Vegan, cruelty-free, organic, sustainable- These are all the terms people are demanding and looking for when choosing their products nowadays. And why not? With so many skin problems and allergies emerging, it is definitely more reassuring to use natural or at least vegan products.
A lot of people have switched to vegan products from food to clothes. And now even vegan makeup is to be included in the list. Another one added to the list is the matter of animal testing and animal cruelty. The compassion remains among people to avoid using products that are tested on speechless and innocent animals before they use it.
There are many vegan makeup brands emerging and already existing brands switching to vegan. However, being cruelty-free differs from country to country and from brand to brand. The labels have become a factor of trust and respect for the people to use such cosmetics and products in their daily life. Take a look at some of the best vegan makeup brands that you can choose for your next makeup products from.
What is Cruelty-free and Vegan Makeup?
If you are wondering what vegan makeup means then we have you covered. Specifically ‘vegan’ means that there is no usage of any type of animal substance or by-product. Hence, vegan makeup implies that there are no animal products used to produce cosmetics.
The term ‘vegan’ itself is not owned by any government entity and can be used by anyone to claim as vegan even though they might be involved in a chain that uses animal substances or by-products. Hence, makeup brands need to get their certification done by different companies like Biorius and BeVeg.
‘Cruelty-free’ is the term used to state that there are no animals harmed or tested upon during the making or manufacturing of cosmetics. However, there are some government bodies that require animal testing prior to selling the products in the market such as China and Japan.
But there are up to 41 countries that have banned animal testing and can assure cruelty-free products to the market. Some organizations that certify cruelty-free cosmetics are PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies, Cruelty-Free International (Leaping Bunny), and CCIC Leaping Bunny.
But beware, vegan or cruelty-free labels may not always mean that the products are manufactured with natural products and may contain chemicals unless stated as organic. Hence, these three terms are not to be confused with.
10 Best Vegan Makeup Brands To Get Your Hands On
1. E.l.f. Cosmetics
E.l.f Cosmetics is an American brand founded in 2004. The products included under the brand are bath and skin-care products, mineral-based makeup, professional tools, eyeliners, lipstick, glosses, blushes, bronzers, brushes, and mascara, among others.
The vegan cosmetics brand is quite famous for its affordable and good quality products with a good variety. Some of its most recommended products are Baked Highlighter in Moonlight Pearls, 16HR Camo Concealer, Poreless Face Primer and many more.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
2. Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
Yes! Rare Beauty is the one founded by Selena Gomez and is also one of the vegan makeup brands. The brand mostly includes makeup products and professional tools for eyes, face and lips such as compact, lipstick, lip gloss, bronzer, eyeliner, eyeshadow palettes, brushes, etc.
The brand is considered as one of the high-quality but affordable ones with quite a range of products. Always An Optimist 4-In-1 Mist, Perfect Strokes Matte Liquid Liner and Mini Lip & Cheek Essentials are a few of the bestsellers from the brand.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
Also Read: 8 Voguish Looks Beginners Can Try – Easy Makeup Looks For Beginners
3. Kat Von D. (KVD) Beauty
Another vegan brand that is also a luxury makeup brand is KVD or Kat Von D.Beauty. This brand was founded by a renowned tattoo artist named Katherine Von Drachenberg and now has a good range of cosmetic products such as lipstick, lip liner, eyeshadow primer, brows, lashes, concealer, primer, brushes, perfume and much more.
Having won multiple awards for its high-quality products, KVD is one of the luxury brands that has been producing vegan makeup since the start. A few of its best products are its Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, Tattoo Liner Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, Good Apple Lightweight Full Coverage Concealer and Mini Shade + Light Contour Duo.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
4. Merit Beauty
Among the many vegan makeup brands is Merit Beauty which was founded in 2021 by Katherine Power. The brand focuses on minimalistic, planet, body, and skin-friendly makeup. The brand gives a good range of daily essentials for makeup such as lip tints, lipsticks, concealers, highlighting sticks, flush balm, mascara, etc.
The brand offers clean and minimalistic makeup products that can be used on a daily basis without harming the skin too much. The luxury brand assures you a good quality product with some of its best sellers being Brush No. 1, Signature Lip and Clean Lash.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
5. Bite Beauty
Bite beauty too is a vegan cosmetics brand. Highly known for its clean, high quality, and gluten-free products, Bite Beauty is a Canadian company specializing in lip products in particular. The brand was launched in 2012 by Susanne Langmuir. You can find lipsticks, glosses, tints, and pencils in bright, bold colors, lip masks, primer, concealer, and many other products related at Bite Beauty.
All the products produced at Bite Beauty are made from food-grade ingredients and are infused with resveratrol. Some of the best products you can find at Bite Beauty are Power Move Hydrating Soft Matte Lipstick, Agave + Nighttime Lip Therapy, Agave + Weekly Lip Scrub, and Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes (uncertified)
6. PYT Beauty
PYT is one of the well-known vegan makeup brands founded by Mary Schulman in 2019. Producing makeup using essential oils and vitamins, the brand manufactures clean, non-toxic as well as sustainable products. The brand provides some amazing products like eyeshadow palettes, brow pencils, lip gloss, lip tints, bronzer, blush, setting spray, etc.
The brand has products devoid of harmful ingredients such as petroleum, silicone, synthetic fragrance, paraben, talc, etc. So if you are a fan of such products, this is your brand to look for. Some of the bestselling products from PYT Beauty are The Upcycle Eyeshadow Palette, One & Done Setting Spray, and Faux Sun Bronzer Duo.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
Read More: How To Get Korean Makeup Look – Look Younger Instantly
7. Tower 28 Beauty
Among the luxury brands, Tower 28 can be said to be one of the best vegan makeup brands to go for. Founded by Amy Liu in 2019, the brand is known for its clean and irritation-free products that are meant for all skin types. The brand is the first and only one to follow the National Eczema Association’s Ingredient Guidelines.
The brand has a solid policy for no essential oils, talc, natural/ artificial fragrance, urea, and many more harmful substances. SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray, SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation, and SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation are some of the bestselling products from Tower 28 Beauty.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
8. Cover FX
Cover FX is also one of the best vegan makeup brands you can go for. Created in 2000 by Victor Casale, Cover FX quickly gained popularity for its high quality, safe and effective products. You can find tools and makeup for face, eyes and lips as well as skin care products such as booster drops and moisturizers.
The ingredients are clean, free of toxic substances and are made from soothing ingredients like tea leaves. Total Cover Cream Foundation, Monochromatic Blush Duo, Custom Enhancer Drops and are some of the recommended products from Cover FX.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
9. Lime Crime
One of the vegan makeup brands you may come across is Lime Crime with its interesting and bold range of products. The brand was created in 2008, Los Angeles by Doe Deere and has since been under the ‘limelight’. Hair products, makeup tools and vibrant colored makeup for eyes, lips and face is everything you can spot at Lime Crime.
The luxury brand is known for its high-quality products and a good range of colors along with the safe ingredients used. Velvetines Liquid Lipstick, Unicorn Hair Full Coverage, Venus Immortalis Eye Shadow Palette and Freckle Pen are some of its bestselling products.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
10. Milk Makeup
Milk makeup is known for its luxury vegan makeup and skincare products. The New-York based brand was created by the founders of Milk Studio, Mazdack Rassi, Zanna Roberts Rassi, Dianna Ruth, and Scott Sassa in 2016. The cosmetic brand not only offers makeup for eyes, lips, and face but also other skincare products and milk papers.
The products from Milk Makeup are paraben-free, gluten-free, and devoid of many other harmful ingredients. And hence, the products are safe to use. RISE Mascara, Hydro Grip Primer, and Matte Bronzer are some of the award-winning products from the brand.
Vegan- 100%
Cruelty-free- Yes
Read More: Easy Makeup Looks – Different Types of Makeup You Must Know
Final Words
While you are considering switching to vegan makeup, do make sure which brands have been approved and are cruelty free as well or not. Makeup which makes you feel comfortable and is best for your skin should be the ideal one you choose no matter how luxurious the product is.
Wearing makeup is an essential part of the daily routine for most and these products are to be selected meticulously. Hence, choose the one which suits you the most among the best vegan makeup brands. Take into consideration all of the factors and choose your tools and colors wisely too!
FAQs
No, although M.A.C has claimed to be cruelty-free on its FAQ page, the brand lost its cruelty-free status ever since 2012. Some governments require animal testing before selling the products to the citizens. And one such country is China, where M.A.C does sell its products. Hence, M.A.C also has to test on animals to get its products approved in the country.
No, vegan cosmetics do not automatically imply that the makeup is natural as well. Vegan means the products are free from any animal substances within. But that does not mean the product is entirely made from natural materials and can contain some chemicals in it too.
Some high-end luxury makeup brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills, Chantecaille, Huda Beauty have a few vegan options among their products. Meanwhile, luxury makeup brands such as Cover FX, Bite Beauty and Hourglass have become 100% vegan.
