10 Best Vegan Makeup Brands We'll Never Get Tired Of

Did you know that most mainstream makeup brands still source animal derivatives in their products? That’s right. Your lipstick, blush, highlighter, even your foundation could contain ingredients cruelly sourced from animals.

If you are looking to transition your makeup to vegan alternatives, don’t fret. The first thing we’d always recommend doing is to get familiar with what actually makes a product not vegan. Some of the most commonly found animal derivatives you might see on shelves include:

- Glycerin, an ingredient made from animal fat found in many makeup products for its “hydrating properties.” Alternatively can be made as vegetable glycerin, from coconut, soy, or palm oil.

- Lanolin, an emollient derived from sheep’s wool, that can often be found in lipsticks, tints and balms.

- Carmine, made from crushed insects, this ingredient acts as a red color in different makeup tints.

- Casein, derived from cow’s milk,can be used also for moisturizing.

- Guanine, made by scraping the scales off of dead fish, this acts as a sparkly component in eye shadows, highlighters and some lip products.

Luckily, many brands are updating their guidelines and formulas to meet a new vegan and cruelty-free standard, and switching over your products has never been easier. That’s why we’ve rounded up ten of our absolute favorite, 100% vegan and cruelty-free makeup brands to make your transition not only smooth, but fun!

Famous for their prized 3-in-1 lip to lid balmies, this 100% vegan lipstick brand is simply what dreams are made of. Dedicated to sustainable practices and packaging, Axiology creates vegan lip crayons, balmies, and traditional lipsticks that are made with only 10 all natural ingredients, including castor oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, and elderberry extract. 

Our top pick: Cotton Candy Skies Lip-to-Lid Balmies

A sweet and dewy trio, these balmies come with the perfect colors for everyday, and are completely buildable. Switch around the color combos for a shimmer of champagne on your lid or as a highlight. Try the rose color on your eyes for a warm look, or choose the sorbet bright pink for something a little more fun.

An oldie but a goodie, Pacifica Beauty has a full line of vegan makeup products that we adore. From BB creams and concealers to eyeshadows, liners, and practically every face product you could imagine, their commitment to cruelty-free makeup is strong. Plus, they’re price points are very reasonable!

Our top pick: Vegan Collagen Fluffy Lash Mascara

We with no doubt have to go with this fan fave, the Vegan Collagen Fluffy Lash Mascara! A two in one lash boosting formula, with vegan collagen in the product, this mascara makes lashes appear extra lengthy and full, while actually helping to strengthen them.

Wow brows have met their match. Chella Beauty is a clean ingredient, vegan brand dedicated to achieving beautiful, perfectly groomed brows seamlessly. With a diverse line of brow products, the formulas are created with smooth consistency, made easy to shape and deliver definition and fluffiness. 

 Our top pick: Chella Eyebrow Defining Pencil + Defining Gel

We can’t really suggest one without the other — these two products pair in a way that is just too good to be true. Create a well-defined yet natural shape for your brows with the Eyebrow Defining Pencil, and top it off with the Defining Gel to keep them in place. The gel creates a flexible hold, not too firm or sticky like other gels. 

“Take care, not time,” is Alleyoop’s manifesto for makeup. Embodying beauty and functionality, we’ll never get tired of this brand simply because of their dedication to innovation. Alleyoop’s products are made for anyone, regardless of your skin type, expertise level in makeup, or age. Our favorites such as their “Stack the Odds Palette,” or “4-in-1 Pen Pal” make travelling with makeup easier, take up less counter space, and cut your makeup routine in half.

Our top pick: Stack The Odds Face Palette

“The best stack since pancakes. It’s blush, contour/bronzer, highlight and mini mirror in a palette that twists open so you can hold it in one hand and dab on your makeup with the other.” In three adorable shades, a muted coral blush, warm contour, and champagne highlight, a full face has never been easier. Perfect for a dewy and natural look with a little warmth.

This brand is for lovers of all things retro, space-inspired and esoteric. Aether Beauty is a eyeshadow brand that charges REALl crystal healing powers into their products, and we cannot get enough of them. Utilizing crystals such as rose quartz, amethyst, as well as other naturally-sourced ingredients like shea butter, rosehip oil, and coconut oil, Aether makes the most stunning eyeshadow palettes. Another reason to love them, they work closely to make the most sustainable packaging for all of their products. “...with removal of eyeshadow pans and elastic, this paper palette is fully recyclable and zero waste- the first in the industry!”

Highly-pigmented, the shades in Aether Beauty’s crystal gemstone palettes are made to be swiped on with one easy application, and create the most beautiful finish. With jewel-like tones in lavenders to slightly more neutral browns, this palette is the best of both worlds. Use it for a dramatic eye for a night out, or a fun day-time look. All ingredients formulated in Aether Beauty palette’s are made for sensitive skin types.