We all love beauty–minus the cruelty. Even though animal testing has been outlawed in the European Union for the past six years, the United States continues to approve beauty products with ingredients that are tested on animals. What’s more, any beauty product sold in China is required by federal law to be tested on animals before being used on humans. Can you say “ancient” or what?!
Thankfully, the average consumer can turn to products labeled with the Leaping Bunny or PETA logos with confidence. You know these cosmetics must meet strict standards to qualify for a cruelty-free certification. But as more and more brands venture into the world of cruelty-free beauty, it’s becoming trickier than ever for shoppers to navigate the infinite rows of products on the shelves.
Enter our curated list of ten incredible cruelty-free beauty brands. You may be:
- New to cruelty-free beauty and not sure where to start
- Simply looking for product recommendations from the best in cruelty-free cosmetics
We’re here to share our favorite cruelty-free beauty brands. You should never have to sacrifice beauty for the prevention of animal cruelty!
1. bareMinerals
bareMinerals goes lightyears beyond cruelty-free beauty with its Clean without Compromise list, the brand’s laundry list of qualifications ranging from vegan (i.e., formulated without animal products) to gluten- and paraben-free. The brand encompasses everything from skincare to color cosmetics so that you can shop your entire routine at one convenient destination.
CUSTOMERS LOVE: At $34 a bottle, bareMinerals’ barePRO Liquid Foundation won the 2018 Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards for its lightweight, full-coverage formula.
2. BECCA Cosmetics
Best known for its glistening highlighters, BECCA Cosmetics, is the perfect brand to consult when you want a faux glow–which is essential because fake tanning = cancer-free tanning! Probably the brand’s most popular products, BECCA’s Champagne Pop collection offers sun-kissed shimmer that flatters every skin tone.
CUSTOMERS LOVE: Influenster awarded BECCA’s $38 Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter (in Champagne Pop, of course) its Reviewers’ Choice award in 2018 for its buttery texture and radiant shine.
3. Colourpop
At the risk of sounding cliche, Colourpop’s colors really do pop! High-pigmented shadows and shimmering glosses are the name of the game at Colourpop. Plus, the brand formulates all its award-winning products without animal cruelty, so you can feel good about creating that glamorous statement eye.
CUSTOMERS LOVE: Colourpop’s Create Your Own Palette feature allows customers to mix-and-match vibrant eye and cheek colors at reasonable prices–get a small palette for $24 or go big for $45.
4. e.l.f. Cosmetics
Looking for cruelty-free products that won’t break the bank? Wander over to your local drugstore’s e.l.f. Cosmetics shelf to shop cruelty-free essentials–many of which are dupes for your favorite luxury beauty products! If you’re looking to take your makeup bag from cruel to cool in a flash, e.l.f.'s products make for affordable alternatives.
CUSTOMERS LOVE: Beauty gurus obsessed with NARS’s Orgasm blush will love e.l.f.'s bestselling cruelty-free blush in Blushing Rose; at just $4, this product makes the perfect swap for animal lovers on a budget.
5. Josie Maran
Founder Josie Maran created her beauty line around a single, pure ingredient: 100% argan oil. The brand is committed to cruelty-free, quality makeup with ingredients you can trust. While Josie Maran’s best-known products fall into the skincare category, the brand’s cosmetics are vastly underrated. We recommend you prep and perfect your canvas by purchasing both!
CUSTOMERS LOVE: Josie Maran recently released its revolutionary Vibrancy Foundation Fluid; a unique, lightweight foundation formula that comes in 14 unique shades, nourishing and illuminating skin for $45 a bottle.
6. Laura Mercier
Cruelty-free beauty brand Laura Mercier knows skin like no other. Best known for its “Flawless Face” products, the brand was founded on the philosophy that “What makes you unique makes you beautiful.” We couldn’t agree more!
CUSTOMERS LOVE: For $47 per bottle, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector blurs blemishes with a dewy finish, hydrating and beautifying skin in one simple step.
7. Stila
Stila makes makeup accessible to everyone. In addition to producing cruelty-free cosmetics, the company is also committed to full digital accessibility. They take careful measures to optimize their online experience for customers with audiovisual impairments. When it comes to their makeup, “Stay All Day” is more than just a clever tagline: Stila’s products do hold their own from AM to PM, with no smudges in sight!
CUSTOMERS LOVE: Stila’s Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner got me through my winged eyeliner phase in high school. If you saw my killer throwback pictures, you’d understand why this eyeliner is the brand’s number-one selling product!
8. Tarte
Take a deep breath, because the list of toxic ingredients excluded from Tarte’s products is long! We’ll stand to highlight just a few, such as parabens, mineral oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate. The brand bears PETA’s cruelty-free logo and carries a broad range of vegan-friendly cosmetics, including a few members of its best-selling Shape Tape line.
CUSTOMERS LOVE: Tarte has been named America’s number one concealer brand, in part due to its Shape Tape Concealer; recommended by beauty YouTubers the world over, this $27 concealer will quickly become a can’t-live-without essential in your everyday routine.
9. Too Faced
Most people know Too Faced as being the brand that’s “Better Than Sex,” but what you may not know is that its products are also cruelty-free! Too Faced was founded to bring the feminine glamour back into your beauty routine. They have cosmetics designed to give you long, curly lashes and barely-there, blushing color
CUSTOMERS LOVE: You saw this one coming: Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara is universally-accepted as a beauty staple because it’s better than sex!
10. Urban Decay
The company renowned for its Naked palettes also deserves praise for its commitment to animals. Urban Decay shuns cruelty in all its products. The company even requires manufacturers to certify that raw ingredients were not tested on animals at any stage in the process. Urban Decay also carries a variety of vegan shades designed especially for the conscious consumer.
CUSTOMERS LOVE: Urban Decay’s $44 Naked Reloaded Palette recently became the latest addition to the Naked family of palettes, the line made this beauty brand a household name.
The Comments
Tiff
Love this. I’m always trying to use and find more cruelty-free brands. Thanks!