Cruelty-free and vegan makeup is a bit hard to find these days, but as it turns out, it’s on the rise. More and more companies are trying to make their products free of animal testing and animal products. By 2020, any cosmetics or ingredients tested on animals will be illegal in the state of California, according to a BAZAAR article. This is all great, but what are some things you can find at the store right now that are cruelty-free and vegan? While we wait for a great change in the makeup industry, here are some brands you can shop from that are either cruelty-free and vegan or cruelty-free with some vegan products.
I will be gauging the affordability for each brand on a scale of 1-5 stars, 1 star being cheap/very affordable and 5 stars being very expensive.
100% Cruelty-Free and Vegan
-
Colourpop Cosmetics, 1.5 stars
Image Courtesy of Instagram
Based in Los Angeles, CA, Colourpop has offered great quality products for anyone on a budget. For a while, they were an online-only brand, but have recently branched out to retailers such as Ulta Beauty and Sephora. Colourpop always comes out with collections and collaborates with beauty influencers, and who doesn’t want a makeup product made by their favorite influencer? Plus, the packaging for their collections is cute AF. With the quality of the products for the price, Colourpop is definitely one of the top brands out there that is both cruelty-free and vegan.
2. e.l.f. Cosmetics, 1 star
Image Courtesy of Instagram
Elf Cosmetics is known for having very cheap products, the cheapest being $1. It’s perfect for creating a flawless look under $20. Elf has been stepping up their game with their hit products like the new Putty Primer and the Flawless Finish Foundation. If you’re looking for some low priced alternatives to the more expensive products, e.l.f. Cosmetics is an amazing choice!
3. Jeffree Star Cosmetics, 3.5 stars
Image Courtesy of Instagram
If you’ve been on the internet for the past 10 years, then you might know who Jeffree Star is or have heard of him. From making music to owning his own cosmetic line, Star has really invested in making cruelty-free and vegan products! Star is known for his Velour Liquid Lipsticks, which is what his makeup brand first consisted of. After gaining rave reviews on his stellar lipsticks, he started branching out to different products like eyeshadow palettes and highlighters while still maintaining to be cruelty-free and vegan. Jeffree Star Cosmetics is on the pricier side, but the quality of the products speak for itself. If you’re looking to splurge a little, this is a great brand to pick a few things up from.
Cruelty-Free and Some Vegan
4. NYX Cosmetics, 1.5 stars
Image Courtesy of Instagram
NYX Cosmetics has been making quality products since 1999 and strives to make their products without animal products (as possible) and without animal testing. If you visit this page on their website, they have products compiled with their vegan formula so you don’t have to worry about if you’re buying a non-vegan product or not! I’ve used NYX for years, and they never disappoint.
5. Kylie Cosmetics, 3.5 stars
Image Courtesy of Instagram
This one came as a surprise to me, because a Bustle article states that Kylie Cosmetics and Colourpop Cosmetics are sister companies under Seed Beauty and yet Colourpop is entirely vegan. However, while they do share this trait, they operate under separate facilities and have stated that they are both different in their teams and practices. That being said, you can find a list here which compiles a list of everything in the cosmetic line that is vegan. Rest assured that if you love the Kylie Lip Kits, they are all vegan!
6. Morphe Brushes, 2.5 stars
Image Courtesy of Instagram
Morphe has gained a lot of popularity of the years, collaborating with famous beauty influencers like Jaclyn Hill, James Charles and Jeffree Star. Morphe was originally known for their makeup brushes but eventually branched out to be a full-on makeup line. While Morphe does have brushes with natural hair, they do have some with synthetic bristles. Same goes with the rest of their products. If you look here, you can see on their website what their vegan-friendly products are! Keep in mind that you will also see products from Jeffree Star Cosmetics because Morphe is their retailer!
While cruelty-free and vegan products are hard to find, they are definitely out there and many other brands are jumping on the bandwagon. If you would like more options on cruelty-free brands or wish to see in your own collection what’s cruelty-free and what’s not, you can download this app that will tell you by taking a picture of the product! This means you can declutter items in your collection as well as prevent yourself from buying something by using the app while you shop.
While it’s sad that brands couldn’t start being cruelty-free to begin with, I’m glad that it’s happening now. Better late than never, right?