Gimme beauty without cruelty!
May 6, 2014 10:55 AM Subscribe
It's been a long time since I've worn make-up. I'd like to start again, but I need the beauty products I purchase to be vegan. Snowflakes that have not been squirted into the eyes of bunnies inside.
So Vegans of MeFi, what companies do you recommend for make-up? I'm aware of Lush's Emotional Brillance line, as well as Beauty Without Cruelty. Are there any other companies I should be on the look out for?
I'm a light make-up wearer, so basically I want the following: a light concealer, eyeliner, a few shades of lipstick, mmmmmmaybe some mascara, and loose powder.
What you do recommend? What products do you love? Tell me what vegan beauty products you can't live without!
So Vegans of MeFi, what companies do you recommend for make-up? I'm aware of Lush's Emotional Brillance line, as well as Beauty Without Cruelty. Are there any other companies I should be on the look out for?
I'm a light make-up wearer, so basically I want the following: a light concealer, eyeliner, a few shades of lipstick, mmmmmmaybe some mascara, and loose powder.
What you do recommend? What products do you love? Tell me what vegan beauty products you can't live without!
Best answer: I've never used their makeup line, but I've used many items in the skincare line of Paula's Choice. They're known for being vegan as well as being really nice to your skin.
posted by brainmouse at 11:09 AM on May 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by brainmouse at 11:09 AM on May 6, 2014 [3 favorites]
Best answer: If you search 'vegan' on Sephora's website, there are a lot of hits.
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:12 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:12 AM on May 6, 2014
I don't wear make-up, but Vegansaurus does lots of reviews of beauty products - you can search by that tag on their site. Might be a good place to start!
posted by sabotagerabbit at 11:27 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by sabotagerabbit at 11:27 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I really love the quality of all the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics products I've ever bought. Their concealer is the first I've ever found that actually matches my super-pale skin without yellow undertones, and their Lip Tars are crazy fun to play around with - you could buy one of the mini kits and mix up your own lip colors on the fly. Their aesthetic really appeals to my minimalist, simple-but-quality-packaging side as well.
I also really like Tarte's Gifted Mascara - it's clean and basic looking without any weird brush or "lengthening fibers"-type gimmicks. It comes in a small or large size - I linked to the small size because I find the large size dries out faster than I use it up, and the small size is actually a better deal than the large (2 small ones give you 0.32 fl oz for $20 total, while one large one is $20 and only 0.24 fl oz)!
posted by augustimagination at 11:28 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
I also really like Tarte's Gifted Mascara - it's clean and basic looking without any weird brush or "lengthening fibers"-type gimmicks. It comes in a small or large size - I linked to the small size because I find the large size dries out faster than I use it up, and the small size is actually a better deal than the large (2 small ones give you 0.32 fl oz for $20 total, while one large one is $20 and only 0.24 fl oz)!
posted by augustimagination at 11:28 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Urban Decay's new-ish Revolution lipsticks are great and all colors but two are vegan. They have a whole vegan section on their website.
posted by payoto at 11:31 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by payoto at 11:31 AM on May 6, 2014
Best answer: Oh! Besame makes fantastic pressed and loose powders, which are vegan as well. They're not an entirely-vegan company (their lipsticks contain beeswax), but if you're purely concerned with the individual products you buy, I can absolutely recommend their powders as being awesome, as well as gorgeously packaged.
posted by augustimagination at 11:32 AM on May 6, 2014
posted by augustimagination at 11:32 AM on May 6, 2014
Best answer: Origins is vegan. It's not cheap, but the quality is great.
(and also their liquid lip color smells like Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, for an extra bonus.)
posted by something something at 11:33 AM on May 6, 2014
(and also their liquid lip color smells like Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies, for an extra bonus.)
posted by something something at 11:33 AM on May 6, 2014
Response by poster: My god, you people are amazing.
posted by Kitteh at 11:52 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Kitteh at 11:52 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Phyrra is a beauty blogger who has a cruelty-free brand only reviewing policy, and she has compiled a list here of all the brands that don't test on animals, or sell in countries that test on animals.
It can get a bit complex to choose brands/products because, although many brands have a cruelty-free policy in principle, they have also entered markets that require animal testing. For example, anything purchased in an EU country has not been tested on animals because it is banned. However, lots of the same brands that cannot test on animals in Europe also sell their products in China, which requires animal testing of cosmetics.
That's without even getting into parent companies. Urban Decay is vegan/cruelty-free, and when they announced that they were entering the Chinese market, faced such a backlash from their customers that they reversed the decision. However, they are now owned by L'Oréal, which is not cruelty-free. The ethics of cosmetics can get pretty tangled!
posted by fanlight at 11:56 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
It can get a bit complex to choose brands/products because, although many brands have a cruelty-free policy in principle, they have also entered markets that require animal testing. For example, anything purchased in an EU country has not been tested on animals because it is banned. However, lots of the same brands that cannot test on animals in Europe also sell their products in China, which requires animal testing of cosmetics.
That's without even getting into parent companies. Urban Decay is vegan/cruelty-free, and when they announced that they were entering the Chinese market, faced such a backlash from their customers that they reversed the decision. However, they are now owned by L'Oréal, which is not cruelty-free. The ethics of cosmetics can get pretty tangled!
posted by fanlight at 11:56 AM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Oh, I forgot to add on the products front: if you like blush, Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes are easy to blend, hard to overdo and look really natural on the skin. Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencils come in a dizzying array of shades, glide on easily and don't budge once they've set.
posted by fanlight at 12:02 PM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by fanlight at 12:02 PM on May 6, 2014 [1 favorite]
My two favorite indies - Aromaleigh and Notoriously Morbid all note which of their products are vegan. All their products are not tested on animals, but some items contain non-vegan ingredients like beeswax.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:46 PM on May 6, 2014
posted by Lyn Never at 12:46 PM on May 6, 2014
Best answer: Everyday Minerals is basically just crushed mica pigments and zinc oxide plus some other ingredients. You won't find mascara there or skincare (apart from one oil, I believe), but I like their foundations and they have blush and eyeshadow as well.
Speaking of oil: A lot of people use that instead of moisturizer, just look for one that agrees with your skin. You can also use olive oil to cleanse your skin.
Be careful with "all natural" products: natural doesn't mean it's necessarily good for your skin. I find of lot of natural products itchy on my skin, and fragrance oils can cause allergic reactions just like every other ingredient. Also, beware of beeswax.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 12:46 PM on May 6, 2014
Speaking of oil: A lot of people use that instead of moisturizer, just look for one that agrees with your skin. You can also use olive oil to cleanse your skin.
Be careful with "all natural" products: natural doesn't mean it's necessarily good for your skin. I find of lot of natural products itchy on my skin, and fragrance oils can cause allergic reactions just like every other ingredient. Also, beware of beeswax.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 12:46 PM on May 6, 2014
Best answer: I really like Pacifica--their products are high quality, 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and as a bonus they are pretty widely available in Canada! (I live in the hinterlands and even I can buy their products locally.)
The products I've tried are their lip tints (Sugared Fig), soaps and solid perfumes (Lotus Garden--citrusy and light). I can have sensitive skin but I've never reacted to their products.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:19 PM on May 6, 2014
The products I've tried are their lip tints (Sugared Fig), soaps and solid perfumes (Lotus Garden--citrusy and light). I can have sensitive skin but I've never reacted to their products.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:19 PM on May 6, 2014
Best answer: Check out the blog Phyrra. Don't let her love of bright colors turn you off - She is cruelty-free and introduces a lot of vegan brands. You can easily pick colors which work for you.
posted by xmts at 1:22 PM on May 6, 2014
posted by xmts at 1:22 PM on May 6, 2014
Best answer: I prefer indie retailers for most makeup, especially since many offer some of their products in sample sizes. In spite of the name, SilkNaturals has a lot of vegan products. Everything she blends is of high quality ingredients, and I've found that the color payoff of her dupes is generally better than the originals (plus they are cheaper!). No cheap fillers like talc in any SN products. The vegan lippies are lovely.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:39 PM on May 6, 2014
posted by oneirodynia at 2:39 PM on May 6, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by srrh at 11:08 AM on May 6, 2014