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If you’re still filling your kit with brands that test on animals in 2025… babes, it’s time to have a word.
Makeup is supposed to make us feel good – so why should it come at the expense of innocent lives?
Luckily, being cruelty-free doesn’t mean sacrificing pigment, payoff, or performance anymore. In fact, some of the baddest brands in the game are proudly cruelty-free and trust us, they’re serving looks and ethics.
Here’s our edit of the 10 cruelty-free makeup brands we’re obsessed with (and you will be too).
1. Charlotte Tilbury
The queen of glow, glam and everything goddess-like. Charlotte Tilbury’s full range is cruelty-free and her flawless skin-perfecting products are basically a makeup artist’s holy grail. Pillow Talk everything? Non-negotiable.
2. Rare Beauty
Selena Gomez said mental health matters – and so does what’s in your makeup bag. Rare Beauty isn’t just cruelty-free; it’s also designed to celebrate real skin, real texture, and real beauty. (Also, the Soft Pinch blush? Life-changing.)
3. Anastasia Beverly Hills
Brows. Eyes. Full beats. Anastasia Beverly Hills helped shape the Instagram face as we know it and did it without animal testing. The Dipbrow Pomade is basically tattooed into our hearts at this point.
4. Fenty Beauty
When Rihanna said, “Beauty for all,” she meant it. Fenty is cruelty-free and constantly pushing boundaries on shade ranges, finishes, and innovation. If you’re not using their Pro Filt’r foundation yet… get on board.
5. Milk Makeup
Clean, vegan, cruelty-free – and cute AF. Milk Makeup makes the kind of products that work for full-on artistry or five-minute faces. Bonus points for their sustainability game, too.
6. Urban Decay
Urban Decay was one of the OGs banging the cruelty-free drum when everyone else was asleep. Their All Nighter Setting Spray is basically waterproof glue for your makeup (in the best way possible).
7. NYX Professional Makeup
High quality without the high price tag. NYX is proudly cruelty-free and gives you everything from bold pigments to reliable basics. Perfect for building out your kit without bankrupting yourself.
8. Hourglass Cosmetics
Luxury, performance, and pure class – Hourglass isn’t just cruelty-free, it’s also moving towards being fully vegan. Their Ambient Lighting powders are like an Instagram filter in a pan.
9. e.l.f. Cosmetics
Proof that cruelty-free doesn’t have to be expensive. e.l.f. is affordable, inclusive, and consistently banging out products that punch way above their price point. Their Halo Glow filter? DUPE CITY for luxury brands.
10. Too Faced
Cute packaging and cruelty-free credentials? Sign us up. Too Faced has been a major player in the cruelty-free world for years – and we’ll never get tired of their Better Than Sex mascara.
Why Cruelty-Free Should Be Non-Negotiable
It’s simple: beauty doesn’t need to hurt anyone to slay. Choosing cruelty-free brands doesn’t just make you feel better about what’s in your kit, it shows your clients you stand for something bigger than just a good beat.
At Backstage, we’re here to push the industry forward, not backward. Whether you’re a client booking a glam session or an MUA building your kit, choosing cruelty-free is the ultimate power move.
Ready to upgrade your artistry and your ethics?
Download the Backstage app and get booked by clients who care just as much as you do.
