Last Updated on 23rd February 2024 by Sarah Sarsby
Today, I’m sharing 8 incredible PETA-certified cruelty-free and vegan beauty brands that need to be on your radar.
Each of the 8 brands on this list is both cruelty-free and vegan in line with PETA’s standards. These brands are the real deal. And PETA knows it! From affordable to high-end, international to indie, this list offers so many amazing makeup and skincare picks to suit your wants, needs, and morals.
Keep reading to see which PETA vegan and cruelty-free beauty brands are 100% worth checking out. You won’t regret investing in these brands! Plus, there are some tasty discounts in this post.
* This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page **
What is PETA?
Established in 1980, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is an international charitable organisation dedicated to animal rights. It is under the strict belief that animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way. PETA informs policymakers and the public about animal abuse and promotes the kind treatment of animals.
How do companies get on PETA’s cruelty-free beauty list?
In order to be listed on PETA’s regulated animal test-free list, a company or brand must submit a legally binding statement of assurance signed by its CEO verifying that it and its ingredient suppliers don’t conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world and won’t do so in the future.
Companies must also submit detailed paperwork describing how they test their products, where they are sold, what kinds of products they offer, and what kinds of ingredients they use. PETA further requires all companies to have agreements in place with their suppliers that no animal testing is done at any stage on any of the ingredients or raw materials that they supply to the company for its products.
What happens if a company isn’t on PETA’s cruelty-free beauty list?
Just because an organisation isn’t on PETA’s cruelty-free beauty list, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the firm tests on animals. PETA might not have enough information on said company. There are beauty brands that are both vegan and cruelty-free, but they just might not have applied to the list.
However, purchasing from a PETA-approved beauty brand gives you that added level of assurance that your purchase is cruelty-free and potentially vegan. Not all brands on PETA’s cruelty-free list are totally vegan, but a fair few are! All the ones in this blog post are both cruelty-free and vegan.
Learn more about PETA’s cruelty-free beauty list.
8 amazing PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free beauty brands
1. Rare Beauty
Rare Beauty has truly taken the beauty community by storm. I never hear a bad word about this vegan and cruelty-free makeup brand!
Rare Beauty is all about breaking down beauty standards, encouraging people to embrace their uniqueness, and inspiring people to express their creativity.
Selena Gomez has done a phenomenal job with this inclusive makeup brand. There are just so many bomb products to pick from! It’s not just another generic brand that fades into background noise; these products are extraordinary and truly high quality. This is makeup that makes you look and feel amazing.
Tried and tested: Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
On my wishlist: Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer
2. facetheory
facetheory is a fantastic, affordable, and high-quality skincare brand. It’s focused on being transparent about the ingredients that are in its products, while heavily concentrating on creating a positive skincare community.
facetheory truly values feedback – whether positive or negative. It wants real user stories to genuinely create the best products out there. Plus, alongside being PETA-approved vegan and cruelty-free, the brand uses recyclable and minimal packaging. Which means it even focuses on being eco-friendly! What’s not to love?
There are plenty of products sitting around the £10 mark too.
Tried and tested: Relaxing Night Cream M10 PRO (read my May 2022 beauty faves)
On my wishlist: Lipade Q10 Oil Booster Serum S6
3. e.l.f. Cosmetics
e.l.f Cosmetics absolutely kills it (no bunnies are harmed ofc!) with its cosmetics line. This super affordable brand proves that you don’t need to spend loads of money to get truly effective products.
e.l.f Cosmetics has a massive range of products to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a staple primer or mega-hydrating moisturiser, this brand has you covered. So many of its products are iconic and loved by beauty enthusiasts globally.
It just proves that drugstore beauty brands can keep up with expensive brands when it comes to products that work.
Tried and tested: Poreless Putty Primer (check out my post on the best UK drugstore picks for under £10)
On my wishlist: 16hr Camo Concealer
4. Bali Body
Bali Body is mostly known for its incredible, foolproof, and easy-to-apply fake tanning products. But it has some dope skincare products available too!
Bali Body is all about healthy, radiant, and bronzed skin. Its fake tanning products are among the best available. No streakiness, no patchiness, and no orangeness. They also manage to keep your skin hydrated, whereas other tanning products can be very drying.
I’ve tried loads of Bali Body products over the years, and they’re fab. I can’t recommend this brand enough to fake tan lovers!
Tried and tested: BB Cream with SPF (full review here)
On my wishlist: Deodorant
5. Dear, Klairs
Use the code LFTFBLOGSARAH for 20% off all products on this LOOKFANTASTIC list including Dear, Klairs!
Dear, Klairs is a beautiful K-beauty brand that centres around simple yet effective skincare. Its products help make your skin feel soft, look glowy, and stay hydrated.
As with many Korean skincare brands, Dear, Klairs focuses on gentle ingredients. Its primary purpose is to ensure products are powerful but non-irritating. The brand has tonnes of popular products, such as its fresh juiced line, and continues to expand globally.
Tried and tested: Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop (see my full review here)
On my wishlist: Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil
6. Vieve
Created by pro makeup artist and popular beauty YouTuber Jamie Genevieve, Vieve is a luxurious makeup brand that promises high-quality yet accessible products. The aesthetics of this brand are so beautiful – it’s giving Vogue – and despite still being a fairly new beauty brand, Vieve already has multiple award-winning products.
Vieve is all about self-expression, positivity, and effortless glam. From gorgeous nude lipsticks to seamless face palettes, this brand truly wows with every launch.
Tried and tested: Modern Lip Definer
On my wishlist: Lip Dew
7. OPV Beauty
OPV Beauty is a stunning black-owned beauty brand that’s all about diversity and feeling beautiful regardless of age or race. There are loads of pigmented products to pick from, like dazzling pressed glitters, versatile face palettes, and unique metallic lipsticks.
2 sisters founded the brand to cater for every skin tone, at a time when many brands weren’t inclusive. They wanted people to feel beautiful in their own skin and help them express their creativity.
OPV Beauty definitely deserves more hype! It’s a beautiful brand.
Tried and tested: Translucent Setting Powder (more on this in my October 2021 beauty faves)
On my wishlist: Glow Perfect Face Palette
8. The Ordinary
Does The Ordinary even need an introduction?
We have this iconic brand to thank for truly changing the skincare world forever. The Ordinary made ingredients easy to understand, broke down skincare jargon, and focused on affordable solutions for everyone.
For people just starting out on their skincare journey or for those looking for a specific solution, The Ordinary is fantastic. All products are ingredient-led. So, if you want an inexpensive niacinamide serum, you know where to look!
Not only is The Ordinary a PETA vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand, but it’s also got an enormous range to choose from.
Tried and tested: Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
On my wishlist: Buffet
Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 5 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.
It’s good to know not to assume a brand isn’t vegan and cruelty free just because they’re not on the list. I hadn’t really considered that! It definitely makes me want to do a haul from some of these brands, especially The Ordinary and Rare Beauty.