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If you’re trying to build a more ethical beauty routine, switching to vegan makeup brands is one of the easiest changes you can make. Vegan cosmetics are made without animal-derived ingredients (like beeswax, carmine, lanolin, or collagen) and most are also cruelty-free, meaning they’re not tested on animals.

The good news? Vegan makeup has improved dramatically in the past few years. Today’s formulas are high-performing, long-lasting, and widely available at every price point.

Whether you’re looking for a new foundation, lipstick, or a fully vegan beauty routine, these are some of the best vegan makeup brands to try right now.

What Makes Makeup Vegan?

Vegan makeup products contain no animal-derived ingredients.

Some ingredients commonly found in traditional makeup that vegan brands avoid include:

• Carmine (red pigment made from insects)
• Beeswax
• Lanolin (derived from sheep’s wool)
• Collagen
• Guanine (fish scales used for shimmer)

Many vegan brands are also certified cruelty-free, meaning they do not test on animals at any stage of production.

While ‘vegan’ refers to the ingredients, ‘cruelty-free’ refers to the testing process. If you want to dive deeper into brands that skip animal testing entirely, check out my full guide to my favorite cruelty free makeup brands.

Best Vegan Makeup Brands

ELF Cosmetics

• The Vibe: High-quality, trend-driven makeup that proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to get professional results.
• The Secret: They were one of the first major drugstore brands to commit to being 100% vegan and cruelty-free, making ethical beauty accessible to everyone.
• Hero Picks: The Jelly Pop Dew Primer, Hydrating Camo Concealer, and the Halo Glow Skin Tint with SPF 50.
• Why We Love It: It’s the perfect “entry point” brand for anyone transitioning their makeup bag to vegan options without breaking the bank.

Milk Makeup

• The Vibe: Cool, minimalist, and “on-the-go” beauty designed for people who want to look polished in seconds.
• The Secret: They focus on “clean” ingredients and unique delivery systems—like their signature sticks—that eliminate the need for brushes or sponges.
• Hero Picks: Balmade Electrolyte Lip Balm, the Lip + Cheek Stick, and the Matte Bronzer Stick.
• Why We Love It: Their products are incredibly multi-functional; you can do a full face in the car or at your desk with just a few swipes.

Pacifica Beauty

• The Vibe: Earth-conscious, breezy, and bright beauty that feels like a beach vacation in a bottle.
• The Secret: A long-standing pioneer in the space, Pacifica uses plant-based ingredients like vegan collagen and vitamin C to treat the skin while providing pigment.
• Hero Picks: Glow Baby Booster Serum, Vegan Collagen Fluffy Lash Mascara, and their Sun Dream Bronzer.
• Why We Love It: They are easily found at Target and Ulta, making them a reliable staple for consistent, affordable vegan beauty.

Rare Beauty

• The Vibe: Lightweight, breathable, and skin-centric makeup designed to celebrate individuality rather than hiding it.
• The Secret: Founded by Selena Gomez, the brand focuses heavily on “airy” pigments and easy-to-blend textures that look like real skin, even in high-definition.
• Hero Picks: The viral Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter, and their Kind Words Matte Lipstick.
• Why We Love It: Beyond the formulas, they are committed to mental health through the Rare Impact Fund, making every purchase feel a little more meaningful.

Summer Fridays

• The Vibe: Effortless, “cool-girl” beauty that focuses on a glowing, hydrated complexion and a refined aesthetic.
• The Secret: Infusing makeup with high-quality skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, ensuring your skin looks better even after you take the makeup off.
• Popular Vegan Picks: The iconic Lip Butter Balm, Sheer Skin Tint, and Jet Lag Mask.
• Why We Love It: Their formulas are incredibly easy to apply on the go, making them perfect for a “no-makeup” makeup look.

Merit Beauty

• The Vibe: Sophisticated minimalism designed for the “well-edited” morning routine—luxury products that are impossible to mess up.
• The Secret: A commitment to “Clean Girl” standards, stripping away unnecessary fillers and focusing on breathable, vegan formulas that mimic the texture of real skin.
• Popular Vegan Picks: The The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, Flush Balm Cream Blush, and Day Glow Highlighting Balm.
• Why We Love It: Every product in their line is designed to be multi-purpose, helping you achieve a full, polished look in under five minutes.

KVD Beauty

• The Vibe: Bold, high-pigment, and edgy “artistry” makeup for those who want dramatic results and 24-hour wear.
• The Secret: They were one of the first luxury brands to go 100% vegan, proving that you don’t need animal products to achieve extreme “tattoo-style” pigment and staying power.
• Hero Picks: The legendary Tattoo Liner, and Everlasting Hyperlight Liquid Lipstick.
• Why We Love It: If you need your makeup to survive a long day, KVD is the gold standard for durability.

Hourglass Cosmetics

• The Vibe: High-end, luxury makeup that focuses on light-refracting technology and sleek, sustainable packaging.
• The Secret: After pledging to go 100% vegan in 2017, they spent years reformulating their entire line including creating “Red 0,” a patent-pending vegan replacement for carmine (which is typically made from crushed beetles).
• Hero Picks: The Ambient Lighting Palette, Vanish Airbrush Concealer, and their Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara.
• Why We Love It: Luxury doesn’t have to mean animal-derived ingredients. Their Ambient Lighting powders are world-renowned for giving skin a blurred, airbrushed finish without looking heavy.

Tower 28 Beauty

• The Vibe: Fun, colorful, and “sunny” makeup specifically formulated for hypersensitive and eczema-prone skin.
• The Secret: They follow the National Eczema Association’s ingredient guidelines, ensuring that even their high-shine glosses and pigments won’t cause a flare-up.
• Hero Picks: The ShineOn Lip Jelly, BeachPlease Luminous Cream Blush, and the SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray.
• Why We Love It: It’s rare to find “trendy” makeup that is actually safe for super-sensitive skin, but Tower 28 nails it every time.

Haus Labs by Lady Gaga

• The Vibe: High-pigment, “artistry-meets-science” makeup that delivers professional-grade results with clean, vegan formulas.
• The Secret: Fermented Arnica, a powerhouse ingredient they use across their complexion products to help reduce redness and calm skin.
• Hero Picks: The Le Monster Lip Crayon and the Triclone Skin Tech Foundation.
• Why We Love It: It’s proof that you don’t have to sacrifice high-intensity color or “glam” results to use a 100% vegan brand.

Honorable Mentions

While the brands above are 100% vegan across their entire product lines, there are several other “vegan-friendly” brands that I still love and use. These companies aren’t fully vegan yet, but they offer incredible high-performance options that are clearly labeled:

• Tarte Cosmetics: Tarte has a massive selection of vegan products, though they still use honey or beeswax in a few specific formulas.

• Charlotte Tilbury: While not a fully vegan brand, they have page for vegan products which includes many of their cult favorites (like the Matte Revolution lipsticks in Pillow Talk and my favorite Sexy Sienna).

• Urban Decay: Known for their “Naked” palettes, they have a dedicated vegan section on their site. Their All Nighter Setting Spray is a vegan cult favorite that I still highly recommend for long-wear days.

How to Tell If Makeup Is Vegan

When shopping for vegan cosmetics, look for labels such as:

• Certified Vegan
• Cruelty-Free International Leaping Bunny logo
• Vegan Society certification

Reading ingredient lists is also helpful since some cruelty-free brands still use animal-derived ingredients.

Why Choose Vegan Makeup?

Switching to vegan cosmetics has several benefits:

Animal welfare

Vegan products avoid ingredients derived from animals.

Cleaner ingredient lists

Many vegan brands focus on plant-based formulas.

Better sustainability

Many vegan beauty companies also prioritize eco-friendly packaging.

Ready to Update Your Makeup Bag?

The beauty industry has come a long way, and today there are more vegan makeup brands than ever before. Whether you prefer drugstore prices or luxury beauty products, it’s easier than ever to build a completely vegan makeup routine.

Brands like ELF Cosmetics, Pacifica Beauty, and Milk Makeup prove that vegan beauty can be affordable, effective, and widely accessible.

If you want to dive deeper into brands that skip animal testing, check out my full guide to my favorite cruelty free makeup brands.