Who’s Really Cruelty Free?
All makeup should be cruelty free, but, unfortunately, this is not the case. It remains normal practice for companies, suppliers, and third parties to use animal testing on their products.
In the makeup and skincare industry, this common (but not common enough) label is both an indicator of how far we’ve come and how much farther we have to go.
In this blog I want to highlight some of the top cruelty-free makeup and skincare brands, in the hope that we can all make more conscientious decisions about what we put on our skin and face.
When you think of cruelty free makeup, this high-end beauty brand should be one of the first to cross your mind. In addition to never testing its products on animals, Hourglass’ makeup and beauty line is also entirely vegan-based.
Hourglass’ dedication to protecting animals is reflected in the very first line of its mission statement:
“We believe beauty and integrity should be synonymous, which is why we are as uncompromising with our products’ performance as we are with our commitment to animals.”
Hourglass offers a variety of high-end makeup in luxuriously designed packaging, as well as an entire line of vegan-based brushes, made from synthetic Taklon hair.
I highly recommend trying Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Powder, Veil Mineral Primer and Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation.
There is a lot to love about this popular mid-end makeup and nail polish brand. Urban Decay is PETA-approved and does not conduct any animal product testing.
It is worth noting that L’Oreal, its parent company, does test on animals.
Still, Urban Decay itself is cruelty free and Leaping Bunny-certified, and is well known for having a bold marketing campaign aimed at the edgy youth demographic.
I would recommend the majority of Urban Decay’s product line, but am most drawn to their selection of eyeshadows and primers.
This cruelty-free skincare brand is one of the hottest tickets on the market right now. Dermafacs is the brainchild behind RecoverX, which is used to repair acne-damaged or otherwise scarred skin.
In addition to no animal testing, Dermafacs is entirely vegan and uses a formula that consists of all-organic ingredients.
Its signature line, RecoverX, was designed by surgeons and uses a scientific approach involving our body's own biology to combat facial scarring from within.
Sadly, it is rare for a company backed by science to not do any animal testing, which is exactly what makes Dermafacs a slam-dunk addition to this list.
In addition to its RecoverX cream, I would also recommend Dermafacs’ Daily Acne Treatment and Nourishing Daily Moisturizer products.
What makes Smashbox, a mid-end makeup brand, stand out is that it has proven its commitment to being cruelty free by its actions.
The company pulled out of selling its products in mainland China, where animal testing is commonplace, and have been cruelty free ever since.
Unfortunately, Smashbox’s parent company continues to test on animals, but the brand itself is PETA approved.
Smashbox can be found at major makeup retailers including Sephora and Ulta, and boasts a wide variety of makeup options.
I would recommend their setting sprays and primers, but all of their products earn consistently high marks.
You aren’t going to find this high-end fragrance, makeup, nail polish and skincare brand in your everyday retail store, but, if you do run across it, I’d recommend picking some up.
Both Illamasqua and its parent company are cruelty free, and many of its products are 100% vegan.
Illamasqua's stand-out performers are its contour, nail polish and line of powder blushes. The brand is known for being bold and offering rich color schemes as well as options for an all natural look.
It’s worth pointing out that not all of its products are vegan, with some using carmine as a pigment.
Still, I would recommend all of Illamasqua’s vegan-friendly catalogue, which includes its brushes, fake lashes and nail polish selection.
I want to end with this luxury makeup brand because it is important to highlight how confusing shopping cruelty-free can be.
Marc Jacobs Beauty is PETA approved and offers high-end makeup and nail polish, but while its beauty products are cruelty free, its sister company’s line of perfumes is not.
Marc Jacobs Fragrances is, in fact, not cruelty free, and while technically a different brand, you will have to decide for yourself if you want to shy away from Marc Jacobs Beauty as well.
This line is also not vegan-friendly, with a small number of Marc Jacobs Beauty products containing beeswax and carmine.
If you do decide to try Marc Jacobs Beauty, I would recommend going for its selection of full-coverage foundations and eyeshadow palettes.
To view more healthy skin tips and product reviews make sure to visit my blog at www.skinvestigative.com.