How do I avoid products that have been tested on animals?

Most brands make products that either are now - or have been in the past - tested on animals. Or else they pay someone else to do it for them. Brand-policy on animal testing can be more ambiguous than it first appears, and it can be hard to find out what's animal-testing-free and what's not.

It may be enough for you that products are stated as not being tested on animals. But beware - they may well not do the tests themselves. They may very well, however, pay someone else to do it for them. Additionally, a brand may not test on animals but be owned by a parent company that does.

Skincare and cosmetic products are a non-essential part of life, and at the Good Spa Guide we promote the idea that cosmetic and skincare products are best when they don't do you, other people, the environment or animals any damage. We've looked at recommendations from PETA, the Vegetarian Society and many other animal welfare organisations. The following brands are bona fide cruelty-free. Their products are not tested on animals, don't use ingredients that other people have tested on animals, and are not owned by larger companies that do test on animals:

* Aveda

* Barefoot Botanicals

* Beauty Without Cruelty

* Dr Hauschka

* Essential Care

* Faith in Nature

* Green People

* Honesty Cosmetics

* Jason

* Kiss My Face

* Laveré

* Living Nature Cosmetics