Make sure your makeup bag is as meat-free as your dinner plate...
YOU’RE adapting to your new cruelty-free lifestyle far easier than you expected this Veganuary. You now make a tasty curried coconut quinoa dish and, while it’s still debatable, soya milk in your brews is not so bad. You don’t miss your previous life much. After all, you’re guilt free. Congrats to you.
But wait – did you update your makeup bag? While you may have denounced all meat from your plate, chances are your makeup bag is as meaty as a Sunday carvery.
It’s a forgivable oversight. The cosmetic industry is a minefield if you’re a conscious consumer. While some brands are labelled cruelty-free (this is loosely regulated too), they might contain animal by-products and may not be considered vegan.
For new vegans, it’s time to count out the likes of M.A.C, Bobbi Brown, Dove, L’Oréal, Maybelline, Pantene and more; all which have been deemed ‘not cruelty-free’ according to PETA. No need to go barefaced, though, there are hundreds of other cosmetic companies who have received the PETA approval for not testing on animals and/or not using animal by-products (see the full list here.)
To make guilt-free shopping easier, we've put together a list of makeup brands championing vegan and cruelty-free makeup
ARBONNE
100% VEGAN, CRUELTY-FREE AND BOTANICAL-BASED INGREDIENTS
Arbonne has been a committed leader in ethical beauty for 36 years. All of Arbonne’s products are cruelty-free, botanical-based, 100% vegan - with no animal by-products across skincare, haircare and makeup brands. That’s some good going.
Best Buy: There’s much to buy at Arbonne but the ‘Got You Covered’ mineral powder is a good bet (£15)
Available online at Arbonne
HOURGLASS COSMETICS
CRUELTY-FREE, INCLUDES A VEGAN LINE
Luxury cosmetics brand Hourglass have made no bones about it: they ‘have no intention of supporting animal testing’. Created by industry veteran Carissa Jane, the makeup and skincare range includes an extensive vegan makeup collection: primers, foundations and their popular lighting powders. A high-end label, Hourglass may have sacrificed the use of animal testing but not the quality and performance of their products. This is great quality makeup.
Best Buy: Go for the brilliantly luminescent ambient lighting bronzers (£40) - buy here
Available at Harvey Nichols
INIKA ORGANIC
CRUELTY-FREE, ORGANIC & 100% VEGAN
Inika Organic is fully certified by organic, vegan, halal and testing authorities. You’re in safe hands with the Australian makeup brand. Enjoy 100% natural ingredients derived from exotic plants.
Best Buy: Inika boast ‘the world’s first organic vegan lipstick range' infused with jojoba, shea butter and argan oils (£18) - buy here
Available online at Inika
URBAN DECAY
NO ANIMAL TESTING WITH VEGAN PRODUCTS
We tend to seek this brand for drama, particularly a dramatic smokey eye. They remain free from drama when it comes to their ethical policy, however. Urban Decay are cruelty-free and Peta approved. Many of Urban Decay’s makeup products are also vegan – yet not all. They’re honest about it, though; stating that, as long as they can deliver the same high-quality products, they will convert products ‘to 100% vegan ingredients’ using synthetic alternatives.
Best Buy: Beauty blogger favourite Naked skin concealer (£17.50) - buy here
Available at various department stores
COVER FX
100% CRUELTY-FREE & VEGAN
Leaders of flawless foundation coverage Cover FX are not only leaving our skin pore-free but guilt-free too. Cover FX is not only cruelty-free, it’s vegan with none of the ingredients used deriving from animal product. This is game-changing news for high-end cosmetics; Cover FX are proving you don’t need to squander ethics for effective products. Kudos.
Best buy: The widely recommended enhancer drops is one of the best highlighters on the market (£34) - buy here
Available at Harvey Nichols
NAILBERRY
ALL POLISHES VEGAN AND CRUELTY-FREE
Your nails are not off the hook. Not only do Nailberry offer pretty polishes that promise to protect and oxygenate your nails, it’s an entirely cruelty-free and vegan line. Created by a nature-loving interior designer Sonia, Nailberry allows a pretty, long-lasting manicure without the threat of dry and dehydrated nails.
Best Buy: The entire collection (bottles start at £13.50) - buy here
Available online at Nailberry
KAT VON D
CRUELTY-FREE, EXPANDING VEGAN RANGE
#VeganAlert, the ever-popular makeup artist and tattoo model Kat Von D is shaking up her international makeup range and attempting to develop all vegan formulas. Gradually, the brand is releasing more and more products containing no animal by-products. Check the website's #VeganAlert page for the full list.
Best Buy: We want everything from the Kat Von D range but the 'Lock It!' concealer cream has staying power (it actually doesn't budge for 24 hours) - see here
Available at Debenham
B. BEAUTY
100% VEGAN
The ‘B’ is for beautiful, say B. Beauty. Beautiful both in makeup and intent, we gather. Exclusive to Superdrug, the premium yet affordable brand is cruelty-free and vegan across its makeup and skincare ranges. B. Beauty have an extensive and tailored skincare ranges worth indulging in.
Best Buy: The 'confident hyaluronic acid facial spritz to keep skin clear (£7.99) - buy here
Available at Superdrug
LUSH
CRUELTY-FREE, 100% VEGETARIAN WITH MANY VEGAN PRODUCTS
You haven’t lived until you’ve filled your bathtub up with a bubbling, neon pink bath bomb. Lush has a huge fanbase, a lot of which are fans of its cruelty-free ethos. A 100% cruelty-free and vegetarian brand, stores also house many vegan products spanning skincare, makeup and hair care.
Best Buy: The Lush 'Veganese' hair conditioner works wonders on fine hair - see here
Available at various Lush stores
TOO FACED
100% CRUELTY-FREE, WITH MANY VEGAN LINES
This brand may be Too Faced but it's firmly on the side of animals with its cruelty-free brand. Too Faced sells itself as a ‘serious beauty brand which knows how to have fun’ - and we'd agree. While the products are fun, girly and carefree, the founders are strong on their ethical stance, with many products being vegan-friendly.
Best Buy: The ‘Better Than Sex Mascara’: with a name like that, there's no need for the hard-sell (£19) - see here
Available at Debenhams
