Kylie Cosmetics Animal Testing: What You Need to Know

When you buy Kylie Cosmetics, a celebrity makeup brand founded by Kylie Jenner, known for its bold lip products and social media-driven marketing. Also known as Kylie Jenner Cosmetics, it rose to fame fast—but questions about its animal testing practices have followed it since day one. Many assume celebrity brands are automatically ethical, but that’s not true. Kylie Cosmetics is owned by Coty Inc., a parent company that tests on animals when required by law, especially in markets like China where animal testing is mandatory for imported cosmetics. That means even if Kylie Cosmetics doesn’t test directly, they still fund and allow animal testing to happen on their behalf.

This puts them in direct conflict with what most people mean when they say "cruelty-free." Cruelty-free makeup, products that have never been tested on animals at any stage of development, including by third parties or parent companies requires total separation from animal testing. Brands like Elf Cosmetics, a popular budget brand with official Leaping Bunny certification and no animal testing anywhere in its supply chain, prove you don’t need to pay luxury prices to avoid cruelty. And animal testing cosmetics, products linked to labs where rabbits, mice, or guinea pigs are forced to endure chemical exposure still exist—even in big-name brands that claim to be ethical.

The confusion comes from marketing. Kylie Cosmetics says they don’t test on animals—but they don’t say they’re cruelty-free. That’s not an accident. It’s a loophole. They avoid direct testing but still sell where it’s forced. Meanwhile, brands like Fenty Beauty, which is also owned by a major corporation, managed to stay cruelty-free by refusing to enter markets that require animal testing. That’s a choice. Kylie Cosmetics made a different one.

If you care about ethics, you need to look beyond the logo. Check certifications like Leaping Bunny or PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies. Don’t trust vague claims. Ask: Does the parent company test? Are they sold in China? Is the brand transparent about their supply chain? The truth matters more than the hype. Below, you’ll find real breakdowns of what’s actually cruelty-free, which brands hide behind buzzwords, and how to spot the difference without wasting your time or money.