If you’re looking for the top cruelty-free beauty brands of 2021, stick around!
Below, we’ll go over some of the absolute best products from the most ethical companies.
First, though, let’s talk about how we decided which brands to include.
PS- You may also like: Everything You Need to Know About Vegan Collagen
Criteria for Top Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands of 2021
Let’s go over what I looked for when choosing my picks for the top cruelty-free beauty brands of 2022.
All brands must meet the following criteria:
- NO animal testing at all
- NO animal products at all
- Sustainable ingredients and ethical practices
- Products that are actually worth buying
No part of it is tested on animals
There are a lot of brands out there that claim to be “cruelty-free,” but a deep dive into their process often shows that, put bluntly, they’re full of it.
For example, a brand claims that they don’t test their product on animals may actually mean “we don’t test our final product on animals.”
However, many of the ingredients in said product are tested on lab bunnies.
No animal by-products
Animal by-products cannot be part of cruelty-free beauty products.
I’m sorry, but it does no good if a product that isn’t tested on animals actually INCLUDES animals in the ingredients.
Beauty brands are notoriously shifty about this, too. One Green Planet has a list of sneaky animal ingredients to watch out for.
The most common are gelatin and lanolin. Also, avoid anything including squalene, as it comes from shark liver.
Sustainable ingredients
While there are hundreds of cruelty-free beauty brands out there now, the best of the best use sustainable ingredients in crafting their products.
Being kind to animals isn’t just about not sacrificing them so that we can look pretty, it’s also about not ruining their habitats.
I look for brands that use sustainable ingredients and ethical practices that protect ALL animals, people included.
Products that are worth buying
Obviously, along with these three things, I also ask myself, “Would I actually use this product?”
If a brand meets all of my criteria but their collection of products leaves me feeling less than enthused, they don’t make my list.
While I don’t rule out pricey items, I do expect the value to match the price tag.
If I can find the same exact product with the same criteria for a lot less, I’ll always go with the cheaper option.
I think it’s ridiculous to pay extra just because the label has a prestigious name slapped on it.
Okay, now that you know what I look for, let’s check out my top picks for the best cruelty-free brands of 2021!
FYI, this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Check: Is Neutrogena Cruelty Free?
Top Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands of 2021
Since it’s important to give credit where it’s due, I used Leaping Bunny to verify each brand’s cruelty-free status.
Check out the table for my top 5 picks, then read on for the full list.
Table could not be displayed.1. 100% Pure
No products found.100% Pure makes quite a few fantastic products, but their Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara is my favorite.
As the name implies, the color comes from fruit (and other food) pigments rather than artificial dyes.
The shades are very rich and stunning, and it’s totally smudge proof to boot!
Their products are vegan, sustainable, and ethical in all ways, according to their mission statement:
We strive to live with compassion, kindness and empathy; to be environmentally sustainable and to improve the lives of 6 billion people and animals while also being charitable and giving back to our global community.
Check out the brand’s Amazon storefront for more great products.
No products found.
2. Aether Beauty
No products found.Aether Beauty primarily sells eye shadow palette inspired by gemstones, and they’re just gorgeous!
My favorite is their rose quartz palette, which actually uses rose quartz powder in the eye shadows. So neat!
All of their products are vegan, cruelty-free, and uses organic and fair-trade ingredients.
The packaging itself is fully recyclable, too, so it’s a zero waste product as well.
No products found.
3. Beauty Without Cruelty
No products found.Beauty Without Cruelty is one of the most well-known cruelty-free beauty brands, as well as one of the oldest.
Their incredibly affordable products are Leaping Bunny approved and Vegan Society UK certified.
According to their “About Us” page,
In 1963, Natural Products Shopping was founded in England by the trustees of BWC Charitable Trust, an animal welfare organization. Its goal was to manufacture and distribute natural, color cosmetics that were NOT tested on animals (as was the norm) and did NOT contain any animal ingredients.
I’ve used so many of their products over the years, it’s hard to choose a favorite.
I really love their All Day Moisturizer, though!
Check out more BWC products on Amazon. They’re easy to spot amidst all the totally unrelated ads that Amazon tosses into search results.
Just look for products with BWC in big letters on the label.
No products found.
4. Cake Beauty
No products found.Cake Beauty isn’t Leaping Bunny Certified, but they’re still a fantastic option.
According to their “Cross Our Hearts” promise, their products are:
- NOT tested on animals
- Use no ingredients tested on animals
- 100% vegan-safe
They also meet Amazon’s criteria for the Climate Pledge Friendly certification.
I love their Cake Beauty Walk Triplemint Foot Crème. It’s so soothing, and makes a great finishing touch to a foot mask gift set.
See more amazing cruelty-free products in their Amazon store..
No products found.
5.Earth Harbor
No products found.Earth Harbor Naturals sells some of the neatest cruelty-free products ever, including their super trendy Mermaid Milk.
While their offerings are a bit pricier than I like to see, I still feel like they’re a good value overall.
The brand is Leaping Bunny certified and 100% Vegan. According to their mission statement,
We harness the natural power of Ocean & Earth to bring you safe, ethical, sustainable products.
We deliver personalized, synthetic-free skincare to help you achieve your skin goals.
We proudly partner with 1% For The Planet® to save marine life and solve the global water crisis.
Check out the brand’s Amazon storefront for more great products.
No products found.
Check Maybelline Animal Testing.
6. E.L.F
No products found.E.L.F- which stands for “Eyes, Lips, Face,” made waves years ago when they launched a cruelty-free line of products that averaged just $1 per item.
While they’ve raised their prices over the years, the vast majority still cost under $5, with a few higher-end items hitting closer to $10.
E.L.F products aren’t just animal-friendly, they’re people-friendly, too. T
They partner with multiple organizations, including the It Gets Better Project for LGBTQ+ Youth and Color of Change for Black Lives Matter.
I’ve used SO much of their makeup over the years that I couldn’t possibly choose a favorite!
I’m currently loving their multi-stick, though. I use it on my lips and cheeks for a very put-together look.
See more amazing cruelty-free products in their Amazon store.
No products found.
7. US Organic
No products found.US Organic is a great source for oils and butters for homemade beauty products.
They have a wide range of 100% oils, like Argan, apricot, sweet almond, and more that are perfect carriers for essential oils.
While they’re not the best as far as money goes (you can find all of their oils for better prices, honestly), they are among the most ethical.
Their products are Leaping Bunny approved as well as USDA and FDA registered.
Check out the brand’s Amazon storefront for more great products.
No products found.
8. THE SEAWEED BATH CO.
No products found.These days, it’s getting harder and harder to find decent body wash that’s cruelty-free but that also doesn’t cost a small fortune.
The Seaweed Bath Co is both of those things and more, thank goodness!
Their awesome body washes are Vegan, cruelty free (no animal testing) and Leaping Bunny certified.
Plus, the ingredients are harvested from Maine waters in a sustainable and ethical manner.
See more amazing cruelty-free products in their Amazon store.
No products found.
9. Spinster Sisters Co.
No products found.The Spinster Sisters Co. makes cruelty-free lip balms, soaps, creams, and more.
According to their mission statement, they also use sustainable ingredients and their production facility is wind-powered.
All of their products are vegan, and they’re PETA certified as well as EWG VERIFIEDâ„¢.
Plus, they’re a woman-owned business!
Check out the brand’s Amazon storefront for more great products.
No products found.
10. Eco Tools
No products found.We can’t talk cruelty-free beauty without mentioning Eco Tools!
After all, we need a way to apply all those wonderful products above, right?
Eco Tools sells vegan and environmentally friendly makeup brushes.
Unlike many other brushes out there, they’re actually affordable, too!
On top of all that, the brand is dedicated to supporting women’s empowerment.
See more amazing cruelty-free products in their Amazon store.
No products found.
With more and more people opting for cruelty-free makeup and skincare products, the list of animal-friendly brands is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years.
I remember what it was like to struggle to find even one brand that didn’t test on animals!
Today, I have a hard time choosing a favorite! Maybe you can help out with that.
What are your favorite cruelty-free beauty brands? Share below!
