The Top Vegan Makeup Brands

A few basic requirements should be met by all makeup. A beauty product must have pigment payoff, a great texture, and the ability to last in order to be worth your money. But there are other factors to consider, and if you care about animals, a vegan composition is the best option. The best vegan makeup brands do not use any animal ingredients or byproducts. We’re talking about no beeswax, no animal testing, and no color derived from beetles.

It can be difficult to create eyeshadow, lipstick, or liner with a lot of color without using animal extracts like carmine, or to achieve the perfect texture of mascara without beeswax. However, there are many natural makeup brands that have succeeded without making their products look or feel bad. 

What is Vegan Beauty?

Vegan beauty products are those that do not contain any animal derivatives (such as lanolin from sheep’s wool, honey and beeswax from bees, and carmine, a red pigment derived from insects that is commonly used in lipsticks). So, while it is similar to the Leaping Bunny accreditations for cruelty-free, it is not the same. Cruelty-free means that the product was developed without using animals for testing, whereas vegan means that the product does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.

Best Vegan Makeup Brands 

Here are the best vegan makeup brands that anyone who cares about animals or beauty can feel good about using.

1. Cover Fx

Since Cover FX products were made by a former chief chemist at MAC cosmetics, it’s no surprise that they are so popular in the beauty world. The brand has a wide range of products that are vegan, don’t test on animals, and are made with antioxidants and vitamins. Plus, they don’t have any parabens, mineral oil, fragrance, talc, or gluten, so you can feel good about wearing them. Cover FX has 40 different shades, so you are sure to find the right one for your skin tone.

2. Rare Beauty

Selena Gomez has a knack for making beauty products that go viral. The good news is? Every item in the collection is vegan. So, whether you want to try her liquid blush or the famous tinted moisturizer from TikTok, you can be sure that no animals were hurt in the process. They are also cruelty-free and listed in the PETA database Beauty Without Bunnies.

3. E.l.f. Cosmetics

At the drugstore, it can be hard to find cheap vegan and cruelty-free makeup, but that’s where E.l.f. comes in. Most of the items in the line cost less than $10, and they are all 100% safe for animals.

4. Tower 28 

Every product in the line is made to be the best it can be. SunnyDays Tinted Sunscreen is a must-have for the beach, and the blushes and bronzers are smooth and dreamy. All of the products, including the skin care, are made with sensitive skin in mind, and the makeup is vegan. They’ve been tried out by dermatologists and have the seal of approval from the National Eczema Association.

5. KVD Beauty

KVD Beauty, which used to be called Kat Von D Beauty, has gone through a big rebranding in the last few years, but one thing has stayed the same: the company’s commitment to making cruelty-free and vegan makeup that works well for everyone.

6. PYT

PYT isn’t just vegan, it’s also good for the environment. Everything is made with sustainable packaging and as little plastic as possible. The PYT website also shows how to recycle each of their products in a clear and easy way.

7. Juice Beauty

You don’t have to look any further than Juice Beauty for high-quality vegan and cruelty-free skin care and makeup made with certified organic ingredients and plant pigments. Karen Behnke, a wellness entrepreneur, started the company because she wanted to make organic beauty products that worked better than regular ones. The natural ingredients in Juice Beauty products are better for your skin than the synthetic ones.

8. Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass is a brand that cares about animals and has changed the way people think about high-end cosmetics. Their first product came out in 2004, and since then they have kept growing, coming up with new formulas and speaking out against testing on animals. Nonhuman Rights Projects, a group that fights for animal rights, gets 1% of the brand’s annual website profits. Shop smart with brands like Hourglass to make a difference.

9. Jillian Dempsey

Celebrities all agree that this brand is the best of the best when it comes to vegan beauty. The brand has been praised by everyone from Leslie Mann to Lisa Rinna. The Kohl eyeliners stand out, and the cheek tint can be used for so many different things. But wait, it gets better. As an animal rights activist, Dempsey has made the brand an official PETA Business Friend and is helping the organization stop animal abuse.

10. Milk Makeup 

You’ve probably seen a TikTok (or two, or five) about how amazing the HydroGrip Primer is. And there’s good news: the primer and the rest of the line are committed to making products that are cruelty-free, paraben-free, and vegan. If you’re new to the brand, we recommend getting the mascara or the brow tint—they’re some of the best out there.

11. Merit Beauty

An Assortment of Beauty Products

The award-winning products from Merit Beauty are super stylish, easy to use no matter how good you are at makeup and made with ingredients that are safe for you and your pets.

12. Milani Cosmetics

Finding the right makeup and being able to express yourself are important, but finding the right makeup should never involve hurting animals, and testing on animals is a cruel thing to do. Milani Cosmetics is very sure that makeup should never be tested on animals and should be certified by PETA as cruelty-free. They had Milani’s Vegan Beauty collection of makeup. Which is made with vegan formulas and has no ingredients that come from animals.

13. Herbivore Botanicals

The story of Herbivore Botanicals began in 2011. Julia Wills and Alexander Kummerow started the company in their kitchen. The brand believes in respecting nature, which is why its products are made with unique formulas that are free of synthetics and dyes and focus on natural, high-quality ingredients. The products are packaged in glass, paper, and, if necessary, recycled or reusable plastic.

14. Pretty Vulgar

Vegan cosmetics are appealing because they are not tested on animals and are made with ingredients that come from plants. The right brand can make a big difference in your skin, and Pretty Vulgar could be it. The packaging is so cute that you’ll want to show it off, and the products are vegan-friendly and have a lot of color. This will let you create the perfect makeup look, whether you want something simple and everyday or something bold and expressive.

15. Haus Labs

If you like Lady Gaga, you don’t need to look any further. Haus Labs is a group of artists that Lady Gaga started in 2019. The brand uses science and nature to make clean, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free products that are new and of high quality. You can also make a difference with your purchase because it helps the Born This Way Foundation. This is a non-profit group that promotes kindness and looks out for the mental health of young people.

16. PHB Ethical Beauty

All of the products from PHB Ethical Beauty are made by hand in the UK and are vegan. The company uses palm oil that is good for the environment, organic ingredients, and fair trade ingredients. It does not test its products on animals. They sell a wide range of beautiful makeup, skin care, body care, and hair care products, and 20% of sales go to charity.

17. Inika

Inika is a well-known animal-friendly makeup brand that uses natural, organic ingredients in its formulas. Their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and halal, and they contain botanical ingredients that aim to quench the thirst of your skin. Furthermore, all packaging is made of a recyclable material. The brand also sells a variety of ultra-soft makeup brushes, including foundation brushes, kabuki brushes, and powder brushes.

18. Lime Crime

Lime Crime is known for pioneering beauty trends, from their infamous Velvetines liquid matte lipsticks to their best-selling Venus palettes. They take pride in producing products with long-lasting wear and eye-catching pigment. What’s more, their makeup is completely vegan and free of animal cruelty.

19. Axiology

Axiology is a vegan lipstick brand that creates creamy, pigmented lipsticks in a range of colors ranging from jet black to vibrant hot pink. Their products are non-toxic and made from natural ingredients such as organic coconut oil and avocado butter. Above all, the company is dedicated to supporting vegan and cruelty-free organizations, donating a portion of their annual profits to organizations such as the Orangutan Foundation International and PETA.

20. Well People

People will give you beautiful makeup that will allow you to express yourself while not harming animals or the environment. The products are made with high-quality, plant-powered ingredients that are clean and ethically sourced. Well People’s beauty products are dermatologist-approved and can make your skin feel and look better.

Benefits of Using Vegan Makeup

Natural cosmetics with aloe vera

Cruelty-Free

Vegan and cruelty-free makeup means that the products contain no animal-derived ingredients and have not been tested on animals. This gives us as consumers peace of mind that no animals were harmed in the process, and our choices help to make the world a safer place for our animals.

Better for the skin

Most vegan cosmetics are made from natural ingredients that are great for the skin, like Lime Butter, Irish Moss, Coconut Water, Castor Oil, etc. Vegan cosmetics are very effective and use plant-based ingredients instead of those made from animals. For example, olive squalene is used instead of squalene made from shark liver, and synthetic pearls are used instead of guanine made from fish scales. There are so many ready-made alternatives that there’s no reason to use cosmetics that aren’t vegan. Vegan cosmetics also use a lot less ingredients that are very strong, which makes them great for people with sensitive skin.

Safer for your body

For those who don’t know, the largest part of the human body is the skin. You should be very careful about what you put on it because of this. Before toxins and chemicals in the food we eat can hurt us, the liver and kidneys filter them out. But our skin is like an open window. Any harmful chemicals we put on it are absorbed right away and sent through our bloodstream, which is bad for our bodies.

Contains more nutritious goodness

Since the ingredients in Vegan Cosmetics come from plants, they are thought to be a healthier way to look good. Plants have the most vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which are used to make skin look healthier. 

Prices are comparable to non-Vegan products

When Vegan cosmetics are too expensive, shoppers are often hesitant to buy them. The good news is that vegan beauty products now cost about the same as other products on the market. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by making the switch, so there’s no reason not to.

Conclusion

Many people are switching to vegan makeup, and for good reason. Animal byproducts are being phased out in favor of cruelty-free cosmetics, and brands are taking notice. While it used to be difficult to find ethical beauty companies, there are now many vegan options available.