There’s a spectrum of ways one can decide to advocate for animals, from signing online petitions to buying pasture-raised eggs to going vegan. Yet one way to practice fighting the good fight while looking fabulous is to buy cruelty-free beauty products. Digging in and doing research on the stuff that you’re putting on your face is worth the time if you’re a hardcore animal lover. Here are some awesome beauty brands that are cruelty free without compromising on quality.
1. Tarte
Maureen Kelly started the brand in 1999 when she couldn’t source natural makeup in pretty packaging. Today, its formulas are a staple at Sephora and often contain SPF—which is always a welcome find. All the formulas are made without synthetic fragrances, gluten, phthalates, parabens, mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan and other chemicals found in other cosmetic brands. Tarte’s signature purple often makes an appearance on its bright, cheerful, well-labeled packaging that’s nearly as delightful as the actual products.
2. Kat Von D Beauty>
The famous tattoo artist’s makeup was born in 2008 when Sephora approached her with the intent of creating the perfect red lippie. The line has always been cruelty-free and has many vegan formulations and colors, including its cult-status palettes like the Alchemist Holographic Palette and Pastel Goth Eyeshadow Palette. The packaging and color names are equally creative with a rock ‘n’ roll edge that’s befitting Kat’s rocker glam reputation.
3. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
New York City-based makeup artist David Klasfeld started OCC in 2004 to help fill the gaps he saw in professional makeup kits. The products are vegan and cruelty-free, and certified internationally by PETA. Its Lip Tar liquid lipsticks and Crème Colour Concentrates have earned cult status for delivering saturated, bold colors that you probably see all over beauty Instagram. No-frills packaging keeps the focus on the vibrant formulations that speak for themselves.
4. Too Faced
The unapologetically feminine, glamorous brand was started as a reaction to 90s grunge by Jerrod Blandino and Jeremy Johnson. Since then, the cruelty-free brand has made waves with catchy product names. Items like Better Than Sex Mascara and Sweet Peach Glow. Its bottles and palettes of potions embrace the beauty brand’s philosophy of being fun, loud and proud.
The namesake makeup artist is hands-down one of the best—and most famous—in the industry. Charlotte embraces glamour and techniques that make people look like their best versions of themselves. Her reputation follows through on products like Legendary Brows Tool Kit and the body shimmer Supermodel Body. And to boot, neither the brand nor its suppliers, test on animals.