10 Best Vegan Makeup Brands

Even the prettiest of makeup has a dark side. There are a lot of chemicals and additives being added to many of the products we use, which helps the makeup stay sale-ready for longer.

But vegan makeup brands offer the perfect alternative. They offer beautiful product options, but do so naturally in a way that is cruelty-free, possibly organic, free of chemicals and additives, and as natural as possible.

We don't have to compromise when it comes to being kinder to animals, the environment, and our own bodies. Instead, we can look our best and also do our best with these vegan makeup brands, and the top products each company has to offer.

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1. Makeup Geek

Makeup Geek is a cruelty-free brand committed to creating high-quality, animal friendly products. Their labs, manufacturers and ingredient suppliers also do not test on animals. Makeup Geek is PETA Certified with a cruelty-free certification. The products that are not considered vegan may contain animal byproducts (milk, lanolin, carmine, honey or royal jelly).

(Try: Kathleen Lights Highlighter Palette, $25)

2. Aether Beauty

When you purchase Āether Beauty products, a portion of sales goes to environmental charities, because giving back and being sustainable is the only way to ensure we leave this planet better than we found it.

(Try: Rose Quartz Crystal Gemstone Palette, $58)

3. Arbonne

Arbonne products are formulated vegan and are certified by The Vegan Society. The high-performance RE9 Advanced Brightening products, in particular, feature the proprietary SakuraBright Complex. Botanical-based emulsifiers, surfactants and moisturizers also support the delicate skin barrier by increasing hydration.

(Try: Arbonne RE9 Advanced Brightening Collection, $39-$88)

4. Mehron

Mehron makeup is not tested on animals and many of their products are vegan! Their hydrating vegan formula houses Vitamin E and Pomegranate Extract for an ultra-smooth application with a brush or fingertips.

(Try: ECHO Pressed Glitter Palette, $25)

5. Jane Iredale

Jane Iredale is a certified cruelty-free cosmetics brand, recognized by both Leaping Bunny and PETA for THEIR voluntary commitment to no animal testing at every stage of product development and manufacturing. This pledge to cruelty-free makeup and skin care has always been at the core of this brand.

(Try: Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation, $42)

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6. Gabriel Cosmetics

All products are made with their signature formulas and are always natural, gluten-free, vegan and cruelty-free. Without compromising aesthetics, functionality, or accessibility, Gabriel products offer consumers earth conscious and ethical options to their beauty needs. All products are made from 100 percent natural ingredients with no synthetic chemicals or animal by-products.

(Try: Cream Highlighter, $19.30)

7. Sumbody

These products are handmade with natural and organic ingredients for total skin health. The brand operates under the assumption that all products need to benefit skin but also not damage the environment. But it needs to do so in way where you get what you expect (a quality product that delivers), and is kind to your skin and the earth.

(Try: Golden Honey Barely There Foundation, $23) 

8. Lip Bar

Lip Bar is a beauty product company (lipstick) that is designed to be diverse in its representation messages; confidence and perfection within all of our imperfections. Lip Bar's products are also vegan and cruelty-free.  

(Try: Holiday Collection, $37.99)

9. INIKA Organic

INIKA has been awarded one of the highest safety ratings in the world by the EWG (Environmental Working Group) and is committed to maintaining its Certified Organic, Vegan, Cruelty-Free and Halal status. It's a natural and organic mineral range, and each product is made with ingredients sourced from the earth that have cosmetic value.

(Try: Certified Organic Vegan Liquid Eyeliner, $29)

10. Vintner's Daughter

Vintner's Daughter is known for their super-powered serum, but the most interesting part of their story is their founder's history in winemaking and how she used those skills to start a line centered around skin nutrition. All the quality, methodical formulation, and region-specific ingredient sourcing that works for wine also works for skin, it seems!

(Try: Active Botanical Serum, $185)

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Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her at alywalansky@gmail.com.