Gone are the days when cruelty-free makeup meant sacrificing quality! Today’s beauty brands have quickly proven that you can have it all. You can have long-wear, skin-loving ingredients while committing to being kind to animals. In this guide, we highlight some cruelty-free makeup brands that experts love and use in their kits!
From drug store staples to clean luxury lines, these brands deliver on performance without compromising values! Before we discuss those cruelty-free products, though, it’s essential to explain what it means to be Leaping Bunny or PETA Certified, as brands should have these certifications to be trustworthy, cruelty-free makeup brands!
Leaping Bunny and PETA Certified: What Does This Mean?
While the terms PETA certified and Leaping Bunny certified are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing, and it’s critical to understand the difference!
PETA Certifed
PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization, through its Global Beauty Without Bunnies program, ensures that companies sign a statement of assurance that verifies that they do not and will not conduct, commission, or pay for animal testing on ingredients, formulations, or finished products. This process is quicker than others and much easier to obtain for smaller or newer brands; however, it relies on self-reporting as it does not require independent audits or in-depth supply chain vetting.
Leaping Bunny Certified
Through the organization Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), earning the Leaping Bunny certification means that the brand must not test on animals at any stage of product development and must ensure that its entire supply chain, including ingredient suppliers, follows this standard. It also requires signed declarations from manufacturers and suppliers and mandatory audits every few years. This process towards certification and maintaining it is much more rigorous, making it more complex and challenging for smaller companies to qualify due to the supply chain auditing requirements. This is why you will likely see many smaller and up-and-coming companies first go for the PETA certification.
When looking for cruelty-free makeup products, look for either of these certifications to provide peace of mind. If you’re looking for cruelty-free, vegan products, look for specific vegan labeling on each product unless you know the overall brand is also vegan-certified. While some might think that cruelty-free and vegan are also interchangeable, they are not. To learn more about that, look for an upcoming article, where we break that down!
Now, let’s get to those cruelty-free, expert-loving makeup products!
Top Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands Loved by Experts
e.l.f. Cosmetics
This extremely affordable, cruelty-free makeup brand is in many pro makeup artist kits for its high-quality formulas! With both the Leaping Bunny and PETA certifications, and also being a 100% vegan company that is readily available, e.l.f. Cosmetics provides makeup lovers and ethical shoppers the chance to glow together! Some notable products include their Power Grip Primer and Halo Glow Liquid Filter!
Rare Beauty
Founded by Selena Gomez, Rare Beauty is loved by celebrity makeup artists for its lightweight, inclusive, and buildable formulas. Complete with the PETA cruelty-free certification and being 100% vegan, this cruelty-free makeup brand also gets points for its mental health messages woven into its marketing. Notable products that are highly rated among experts include the Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer, Kind Words Lip Liner, and Soft Pinch Liquid Blush.
Milk Makeup
Both Leaping Bunny certified and 100% vegan since 2019, Milk Makeup provides experts with bold formulas that work! Some notable products include their Hydro Grip Primer and Kush Mascara! Experts also praise Milk Makeup for their on-the-go stick-formulated products and clean ingredients!
Tower 28
This Leaping Bunny-certified makeup brand was created with sensitive skin in mind! It uses clean formulas, such as ensuring all products are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic. Still, it doesn’t lose color or wearability, making it a makeup artist’s dream. On top of that, it’s specifically allergy-tested, fragrance-free, and designed for those with eczema-prone skin. Some notable products include their BeachPlease Cream Blush and ShineOn Lip Jelly!
Kosas
Kosas is a cruelty-free makeup brand that is a hit with makeup experts, beauty editors, and dermatologists for its reputation for utilizing clean, skin-improving ingredients! This expert-loved brand is Leaping Bunny certified and vegan-friendly, but it’s not 100% vegan, as some products contain beeswax or lanolin, so it’s important to always check your labels when shopping! A few notable products include their Revealer Concealer and Cloud Set Powder!
ILIA Beauty
A Leaping Bunny-certified makeup company that is also dermatologist-approved, ILIA Beauty uses skin-focused formulas that blend makeup with skincare! A bonus is that many of their products are vegan (not 100%, as some use beeswax) and made with organic ingredients. Some beauty editorials praise this brand for combining sun protection, skincare, and hybrid makeup products, such as their Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40.
Tarte Cosmetics
This PETA-certified makeup brand is widely used by professional makeup artists, who praise it for its high-performance and long-wear formulas. While not 100% vegan, this brand offers a fantastic vegan collection and has been praised for being clearly labeled, so it’s easy for shoppers to know exactly what they’re getting! A few notable products from this cruelty-free makeup brand include their Shape Tape Concealer and Tartelette In Bloom Eyeshadow Palette.
Charlotte Tilbury
As of 2023, Charlotte Tilbury is a cruelty-free makeup brand that has become Leaping Bunny certified. Its notable products include Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder and Pillow Talk Lipstick. Many celebrity makeup artists love Charlotte Tilbury’s products, especially when it comes to red-carpet looks! It is important to note that while now cruelty-free through its Leaping Bunny certification, not all products are considered vegan, so it’s important to check individual items!
Honorable Mentions
LYS Beauty
LYS Beauty is a Leaping Bunny-certified, Black-owned brand that is beginning to make serious waves among experts for its clean, inclusive, and cruelty-free makeup products! Some highly loved products include their Triple Fix Serum Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid and Turmeric and their Aim High Multi-Use Liquid Highlighter!
Merit Beauty
Founded by Katherine Power, experts love this cruelty-free, Leaping Bunny-certified brand for its minimalistic, clean, and vegan products that help simplify routines by having many multifunctional products! Some of those notable products include their Flush Balm and Minimalist Complexion Stick!
Final Thoughts
With so many incredible cruelty-free makeup brands on the market and even more on their way up to the top, building an ethical beauty routine with expert-loving products is easier than ever. Whether you’re drawn to the skin-first formulas of ILIA Beauty, the affordability of e.l.f. Cosmetics, or the bold innovation of Milk Makeup, there really is a cruelty-free brand out there for every routine and budget! In today’s beauty landscape, doing good looks as good as feeling good!
