What is a Cruelty-Free Brand?

Cruelty-free makeup brands have been all the craze the last few years, and for good reason. Lucky for consumers, you will now see cruelty-free options in nearly every beauty store. Cruelty-free indicates that the products’ formulas and ingredients aren’t tested on animals, with some companies going as far as to remove all ingredients associated with animals. However, it’s sometimes difficult to identify if a brand is in fact cruelty-free. If you are skeptical whether the item or brand is, in fact, cruelty-free, you are in luck. These three leading brands are dedicated to ensuring a company is, in fact, as cruelty-free as they claim to be.

 

How Can I Tell if a Product Is From a Cruelty-Free Brand?

A bunny logo on a product will be an easy telltale sign that the product is cruelty-free. Leaping Bunny, PETA, and Choose Cruelty-Free are three brands that certify cruelty-free products. Look for any of these logos, and you will find the perfect products for you. Another option is to look on the company’s website. A cruelty-free brand will clearly state that they do not test their products or ingredients on animals at any production stage. Below, you will find the easily identifiable cruelty-free certification logos.

Keep reading to familiarize yourself with 18 cruelty-free makeup brands to shop in 2024. Now, you can add them to your next shopping list!

 

Favorite Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands

1. Ilia

Ilia has recently been getting all the hype in the last few years for good reasons. They were founded in 2011, and their mission is focused on creating clean beauty that illuminates your inner shine. Illia blurs the lines between skincare and makeup and combines them into one product. Their Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 packs the perfect punch, giving you a glassy finish while including SPF.

 

2. Glossier

Glossier is another certified cruelty-free brand that has gained popularity for their no-makeup makeup products designed to enhance one’s natural beauty, including cult-favorite items like Boy Brow, Cloud Paint, and Lidstar.

 

3. Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury received approval two years ago from Leaping Bunny and is excited about their ongoing collaboration with the organization. You can’t go wrong choosing a product from them. With TikTok influencers selling out their Bronzer Sticks left and right, they’re a perfect brand to try out due to the hype.

 

4. Fenty

Fenty Beauty was founded in 2017 by celebrity and icon Rihanna. Their combination of inclusivity, celebrity endorsement, high-quality products, and effective marketing strategies contributed to its rapid and sustained popularity in the beauty industry.

 

5. Milk Makeup

Milk’s philosophy is centered around turning good quality ingredients into effective formulas. Milk Makeup’s sleek and portable packaging is a crucial reason for its popularity over the last few years. Plus, they are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free.

 

6. Freck Beauty

Adding freckles has been all the talk recently to add a more natural look to one’s face. With their launch in 2017, Freck has become a staple to many. The brand’s appeal lies in its ability to help individuals enhance their natural beauty with a unique and fun twist, allowing for creative expression in makeup application.

 

7. Rare Beauty

Founded in 2019 by Selena Gomez, Rare Beauty is dedicated to creating a safe space for all. Rare Beauty has mastered stellar marketing and products that leave you wanting more. Their Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is taking the internet by storm and for good reasons.

 

8. Beauty Blender

The famous Beauty Blender that is loved in everyone’s makeup collection is worth the $20 price tag. Beauty Blender’s award-winning foam creates the perfect applicator for your foundation.

 

9. Tower 28 Beauty

Tower 28 Beauty’s mission is to create clean, non-toxic, and inclusive beauty products suitable for everyone, including those with sensitive or problematic skin. They are committed to sustainability and transparency, making safe products for both people and the planet, and they prioritize inclusivity by offering a wide range of shades that cater to various skin tones.

 

10. bareMinerals

BareMinerals is cruelty-free and an excellent option for those exploring clean beauty products. Their products are often celebrated for enhancing natural beauty while providing buildable coverage.

 

11. Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant shows an unmatched dedication to clean beauty by not including the Suspicious Six in their formulas. This includes essential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and SLS. Their popular bronzing drops are worth the hype and can add a bronzy glow to your makeup routine, especially in winter.

 

12. Stila

Stila is committed to cruelty-free practices and is well known for their wide range of bold and vibrant colors, which create shimmering and glittery makeup.

 

13. About-Face

About Face was founded by singer Halsey and is a vegan and cruelty-free brand focusing on high-performance makeup with lasting pigment. With a wide variety of products, a few of my favorites include Matte Fluid Eye Paint, Fractal Glitter Eye Paint, and Light Lock Highlight Fluid.

 

14. Anastasia Beauty

Anastasia is beloved by celebrities, makeup artists, and everyday people most known for their eyebrow products. With their products, you will create twins with your eyebrows and not cousins––although both are acceptable.

 

15. Olaplex

With award-winning formulas to bring back life into your hair, Olaplex continuously come out with unique and best-selling products. A personal favorite of mine is their No.3 Hair Perfector, which leaves your hair feeling incredible. Then again, you can’t go wrong with any of their products.

 

16. Elf

It is no secret that Elf Beauty has taken the cake as a top drugstore option and has been loved by many since 2004. Their motto is, “We make quality products at get-real prices. Because we know beauty.” You definitely are able to find what you need at an incredible price. Their quality products, combined with their keen ability to create great products at an affordable price, are a perfect stop in your next drugstore visit.

 

17. Too Faced

Too Faced has been a prominent voice in the cruelty-free space before it became trendy or more widely known. My favorite product is the Better Than S*x mascara, which is a cult favorite. They have mastered best sellers with their Born This Way Foundation, breaking the internet as a favorite foundation about five years ago.