The 13 Best Cruelty-free Makeup Brands of 2022 (UK edition)
When you’re shopping for makeup, you want to know that you’re supporting a company with values that match your own.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the 13 best cruelty free makeup brands of 2022, so you can find a brand that’s as committed to caring for animals as it is to making you feel beautiful.
The Best ‘Most Popular’ Cruelty-free Makeup brands
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury is one of the most popular and beloved cruelty-free makeup brands in the world.
The UK-based makeup artist and namesake, Charlotte Tilbury, has been making waves in the beauty industry since she founded her line in 2013.
She is a makeup artist to the stars, has won numerous awards globally, and has a large brand following of over 5 million on Instagram. She’s also backed by lots of celebs including Kendall Jenner, who loves her products.
The brand has become a firm favourite of professional makeup artists around the world, and its products are worth checking out.
Their best-selling Pillow Talk Matte Revolution Lipstick is universally flattering and has a cult following, while their famous Filmstar Bronze and Glow Contour Kit is ideal for creating a natural contour that sculpts your face to perfection.
Charlotte is also a huge advocate for making makeup accessible to everyone, including people of all ages and skin tones. She believes that makeup can empower us to take on the world and we think she has a point!
The products are free of parabens, sulphates, and phthalates. They’re gentle on sensitive skin and won’t cause any irritation or breakouts.
Urban Decay
Why is Urban Decay one of the most popular cruelty-free makeup brands of 2022?
Well, for starters they don’t stand for any type of animal testing and offer a whole range of vegan formulas made with zero animal-derived ingredients and by-products. This includes a full range of high-quality eyeshadows, foundations, concealers, lipsticks, and more.
They’re best known for their award-winning All-Nighter Setting Spray and beautiful versatile Naked eyeshadow palettes that have won over beauty lovers everywhere. Not to mention their viral 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil that has been getting amazing reviews online from customers all over the world.
At the end of the day, Urban Decay offers trusted products that work—and they have been doing it for over 20 years.
NYX
NYX’s commitment to being cruelty-free started in 2010, when their products carried the famous bunny tag given by PETA for participating in the Beauty Without Bunnies program. Since then, NYX has remained an important player in the cruelty-free beauty community.
When NYX got their big merger with L’Oreal, the brand decided to keep their cruelty-free status the same and continue to support animal testing alternatives.
The brand has been praised for its commitment to affordability, as well as its use of high-quality ingredients and products that are easy to find at drugstores.
Their best-selling and most highly rated products include their; Micro Brow Pencil, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Contour Concealer (Available in 24 shades) and their Pore Filler Blurring Primer.
KVD
If you’re looking for a cruelty-free makeup line that’s truly worthy of your money, we highly recommend KVD.
They are a tattoo-inspired vegan makeup brand that strongly declares how much they care about the world and all beings that inhabit it, as well as always standing up for what is right.
Their products are high-pigment and high-performance, created with tattoo artistry in mind.
Their number one bestseller is their 100% vegan and cruelty-free Tattoo Liner, a waterproof liquid eyeliner that has won over 20 awards.
Also popular is their legendary Full Coverage Liquid Foundation that delivers extreme coverage to cover everything from blemishes to tattoos.
The Best ‘Affordable’ Cruelty-free Makeup Brands
E.L.F
E.L.F is a great affordable cruelty-free makeup brand and we rate them among the best because they stand for something bigger than just beauty. Every time you buy an E.L.F product, you’re supporting their mission to celebrate the beauty of every eye, lip and face. They don’t just want you to look good, they want you to feel good, too.
By choosing E.L.F., you’re making a statement that you are committed to creating a culture where all individuals are encouraged to express their truest selves, are empowered to succeed, and do the right thing for people, the planet, and animals.
Their products are made with the highest standards of clean beauty which means they’re free of harsh chemicals like parabens and sulphates.
They run regular campaigns to make a change and fight for equality, as well as charitable work around the world—we love that they’re committed to doing good every day!
Sleek
Sleek MakeUP is one of the best affordable cruelty-free makeup brands out there.
They’re against testing on animals, but they also actively challenge stereotypes and believe “everyone has the right to be seen, heard, and felt exactly how they choose to be”.
They’re dedicated to providing affordable makeup for all and they’ve been doing it for years!
Following their amazing success on the UK high street, Sleek MakeUP became part of the Boots family in 2015 and is now sold in 15 countries and over 2,200 stores globally.
Their top rated products include their ultra pigmented highlighting palettes and i-Divine Eyeshadow Kits.
Barry M
Barry M is an affordable cruelty-free makeup brand that has been at the forefront of beauty since 1982.
They’ve never tested their finished products or ingredients on animals and they are so strict about it that all companies in their supply chain must provide an annual written assurance.
Their commitment to compassion and animal welfare is what makes them so great, and they proudly support two fantastic animal charities.
Every product available to shop at BarryM.com is 100% Vegan! This means that none of their make-up or nail paint ranges contain any animal by-products.
We’re big fans of Barry M! Not only are their products incredible but they also support great causes and give back to the planet.
Their trending products with an affordable price tag for 2022 include; their ‘Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint’ and their ‘Matte Me Up Lip Kits‘.
Makeup Revolution
Revolution Beauty exists to develop incredible, cruelty-free beauty for everyone.
Their brand mission is to break down barriers that stop people from enjoying beauty – be that price, shade range, or accessibility.
And they promise to always strive to do more #progressnotperfection.
Everything they produce is cruelty-free and always has been. They are PETA certified, and never allow animal testing at any stage of development.
They’re doing great work in increasing the amount of vegan products they have and we fully support this!
Their ‘Bright Light Highlighters‘ are currently trending on TikTok as well as their Illuminating Under-eye Concealer.
W7
W7 is an affordable cruelty-free makeup brand that offers a wide range of high-quality products. The company aims to make beauty products accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget or skin tone.
Their collection includes over 500 products that are free of animal testing and consists of everything from nail polish and foundations to lipsticks and glosses, eyeshadows, palettes, and a line of vegan brushes.
They also have an extensive range of mascara options and a line specifically designed for darker skin tones called the Ebony Collection.
The Best ‘Luxury’ Cruelty-free Makeup Brands
Marc Jacobs Beauty
Marc Jacobs Beauty aspires to be the go-to brand that helps you transform.
They encourage individuality and personality through the joy of makeup, and they are known to be an allergy tested/hypoallergenic brand with sensitive formulas that are less likely to cause a reaction.
Their ‘Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliners‘ are a must-have beauty product because they give super intense colour payoff with just one swipe!
Chantecaille
Chantecaille is the perfect brand for makeup lovers who are looking for a luxury brand that’s also cruelty-free and 100% Vegan friendly!
They believe in the healing powers of flowers and plants, and their formulas are built on pure ingredients.
Their products are free from harmful ingredients, including; phthalates, sulphate detergents, mineral oil, petrolatum, palm oil, synthetic colours, synthetic fragrances, and GMOs.
Their must-have best-selling product is their ‘Future Skin’ Foundation, an oil-free gel foundation with an ultra-lightweight refreshing texture.
The Best ‘Eco-friendly’ Cruelty-free Makeup Brands
Lush
Lush has been fighting against animal testing since they opened shop, and they continue to fight against it today.
Their commitment to ethical beauty is evident in every product they make: from their eco-friendly packaging to their innovative recycling campaigns, which is why they are one of our top eco-friendly makeup brands for 2022.
They genuinely care about where their ingredients come from and have an ethical buying team that works tirelessly to source the right suppliers.
They have a full range of vegan and cruelty-free makeup including their top-rated refillable lipsticks and vegan makeup brushes.
Lavera
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly and cruelty-free makeup brand, Lavera is one of our top recommendations.
Lavera was founded with a mission to use the forces of nature to create products that are good for you, your skin, and the earth. They believe that everyone should have access to safe, high-quality cosmetics that don’t harm the environment or animals.
The company has vowed not to rest until everyone takes care of themselves using the forces of nature and can feel good knowing that they are doing something good for themselves and the environment.
Lavera works hard to reduce its energy consumption and only uses 100% green electricity. They also use sustainable packaging and have been actively involved in animal welfare for years.
We hope you’ll join us in supporting these top brands that are making the world a better place by not testing their products on animals!
We’re so excited to see more and more companies making the switch to cruelty-free products!
If there are any other brands you think should have made our list, please let us know!
