A Guide to Cruelty Free Makeup and Skincare in 2025

Ethical beauty begins here! It is now the beginning of 2025, and so are your New Year’s resolutions. If you are trying to switch to cruelty-free, packaging-friendly, or vegan beauty this year, you are in the right place. The world of ethical beauty brands can be overwhelming and confusing, especially as some previously cruelty-free brands change their policies. Here, we will introduce you to the best ethical beauty that 2025 has to offer, so you can finally commit to that New Year’s resolution. This guide will cover a range of budgets, from budget-friendly to high-end options, making it even easier to start today.

What does Cruelty-free mean?

Cruelty-free means that a brand doesn't test its products on animals. Cruelty-free products are indicated with a rabbit symbol on the packaging. Many illegitimate bunny symbols circulate so we would advise trusting only the official leaping bunny logo, PETA’s cruelty-free logo, or the Choose Cruelty-Free logo. Any other symbols are unofficial and have not been accredited by a reputable cruelty-free organization. Now you know what to look out for, your cruelty-free journey can begin! 

Makeup 

Budget-friendly 

• Essence is extremely budget-friendly so you can build a full cruelty-free makeup routine for less

•  ColourPop is known for its cheap and high-quality eyeshadow palettes. From shimmers to mattes and vivid brights to muted pastels there is a palette for every occasion. 

• Wet N Wild offers a huge range of versatile makeup products at a low price. They also offer a great range of cruelty-free makeup brushes made from synthetic fibers. 

Standard 

•  E.L.F. Cosmetics offers high-quality, affordable makeup and skincare. Best known for its bestselling foundation Halo Glow and its power grip primer. E.l.f. is a great place to build your base routine. 

• Makeup Revolution offers affordable makeup in their signature luxurious rose gold packaging. Their large range of colorful palettes is enough to spark creativity and make you fall back in love with makeup. 

• NYX is certified and acknowledged by PETA as a cruelty-free brand. NYX is known for its professional-quality makeup and its emphasis on creativity in makeup offering a huge range of colourful products. 

High-end

• Fenty, Rhianna’s iconic makeup brand known for its advocacy for shade inclusivity in makeup. With stunning silvery pink packaging and exquisite products, Fenty is for those looking for luxury. 

• Too Faced is a serious makeup brand that knows how to have fun! The products are professional standard but the packaging showcases the brand’s sense of humor. From heart-shaped blushes to gingerbread house eyeshadows. Too Faced pampers you whilst healing your inner child. 

• Urban Decay is iconic for its signature all-nighter fixing spray and naked eyeshadow palettes. If you are looking to create a more edgy makeup look their range of smokey eyeliners and single eyeshadows will do the trick.  

Skincare

Budget-friendly 

• The Ordinary offers no-nonsense skincare. With its minimalistic packaging, The Ordinary offers high-quality creams and serums at an amazing price. 

• Simple specializes in products that are kind to the skin. With no fragrances, colorants, alcohol, harsh preservatives, or soap that can agitate the skin. Simple is perfect if you have sensitive skin. 

•  CeraVe offers a complete line of cleansers, moisturizers, and more that contain three essential ceramides to help restore the skin's protective barrier.

Standard  

• Florence by Mills is Millie Bobby Brown’s skincare line offering clean ingredients, aesthetic packaging, and clean ingredients. 

• Krave Beauty makes products suitable for every skin type. With an emphasis on easy skincare and inclusivity. Krave Beauty is perfect for those who want a no-fuss routine. 

•  Paula’s Choice only includes ingredients proven to be beneficial to the skin. Paula's Choice offers peace of mind as you can trust each ingredient. 

 High-End 

• Pixi Beauty infuses its products with botanical ingredients. Pixi emphasizes embracing natural beauty. They make you love being in your own skin!

• Tatcha offers luxury skincare from Japan. Tacha innovates with tradition balancing timeless Japanese botanicals with proven clinical ingredients. 

• Drunk Elephant, the infamous viral skincare in those brightly colored packaging. It may have been taken over by those Gen Alpha influencers but it is still certainly worth the hype! With high-quality skincare that's worth the price tag. 

Vegan 

Vegan products do not contain animal-derived ingredients. The great thing about cruelty-free brands is that they are often also vegan. Below is a list of some vegan brands that are cruelty-free to get you started. 

These brands have a large range of vegan products but not all these brands sell exclusively vegan products (check for a rabbit symbol before buying!)

Vegan Makeup 

• Wet n Wild: They offer many vegan products, clearly labeled.
• E.l.f. Cosmetics: Many products are vegan.
• Makeup Revolution: Some of their products are vegan.
• NYX: Many products are vegan.
• Fenty Beauty: A portion of their range is vegan.
• Too Faced: They have several vegan options.
• Urban Decay: A large portion of their products are vegan

Vegan Skincare

• The Ordinary: Offers many vegan products.
• Simple: Some of their products are vegan (not all).
• CeraVe: While cruelty-free, not all products are vegan (contains animal-derived ingredients in some items).
• Florence by Mills: Vegan and cruelty-free.
• Krave Beauty: Vegan and cruelty-free.
• Paula’s Choice: Many products are vegan.
• Pixi Beauty: Many vegan options available.
• Tatcha: Some products are vegan, but not all.
• Drunk Elephant: Vegan-friendly, most products are vegan.

Packaging friendly 

If you are trying to limit your plastic consumption this year many brands are pathing the way for sustainable packaging.  These brands are also cruelty-free (even better!). These include; 

• Pley Beauty 

• Elate Cosmetics 

• LUSH

• Clean-Faced Cosmetics 

• Doll Smash 

Wrapping Up 

Whether you’re budget-conscious, looking for mid-range essentials, or want to indulge in high-end luxury, these vegan cruelty-free skincare brands ensure your routine aligns with ethical and sustainable values without sacrificing quality. Good luck on your cruelty-free journey!