If you think there isn’t much cruelty free and vegan makeup around, then think again! Below are our top picks for vegan makeup brands sold online and in UK stores at a budget, moderate and luxury level price.
Budget vegan makeup brands
e.l.f.
‘‘All of our makeup is cruelty free and our entire range except the essential brush collection is vegan friendly.’’
e.l.f. Cosmetics offers a complete line of makeup and professional tools at very low cost. Their affordable prices make e.l.f a great brand for those on a budget, or just starting out with makeup. Some of the brand’s best selling vegan products are the High Definition Powder and the Baked Highlighter (pictured).
https://www.elfcosmetics.co.uk/
Barry M
‘‘Here at Barry M, we love cosmetics but we love animals too.’’
Barry M are a British brand who have been cruelty free since 1982. The company is similar to e.l.f in that they offer quality makeup at affordable prices, however where Barry M differ is in their playful nature. They sell highly pigmented products, such as a large range of eye-shadow pots and even colour changing lipsticks! The shade ‘‘unicorn’’ (pictured below) is my personal favourite.
B. Makeup
“Since it’s inception B. has offered the highest quality, vegan, cruelty free beauty products.”
B. Makeup is Superdrug’s own makeup range, available both online and in store. The range is suitable for vegans and is Leaping Bunny approved cruelty free. The range covers everything from foundations in a Matte finish and concealers, to lip scrubs and setting sprays. The range also includes a multitude of makeup brushes and makeup application sponges, alongside eye-lash curlers and tweezers.
https://www.superdrug.com/brandshop/B/makeup
Moderate vegan makeup brands
Beauty without Cruelty
‘‘100% suitable for vegans and vegetarians.’’
Beauty Without Cruelty has been a cruelty free makeup brand for over thirty years, whilst also caring for the environment by using recycled materials where possible and finding methods of sourcing which minimise their footprint on the planet. The brand also uses natural and pure ingredients and their products are not irritating for sensitive skin, as they are hypoallergenic and fragrance free. The brand sells a more neutral product range, but bright lipsticks, eyeshadows and nail varnishes can also be found.
The Body Shop
‘‘Enhance your natural beauty with our cruelty free make up collection.’’
The Body Shop were the first global beauty brand to fight against animal testing in cosmetics and along with Cruelty Free International their combined efforts led to a European Union ban on animal testing in 2013. The makeup range is cruelty free, 100% vegetarian and contains no carmine, no petroleum, no mineral oil and no gluten. As for vegan makeup products, they offer a large range of foundation colours (around 16 shades), brow and lash gel, blusher, eyeshadows and bronzers, amongst many other products.
https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/make-up
benecos
“At benecos we offer bright, modern, cruelty free products all at affordable prices.”
benecos is a German company, founded in 2008 who offer a natural approach to cruelty free makeup. The brand confirm online that they do not condone animal testing for cosmetic finished products, neither for their prototypes, nor their ingredients. They also do not commission third parties to conduct animal testing. benecos offer an organically derived, natural looking makeup range, with products such as their creamy foundation and mineral powders. The range is stocked in health food shops, boutiques and smaller retailers in the UK, Ireland and Wales (please see website for further information on stockists).
Luxury vegan makeup brands
Kat Von D
“Kat Von D Beauty is, (and always will be) 100% cruelty-free.”
Kat Von D makeup is a top global brand with more followers on social media than any other makeup brand today. The range is inspired by the woman herself, who defies typical standards of beauty and inspires her fans to do the same. The makeup range is not only stylishly packaged, but the makeup powerfully performs too. The latter is down to Kat Von D’s strict moral code of delivering a vegan and cruelty free makeup range that offers the most highly pigmented and daring colour shades available; alongside ethics and quality. The range is now stocked exclusively at Debenhams in the UK and includes the cult favourites: “Lock-it Foundation”, “Tattoo Liner” and the “Shade + light Pallet.” Prices start from £20 upwards.
http://www.debenhams.com/beauty/kat-von-d
Inika
“Inika is Certified Cruelty Free with Australia’s Choose Cruelty Free Organisation.”
Inika are an Australian company who are a pioneer in organic makeup and claim to sell ‘the world’s purest products’ that are certified vegan and not tested on animals. The brand are passionate about quality and all their ingredients are ethically sourced, natural and derived from botanicals or minerals. Inika are known to be a high-quality brand that sell a more natural shade range, alongside a range of vegan brushes; including the new Limited Edition Flawless Liquid Brush. The company also sell a practical “Face in a Box” Starter Kit. Their products are available at various retailers around the UK (follow the link for a store locator map).
https://www.inikaorganic.com/uk/locator
Spectrum
‘‘No unicorns were harmed in the making of Spectrum Brushes.’’
Spectrum brushes are a PETA registered and Vegan Society trademarked cruelty free brush brand. All of the company’s brushes are made of the highest quality synthetic hair. They state that once you feel the super-soft bristles you’ll never go back to using animal derived brushes. The company sell a huge section of the most modern, colourful, creative and fun brushes around! From “Sassy Sirens” and “Ultimate Unicorn Goals”, to my personal favourite: “Pearly Queen”. They company also sells vegan brush soap, storage bags and containers in quirky and modern designs. Spectrum offer free UK shipping on orders over £50 and the brand can be bought online from multiple retailers.
https://www.spectrumcollections.com/
If you have any other cruelty free vegan makeup recommendations, please let us know in the comments below!
By Laura Elizabeth Tomlinson
I don’t think elf and Barry m are certified
You should check out Moonlight Mermaids! They’re a new vegan brand that launched in February.
Germany and Australia aren’t British though?
The article title is ‘A guide to vegan makeup brands in the UK’, not ‘A guide to vegan makeup brands made in the UK’.
FACE ATELIER is my fave brand. Totally cruelty free and is the make up chosen by many top celebs. You can purchase through UK online agents. I love their foundation https://dollfacehouseofmakeup.com/products/face-atelier-ultra-foundation-pro?variant=37132582781099¤cy=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6J-SBhCrARIsAH0yMZi1_prTM-zTb3YcZtYER9oBHtAf0MmrO7y26pGpoE_AiT62T_TjOC4aAlaLEALw_wcB
Hi. We are happy that the vegan lifestyle is becoming more and more popular. You can also add our store to your list. https://veautie.com is a newly established store with vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, where you can buy make-up, skin and hair care products.
Not sure why Benecos is listed here on your vegan site. They are cruelty free and PETA certified, but not a vegan brand. For example, they include beeswax and carmine (a squashed insect used as red pigment in cosmetics and foodstuff) as ingredients in some of their products. Why provide false information on this site for people? 3/12/23