Cruelty-free means the finished product and, ideally, every ingredient in it were developed without animal testing at any stage — by the brand, its suppliers, or any third party on its behalf.
Because the term is not regulated in most countries, look for independent certification: Leaping Bunny is the strictest global standard, requiring supplier monitoring and ongoing audits. PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies is more lenient but widely recognized.
A brand selling into mainland China historically had to allow post-market animal testing by regulators, but recent reforms have created cruelty-free pathways for many general cosmetics — verify each brand individually.