8 Best Cruelty-Free Skincare Brands to be Used And Trusted in India!

We live in a world where people are hard to trust whereas we blindly trust a skincare/haircare brand merely by watching their advertisement. When we purchase skincare/ haircare products, we want to get the expected results with no damage. But are we 100% sure of the promises those companies make? We put our trust in them and expect them to do the same by keeping up to their promises. But some brands use a high amount of chemicals in their products which may harm our hair and skin in the long run.

So, why is it important to know the difference between the brands?

The answer is simple. To see the best results for the long term without the products harming us. I am going to be transparent here. When it comes to hair care and skin care, not a single product, homemade or purchased is chemical-free. Anything that is made of matter, i.e., solid, liquid, or gas has chemicals. The difference is knowing the difference between good and bad.

We, at StyleFundas have listed a few brand names which I trust and have also mentioned some reviews of myself and the people whom I know have used them.

Remember, that it varies from person to person depending upon their skin type and their skin’s pH level whether a product might suit them or not.

1. Arata

Today, Arata creates thoughtfully-formulated, vegan products, using only soothing, nature-derived ingredients with no chemical additives, emulsifiers, dyes, or preservatives. These products are not tested on animals. They are stored in up to 100% recycled packaging that is reusable.

REVIEW:
I got Arata’s Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Gel, and Body Lotion as a gift from my cousin. I loved the results after washing my hair but had to use the shampoo in excess to completely remove the oil from my tresses. The fragrance was no doubt AMAZING.

My hair’s quality did improve but the quantity required to do so was a lot. Maybe due to the difference in the pH level of the hair oil and shampoo. But I would recommend it to people whose hair requires very mild hair care products.

Their body lotion is quite good too. It makes the skin healthier, softer, and smoother. And it smells good too!

2. Mamaearth

Mamaearth is the 1st Asian brand with a “MADE SAFE” certification. Their products are free of all known toxins that are banned in most countries. More than just a brand, it makes products out of love and care. Their unique selling point is the absence of toxins and harmful chemicals in their products. They do not test their products on animals. This has helped them in building a loyal customer base.

REVIEW:
My friend Kruti is currently using Mamaearth’s onion oil, shampoo, and conditioner for the past 1 year and a half. She was suffering from dandruff & hair-fall problems and so she decided to try their products.

She read some reviews online and watched customer videos to gain trust toward the brand to ordering their products. After purchasing, within 15 days she could see the results. The amount of dandruff reduced to a tremendous level and the quality of her hair improved. The baby hairs on her forehead started growing too. The oil is very effective and helps you sleep better.

After making her first purchase, she ordered its easy-to-apply foam face wash with vitamin C and the results are great! She is happy with this brand and will continue to use it.

I recently purchased Mamaearth’s hair serum and oh, it does wonders! I wasn’t using it much earlier, but as the winters began, I used it after every wash and my hair looks so hydrated with Minimum breakage and has gotten very silky. Their onion hair serum is a must-buy for dry hair in the winter.

Don’t worry, It DOESN’T have a foul smell.

3. MCaffeine

MCaffine is India’s 1st​ caffeinated personal care brand with an exciting range of Caffeinated products for young and aspiring millennials. They are a 100% Vegan & Cruelty-free, Peta certified brand. They have achieved Zero Plastic Footprint to do their bit for the environment.

REVIEW:
My cousin, Anjali purchased the MCaffiene shampoo, hair scrub, and hair oil combo around a month back on my recommendation. She was looking for something mild, without harsh chemicals, and something well cleansing for her hair, and the product fulfills all of these areas.

Her hair type is rough(wavy) and the hair oil is beneficial as it is a mix of many oils like coconut oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, argan oil, onion, almond, shea, jojoba, and of course coffee 😉 The shampoo is very good too as it is mild and doesn’t damage the hair. Using the hair scrub once a week does wonders in keeping the scalp clean and the scalp skin non-flaky.

The best part is…. all of it smells like your favorite coffee 🙂

I started using MCaffine products over 6 months ago. I was facing a shipment problem with my previous hair-care brand due to Covid restrictions and so, I started with the hair-care pack of hair oil, shampoo, and the hair scrub from MCaffeine. Within two washes I could see a great quality improvement in my hair. It got a silky, stronger, reduced amount of hair-fall and split ends. AND THE COFFEE FRAGRANCE IS A BONUS FOR ALL THE CAFFEINE LOVERS OUT THERE.

After this, I got its skin-care combo of the body butter and scrub and OMG they’re amazing. The scrub removes all the dead skin cells from the body, de-tans it, and makes it so smooth. The body butter then nourishes the skin and makes it softer and smoother and glowing.

I was so happy with these two combos, ordered their Cappuccino Moisturizer, Face Mask, Face Scrub, and Foam Face Wash. Their results are great too. The face moisturizer is nonsticky, prevents your skin from acne, and hydrates it. The face scrub exfoliates and removes the dead skin cells and the face mask is just so effective for hydration, glow and clearer skin.

Recently, they introduced a line of body washes and hair conditioner for hair fall as well as dandruff control. I ordered the cappuccino body wash; anti-hair fall conditioner and re-ordered their shampoo and hair scrub. I am gladdddd I started using this brand and with 100% assurance, I can say that it’s suitable for all skin types and hairs too. IT’S A MUST-TRY!

4. Wow Skin Science

WOW Skin Science is an online store selling hair and skincare products. Its product offering also includes offers vitamins and bath and body products. Wow Skin Science Products are Safe, Nature Inspired & Dermatologically tested for your safety. They do not test on animals.

REVIEW:
Dipti Parmar purchased WoW’s onion shampoo hair oil and it turned out to be very sticky on the scalp, the smell wasn’t good but bearable. While using WoW’s shampoo, she had to apply it 3-4 times and yet the hair remained quite greasy. She ordered an argan oil conditioner which costs 550+ yet it doesn’t work accordingly.

During the lockdown period, I started using Wow Skin Science’s products on my friend’s recommendation. I ordered its Vitamin-C Shampoo & Conditioner combo and charcoal face scrub.

The hair care products were really good for my hair. They got silky and the hair fall has reduced, but I had to use a great amount of shampoo and yet the hair remained sticky. The scalp used to get real greasy real soon.

So, I had to change the brand. The face scrub was too harsh on my face. It worked well. There’s no doubt there but didn’t suit mine over sensitive skin.

5. Biotique

Biotique products are made of 100% organically-pure, preservative-free ingredients and renewable resources—cultivated, gathered, blended and manufactured in the foothills of the Himalayas. No animal testing. This is not a new brand, rather it had been around for over 2 decades and whose products are formulated based on ayurvedic recipes, taken from authentic and original Veda texts

REVIEW:
Dipti Parmar has been using Biotique’s Morning Nectar Moisturizer, Hair color, and Shampoo & Conditioner for quite some time and she just loves it. After applying the moisturizer, her skin looks radiant, hydrated and the product has a very nice fragrance. The hair color is amazing too.

She says, “My hair looks natural and the amount of hair fall has also reduced to a great extent. The shampoo and conditioner are also very nice. My hair has gotten very smooth, voluminous and stronger. I ordered the Apple Blossom kids shampoo for my daughter and it has great results. I would recommend it to everyone as its very effective and affordable.”

6. Love, Beauty & Planet

Love Beauty and Planet started with one goal. To make you more beautiful and give a little love to our planet. They want to help make a little difference towards a happier, less wasteful planet, with every shower. Loving the planet means caring for all creatures who share it. That’s why Love Beauty and Planet products are never ever tested on animals. They are independently certified Cruelty-Free and Vegan by PETA.

REVIEW:
I was visiting my friend’s place and I used her Love, Beauty & Planet shower gel as well as body lotion and I instantly fell in love with them!!! I purchased them as soon as I got a chance. If you love nature, I’d recommend falling in love with this brand and its products for a lifetime. Fragrance? Amazing. Results? Great. A mood changer? Definitely! What else do you need?

7. The Body Shop

The Body Shop has been a manufacturer of body and beauty care products for the past Forty-one years and has expanded its wings into the online world. They believe true beauty comes from the heart. For them, beauty is much more than just a pretty face. The Body Shop products are ready to meet your body care, toiletries, facials, skincare, and hair care needs and are available at The Body Shop. All products have natural raw ingredients. They do not use animal products or do any animal testing for their products. The Body Shop has conducted many campaigns to ban animal testing. The Body Shop believes that true beauty comes from self-confidence, vitality, and positive human thoughts.

REVIEW:
I once used The Body Shop’s strawberry shower gel and I literally smelled like strawberries. It was an amazing experience. The gel cleanses your skin and makes it softer, smoother, and hydrated as well. It contains very less amount of chemicals. The brand can be a bit expensive but it’s worth it. I’d recommend it to everyone.

8. Be Minimalist

Transparency in Beauty is what BeMinimalist believes in and works for. This newest skincare brand in the Indian industry has taken over the Internet as they recite The Ordinary which is a cult-favorite brand. BeMinimalist however, offers actives that are very affordable and highly effective. They don’t believe in plants rather they focus on the actives of a plant. It signifies that one should avoid using fruits on their skin and focus on using plant-based actives. They don’t test on animals.

What are plant-based actives?
Plant actives are – quite simply – the flower, plant, and fruit-based ingredients that have been scientifically proven to boast powerful skin benefits.

REVIEW:
I got to know that my friend, Ria is using BeMinimalist’s products and here’s what she experienced-

BeMinimalist Niacinamide 5%

What were your expectations while purchasing the product?
Niacinamide is known as the all-rounder, superstar ingredient that does almost everything. It’s versatile; It smoothness, hydrates, it’s anti-inflammatory, helps with skin aging, helps with acne, battles hyperpigmentation. You name it – it does it. Therefore I was expecting it to simply make my skin better in all ways possible.

Did the product fulfill those expectations?
Mostly, yes. My skin visibly brightened over the course that I used it. While I did not see any noticeable difference in acne or aging signs, it reduced the texture, made it a little plumpy with hydration but most importantly, it evened my skin tone to a great extent.

Were you satisfied with it? If not, what were the drawbacks?
I am definitely satisfied by the inclusion of this ingredient in my skincare, especially in the formula that BeMinimalist provides. It will remain a staple. For the price point, I don’t see any drawbacks of purchasing it.

Would you recommend it to others?
A 100%. Whatever skin type you may be, even sensitive, this is likely to make your skin better in the longer term.

BeMinimalist PHA toner

What were your expectations while purchasing the product?
A hydrating, gentle toner that will chemically exfoliate my skin without stripping it. Help with closed comedowns, texture, and dullness due to dead skin cell build-up.

Did the product fulfill those expectations?
As a toner, it did fulfill its claims to be hydrating and gentle on the skin. It did not burn, and unlike my experience with other chemical exfoliants, it did not even sing for a bit. Nothing, nada. It was like applying creamy water to your face and my sensitive skin loved that feeling.

Were you satisfied with it? If not, what were the drawbacks?
While it did help with dullness (so I do believe it lifted dead skin cells) it did not do anything for my textured skin. There wasn’t a reduction in my acne.

Would you recommend it to others?
At the mere price of ₹350 when I initially purchased it, this product is a steal. While it wasn’t 100% satisfactory, it’s worth trying for anyone with super sensitive skin who usually can’t tolerate exfoliation.

I hope this was insightful and helpful as well. You are more than welcome to write your reviews of the brands listed above or any other which you use, in the comment section below. Happy to know your recommendation regarding my next article’s topic.

Thankyou so much Dipti Parmar, Anjali, Kruti & Ria to help me craft this article. It wouldn’t have been the same without you all.

Until next time!