For many that use cruelty free and vegan cosmetics, it can be hard to find drugstore options. You may want them because you are traveling and need something that’s easily accesible or because you’re on a budget. Walking into the drugstore looking for cruelty free and vegan items can be an incredibly frustrating task. It seems like more drugstore brands test on animals than are cruelty free. Don’t get discouraged! There are still several brands out there that provide you with cruelty free and vegan options!
Bonnie Bell – Remember the days of Pink Lemonade scented lip balm? This childhood favorite remains a cruelty free brand. They have a few vegan options, but always make sure that you are reading the ingredients list as some of their items contain lanolin and beeswax.
Burt’s Bees – A cult favorite of cruelty free cosmetics junkies and begans, Burt’s Bees offers a wide range of products. Everything from lip balm to shampoo to baby powder. While few of their products are vegan, it seemed best to include them in this list for those just looking for cruelty free options. It should be noted that while Burt’s Bees remains cruelty free, their parent company is not.
ELF (Eyes Lips Face) – This is one of my favorite brands. Not only are they extremely affordable, but all of their products are cruelty free and vegan. They offer everything from pressed powder to gel eye liner to makeup primer.
Kiss My Face – This cruelty free skin care line expanded into lip balms, tinted lip balms and now lip glosses. While they are not vegan friendly (they currently all contain beeswax) they are a great option for cruelty free shoppers!
Milani – Known for offering bright and bold shades with lots of pigment, this cruelty free line is for people who aren’t afraid of color. They have several vegan options, but packaging often doesn’t include ingredient lists so be sure to check online before you buy.
Orly – This line of nail polish is completely cruelty free and vegan. They make everything from a variety of base and top coats to the latest trendy nail shades.
Physician’s Formula – This is another brand that makes nearly everything you could possibly want. They have an amazing range of bronzers and face powders that few drugstore brands can compete with. This brand also now offers the only cruelty free BB Cream available at a drugstore! They are cruelty free and have many vegan options.
Wet’n'Wild – Many associate Wet’n'Wild with their teen years. Their products are incredibly affordable (starting at 99 cents!) and they offer a decent range of items. Recently, this brand has started offering more trendy colors and higher quality items. All of their products are cruelty free, and many are also vegan.
Even though you may skip over many of the mainstream drugstore brands, there’s no reason to feel like you are missing out on anything. L’Oreal, CoverGirl, Revlon, Maybelline, Almay, and Rimmell all test on animals. However, with more and more brands stepping up to offer quality items and a larger range of items, my guess is that you won’t miss these brands at all!
What are your favorite cruelty free and vegan drugstore brands? Which drugstore beauty products do you love?
I feel sorry for you in America as it’s the opposite way around in the UK – drugstores have a range of cruelty-free make-up brands but it’s the high end companies you have to watch (essentially we have Illamasque and then the rest are the big international chains that sell in China). Hair care is drugstore tends to test and high end doesn’t.
High end doesn’t test on animals? I hate the whole situation, M not in america or Europa so we don’t have much choice it is pretty frustrating want to make 100% transition cruelty free + vegan on products but it is really hard
almay? I trough they didn’t I use they deo , for this reason and also cause it is the only one that goes with my sensitive arm pits
I like the cruelty brands you mentioned. But Wet and Wild is not really available on the island just 2 supermarket and one drugstore sell it amd not the whole collection
only the outdated ones, forget the special collections and the mega last
I like the idea of the mega last but they just don’t sell them here.
physician is not available at all on the island, I got one bronzer on a give away and I glad I got it I like it very much.
Milani : I just use the eyeliner it is pretty good don’t know about the rest of stuff
la colors and la girl are also cruelty free right?
There are many more brands like NYX, Sleek and MUA (those two are UK brands but still..), L.A.Colors, L.A.Girl and Essence (we got that in Europe, not sure about USA). Too bad there’s not many vegan options, except homemade stuff from Etsy or local people who that that for a living or an active hobby..
i love ELF brushes and makeup removing wipes.
Thanks for the helpful post! Its fun to get cheap stuff from Walgreens and know which displays I can pick from. Many indie brands are not literally AT drugstores but many of their prices are just as low if not lower, and the quality is amazing! (I’m talking to you Fyrinnae, Darling Girl, Silk Naturals and…?)
Thank you for making this list!
As I love your blog so much I have just nominated you for the Sunshine Award! See the details here – http://beautytherapystudent.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/sunshineaward/
x
I believe Prestige cosmetics are cruelty-free as well. They have some great new eyeshadows and liners!
Is NYX cruelty-free? I love their stuff! I always use Physician’s Formula bronzers.
Yes – http://www.logicalharmony.net/nyx-cosmetics-is-still-cruelty-free/
Sonia Kashuk(Target), and Hard Candy(walmart) too right? Oh and Nuance (Salma Hayek’s sold at CVS)
Hi Heidi!
I have read on other lists that those brands are cruelty free, however none of them have replied to my inquires. I only promote brands that I am positive are 100% cruelty free and have vegan options. Since I cannot be sure of this with these brands, that is why they are not included.
When did Revlon start animal testing? It was my understanding that they were one of the first ones to stop years and years ago, along with Mary Kay. This is a huge bummer, I love their ColorStay foundation. Can you show me some evidence that they test?
When did Revlon start testing on animals? It was my understanding that they were one of the first ones to stop, along with Mary Kay.