The best vegan beauty brands to shop in the UK

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Unbeknownst to us, a large majority of our go-to products contain everything from beeswax to honey - a surprisingly high number of household brands also failing to crack down on animal testing.

Fortunately, the beauty industry is finally getting to grips with veganism and the change in lifestyle may even introduce you to cult products you soon won’t be able to live without.

To celebrate World Vegan Day, we asked Dr Julia Baines, Science Policy Advisor at PETA UK for some top tips.

“Whenever I shop for new items, I search the PETA US global database of companies that do and that don’t test on animals, either online or via the mobile app Bunny Free,” Baines tells Yahoo UK.

“My personal favourite UK beauty brands include Urban Decay, Kat Von D, Lush, Too Faced, Aveda, The Body Shop, Bare Minerals, Dove and Paul Mitchell – to name just a few,” she added.

“I particularly love Urban Decay’s Naked range – the foundation, concealer, and eyeshadow palette are my go-to products for daily use, along with Kat Von D’s Lock-It brightening powder. For haircare, you’ll find Aveda and Paul Mitchell products on my shelf.”

Ready to give it a go?

From Superdrug’s B Pro range to Cornwall-based Bloomtown, these are the most shelf-worthy beauty labels on the market right now with the vegan stamp of approval.

Maria Nila

100% vegan and cruelty-free, Maria Nila is a haircare brand Yahoo writers can’t enough of. Originally from Stockholm, but stocked in the UK, it offers products for almost every hair type – from coloured, to dry, to flat locks. Our favourite is a leave-in, post-wash Argan oil. Maria Nila also stocks a range of soaps – the ginger scent’s out top pick. Shop here.

AXIOLOGY

This beautiful, luxe lipstick range takes its veganism very seriously. As well as not using any animal products, the brand support organisations such as PETA and The Orangutan Foundation with their profits. Shop here.

3ina

Made in Europe, this line of cruelty-free and vegan make-up has developed something of a cult following. It’s young, it’s fun – and affordable. ASOS stocks them, along with a number of other UK destinations. Shop here.

Bulldog

Bulldog specialises in skincare for men with a large number of vegan-friendly face masks and moisturisers on offer – with further oil control and sensitive options. Ladies, it’s high time we borrowed from the boys… Shop here.

e’lifexir

Recently picked up by Sainsbury’s, e’lifexir is our new go-to for vegan beauty must-haves. The supermarket chain is now selling the brand’s Push Up Breast, Fitness, Anti-Stretch Marks and Actidren products – which are hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types. Shop here.

The Body Shop

Famed for its dedication to producing cruelty-free products, The Body Shop is one of the first companies that springs to mind when on the hunt for vegan beauty buys. The mega chain is 100% vegetarian but – due to the use of honey and beeswax in a large variety of products – only around half come without animal products listed in their ingredients.

Thankfully, this includes a wide range of vegan-friendly make-up items on offer from fake-it-in-winter bronzer to subtle BB cream while skincare junkies are sure to stock up on the label’s now-famous £6 shea exfoliating body scrub. Shop now.

Bare Minerals

While Shiseido, Bare Minerals’ parent company does test on animals, Bare Minerals doesn’t. Head here for brilliant powders, concealers and much more. Shop now.

Lush

Another major beauty brand you’re sure to be familiar with is Lush which is also 100% vegetarian but, due to the use of honey, beeswax and eggs, the company is only 80% vegan. Thankfully, the label’s cult £11.95 highlighter stick – along with the rest of the brand’s make-up range – is vegan-friendly so it would be rude not to add it to our basket – right? Shop now.

Superdrug

Did you know that you can shop vegan beauty must-haves on your local high street? Superdrug has a line of animal-friendly make-up products under the name B. and you can bag everything from a gram-worthy contour kit to slick eyebrow pencils. FYI, word on the street is that the Naturally Radiant collection is particularly good. Shop now.

Too Faced

In need of some fluffy new make-up brushes? Too Faced stocks a wide range of vegan-friendly beauty must-haves from teddy bear soft applicators to peachy-flavoured lip scrub. Shop now.

Pixi

Pixi has long ruled the beauty market thanks to its cult following and social media-worthy packaging so it’s an added bonus that the brand is cruelty-free. You can find an extensive list of the label’s vegan products on the Marks & Spencer website. We don’t know about you but Pixi’s £18 cult glow mud mask is going straight to the top of our Christmas wish list… Shop now.

Perfect Shade

For those of you on the hunt for something under-the-radar, make sure to check out Perfect Shade. The brand new beauty range offers everything from rainbow highlighters to liquid lipsticks you never knew you needed. Shop now.

Emulsion Cosmetics

New to the UK, Emulsion Cosmetics is a natural, vegan and completely customisable skin, body and haircare brand. You can mix your own perfect products at home, using a blendable base, to satisfy your skincare needs. Shop now.

Sukin

Melbourn-born beauty company Sukin is seriously committed to the environment priding itself in vegan and carbon neutral products. For those of us in the UK hoping to bag a handful (or two) of products, Holland & Barrett has our back. We’ll be trying out the brand’s £6.20 facial moisturiser – it’s a must for those with sensitive skin. Shop now.

Pai

If you’re new to vegan skincare, Pai’s a great place to start. Every product’s free from nasties and, of course, any animal products. Only sustainable plant ingredients are used and recyclable or biodegradable packaging wherever possible. On the brand’s site, you can shop by face or body product, or by your skin concern. Shop now.

Bloomtown

Under-the-radar label Bloomtown was founded back in 2016 by Preyanka Clark Prakash after a trip to Indonesia opened her eyes to the devastation of the forest – once home to endangered orangutans and tigers. The Cornwall-based brand offers lovingly hand-crafted body and skincare products – no guilt included. We already have our eyes on the £4.80 Red and Berried lip balm this winter. Shop now.

Jillian Dempsey

For those of you who can’t resist an A-list recommendation, look no further than Jillian Dempsey’s foray into the beauty sphere. The professional make-up artist’s line is 100% organic and animal-free with some seriously impressive lid and cheek tints up for grabs.

In need of some inspo? Head to the website for easy-to-follow tutorials. Shop now.

Previse DermApothecary

Previse DermApothecary is a must for those on the lookout for skincare products formulated by dermatologists. The brand uses plant-based ingredients free from fragrance or essential oils – ideal for those with allergy-prone skin.

We can’t wait to try out the label’s much talked about hydrating cleanser. Shop now.

YOPE

Polish-born beauty and lifestyle brand, YOPE is our new go-to for all things skincare. Whether you’re in need of a kitchen soap or a frothy shower gel, the label stocks a wide range of vegan-friendly products made with natural ingredients.

We fancy adding the brand’s geranium shower gel to our bathroom shelf… Shop now.

Wild

If you’re looking to upgrade your bathroom shelf with a vegan-friendly deodorant or two then make sure to check out Wild Cosmetics.

Designed using natural alternatives to antiperspirants, the products (which may we add, come in rather chic packaging) don’t contain nasties such as aluminium, parabens or sulphates.

Plus, they promise to donate 10% of every order to the World Land Trust to help fund global reforestation. Shop now.

Herbivore

Herbivore’s delightful packaging is here to remind us that vegan beauty needn’t be boring.

Founded by Seattle-based duo Julia Wills and Alexander Kummerow, the company prides itself in using nothing but ‘active’ ingredients with French pink clay to Brazilian gemstones playing a large role in a customer’s beauty regime.

So start saving up because the brand’s popular Moon Fruit night treatment is a guilt-free treat we can’t resist splurging on. Shop now.

Love a vegan beauty range we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below.

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