishtrend has gained a loyal following among skincare enthusiasts around the world.

All the products By Wishtrend are cruelty-free. By Wishtrend is not a certified cruelty-free brand but as stated on their website, they do not conduct any animal testing.

Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water

This product is made in Korea and contains 5% Mandelic Acid, anthenol, Centella Asiatica Extract and Beta-Glucan. It is a gentle exofiator which soothes the skin as well.

Click here to buy Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water on Wishtrend.
Click here to buy Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water on iHerb and get 5% off.
Click here to buy Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water on Amazon US.

3. I’m From

I’m From is a Korean skincare brand that has gained a significant following in recent years for its high-quality, natural ingredients and effective formulas. The brand takes a unique approach to skincare, sourcing its ingredients directly from the places where they are grown and harvested in Korea. This commitment to using local, sustainable ingredients not only results in products that are better for the skin but also helps to support local communities and preserve traditional Korean farming practices. I’m From’s range of products includes serums, toners, masks, and creams, all designed to address a range of skin concerns and deliver visible results. With its focus on natural, effective skincare solutions and its commitment to sustainability, I’m From is quickly becoming a go-to brand for skincare enthusiasts around the world.

I’m a big fan of the I’m From products and especially like all their wash-off masks. They have a couple of vegan products but all of their products are cruelty-free.

Honey Mask

I’ve previously written a whole review on the I’m From Honey Mask. The honey mask is a great moisturising mask. Not only is it hydrating it also battles acne, cleanses the pores and is anti-ageing.

Click here to buy Honey Mask on Wishtrend.
Click here to buy Honey Mask on iHerb and get 5% off.
Click here to buy Honey Mask on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Honey Mask on Amazon US.

4. Glow Recipe

Glow Recipe is a certified cruelty-free Korean brand. What I personally love about the products is the playfulness and the abundance of colours. Just looking at their products already makes me happy. All products are made with a fruit or veggie. Check out the Glow Recipe official site here and get 15$ of your first order.

NOTE: Glow Recipe products are not available on sites like iHerb and YesStyle. Most of the products are available on Amazon US. Click here to see all products available on Amazon US.

5. COSRX

COSRX is another wonderful Korean brand that is completely cruelty-free and even has a couple of vegan products.

Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser

This cleanser exfoliates dead skin and is a great pore cleanser. Not only is this product cruelty-free it is also vegan. This product is suitable for skin types.

Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on iHerb and get 5% off.
Click here to buy Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser on Amazon US

6. Skin&Lab

Skin&Lab is completely cruelty-free and all ingredients are rated safe by EWG. All their products are suitable for people with sensitive skin.

Dr. Pore Tightening : Glacial Clay Facial Mask

The facial mask is made in Korea and is the ingredients are Canadian Glacier Clay and Oatmeal. The mask is a powerful sebum absorber and instantly cools down or soothes the skin.

Click here to buy Glacial Clay Facial Mask on Wishtrend
Click here to buy Glacial Clay Facial Mask on iHerb and get 5% off.
Click here to buy Glacial Clay Facial Mask on Amazon US

7. Benton

The Korean skincare brand Benton is inspired by the movie ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. Benton also obtained a cruelty-free certification with “Beauty without Bunnies” by PETA.

Fermentation Eye Cream

One of their bestselling products is the fermentation eye cream which is made with galacytomyces ferment filtrate, bifida ferment lysate, ceramide, EGF and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients work together to reduce fine lines, makes the skin firmer, reduce wrinkles and prevents the skin against dryness.

Click here to buy Fermentation Eye Cream on iHerb and get 5% off.
Click here to buy Fermentation Eye Cream on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Fermentation Eye Cream on Amazon US.

8. E Nature 

Like the name indicates, E Nature is a Korean brand that respects nature. They are cruelty-free, use eco-friendly packaging and use organic soybean oil to print on the packaging.

The products are currently not available on iHerb, YesStyle or Amazon US. You can buy them on their official website.

9. Purito

Purito is completely cruelty-free and eco-friendly. They use environmentally-friendly recycled paper packaging and they donate
some of their profits to the KFEM.

Centella Green Level Unscented Sunscreen

The sunscreen of Purito is fragrance-free and uses cica extracts to keep the skin hydrated. All ingredients are EWG-verified. Perfect for those with sensitive skin.

Click here to buy the sunscreen on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy the sunscreen on Amazon US.

10. Re:p

Re:p is a Korean skincare brand owned by Neogenlab. It is not only cruelty-free but it also uses eco-friendly ingredients in their products and packaging.

Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence 

This hydrating essence contains bifida ferment lysate, saccharomyces ferment filtrate, betula alba juice, rice ferment filtrate and aspergillus ferment. The product is moisturising, brightens the skin and is soothing.

Click here to buy Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence on Amazon US.

11. A·True

A·True is a K-beauty company which is cruelty-free and also supports the ‘Be-Cruelty-Free‘ campaign. This brand is not available for purchase on YesStyle or iHerb but is available on Amazon US.

Check out their products on Amazon US here.

12. Withmy

A Korean toothpaste company that is completely vegan and cruelty-free. All products are EWG certifiend and the company donates part of their profit to children’s oral care and education. The brand is also PETA certified.

Click here to check all their products on Amazon US.

13. Aromatica

Aromatica is a EWG certified brand which aims to save the planet. They have won an award in 2011 for being the first Korean brand to get EWG certified. Which is pretty cool!

Orange Cleansing Sherbet 

The cleansing sherbet is filled with canola oils and organic babassu seed oils. This product dissolves leftover makeup, removes dead skin cells and nourishes the skin.

Click here to buy Orange Cleansing Sherbet on YesStyle and get 10% off.
Click here to buy Orange Cleansing Sherbet on iHerb and get 5% off.

14. Rovectin

Rovectin started out from a brother wanting to help his sister heal her damaged skin due to chemotherapy. He created the Anti-irritant Barrier Repair Ultra Cream to tackle extreme dryness and skin barrier deterioration which are side effects from the cancer treatment. Today Rovectin is a well established Korean skincare brand that has a wide range of products which are all cruelty free, vegan and aimed for people with sensitive or damaged skin.

Aqua Soothing UV Protector

The Rovectin sunscreen is suitable for all skin types but especially for oily and combination skin. It contains Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide which protects the skin against daily damages. It is hydrating, brightens the skin, battles wrinkles and fine line and protects from UV.

Click here for more info about this Rovectin Sunscreen on Wishtrend.

HOW TO USE

Cruelty-Free Skincare Certifications & Organisations

Not all the brands listed above are cruelty-free certified. If you only want to use brands that have a certification you want to watch out for the following certification logos.

• PETA – Companies certified by PETA do not perform or commission any animal tests on ingredients or products and won’t do so in the future.
• Leaping Bunny – The Leaping Bunny certification is an internationally acknowledged certification that guarantees that the products or ingredients where never or will never be tested on animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Have you used any of these cruelty-free Korean skincare products? Would you recommend any other products to be added to this list? Do you have any questions about the products listed here? Let me know in the comment section below.