17 popular beauty brands you didn’t know were vegan

Hourglass announced back in 2017 that we’ll see a totally vegan Hourglass by 2020 - and it looks like they’re well on their way. They’ve undergone a major clean-up over the past year and you’ll actually find that most of their products are now vegan. Good on you, guys.

Our pick: Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup SPF 15 ($85 at MECCA)

This little vegan gem gives an amazing natural finish and pretty much guarantees flawless filter-like skin.

Known for their incredible brow products, as well as their drool-worthy contour and glow kits, Anastasia Beverly Hills’ makeup products and ingredients aren’t tested on animals. While not all of their products are vegan, they do have an impressive list that makes the cut.

Our pick: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade ($33 at Sephora)

This great multitasker has become a real standout for the fact that it works as a brow primer and provides colour, allowing you to sculpt AND shade your way to better brows. What a guy.

When we think of Charlotte Tilbury we think of high-end, luxurious products – but the brand isn’t widely known for being cruelty-free, too. And, not only are a lot of their products cruelty-free, but they’re vegan as well.

Our pick: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation ($65 at Charlotte Tilbury)

Their impressive vegan line-up includes the famous Magic Foundation, which is THE foundation for HD camera-ready skin. It delivers an amazing coverage while also working to smooth and plump the skin. Just sayin’.

Sitting on the shelves of top salons around the world, Original & Mineral (known as O&M to the cool kids) are approved by PETA for their vegan-friendly, natural ingredients. Challenging the norms of haircare, the Aussie brand boasts a range of products free from all the bad stuff such as parabens, propylene gloycol, MIT, phthalates and triclosan.

Our pick: O&M Surf Bomb Sea Salt Spray ($29.95 at Adore Beauty)

When a date with the ocean isn’t possible, this is your guy. Perfect for dry hair, it delivers that effortless tousled look while also working to smooth and nourish your locks. Plus, it just so happens to be a personal fave of beauty guru Zoe Foster Blake.

Just take a squiz at Kat Von D’s Instagram bio (it reads "Vegan AF") and you’ll know where her entire beauty line stands. Her website also features a ‘Vegan Alert’ section, which boasts a ton of vegan products.

Our pick: Kat Von D Lock It Foundation ($54 at Sephora)

This creamy formula is super long-wearing, provides excellent coverage and requires zero touch-ups – it’s pretty much a lazy girl’s dream come true.

While Too Faced’s whole range isn’t vegan, the brand does have a fairly big offering that qualifies (their range of brushes are also totally cruelty-free). Just when we didn’t think it was possible, we now love the brand even more.

Our pick: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara ($38 at MECCA)

This beauty is a firm fave and has recently been voted the Internet’s favourite mascara. It totally kills it in the plumping and curling department, while also being vegan, too.

You might not know this, but Urban Decay has actually long held a spot on PETA’s list of cruelty-free companies, and they offer a huge range of vegan makeup. *Swoon*.

Our pick: Urban Decay Stay Naked Correcting Concealer ($46 at MECCA)

We are obsessed with this creamy concealer because it lets you cover those niggling imperfections without looking too covered up.

E.L.F. is known for their affordable but top-quality makeup (and super sleek packaging). All E.L.F brushes are 100 per cent synthetic and vegan-friendly and so too are all of their makeup products.

Our pick: E.L.F Cosmetics Volume Plumping Mascara ($6 at E.L.F Cosmetics)

Their Volume Plumping Mascara is one of our all-time faves. It’s a serious go-to if you’re looking to up your lash game, and also works to condition and strengthen your lashes (thanks, vitamin B).

You may be surprised to hear what kind of nasty ingredients are commonly used to jazz up your nails. Kester Black is an Australian made cruelty-free and vegan brand delivering environmentally conscious nail polishes (they follow the ‘Ten Free Formula’). They also use recyclable materials and small batch manufacturing to minimise wastage.

Our pick: Kester Black Nail Polish in 'Candid' ($26 at Kester Black)

In probably the most perfect shade of nude we ever did see, this pretty Petal hue is a total foolproof colour that you can wear anywhere, anytime. One of the stars of their range, it’s breathable, long-lasting and is actually nice to your nails.

Known for their natural ingredients and luxurious line of skin care, most people might not be aware that Aesop’s beauty products are also 100 per cent cruelty-free and vegan. While it’s not plastered all over their minimalist packaging, their website assures that the brand does not test on animals or use animal-derived ingredients.

Our pick: Aesop Fabulous Face Oil ($59 at Aesop)

Give your skin a bit of self-love with an exceptional list of ingredients including juniper berries, ylang-ylang and jasmine petals. This multitasking oil works to detoxify imperfections and problem areas, making the skin appear clearer and brighter – a true skin care staple.

One of the Australian pioneers in natural skin care, Sukin is dedicated to providing high-performing vegan and cruelty-free products that won’t break the bank. As well as their animal-friendly stance, their products are completely biodegradable PLUS their formulations are carbon-natural. Better for your health, better for the environment.

Our pick: Sukin Super Greens Nutrient Rich Facial Moisturiser ($14.99 at Priceline)

This ultra-hydrating moisturiser is one of our choice staples for skin that needs a real pick-me-up. It’s bursting with a whole bunch of natural ingredients such as kale, parsley, rosehip oil, avocado oil, *takes breath*, cocoa, shea butter…and more! Big. Fans.

At an impressive 11 years old, this homegrown brand has become a powerhouse vegan go-to, boasting a range of natural makeup and brushes that are 100 per cent vegan and certified cruelty-free. INIKA also has the world’s first certified organic vegan range of lipsticks! We’ll just be over here beaming with a little bit of national pride.

Our pick: INIKA Certified Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation ($65 at Adore Beauty)

Offering flawless coverage and packed with skin-loving ingredients such as aloe vera leaf juice and jojoba seed oil, this lightweight foundation is guaranteed to make your skin happy. It’s also formulated with hyaluronic acid to up your hydration game for a youthful and dewy glow.

Zoeva is a popular German makeup brand that you may have seen slinking around the aisles of Sephora. While not everything is their range is vegan, they do offer a HUGE selection of makeup brushes that are cruelty-free. They also offer a beautiful range of super gorgeous vegan makeup.

Our pick: ZOEVA Rose Golden Luxury Set ($158 at Sephora)

We can't talk about Zoeva without discussing one of their best-selling brush sets. A word of advice: Do yourself a favour and invest.

While most of their products were already vegan (206 out of 221, to be exact), Mecca Max has just made the complete switch and is now 100 per cent vegan - just in time for their first birthday.

Our pick: Mecca Max Banana Bake Skin Filter ($25 at MECCA)

This guy is basically the answer to a flawless selfie. It’s the ultimate weapon for brightening, sculpting and setting makeup, plus it manages to correct *every* skin tone on the planet. Yep, we’re sold.

This exciting new six-product skin care line works to replenish the skin’s lost collagen, address the signs of ageing and rejuvenate the skin, all with 100 per cent vegan ingredients.

Our pick: Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen ($70 at Adore Beauty)

Utilise the powers of the brand's highly bio-available 100 per cent marine collagen formula. Derived from sustainably sourced fish scales, the collagen peptides present in this ingestible powder help to target a myriad of woes. Say sayonara to fine lines and wrinkles, while firming, plumping, and improving elasticity, skin integrity, hair, skin and nails too. Phew.

The new and improved Australian hair care range is proudly 100 per cent vegan, and Make’s shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling products are also now entirely free from nasties such as silicones, parabens and sulphates. 

Our pick: Make Protected Spray ($25.95 at Hairhouse)

This thermal protector spray is a hair kit staple for those who don’t want to burn the life out of their hair (so, everyone). Spritz a bit on dry hair before you fire up the hair straightener and you’ll get that smooth shiny look without that scary singed smell.

Sand&Sky is a new Australian botanical skin care brand whose products are so hotly coveted, they’ve been known to have waitlists of 12,000+ people! All their products are 100 per cent vegan and cruelty-free and they love to use natural Aussie ingredients. You won’t find any nasties such as parabens and sulphates in their formulas.

Our pick: Sand&Sky Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask ($48.70 at Sand & Sky)

This face mask not only draws all the nasties out of your skin, but it also works to regenerate skin cells and gives your complexion a beautiful natural glow. Plus, it has a pretty pink colour to it (thanks to the pink clays in the formula) so you know it will make for a great mask selfie!

Now that you have your vegan makeup in check, why not meet these homegrown natural skin care brands.

Main image credit: Getty