Green-fingered gals and guys, listen up because we've got good news for you. There are now more vegan beauty brands than ever crafting cruelty-free formulas that do the most for your skin without harming animals or the planet. Win-win!

But before you decide to ditch all your products, we decided to ask a professional the important questions, like, hey, what's the deal with vegan beauty, anyway? Is it really everything it's cut out to be (aka better for our skin) or is it just another fad? MUA Hannah Martin spoke to Cosmopolitan UK, telling us that it might actually just be a bit of both...

What are the benefits of using vegan makeup?

"I like to check in with Justine Jenkins to see what she’s using as she only uses vegan products," says Hannah. "Some would say that vegan skincare and cosmetics are better for your skin as they contain fewer ingredients, so, are less likely to irritate. Another benefit is that they are also considered to be more sustainable because they exclusively use plant-based alternatives."

What ingredients should you avoid when it comes to using vegan makeup?

"A common ingredient in skincare and makeup that vegans need to avoid is lanolin, which is derived from sheep's wool," Hannah explains.

But that's not all; in fact, Hannah shares that "glycerine and squalene – both used as a humectants and moisturisers in skincare and makeup – also usually come from animal fats. However, in some cases, they can be made from soy, wheat and other vegetables.

"Collagen, keratin and elastin are also animal-derived but there are vegan options, too. Beewax is common in balms and some mascaras, so do check your ingredients. The red colouring carmine is extracted from bugs so look out for E120 on your lipstick ingredients if you wish to avoid this. Shellac is also made form bugs," Hannah says. Who knew?!

So, how do you know if a product is 100% vegan and green?

Thankfully, there are and lots of brands that have made it their mission to go completely vegan. If you're ever unsure, you can check the label, as all vegan products must be clearly labelled as such. Some of the brands that are totally vegan include Milk Makeup, Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Lime Crime and e.l.f. Cosmetics, KVD Beauty, Hourglass and more! See our round-up of the very best vegan makeup brands on the market, below...

Rare Beauty

          As I’m sure we all know by now, Rare Beauty is owned by the one and only Selena Gomez. And I know what you’re thinking: ‘Just another celeb-owned beauty brand... yawn’. However, while it is celeb-owned, what makes it so great are the unique, game-changing formulas – it really is worth the hype.

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          about-face

          Another celebrity beauty brand to add to the roster, here we have about-face, owned by singer superstar Halsey. However, what makes Halsey's makeup line stand out among the overcrowded market are not only the vegan and clean beauty formulas but their high-performance abilities and execution, too. Two of my faves, the 'matte fluid eye paints' and 'fractual glitter eye paints' are permanent products in my makeup bag for sprucing up any look in just one swipe. E Z P Z. Lazy girl makeup FTW.

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          Tower 28

          A recent addition to the UK market, Tower 28 is a clean, vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand designed for sensitive skin – not only do they provide makeup but skincare, too. While we're still waiting for the complete line to arrive, Cult Beauty stocks a select few of our favourite products and with that, we cannot complain.

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          Delilah

          Some vegan brands might seem to compromise on their formulas. Well, not Delilah. They have everything from lipsticks to highlighters and each one really does deliver. Certified PETA cruelty-free, all products are vegan, paraben and cruelty-free. As well as being exceptionally high quality, they are also dermatologically and opthamologically tested.

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          Sculpted By Aimee

          Sculpted By Aimee was founded by MUA Aimee Connolly back in 2016 and aside from the brushes, everything in the range is cruelty-free and vegan. There’s a large mix of products, from bronzers to foundations, blushers and palettes, so you’re bound to find whatever it is that you’re looking for.

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          Cover FX

          Created and developed by former chief chemist and MD at MAC cosmetics, it's no surprise that Cover FX products have become some of our most-reached for makeup. The entire range is cruelty-free and vegan (with the exception of MintTint FX and MintGlaze FX).

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          Inika

          Arguably one of the most popular vegan makeup brands, Inika has tonnes of choice from liquid foundations to highlighting creams and super-pigmented lipsticks.

          The brand is PETA certified and cruelty-free; they don't test any of their products on animals and all products are vegan.

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          Axiology

          Axiology is a vegan lipstick brand that's dedicated to producing creamy, pigment-packed lipsticks in a spectrum of shades from jet-black to poppy red. A shade for every day of the week.

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          KVD Beauty

          In recent years, the KVD brand has had a major makeover and it was announced that plans to reformulate the entire cosmetics line would commence to ensure all the products were vegan. While the process understandably took a while, we are now excited to say that we have a full range of vegan and cruelty-free beauty heroes!

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          B. Beauty

          A bargain vegan beauty brand, B. is exclusive to Superdrug, which means it's totally wallet-friendly. Their website explains that B. "does not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products, even beeswax which can often be found in mascara."

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          PHB Ethical Beauty

          PHB prides itself on making cosmetics with safe, natural, organic ingredients, their products are cruelty-free, vegan, and 100% halal certified, plus the products come in some killer shades.

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          Jeffree Star Cosmetics

          Jeffree Star is known for creating some of the whackiest, most pigmented colour palettes around and lucky for us, every single product is vegan-friendly.

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          Eco Tools

          Purse-friendly makeup brush brand, EcoTools, offers a huge selection of brushes, all of which are vegan.

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          e.l.f. Cosmetics

          TikTok fave, e.l.f, is a firm fave with everyone from Beauty vloggers, to Makeup Artists and we're happy to share that the entire cosmetic line is vegan-friendly. Standing for 'eye, lips and face' the brand really do cover all bases.

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          Pacifica

          Not only are Pacifica Cosmetics all-natural but the makeup line is also 100% vegan. Though if you're not a makeup babe (though, we don't see why you wouldn't be with their full fluttery mascara formula), fear not for they also have a range of vegan hair products, too!

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          Hourglass

          A few years back, Hourglass made the commitment to be 100% vegan by 2020 – which we were all for. It's now 2024 and the brand have achieved their goal with a range of makeup products like no other. High performance yet still very much clean formulas. There's no compromise here, folks.

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          Milk Makeup

          Did you know that the TikTok fave beauty brand, Milk Makeup was 100% vegan? Well, now you do and just like everyone else on social media, we're obsessed with everything from the Kush Mascara to the Blurring Foundation but particularly, their Hydro Grip primer. An adhesive like no other.

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          Lime Crime

          If you agree that bold = better when it comes to makeup, Lime Crime needs to be on your radar. The cosmetics brand is known for its famous rainbow eyeshadow palettes, liquid lipsticks and stunning iridescent highlighters, all of which are 100% vegan.

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          Headshot of Victoria Jowett
          Victoria Jowett
          Former Beauty Director

           Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the former Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.

          Headshot of Lia Mappoura
          Lia Mappoura
          Beauty Writer

          Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).

          In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn