The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Lipstick: Pucker Up with Cruelty-Free Color
Welcome to the world of vegan lipstick, where beauty meets ethics without compromise! This guide highlights a range of shades that elevate your look while being cruelty-free. Say goodbye to animal-derived ingredients and embrace formulas that care for your lips and the planet. With a variety of options available (many of them being plastic-free), you can easily enjoy vibrant colors that align with your values.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands - and us! Cover Image: Westman Atelier
What is Vegan Lipstick?
Vegan lipstick is an ethical choice for anyone who loves makeup! These lipsticks don’t contain any ingredients from animals, making them a great option for those who care about kindness and sustainability. While regular lipsticks often use products like beeswax or carmine (and animal testing!!), vegan lipsticks instead use natural plant-based ingredients and minerals to give you beautiful colors and smooth texture (without testing on animals, of course!).
The Benefits of Vegan Lipstick
Choosing cruelty-free lipstick, especially vegan options, comes with many wonderful benefits for both you and our furry friends. One of the biggest perks is knowing that no animals were harmed for your beauty routine. When you pick products that are cruelty-free and don’t contain any animal ingredients, you're making a choice that aligns with your values, allowing you to feel good about what you put on your skin.
On top of the ethical benefits, vegan lipsticks often have health perks, too! Many brands avoid using harmful chemicals, synthetic scents, or parabens that can irritate your lips. Instead, they use natural oils and plant extracts that help hydrate and nourish your lips. This means you're not just staying away from harsh ingredients, but you're also pampering your lips with something that boosts their look and feel.
Plus, the growth of cruelty-free options has led to a fantastic variety of colors and textures. With so many brands competing, you can find an amazing selection of shades, whether you want a striking matte look, a shiny gloss, or a subtle tint. Choosing vegan lipsticks not only enhances your beauty but also supports a kinder, more sustainable future for everyone. It’s a win-win!
How to Identify Vegan Lipstick Brands
Finding vegan lipstick brands can be simple if you know where to look! Start by checking the packaging for labels that say “vegan” or “cruelty-free.” Many brands take pride in these claims as a way to showcase their commitment to ethical practices. Just remember, not all cruelty-free products are vegan; some may still contain animal-derived ingredients. So, it’s a good idea to read through the ingredient list to make sure the product aligns with your vegan values.
Another great way to spot vegan brands is to dive into their ethos and practices. Many vegan cosmetics brands are open about how they source their ingredients and produce their products, so you can find this info on their official websites. Look for brands that share their commitment to being cruelty-free and let you know if they conduct any animal testing during production.
Lastly, keep an eye out for certifications from trustworthy organizations like The Vegan Society and Leaping Bunny (not every brand is vegan but all are cruelty-free). These certifications indicate that brands meet strict vegan and cruelty-free standards, giving you peace of mind when you shop. By combining label checks, some research, and awareness of certifications, you can confidently explore the vegan lipstick market and find brands that truly resonate with your ethical beauty journey!
Our Top Picks for Vegan Lipstick:
1. Axiology
Price: $18
Axiology is a wonderful cruelty-free and vegan makeup brand that truly cares about the planet and your beauty routine. Their products are made with natural, organic ingredients—free from synthetic dyes, parabens, and phthalates—so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin!
One of their most loved products is the Lip-to-Lid Balmies. These handy crayons are perfect for adding a pop of color to your lips, cheeks, and eyelids, making them super versatile! Plus, they come in eco-friendly packaging—recyclable or compostable paper boxes—so you can enjoy beautiful makeup without the guilt of plastic waste.
2. Elate
Price: $28
Elate Cosmetics brings you a zero-waste, vegan lip stick made from natural ingredients. They prioritize sustainability and ethical practices, so you can feel good about your choices.
Their unique lip pencil is not just any ordinary lip product; it’s designed to moisturize and provide long-lasting wear—even for the driest lips. Use it as a lip liner or fill in your lips! With a beautiful array of shades and a strong commitment to the environment, Elate truly stands out as a brand dedicated to sustainable beauty.
3. Mob
Price: $24
Mob Beauty offers a collection of cosmetics that are clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, all while prioritizing sustainability. Their lipsticks feature a soft matte texture for a velvety finish. With its rich pigments, you’ll get beautiful color in just one swipe!
Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and plant waxes, these lipsticks protect, soothe, and keep your lips moisturized. Plus, they are thoughtfully formulated without silicones, plastics, beeswax, or carmine. Mob Beauty is dedicated to ethical sourcing and caring for the environment, which is why their packaging is completely plastic-free.
4. 100% Pure
Price: $28
100% Pure is passionate about crafting natural and vegan cosmetics that are good for you and the planet. Their beautiful lipsticks are made with vibrant fruit extracts, delivering rich color without any synthetic chemicals or artificial dyes.
Each matte lipstick is not only long-lasting but also enriched with a nourishing blend of cocoa and shea butters to keep your lips moisturized and soft. Experience the goodness of nature with every swipe!
5. NOTO
Price: $26
NOTO Botanics brings you a range of vegan cosmetics that embrace a minimalist approach to sustainability. Their versatile products are designed to simplify your beauty routine—think lip and cheek tints with buildable color that you can easily customize to your liking.
Plus, their multi-purpose makeup stick is packed with natural ingredients that prioritize skincare, ensuring your skin looks and feels amazing while adding a beautiful pop of color.
6. Kosas
Price: $24
Kosas Wet Stick is a vegan lip care product that combines a hint of color with a soft, kissable shine. Packed with nourishing ingredients like squalane, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and mango butter, it hydrates your lips while enhancing their natural fullness.
Its lightweight, non-sticky formula glides on effortlessly and can be layered for a bolder look. It's also free of mineral oil, silicones, parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. With a variety of shades available, it’s perfect for any occasion!
7. RMS Beauty
Price: $36
RMS Beauty is all about celebrating natural beauty with their vegan lip products made from raw, food-grade, and organic ingredients. Their commitment to being eco-friendly shines through in everything they do, from the way they formulate their products to the recyclable packaging they use.
Their lip products offer a beautiful range of natural shades, all with a creamy and moisturizing feel. One standout is the Legendary Serum Lipstick—it's a game changer! This innovative lipstick not only provides long-lasting color but also keeps your lips hydrated. You'll love the rich nutrients and lightweight color.
8. Westman Atelier
Price: $50
Westman Atelier offers luxurious vegan lip products made with clean, plant-based ingredients. Their packaging isn’t just beautiful; it's designed to last and includes recyclable and refillable materials. Known for their high-performance formulas and chic look, Westman Atelier beautifully combines luxury with sustainability.
The matte lipstick not only looks stunning but also nourishes and plumps your lips with a special blend of peptides, Vitamins C and E, along with Hydro Suede Technology. This unique system ensures you get intense matte color without any dryness or feathering. All of this comes in sleek, refillable packaging featuring a magnetic mirrored cap – perfect for quick touch-ups wherever you go.
9. Gen See
Price: $24
Gen See is a clean beauty brand that offers high-performance, vegan makeup designed to multitask. Their lip products are made with natural ingredients and come in minimalist, recyclable packaging, reflecting the brand's commitment to sustainability and inclusivity.
One of their standout products, the Pick Me Up Lip, has been praised for its lightweight feel: “It feels like nothing on my lips!” Plus, with a range of shades that are like a little espresso shot for your face, these lip products are brightening and energizing—perfect for enhancing your natural beauty!
10. Ilia
Price: $26
Ilia Beauty is all about clean, vegan cosmetics that are packed with organic goodness. Their lip products are not just colorful; they’re enriched with nourishing botanicals that make your lips happy and healthy. Plus, Ilia is committed to the planet, using sustainable packaging made from recycled aluminum and responsibly sourced paper. We especially love their lip crayon, which helps reduce waste even more! With their focus on performance and environmental care, Ilia has truly become a standout in the clean beauty scene.
WANT TO FIND MORE SUSTAINABLE Beauty BRANDS?
The Brand Directory features hundreds of sustainable brands approved by us!
We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.
