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Sian Victoria © - 3ina, Cruelty-free beauty makeup

Cruelty-Free brands with vegan makeup

Following on from my best cruelty-free haircare post I wanted to share with you my favourite makeup brands that have animal welfare and sustainable plant-based ingredients in mind when creating cosmetics.

I’m pleased that the beauty industry is finally adopting a kinder approach when developing new product ranges and are including a lot more beneficial ingredients in their formulations such as skin-loving vitamins and antioxidants.

Although there is still a long way to go before the mainstream beauty products we know and love from leading brands become a lot cleaner with sustainable packaging and of course are friendly to all living beings and kinder to the skin.

But I’m feeling positive change is happening in the industry, so for now here is my list of beauty brands that have always been cruelty-free and do have a vegan makeup range.

1. Pixi beauty

Sian Victoria © - Pixi Beauty, Eye Reflections Shadow Palette, Cruelty-free makeup

Sian Victoria © - Pixi beauty, Pixiglow contouring palette, Cruelty-free makeup

Pixi Beauty always send amazing PR packages, so I’ve used a lot of their products over the years and have always been pleased with their effective skincare and rich pigmented makeup. The popular beauty brand is cruelty-free and refuses to sell their products in countries where testing is required.

Although Pixi is not fully vegan due to the use of beeswax in a few products, they do have a growing list of vegan-friendly products and they do tend to use synthetic beeswax instead for some items, so always check the ingredient’s as they are prone to change.

A few of my ultimate favourite Pixi products are the PixiGlow Cake palette in shade ‘GildedBare Glow’. It creates a natural healthy-looking and radiant complexion while enhancing features with its subtle contouring and glowing highlights. When it comes to dressing up eyes, the Eye Reflections Shadow Palette in shades ‘Natural Beauty’ is my go-to.

2. Cover FX

Sian Victoria © - Cover FX, Power Play Foundation, Mattifying Setting Spray, Concealer,

The first time I used Cover FX I was instantly converted and that’s not just due to the fact they’ve been cruelty-free and vegan since day one. Their makeup formulations have all skin types and skin concerns in mind and therefore don’t add harmful ingredients such as talc, parabens, fragrance, mineral oils, gluten, sulphates and phthalates that are likely to agitate acne and sensitive skin.

When wearing makeup, I’ve always been conscious about it clogging my pores due to the use of comedogenic ingredient’s. But with Cover FX I feel confident wearing a full face because I know I won’t be breaking out the next day. The Power Play Foundation is my skin hero where makeup is concerned because its Non-comedogenic so is suitable for my oily-combination skin.

The matte buildable coverage foundation contains fermented algae extract to defend the skin against urban pollutants and environmental stressors as well as rice hull powder to absorb oil and sweat and rice bran wax to give a creamy texture that blends effortlessly.

The foundation works like a dream with the Cream Concealer to hide those ghoulish dark circles and finishing with the Blotting Powder and the Mattifying Setting Spray to create a natural airbrushed look that stays put all day.

3. Trinny London

Sian Victoria © - Trinny London, BFF Cream Skin Perfector SPF30

Trinny London is relatively new and have launched a stackable, portable, curated makeup range. Their unique and playful formulations are created to be easily applied by the fingertips while you’re on the go.

Although this choice of makeup application isn’t something I would do myself, since it’s a haven for bacteria. The creamy and highly pigmented pots of eye, lips and concealer shades can be easily applied with a suitable brush and the pots are perfect for re-using and mixing.

The cruelty-free and British makeup brand does not sell in countries where animal testing is required by law, such as China. However, they are not fully vegan due to the use of animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, hydrolysed collagen, hydrolysed elastin and carmine so you will need to avoid some products like the Miracle Blur Lip & Line Filler and a few Lip2Cheek shades.

Otherwise, most vegan Trinny London products are their face, eye and contouring products. But always check the ingredients list as cosmetics do tend to have their formulations changed without warning.

4. Green People

Sian Victoria © - Green People, Mascara, Powder, Lipstick

The story behind Green People is inspiring and is why they’ll always be my number one when it comes to vegan, cruelty-free and organic clean beauty products. The brand began from a mother’s quest to find natural products to heal her daughter's skin issues.

However, she found that the brands who labelled themselves as natural were not, as they only contained 1% natural ingredients which at the time was allowed in marketing, despite it being misleading and potentially damaging to its users. That’s when Green People was born. Ever since they have pushed for change in the beauty industry and have hundreds of beauty awards and many accreditations such as vegan, cruelty-free, eco-cert and the soil association certification.

Green People now have something for all your head to toe beauty needs. A few items do contain beeswax also known as Cera Alba, so you may want to check the ingredients list.

However, the vegan Age Defy + Tinted DD Moisturiser with SPF15 is my ultimate go-to as it creates a lovely complexion without being heavy so is perfect for those days you just want to go barefaced but need a little cover and skin protection.

5. 3INA

Sian Victoria © - 3ina, Mascara, Lipsticks & Eyeliner

Sian Victoria © - 3ina, Foundation, Powder & Primer

Sian Victoria © - 3ina, Highlighter & Creamy eyeshadow

Sian Victoria © - 3ina, Lipgloss & Eyebrow palette

Another all-time favourite of mine is 3ina, pronounced Mee-Nah. They’re a European cruelty-free beauty brand that creates mostly vegan makeup, skincare, beauty tools and nail products at an affordable price without sacrificing quality. I’ve reviewed many of their products over the years, as you’ll find in my neon makeup and 3ina bestsellers posts.

3ina has a playful youth-focused makeup line that encourages you to be experimental and daring with your makeup looks to create your own identity. They also have a growing range of foundation shades to match all skin tones.

The Longwear Lipstick in shade 270, the Cream Eyeshadow in shade 314 and the matte & smooth primer are just a few of the vegan 3ina products I’m never without.

6. Jane Iredale

Sian Victoria © - Jane Iredale, Blusher & Eyeshadow palette

Sian Victoria © - Jane Iredale, Lipstick & Mystikol Eyeliner

Jane Iredale is a cruelty-free makeup brand I was introduced to in 2017 while taking part in an acne skincare journey with the IIAA. The beauty brand creates clean and natural product formulations with mostly vegan ingredients.

But there are some products you may want to avoid if you are vegan as some items contain carmine (crushed red insects), beeswax/royal jelly, fish oil/ marine-based and lanolin (oil from the sebaceous glands of sheep).

The skin-loving makeup brand has been awarded the Beauty without Bunnies stamp by PETA for refusing to sell their products in China and have been accredited with ECOCERT certification for using mostly natural and organic ingredients in their makeup and skincare range.

My favourite vegan and gluten-free product by Jane Iredale is the Mystikol Powdered Eyeliner in shade Smokey Quartz as the powder cream formula creates the perfect winged line with its built-in brush to prevent smudges. It’s also longwearing and doesn’t crease.

7. Fenty

Sian Victoria © - Fenty Beauty, Foundation, Primer, Matchstix, Contour

Since attending the Harvey Nichols Fenty press day for the launch of Fenty Beauty, I’ve been a fan of the makeup brand ever since and not just because you can’t not love that badgalriri.

Rihanna’s cruelty-free makeup brand does have vegan products but isn’t fully vegan as they do use ingredients of animal origin, such as beeswax and carmine. However, the singers new Fenty Skin collection that I’m eager to try is 100% vegan, so hopefully one day Fenty Beauty will mix up a kinder formulation to be fully vegan too.

Fenty Beauty launched in 2017 dropping 40 shades of foundations to match all skin types, making them a brand with the most shades for all. They’ve since increased their Pro Filt’r Soft Matte foundation to 50 shades, so you’re bound to find the perfect match and you’ll be pleased to know all shades are vegan too.

Including all shades of the popular Gloss bomb universal lip luminizer. Although please do check yourself in-case they’ve changed. Thankfully all product descriptions do clearly state at the top of the ingredients list if it is vegan.

8. bareMinerals

Sian Victoria © - bareMinerals, Complexion Kit

Bare Minerals state that they pride themselves on being clean. They were long before clean beauty was part of the collective consciousness as they’ve always been cruelty-free, and their products have never contained harmful ingredients such as parabens or mineral oils.

Although not fully vegan, Bare Minerals do have a vegan makeup category so that you can easily pick from the range of face, eyes and lip products. Since I have oily-combination skin the Matte Foundation with an SPF15 has always been a favourite of mine because of its weightless mineral powder application.

9. Ciaté London

Sian Victoria © - Ciaté London, Glow-To Illuminating Blush

Ciaté London is an independent British beauty brand founded by the entrepreneurial nail technician Charlotte Knight in 2009. The innovative indie brand soon gained cult status with the launch of dewy stix highlighters and glitter flip liquids.

The cruelty-free beauty brand is certified under PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies program and has a large collection of vegan makeup, brushes and nail polishes. Although some items do contain animal-derived ingredients so always check the ingredients list.

10. POPbeauty

Sian Victoria © - POPbeauty, Liquid lipsticks

POPbeauty was founded in 2002 inspired by London’s pop culture scene to create high-end, bold, niche makeup to embrace inclusivity, individuality and creativity. The British beauty brand has a colourful lip, cheek and eye makeup range with primers and face mists to finish that POPbeauty look. For a full pop-regime, they've swiftly popped up on the skincare and vivid nail colour scene too.

While making a bold statement with an eye-catching beauty collection, the brand also makes a bold statement when it comes to their dedication to sourcing only the highest quality formulas using responsibly sourced ingredients that are both 100% vegan and cruelty-free. As well as using only recyclable packaging from certified sustainably managed forests or made of recycled materials.

11. Marc Jacobs Beauty

Sian Victoria © - Marc Jacobs Beauty, Mascara, Lipstick & Eyeliner

Part of the Kendo Beauty group, Marc Jacobs Beauty is a makeup brand that does not test on animals and is listed on Peta’s cruelty without bunnies website. Marc Jacobs also is known as the American fashion designer has a luxurious array of skincare, face, eyes and lip products.

Despite being cruelty-free they are not considered a vegan beauty brand as some items do contain ingredients of animal origin, such as beeswax and carmine. However, most of the products are free of animal by-products. Annoyingly they don’t currently have a vegan section or state whether it is vegan in the product description on the direct website.

So, you’ll have to individually check the ingredients list of each product you fancy. But Harvey Nichols does have the Marc Jacobs Beauty Luxury Vegan Edit collection if you want to give the brand a try.

Over the years I’ve had plenty of Marc Jacobs Beauty MUA makeovers and have always been impressed with the feel and finished look of the coconut complexion trio which is made up of the Under(cover) Perfecting Coconut Face Primer, Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter and Finish Line Perfecting Coconut Setting Powder.

12. The Ordinary

Sian Victoria © - The Ordinary, Coverage Foundation

The Ordinary is a must-have cult brand I’ve used every day for almost 3 years. The affordable yet highly effective science-led product formulations are created by the company DECIEM who have positively transformed the beauty industry.

My skincare regime isn’t complete without layering The Ordinary every AM and PM. So, when the brand launched a colour collection for enhancing complexions, I was quick to give my makeup bag an Ordinary makeover too.

The colour collection consists of a High coverage foundation in 21 shades, a lightweight low to medium Serum Foundation for natural days when you don’t want a fully made-up face and the High-Adherence Silicone Primer to blur and reduce the look of pores and imperfections. As well as the High-Spreadability Fluid Primer to help avoid the unnatural and uneven accumulation of pigments around the eyes and on dry skin.

When I heard Estée Lauder were taking over DECIEM and its umbrella brands, I was a little concerned. However, thankfully so far, The Ordinary has remained cruelty-free and almost fully vegan except for a few vegetarian products.

The cosmetics giant has also restrained from selling in China where animal testing is mandatory. Plus, these highly pigmented foundations have remained accessible for all at just £5.90 while the hydrating matte primer is £3.90.

13. KVD Vegan Beauty

Sian Victoria © - KVD Vegan Beauty, Tattoo Liner, Studded Lipstick

The cosmetics company Kendo have recently taken full ownership of the high-performance beauty brand that was founded by TV personality and tattoo artist Kat Von D in 2008. The cruelty-free and 100% vegan makeup brand has renamed the brand to KVD Vegan Beauty with the KVD initials now meaning ‘We believe in Kindness, Vegan Beauty + Discovery (and Doing good)’.

In line with doing good, Kendo is re-creating the aesthetic packaging to be eco-friendly without compromising on losing the iconic cult image. It’s the brand's personality that originally drawn beauty lovers to the innovative cosmetics company that has revolutionised the beauty industry with its long-wear, high-pigment Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, Tattoo Liner (a product I consider the holy grail of liquid eyeliner) and the full coverage Lock-It Foundation that comes in 44 shades.

To see me wearing the matte liquid lipsticks read my KVD Vegan Beauty review.

14. Illamasqua

Sian Victoria © - Illamasqua Lipsticks

The British brand Illamasqua was founded by Yorkshire lad, Julian Kynaston in 2008 who set out to challenge everything the makeup industry had delivered to date by building an emotional connection that empowers men and woman to explore and play with makeup and encourage self-expression.

Illamasqua states they always have and always will be cruelty-free. Although the high-performance and colour-intense cosmetics aren’t fully vegan there are over 300 vegan-friendly products.

They have 25 shades of light, medium and dark Beyond Foundation. Illamasqua samples can be bought for just £1 so you can find the perfect match at home and test the bendability and durability of the product before making a full-size product commitment.

The ultra-lightweight foundation is infused with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E to create a healthy-looking base. When teamed with the Gel Sculpt contouring stick and Gleam Highlighter you’ll create a chiselled glowing complexion.

Check out my Glamoween makeover event post for Halloween looks using Illamasqua.

15. Charlotte Tilbury

Rather than showing you my products I just had to show you this gorgeous Charlotte Tilbury glow-up from when I was invited to watch the Birmingham based Pro Make Up Artist Sulmaz Gallehdar enhance this models’ beautiful features in Selfridges.

Sulmaz used the Wonderglow Face Primer, Holllywood Flawless Filter foundation, the Beauty Light Wand Highlighter and the Filmstar Bronze & Glow Contour palette to create this radiant complexion.

Charlotte Tilbury is a cruelty-free beauty brand that’s not fully vegan but does have a glowing range of vegan cosmetics including face, lips, cheeks, eyes, makeup tools and perfume products.

16. Smashbox

Sian Victoria © - Smashbox, LA Lights, Highlighter stick

Smashbox a Californian cosmetic brand launched in 1996 by the great-grandsons of makeup legend Max Factor was sold to another beauty leader Estée Lauder Companies in 2010. Although Estée Lauder has always tested on animals Smashbox has remained a cruelty-free beauty brand with vegan-friendly products.

One of Smashbox’s best selling products is the vegan Photo Finish Foundation Primer. The gel-like consistency glides effortlessly onto the skin to blur imperfections and creates a smooth base for another bestselling vegan product the Studio Skin Hydrating Foundation. The foundation is a high-performance liquid that evens out skin tones and lasts up to 24 hours.

You’ll find that the Smashbox vegan products are mostly the brushes, mascaras and complexion products such as foundations, powders, primers, contouring duos and the Halo Healthy Glow SPF tinted moisturiser. It seems that their newest product drops are all vegan-friendly so hopefully there will be a lot more to come.

17. Urban Decay

Sian Victoria © - Urban Decay, Naked Skin Complexion Perfector

Discover Urban Decay's must-have beauty products for your makeup bag. While the beloved Urban Decay Hybrid Complexion Perfector has been discontinued, I've found a worthy replacement: the new All Nighter Face Primer.

This innovative primer minimises fine lines and refines pores, giving your skin a flawless finish. For natural, no-makeup days, Urban Decay's Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray is a bestseller you can't miss.

In 2012, the renowned beauty company L'Oréal acquired Urban Decay, known for its edgy and cruelty-free brand. Despite initial concerns when they considered entering the Chinese market, Urban Decay has maintained its cruelty-free status, certified by PETA. Although not entirely vegan, Urban Decay offers an extensive range of vegan products, including lip and eyeshades.

They are transparent about their ingredients and provide a comprehensive list, with some shades containing carmine, the only animal-derived ingredient used. Urban Decay uses Synthetic Wax as a cruelty-free alternative to beeswax.

18. Barry M Cosmetics

Sian Victoria © - Barry M Cosmetics, metallic cream eyeshadows

Cruelty-free since launching in 1982, Barry M Cosmetics is another favourite amongst the brands within my makeup routine. Producing incredibly effective yet affordable and high-quality beauty products, Barry M is a classic cosmetic company that you’ve most likely heard of before.

PETA Certified and using 100% recyclable packaging in their products with the use of cardboard eyeshadow palettes and PET plastic, Barry M’s expansive range of makeup, skincare and nail products are manufactured in Britain and are sustainable. So, they are a perfect choice if you’re looking to switch to a sustainable beauty routine.

To make things even better, they actively donate to wildlife charities – meaning purchasing products from this renowned company will not only transform your beauty routine but will contribute towards helping animals too.

Not only is Barry M producing exceptional great quality and highly pigmented makeup that’s affordable and cruelty-free, but every single product they produce is completely vegan! What’s not to love? I’ve been using them for almost a decade as you can see in my nourishing tinted lip balm review and smouldering glam eye makeup look posts. For this reason, they are a brand I recommend if you’re new to vegan cosmetics.

19. Revolution Beauty

Sian Victoria © - Revolution Beauty, Makeup Obsession X Rady Moonlight / Sunlight Highlighter Palette

A strong competitor amongst the vast array of affordable makeup brands today is Revolution Beauty. Hitting the shelves in recent years and becoming a staple in many of our makeup bags, this cruelty-free, luxurious yet affordable and accessible beauty brand proves effective makeup can be used by all without causing any harm to animals.

Despite not every product produced by revolution Beauty being vegan, the company is actively working towards making their entire product range 100% vegan so that they are able to be used by every makeup lover. Until then, there are plenty of products and ranges to explore and try out that will give you the appearance you desire with plant-based ingredients.

From glimmering highlighters to fascinating eyeshadow palettes and lip oils, Revolution Beauty constantly strives to follow all the latest makeup trends and create the best products they can. With all their products being relatively affordable, this company proves you don’t need to break the bank to level up your makeup routine.

Similar to The Ordinary skincare Revolution Beauty also does face and body care products using a lot of highly effective and active ingredients as their game-changing competitor. So, as well as their makeup I’m also a big fan of the Revolution skincare products, especially their salicylic acid shower gel that I’ve mentioned in my best vegan and cruelty-free bodycare brands post.

Most used Animal-derived Ingredients to avoid in makeup:

Red or pink in colour extracted from the Cochineal scale insect. Known as Carmine, CI 75470, E120, carminic acid, cochineal and crimson lake.
Wax secreted from honeybees. Known as Cera Alba, beeswax
Wax is secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Known as lanolin.

To conclude:

So, there you go. Just a few of my favourite cruelty-free brands that do have vegan makeup. I’m feeling positive that one day they’ll all (hopefully) go fully vegan as change and consumer demand are happening in the industry. You may also be interested in my cruelty-free & vegan party makeup looks post.

Let me know if there’s a cruelty-free beauty brand you love that has a 100% vegan product range and is formulated with effective skin-loving ingredients. Plus, are highly pigmented and long-lasting. I’m always on the lookout to use cleaner and kinder cosmetics.

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19 Best Cruelty-Free Makeup Beauty Brands