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In 2020, many of us are searching for cruelty free makeup brands. There is a desire for the fair treatment of animals in the beauty industry. It is not necessary to test on animals but many of our favourite luxury and drugstore brands do.
This is a list of the cruelty free makeup brands that I have identified. I will also point out which cosmetic brands are not cruelty free. CrueltyFreeKitty.com has the best list that I’ve found for cruelty free makeup brands.
There is a big misconception for a lot of makeup brands that they are 100% cruelty free if they sell in China. China makes it mandatory to test on animals and a lot of cosmetic brands consider this to be a big market. Because of not wanting to exclude a lot of their market, cosmetic brands will make an exception if they are selling their products in Mainland China.
For this reason, a lot of brands will not become leaping bunny certified and recognized as cruelty free by PETA. There are so many vegan options from your favourite brands and I have created a list of the best cruelty free makeup products below.
I have also created an article on the best clean makeup brands at Sephora. Anything that has the “clean makeup” seal of approval from Sephora is automatically on the list of clean, cruelty free and vegan.
Cruelty Free Makeup Brands List
Is L’Oreal Cruelty Free?
Some L’Oreal products are cruelty free but there is a bit of a misconception. L’Oreal doesn’t test all of their products on animals. When L’Oreal has a product they have finalized, they send it over to China for testing. If a cosmetic company sells in China, it is the law that they MUST test on animals. Since testing on animals is legal in China and is mandatory it makes it a grey area if the brand decides to sell makeup there.
However, L’Oreal does not use any ingredients that are tested on animals after March 2013 but any ingredients before that are fair game.
Is NARS Cruelty Free?
If you ask someone who is very strict on cosmetics being cruelty free they will tell you that NARS is not. However, in every other part of the world, NARS is cruelty free except mainland China where they decided to open sales since 2017.
NARS is owned by Shiseido which is a big player in the Chinese market. NARS had decided to start selling in China so because testing on animals is mandatory there some consider them not to be cruelty free.
I do consider NARS to be cruelty free for the most part. It is a shame that they sell in China but as long as they do not test on animals in other parts of the world I find that I can get behind that. Not everyone will agree on this point however.
Check out my reviews of NARS products:
NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation
Is Mac Cruelty Free?
According to MacCosmetics.com they do not test on animals nor do they own any animal testing facilities. They participate and partner with IIVS (Institute for In Vitro Sciences) to bring awareness to animal testing.
However, the same is true for NARS as it is for Mac Cosmetics. Because Mac doesn’t exclude who they sell to and they are present in China they must test on animals there.
Is Anastasia Beverly Hills Cruelty Free?
YES! Anastasia Beverly Hills is Cruelty Free. They make all of their products cruelty free and do not test on animals. There are a lot of Anastasia Beverly Hills products that are vegan as well.
Check out my review of Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and Brow Definer here.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Vegan Product List:
DIPBROW Promade
Liquid Lipsticks
Contour Cream Kit
Brow Wiz
Stick Foundation
Lip Gloss
Clear Brow Gel
Matte Lipstick
Brow Powder Duo
Blush Trio
Is Smashbox Cruelty Free?
Smashbox is cruelty free! Smashbox does not test on animals and has the PETA bunny logo seal of approval. Smashbox is a brand true to its roots and doesn’t believe in animal testing.
Smashbox also has a wide range of vegan products.
Smashbox Vegan Product List
Photo Finish Vitamin Glow Primer
Nourishing Face Primer Serum
Photo Finish Weightless Setting Spray
Photo Finish Fresh Setting Powder
Crystalized Photo Finish Primer Water
Studio Skin Flawless 24 Hour Concealer
Studio Skin 24 Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation
Colour Correcting Stick
Bronze Lights
O-Glow
L.A. Lights Lip & Cheek Colour
Gloss Angeles Extra Shine
Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Photo Finish Primer Water
Photo Finish Primerizer
Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer
Photo Finish Radiane Primer
Photo Finish Even Skintone Primer
Photo Finish Reduce Redness Primer
Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light
Photo Finish Protect SPF 20 Primer
Is Urban Decay Cruelty Free?
Urban Decay is cruelty free and is certified by PETA by the leaping bunny. They don’t use any suppliers that are not cruelty free and make that very clear. Urban Decay is actively trying to stop animal testing.
Urban Decay Vegan Product List:
All Nighter Setting Spray
Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeshadow
Brow Blade
Double Down Brow
Brow Finish
Beached Bronzer
All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder
All Nighter Waterproof Full-Coverage Concealer
The Velvetizer
Optical Illusion Complexion Primer
Naked Skin Correcting Fluid
All Nighter Liquid Foundation
Is Milk Makeup Cruelty Free?
Yes! Milk Makeup is cruelty free. Milk Makeup also does not sell to any country that participates in animal testing or torture. They are also not affiliated with any other beauty company that does test on animals.
The entire Milk Makeup collection is also vegan! YES that’s right every single product.
Read my review on the Milk Makeup Lip & Cheek
Read my review on “The Best Milk Makeup Products
Is Maybelline Cruelty Free?
According to PETA, Maybelline is still not cruelty free only because they sell makeup in China. Maybelline for the most part is cruelty free but they follow the same steps as L’Oreal. Unfortunately they cannot be deemed 100% cruelty free.
Is Maybelline 100% Vegan?
There are only some Maybelline products that are vegan but you will have to read the ingredients before making judgement if you want to use them. Maybelline uses ingredients such as beeswax, carmine and lanolin so they cannot be considered 100% vegan.
Is E.L.F. Makeup Cruelty Free?
YES! E.L.F. Makeup is 100% Cruelty Free. According to PETA, elf remains committed to being cruelty free and vegan! All of their brushes are synthetic and they do not use any animal testing on any of their products. Even though ELF Makeup may not be the most luxurious brand, there are still many dupes of your favourite luxury products that they create.
Is E.L.F. Makeup Vegan?
YES! ELF Makeup is 100% vegan so you can shop from any product you like if you are keeping to vegan only brands.
Is NYX Cruelty Free?
Yes! NYX is cruelty free! NYX prides itself on never testing on animals and has received the leaping bunny seal fro PETA. They also do not use any animal derivatives in their cosmetics so you can be sure they are bunny friendly.
Is NYX Vegan?
Sorta! There are a number of formulas that NYX creates that are vegan. You will be able to determine which products from NYX are vegan based on their website or you can use the list below.
NYX Vegan Product List:
On the Rise Volume Liftscara
Born to Glow! Naturally Radiant Foundation
Bare with me Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Lip Conditioner
Pro Foundation Palette
Lip Lingerie Push Up Long Lasting Lipstick
Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Matte
Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil
Glitter Goals Liquid Eyeliner
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Concealer
Bare with me Tinted Skin Veil
A Bit Jelly Gel Illuminator
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Setting Powder
California Beamin’ Face and Body Bronzer
Is Charlotte Tilbury Cruelty Free?
YES! Charlotte Tilbury is 100% cruelty free! Charlotte Tilbury does not sell to China and does not test on animals. Charlotte Tilbury recently received the leaping bunny and has passed!
Are Charlotte Tilbury Products Vegan?
No not all products from Charlotte Tilbury are vegan but there is a small list of products that are.
Charlotte Tilbury Vegan Product List:
Best Cruelty Free Makeup Products
Makeup Primer
Makeup primers are great for making your foundation last all day. There are many cruelty free makeup primers that do the job without hurting animals. The best cruely free makeup primer in my opinion is the Milk Makeup Luminous Blur Stick Primer.
The Luminous Blur Stick is one of Milk Makeup’s best sellers with a silicone free formula that blurs pores. As mentioned above, all of Milk Makeup’s products are 100% vegan so you can really pick anything from the line. The Luminous Blur Stick Primer does have a bit of a shine to it but there is also a matte version.
| Best For | Slightly luminous glow |
| Price | $48/1oz |
| Skin Type | All Skin Types |
| Purpose | Blur out pores before makeup |
| Finish | Luminous |
| Buy | Sephora |
Makeup Foundation
If you’re looking for a foundation that is vegan and lasts all day, this one is perfect for you. The Urban Decay Stay Naked Foundation will keep you looking flawless for 24 hours or more and with over 50 shades you’ll be able to find one that matches perfectly.
| Best For | Long wear |
| Price | $39.00/1oz |
| Skin Type | Combination to Oily |
| Coverage | Light to Medium |
| Finish | Matte |
| Buy | Sephora |
Blush
One of the best cruelty free blushes is TooFaced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush. TooFaced is also vegan and 100% cruelty free. With this baked blush formula, you’ll get a healthy pink glow with a buildable finish. It comes in two shades that look good on most skin tones.
| Best For | Long wear |
| Price | $39.00/1oz |
| Skin Type | Combination to Oily |
| Coverage | Light to Medium |
| Finish | Matte |
| Buy | Sephora |
Eyeshadow
Anastasia Modern Renaissance is the best vegan and cruelty free eyeshadow palette that I can think of. This is one of my most favourite eyeshadow palettes because it blends so perfectly and is so easy to wear.
| Best For | Blendable Eyeshadow |
| Price | $55 CAD |
| # of Shades | 14 |
| Finish | Matte and Shimmer |
| Buy | Sephora |
Mascara
The best cruelty free and vegan mascara also has to be from Milk Makeup. They have perfected their KUSH High Volume Mascara which glides over lashes evenly. The KUSH High Volume Mascara has cannabis seed oil which helps to nourish the lashes. Don’t be fooled by other cruelty free mascaras – this one will really lengthen your lashes and give you the same fullness as any other vegan mascara.
| Best For | Lengthening Lashes |
| Price | $32 CAD |
| Type | Length and Volume |
| Buy | Sephora |
Lipstick
There are so many cruelty free and vegan lipsticks out there! The best vegan lipstick in my opinion is by Ilia. You really want a lipstick that has lasting staying power and not many cruelty free brands provide that. Ilia has perfected the mix between cruelty free vegan beauty and quality.
| Best For | Nourishing Lips with Colour |
| Price | $37 CAD |
| Type | Colour Lipstick and Balm |
| Buy | Sephora |
There you have some of the vegan and best cruelty free makeup brands list.
