The market for vegan beauty products [1] has been around long before buzzwords like "clean," [2] "green," "organic," and "natural" started popping up on the packages of products, but the category in recent years has been fast growing. In fact, Economist reports that searches for "veganism" [3] have doubled in the US since 2015, and that doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
When a makeup, skin-care, or hair-care brand claims to be vegan [4], that means it doesn't use any animal byproducts in its formulations — no beeswax, no lanolin (an emollient derived from sheep wool), no shellac (a nail-polish ingredient created from lac bugs), or any other animal-derived ingredients. Instead, those are typically swapped with plant-based alternatives, like collagen and squalene.
The tricky part is that it's not always easy to spot ingredients containing animal byproduct on the back of a beauty label; you'll never see a lip balm list "from sheep wool" on the pack, for example. Some brands have obtained independent certifications from organizations like PETA and the Vegan Society [5], but not all. That means your best course of action is to research and familiarize yourself with commonly used ingredients before buying. To help make it a little easier, PETA has a list of animal-derived ingredients [6] often found in beauty products for easy reference.
It's also worth noting that vegan does not equal cruelty-free. While many vegan brands don't test on animals out of principle, it's not always a given. (It works the other way, too; just because a brand is cruelty-free doesn't mean it's also vegan.) You can tell if a brand is cruelty-free and doesn't test on animals by looking for the Leaping Bunny [7] certification or symbol on the brand's website or packaging or checking the Leaping Bunny Shopping Guide [8] (which also occasionally lists whether a brand is vegan, too).
Decoding the many different terms in the beauty industry can be tricky, but after doing some research, you'll be a wiz at deciphering what the claims on your products actually mean. To get you started on your vegan beauty journey, we rounded up a few of our favorite vegan skin-care, makeup, and hair brands ahead.
Best Vegan Makeup Brands: Róen
Róen's mission is to make luxurious, high-quality makeup products without compromising on ingredients. All of the products are made with clean, nontoxic ingredients and are vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. The 11:11 Eye Shadow Palette [9] ($42) is a richly pigmented, metallic shimmery eyeshadow palette that will help make your eyes pop.
Best Vegan Makeup Brands: E.l.f. Cosmetics
E.l.f. Cosmetics is 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free. It's even recognized by PETA as a member of its Beauty Without Bunnies program. If you're looking for affordable vegan cosmetics products, this is the brand for you. The Poreless Putty Primer [10] ($8) is a TikTok-famous primer that helps makeup go on flawlessly.
Best Vegan Makeup Brands: Thrive Causemetics
Minimalists will swoon over Thrive Causemetics' selection of multipurpose, vegan, and cruelty-free products. The brand carries skin care and makeup, and its Triple Threat Color Stick [11] ($36) is a long-time bestseller.
Best Vegan Makeup Brands: Cover FX
Cover FX is 100 percent vegan, cruelty-free, and PETA-approved. The brand is a one-stop shop for all things makeup and even makes brushes and other beauty tools. The Custom Blending Moisturizer [12] ($42) is a makeup-skin-care hybrid that moisturizes the skin while providing a smooth base for makeup application.
Best Vegan Makeup Brands: The Lip Bar
You can spot The Lip Bar's products on the shelves of your local Target. Rest assured, the brand's products are all vegan and cruelty-free. Once you try The Lip Bar Vegan Matte Liquid Lipstick [13] ($13), you'll be hooked on its long-lasting color payoff.
Best Vegan Makeup Brands: Bite Beauty
Bite Beauty and all of its cosmetic products are all clean, cruelty-free, and vegan. The brand is known for its lip products, but its new Upswing Full Volume Mascara [14] ($28) deserves a spot in your makeup stash, too.
Best Vegan Skin-Care Brands: Pacifica
It's written in Pacifica's logo: 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free. The brand offers makeup, skin-care, and hair-care products at an affordable price point. The Vegan Collagen Overnight Recovery Cream [15] ($24) is made with plant-derived collagen and designed to deeply nourish your skin while you sleep.
Best Vegan Skin-Care Brands: Youth to the People
Youth to the People is vegan and cruelty-free, proving you don't need animals to make effective skin care. For glowing skin, add the 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum [16] ($68) to your morning regimen.
Best Vegan Skin-Care Brands: SerumKind
SerumKind is certified vegan and cruelty-free by PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies program. The Black Blossom Drop [17] ($53) is formulated with royal black tulip from the Netherlands and helps strengthen the skin's barrier.
Best Vegan Skin-Care Brands: Pai
All Pai Skincare products are independently certified by the Vegan Society [18] and are also cruelty-free. The Instant Kalmer [19] ($79) is a hydrating and soothing serum that helps repair the skin's barrier with ceramides.
Best Vegan Skin-Care Brands: Summer Fridays
Summer Fridays was founded in 2017 right out of the gate as a vegan, cruelty-free, and clean skin-care brand. In just the short time since it launched, the brand's collection of face and body products have made their way onto many editor-approved lists. The Cloud Dew Oil-Free Gel Cream [20] ($42) is a lightweight gel formula packed with three types of hyaluronic acid.
Best Vegan Skin-Care Brands: Nuria
Making vegan and cruelty-free skin-care products with ethical, eco-friendly ingredients is a top priority for Nuria. The brand's Defend Gentle Exfoliator [21] ($18) is a gentle chemical exfoliator made with ginkgo, a tree native to China, which provides the skin with antioxidants.
Best Vegan Hair Brands: Aveda
On Jan. 1, Aveda announced that its portfolio of 500-plus products will be 100 percent vegan moving forward, as well as cruelty-free. The brand has a variety of hair products to fit every need, but the Be Curly Curl Enhancer [22] ($27) is perfect for combating frizz and adding shine to curly and wavy hair.
Best Vegan Hair Brands: Function of Beauty
Function of Beauty makes custom-made hair, body, and skin-care products that are formulated just for you. While you can pick and choose what goes into your products, all of the ingredients are vegan and cruelty-free. The Function of Beauty Purple Shampoo [23] ($30) will keep blond hair bright and animal-lovers happy.
Best Vegan Hair Brands: Rahua
All of Rahua's hair products are made with vegan, sustainably sourced ingredients and are cruelty-free. The Classic Shampoo [24] ($34) leaves hair feeling soft and refreshed, thanks to its omega-9-rich formula.
Best Vegan Hair Brands: Maria Nila
Maria Nila is a vegan, cruelty-free hair brand produced in Sweden that's certified by both PETA and the Vegan Society. Try the brand's Styling Cream [25] ($33), which adds texture and a subtle shine to the hair with medium hold.
Best Vegan Hair Brands: Joon Haircare
Joon Haircare is 100 percent vegan and never tests on animals. The brand carries a variety of hair products, but its Saffron Hair Elixir Oil [26] ($50) is a bestseller and can be used for everything from detangling to a protectant for heat styling.
Best Vegan Hair Brands: Cake Beauty
Cake Beauty is an affordable hair brand that's certified cruelty-free and vegan by PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies. The Cake The 'Do Gooder Dry Shampoo [27] ($9) adds a burst of instant volume to limp hair while also soaking up excess oil.