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Whether you’re a lipstick hoarder or someone who just looks for ‘the one’, one thing we can all agree on is that we don’t want our lipstick tested on animals!
It’s tricky to navigate this, as most brands claim not to test on animals, but that isn’t quite reflective of reality. For example, Mac say they do not test on animals.
However, they sell products in China. And whilst China’s animal testing laws have changed in recent times, only certain general use cosmetics are exempt from animal testing. And there are loopholes around selling via an ecommerce platform.
What’s on this page?
So our list is made up of bona-fide cruelty free companies. There are so many, we’ve just picked the best, and split up the list based on budget. So, let’s find you a guilt-free lippie…
Best Cruelty-Free & Vegan Lipsticks on a Budget (£10 and under!)
Crayola Beauty: Lip and Cheek Crayon
You may have last used a Crayola to draw a less-than-perfect piece of art when you were five, but you can now use their Lip and Cheek Crayon to paint a perfect pout.
Crayola’s beauty range is colourful, nostalgic, novel, and effective. This ‘pen’ doubles up as a cream blusher.
- £4.50
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: plenty
- Finish: creamy / natural
- Other lip products:
Barry M: Velvet Matte Lip Paint
Barry M’s range of lipsticks is enormous. But my absolute favourite is their Velvet Matte Lip Paint.
Whether you want a purple matte, a blue gloss or a red shine, they have everything.
- £4.99
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 6
- Finish: matte
- Other lip products: Varity of lipsticks and finishes, lip gloss, lip liner, lip balm
You can’t argue with the price, but make sure you buff and moisturise your lips before application for the best finish.
E.L.F Sheer Slick Lipstick
This e.l.f. lipstick is super sheer and it feels hydrating, as well as light-weight. The thin stick makes application a breeze too!
- £5
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 8
- Other lip products: Variety of lipsticks and finishes, lip gloss, lip liner, lip balm
Read our cruelty-free review of e.l.f here.
The Body Shop: Shine Lip Liquid
The Body Shop’s Shine Lip Liquid looks like a lip balm, but acts like a lipstick.
It contains argan, jojoba oil to help moisturise as well as colour.
- £7
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 8
- Finish: shiny
- Other lip products: Variety of lipsticks and finishes, lip gloss, lip liner, lip balm (not all vegan)
Read our ethical, cruelty-free review of The Body Shop here.
Best mid-range Cruelty-Free & Vegan Lipsticks (£11 – 20)
TROPIC Kiss Me Quick
TROPIC’s ‘Kiss Me Quick’ line probably has the best ingredients in this list, and these lipsticks are freshly made in the UK.
Using natural ingredients to hydrate and stimulate the production of collagen, this lipstick plumps as well as gives you amazing colour. Definitely worth checking out!
- £20
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 12
- Finish: Variety – each shade has a different finish (from sating to matte)
- Other lip products: Lip pencils, lip glaze, plumping conditioner, lip brush
Read our cruelty-free review of Tropic here.
3INA: The Longwear Lipstick
3INA have developed the perfect matte lipstick.
You can perfect coverage (with the liquid form and the applicator) and the finish is beautifully matte. It also lasts for ages.
- £12.95
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 16
- Finish: matte
- Other lip products: Other lipstick styles / varieties / finishes, lip gloss, lip primer, lip liner / pencil
Read our cruelty-free review of 3INA here.
bareMinerals: mineralist hydra smoothing lipstick
bareMinerals are usually a staple on any cruelty free/vegan list, and their mineralist hydra smoothing lipstick is no exception.
This lipstick has no nasties. It’s free-from parabens, synthetic fragrance and PEGs.
And it focuses on quality ingredients to hydrate the lips with an impressive colour range of 24 different shades.
- £20
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 24
- Finish: creamy / natural
- Other lip products: Variety of lipsticks and finishes, lip gloss and lip liner
MEMI: Matte Luxe Lipstick
On a super deal at the time of writing!
MEMI have created a really strong lipstick range here, which provides strong colour and is enriched with jojoba oil.
It’s non drying and long lasting too.
- £12
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 12
- Finish: matte
- Other lip products: Lip gloss
Best Luxury Cruelty-Free & Vegan Lipsticks (£20+)
Charlotte Tilbury: Matte Revolution
If you fancy a bit of glitz and glam, then this matte revolution range from Charlotte Tilbury is for you.
The reviews speak for themselves and the range of colours is seriously impressive.
- £28
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 24
- Finish: matte
- Other lip products: Variety of lipsticks and finishes, lip gloss, lip liner
Read our cruelty-free review of Charlotte Tilbury here.
Victoria Beckham: Posh Lipstick
A posh lipstick, with a posh price tag. VB’s lipstick is lovely – it hydrates, has a subtle finish and gives you fuller looking lips (akin to the old Posh 90’s pout).
The price is a bit steep, but it does look good, and is classed as ‘clean’ beauty.
- £34
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 9
- Finish: buttery
- Other lip products: Lip tint, lip liner
Ere Perez: olive oil lipstick
The name is a bit of a giveaway, but the star ingredient in this Ere Perez range is olive oil.
This makes the lipstick super easy to put on and also provides your lips with moisture and hydration.
The shades are beautiful and there are no nasty ingredients.
- £23
- PETA-certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Shades: 14
- Finish: sheer / natural
- Other lip products: Lip tint, lip liner, lip honey
Wrap Up: The Best Cruelty-free Lipsticks
There are some iconic lipsticks out there, and I know plenty of people who are really reluctant to step away from their favourite Mac product.
However, there are plenty of alternatives. Plenty of alternatives that have beautiful colour ranges, great staying power, and are guilt-free buys (unless, like me, you sometimes feel guilty about the amount of makeup products you buy).
My personal favourites on the list are the lipsticks by TROPIC and Crayola (it just feels fun and novel to put on), but there is something on here for everyone.
FAQs
The Body Shop, Superdrug own brand, Nyx, Victoria Beckham, Ere Perez, Urban Decay, MEMI, bareMinerals, e.l.f, Crayola, Barry M, TROPIC, 3INA, BPerfect, Charlotte Tilbury. Note – all of these brands have vegan products, but not all products are guaranteed to be vegan (always check yourself).
Rimmel, Boujois, Chanel, Bobbi Brown, Mac, Benefit, Lancome, YSL, Nars, Maybelline, Estee Lauder
No, no MAC product can be considered cruelty-free as it sells products in China without utilising the ecommerce / general use cosmetics exceptions that now apply to animal testing there.
No Revlon lipsticks contain carmine, beeswax and lanolin, so cannot be considered vegan.
And as Revlon is not cruelty-free, we wouldn’t consider any of the products vegan.
Lipsticks have contained animal byproducts like:
– Carmine
– Beeswax / honey
– Collagen
For a long time. The proliferation of plant-based and synthetic alternatives have made
No not all lipsticks contain carmine. Although the majority still do.
If they did anyone against the use of animal products in cosmetics would have to find an alternative.
Fortunately yes. Here’s a list of 10, but there are hundreds of vegan, cruelty-free lipsticks that are even better than the traditional alternatives.
All products in this list had to be:
– Cruelty free, either certified by PETA or via a cruelty free guarantee
– Vegan. While not all the brands are vegan, all the products featured here are
– Good quality and readily available to buy (a true necessity)
