Cruelty-Free

Cruelty-free means no animal was tested on at any stage of making a Zardova product — not the finished formula, not the individual ingredients, not by us and not by any supplier we work with. No exceptions, including markets (like parts of China) that have historically required animal testing for cosmetics sold within their borders; we simply don't sell there under those terms.

Why This Still Needs Saying in 2026

Animal testing for cosmetics has been banned in the EU, UK, India, and several other regions for years — but it's still legal in the United States, and still practiced by some larger conventional brands, particularly for ingredient safety testing done further up the supply chain, sometimes without a brand's direct knowledge. That's exactly why we vet suppliers directly rather than assuming.

How We Verify This

We require written confirmation from every raw-material supplier that their ingredients are not animal-tested, and we choose formulation partners who share that standard. We're also actively pursuing two of the most recognized third-party certifications in this space: Leaping Bunny (the strictest, supply-chain-verified standard) and PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies. Neither certification is finalized yet — we'd rather tell you that honestly than put a badge on the site before it's earned.

Cruelty-Free Isn't the Same as Vegan

A product can be cruelty-free (never tested on animals) while still containing animal-derived ingredients like honey or lanolin. Zardova happens to be both — every product is vegan and cruelty-free — but they're separate promises. See our 100% Vegan page for that side of the standard.