Home » Beauty

The 15 Best Vegan Makeup Brands and Must-Try Products for a Compassionate Beauty Routine

Discover the top vegan makeup brands and their must-try products for beautiful, cruelty-free looks that never compromise on ethics or performance.

By Medha deb

Created on Oct 2, 2025

Discover the top vegan makeup brands and their must-try products for beautiful, cruelty-free looks that never compromise on ethics or performance.

If you’ve committed to cruelty-free beauty, there’s another level to the ethical makeup game: vegan makeup. Unlike cruelty-free products—which are not tested on animals but may contain animal-derived ingredients—vegan makeup uses zero animal-based ingredients or byproducts, and is also never tested on animals. With consumer awareness at an all-time high and innovation in formulas surging, vegan beauty choices have exploded in quality and variety.

Below, discover fifteen leading vegan makeup brands—and their must-try products—so you can build a gorgeous, effective, and truly animal-friendly beauty routine.

What Does Vegan Makeup Mean?

Vegan makeup means no animal ingredients or byproducts whatsoever. This includes avoiding well-known additives such as beeswax and carmine (a dye made from insects), but also more hidden ingredients like lanolin, collagen, and guanine (from fish scales). Brands labeled as “plant-based” or “natural” aren’t always vegan, so always check ingredients and look for clear vegan labeling. Many vegan makeup brands are also cruelty-free, but it’s important to look for both designations if you want a fully ethical beauty bag.

Cruelty-Free: Not tested on animals, but may contain animal-derived ingredients.
Vegan: Contains no animal-derived ingredients or byproducts and is usually cruelty-free.

Why Choose Vegan Makeup?

There are several compelling reasons to choose vegan makeup:

It’s kinder to animals, avoiding both animal testing and the use of animal byproducts.
Vegan beauty brands often use more plant-derived and eco-friendly ingredients.
Formulas are usually suitable for sensitive skin, avoiding common animal-based allergens.
It supports a more sustainable, lower-impact industry.

How to Identify Truly Vegan Makeup

Makeup labeled as “clean,” “natural,” or “plant-based” is not always vegan—these terms can be used loosely in marketing. For guaranteed vegan makeup:

Check for official vegan certification or labeling.
Look for official cruelty-free logos such as Leaping Bunny or PETA, noting that cruelty-free is not the same as vegan.
Read the ingredient list for hidden animal byproducts (see table below).

**Common Animal-Derived Ingredients to Avoid**
Ingredient	Source	Common Use
Carmine	Insect dye	Lipsticks, blush, eye products
Beeswax (Cera Alba)	Bees	Lip balms, mascaras
Lanonlin	Sheep wool	Mascara, lip products
Guanine	Fish scales	Shimmer eyeshadow, highlighters
Collagen	Animal tissue	Primers, anti-aging foundation

The 15 Best Vegan Makeup Brands and Their Must-Try Products

1. The Lip Bar

The Lip Bar began as a brand dedicated to inclusive, bold lip colors but now offers everything from tinted moisturizers to eye palettes. Every product is 100% vegan and never tested on animals.

Best for: Diverse skin tones, accessible pricing, all-in-one solutions.
Must-Try: Just A Tint 3-in-1 Tinted Skin Conditioner — a lightweight, nourishing complexion product great for natural everyday looks.

2. KVD Beauty

KVD Beauty (formerly Kat Von D Beauty) is known for high-pigment, long-lasting makeup—and a full commitment to being vegan and cruelty-free. Their formulas perform at a professional level, loved by both makeup artists and newbies alike.

Best for: Statement eyes, bold color, long wear.
Must-Try: Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner — a cult-favorite for super-precise, smudge-proof lines.

3. E.l.f. Cosmetics

E.l.f. Cosmetics is beloved for offering quality vegan and cruelty-free makeup at budget prices—most products are under $10! The brand covers it all, from primers and foundations to mascaras and blushes.

Best for: Affordable basics, drugstore accessibility, trendy products.
Must-Try: Jelly Pop Primer — a hydrating, smoothing base primer perfect for all skin types.

4. B. Simone Beauty

B. Simone Beauty specializes in show-stopping lip products. From classic creamy lipsticks to ultra-glossy finishes, everything is vegan, high-quality, and designed to last all day.

Best for: Lip lovers, statement makers, long-lasting color.
Must-Try: Diamond Lip Gloss — rich, sparkly shine that never feels sticky.

5. Bite Beauty

Bite Beauty focuses on plant-powered ingredients for luxurious, skin-loving color cosmetics. Their products are packed with high-impact pigments and nourishing oils, ensuring you never sacrifice performance for your principles.

Best for: Creamy textures, bold color, nourishing formulas.
Must-Try: Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon — plush, hydrating, and packed with vibrant color.

6. Merit Beauty

Merit Beauty offers minimalist, chic, and effective makeup. Their award-winning formulas focus on skin health, ease of use, and safe, gentle ingredients for you and your pets.

Best for: Subtle glam, fast routines, sensitive skin.
Must-Try: Day Glow Highlighting Balm — delivers a dewy, soft sheen that flatters all skin tones.

7. Cover FX

Cover FX is a leader in vegan face-focused makeup, praised for its dermatologist-tested, clean formulas, wide shade range, and gentle ingredients safe for all skin types. They excel in complexion products.

Best for: Foundations, concealers, sensitive skin, clean beauty.
Must-Try: Natural Finish Foundation — customizable coverage with a natural, skin-like finish.

8. One Size by Patrick Starr

One Size, founded by celebrity makeup artist Patrick Starr, makes inclusive, high-performance products designed for all skin tones and identities. The brand’s philosophy is all about celebrating individuality with formulas that work—and are always kind to animals.

Best for: Inclusive shade ranges, event-ready makeup, longevity.
Must-Try: Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer — blurs skin texture while extending makeup wear.

9. Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez combines celebrity star-power with genuinely effective vegan formulas. The line is known for buildable, multipurpose products in stunning packaging—and a holistic approach to beauty and mental health.

Best for: Multitaskers, cream blush, user-friendly color.
Must-Try: Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush — silky, blendable, and great on cheeks, lips, or lids.

10. Milk Makeup

Milk Makeup is celebrated by celebrities and pros for its innovative textures and cool formulas—all 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Known for statement pigments and travel-friendly packaging.

Best for: Bold color, travel, multi-use products.
Must-Try: Sunshine Skin Tint Clean SPF 30 Foundation — a weightless tinted base with SPF for everyday dewiness.

11. Tarte Cosmetics

Tarte is not an entirely vegan brand, but their vegan product range is robust—especially in eyes and face palettes. Products are known for plant-derived ingredients and high performance.

Best for: Vegan palettes, eco formulations, fun packaging.
Must-Try: Unleashed Eyeshadow Palette — 15 vegan shades inspired by animal protection.

12-15. More Vegan Makeup Brands to Explore

Barry M — Budget-friendly, accessible, excellent for vegan nail polish and trend colors.
Gosh — Innovative color, extensive vegan range, easy to find in the UK and Europe.
Superdrug B. — Superdrug’s in-house line, vegan and affordable across a huge range of products.
Logical Harmony — Not a brand, but an essential blog and Instagram resource for current vegan/cruelty-free product lists.

Pro Tips for Choosing Vegan Makeup

Don’t assume plant-based or animal-friendly equals vegan—always check for specific labeling or certification.
Research key animal-derived ingredients and memorise their alternate names (see table above), so you can spot them on ingredient labels.
Consider your tools: many makeup brushes use animal hair, but the best synthetic options work just as well and are often better for precision and longevity.
Follow dedicated vegan beauty blogs and hashtags (#veganbeauty) on social media for current product launches and reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Vegan Makeup

Q: Does cruelty-free mean vegan?

A: No. Cruelty-free means the product isn’t tested on animals but may contain animal-derived ingredients like beeswax or lanolin. Vegan means no animal origin ingredients whatsoever.

Q: Are vegan makeup products less effective than regular alternatives?

A: Not anymore. Innovative plant-based formulas and synthetic alternatives mean vegan makeup performs just as well—if not better—than non-vegan options, from pigment payoff to wear time.

Q: Is vegan makeup always better for sensitive skin?

A: Vegan makeup often avoids common allergens (like lanolin) found in animal-based ingredients. However, always patch-test as plant-based formulas can still cause irritation in rare cases.

Q: Can vegan makeup also be organic?

A: Yes. Many vegan products use organic plant ingredients, but organic certification is a separate designation. Check labels for both vegan and organic if this is important to you.

Vegan Makeup Shopping & Starter Checklist

Look for clear vegan certification.
Check both ingredient lists and brand philosophy.
Explore both small indie brands and large mainstream companies with vegan ranges.
Don’t forget your brushes and tools—choose synthetic, high-quality options.

Recap: Key Takeaways for Building a Vegan Makeup Collection

Being vegan in beauty means *truly* committing to ethical consumerism: check both cruelty-free policies and ingredient lists.
There is a vegan makeup product available for every beauty need—from foundation to eyeliner to bold lip color.
Quality and innovation in vegan makeup are at an all-time high, so you never have to compromise your ethics for great performance and color payoff.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb