The best cruelty-free beauty brands

It's official! Charlotte Tilbury has been against animal testing since 2013, but the UK-born brand now has the Leaping Bunny seal of approval from Cruelty Free International. And just in time for its launch into MECCA, too. So not only can you now shop the best-selling Charlotte Tilbury products in-person in Australia, but you can have a clean consious while doing so. Race you to the Pillowtalk lipsticks.

Image credit: @ctilburymakeup

Aussies are notorious for living active lifestyles so it’s only natural that our skin care should be in line with that. That’s where PB SKN comes in. With products that target free radicals, premature ageing, inflammation, elasticity, fine lines and wrinkles, while also helping to replenish skin with much-needed moisture after a sweat sesh at the gym, it’s safe to say there’s no quality compromise here. You can look forward to 100 per cent natural and active ingredients, as well as, a brand wide commitment to cruelty and animal-free production and products. Very impressive.

Image credit: @pb.skn

An exciting new addition to this list, Garnier have just recently undergone serious changes internally to ensure their practices and products are entirely cruelty-free. They have also reviewed their 500 suppliers and the ingredients they source (we’re talking over 3,000 here people) in order to ensure cruelty-free practices were upheld in every aspect of the production process. “Garnier is a global brand familiar to us all. To work with them and declare them officially approved under the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny Programme is a real milestone,” Michelle Thew, Cruelty Free International CEO said of the award. “It has taken many months, but Garnier has diligently reviewed every supplier and source and we are completely confident with the results.”

Image credit: @garnierau

New to Aussie shores, Milk Makeup has always been dedicated to delivering quality vegan makeup, so it’s no surprise really that they are all about that cruelty-free life. The brand is very transparent about their ethics and their stance on animal testing on their website: “No animal testing, cruelty free (AKA Leaping Bunny Certified), and no animal-derived ingredients including fats, oils, musks – MMU is 100% Vegan”.

Image credit: @milkmakeup

Yep, that’s right, you can enjoy budget-friendly beauty with a guilt-free conscience. Not only is COVERGIRL completely cruelty-free, they’ve also had a bit of a rebrand in recent years with clean formulations being at the forefront of their campaigns. Say hello to products free of animal-derived ingredients and animal testing — we love.

Image credit: @covergirlanz

Longtime players in the pro-grade skin care game, Dermalogica have long been committed to advancements in the skin care space, with a focus on sustainability. The brand has been completely clean since 1986, with a focus on formulas free from artificial colors and fragrances, mineral oil, lanolin, S.D. alcohol, parabens and microplastics, as well as, being certified cruelty-free, gluten-free, and vegan, of course.

Image credit: @dermalogicaaus

Not only has Aveda been completely cruelty-free since its inception in 1978, but as of January 2021 the brand has gone 100 per cent vegan, which means you can now enjoy their botanically-focused formulas twice as much as before. We look forward to seeing what’s next from this brand and their dedication to innovations in the sustainability space.

Image credit: @avedaaustralia

Homegrown talent and OG’s of budget-friendly natural beauty, Sukin Naturals are committed to a wealth of causes including reef restoration and carbon neutrality to name a few. Their products meet a strict criteria, and are not just cruelty-free, no, we’re talking Aussie-made, natural ingredients only, vegan, non-gmo and cruelty-free. Phew.

Image credit: @sukinskincare