The Beauty Insider: The vegan brands you need to know
With buzzwords like ‘cruelty-free’, ‘all-natural’ and ‘organic’ popping up on the majority of the beauty products we pick up today, it can be tricky to know what’s truly vegan or not (i.e. those products that contain absolutely no animal derivatives or animals testing). Luckily, however, there are now a handful of beauty brands on the market that are entirely committed to the cause with 100 per cent vegan ranges. Below, six brands you need to know.
Le Labo – Santal 33 Eau de Parfum, Rose 31 Shower Gel, Face Mask
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Le Labo
Finding a great vegan fragrance can be really tricky, but Le Labo’s entire collection of perfumes, candles and bodycare contains no animal-derived ingredients, and no element of the final fragrance is tested on animals. So next time you spritz yourself in their signature scent – Santal 33 – do it safe in the knowledge that every last drop is completely vegan.
Lime Crime – Velvetines Matte Lipstick, Venus XL II Palette, Diamond Dew
Lime Crime
Lime Crime quashes every rumour you’ve ever heard about vegan-friendly make-up. Its line of 100 per cent vegan and cruelty-free products boasts luxurious formulas, comes in a range of rainbow-bright colours, and also contains rich pigments that don’t fade away to nothing. In fact, we’re such big fans, we gave them with a 2018 Selfridges Beauty Award (see here).
Cover FX – Custom Enhancer Drops, Perfect Setting Powder, Mattifying Primer
Cover FX
Created and developed by former Chief Chemist and MD at MAC Cosmetics Victor Casale, Cover FX is another great vegan beauty brand. From the Mattifying Toner to the Illuminating Setting Spray, every single product in the range is cruelty-free, vegan and Peta approved. Our favourite? The brand’s line of Custom Enhancer Drops that can be worn alone or mixed into foundations, primers and moisturisers to give the skin a subtle glow.
Real Techniques – Blush Brush, Expert Face Brush, Deluxe Crease Brush, Setting Brush
Real Techniques
Just because a make-up brush is made without animal hair doesn’t mean it can’t feel — and look — totally luxurious. Case in point: Real Techniques’ vegan brushes made from synthetic fibres. With everything from a fluffy foundation brush to an angled liner, there’s virtually no make-up look that you can’t master while remaining totally cruelty-free.
Aesop – Elemental Facial Barrier Cream, A Rose By Any Other Name Body Cleanser, Parsley Seed Eye Serum
Aesop
You won’t see the word ‘vegan’ plastered all over their packaging, but Aesop’s plant-based range has always been cruelty and animal by-product free (with the exception of its shaving brushes which are made from animal hair). Super-stylish packaging and ethically produced skincare that smells incredible and works like a charm – seriously, what’s not to love?
Illamasqua – Gel Sculpt, Colour Veil Blusher, Beyond Powder in Deity, Iconic Chrome
Illamasqua
The Illamasqua brand isn’t 100 per cent vegan-friendly, but the brand does have an impressive line up of vegan products that haven’t been tested on animals and don’t include animal-derived ingredients. We're fans of the Beyond Powder in Deity which gives all skin tones a subtle holographic highlight across cheekbones and Cupid’s Bow.