8 Cruelty-Free Skincare Brands We Love
From vegan-certified formulas to sustainable packaging, here’s our edit of the best cruelty-free skincare products to add to your beauty rotation.
1. Neal’s Yard Remedies
Best For: Cutting-edge natural and organic health and beauty products that are ethically sourced
Ethics: Cruelty free | Uses natural and organic ingredients | Gives back
Our Star Product: Aromatic Foaming Bath
A modern apothecary that produces award-winning products, Neal’s Yard Remedies believes great skin starts with great ingredients – which is why you’ll only ever find the purest essential oils and botanical extracts in the brand’s products. Neal’s Yard is a pioneer against using synthetic chemicals, opting for a holistic approach to health remedies and beauty products.
2. Honest Beauty
Best For: Effective, non-toxic skincare
Ethics: Cruelty free | Vegan friendly | Uses plant-derived ingredients | Gives back
Our Star Product: Magic Beauty Balm
Founded by Jessica Alba, Honest Beauty has been eagerly awaited to hit the UK market. The products are affordable (the most expensive skincare product is £32) and have been developed using the insight of top makeup artists and cosmetic scientists. The result is a collection that’s as effective as it is safe, blending botanically-based ingredients with scientific formulas.
3. The Body Shop
Best For: Purse-friendly cruelty free makeup and skincare
Ethics: Cruelty free | Vegan friendly | Uses recycled packaging | Gives back
Our Star Product: Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask
The leading beauty retailer is known for its moves towards sustainability. It is dedicated to finding the finest ethically-sourced ingredients for its collection of naturally-inspired beauty products. This means working fairly with farmers and suppliers, operating on a 100% vegetarian basis, and taking a firm stance against animal testing.
4. Sukin
Best For: Affordable natural and environmentally conscious skincare
Ethics: Cruelty free | Vegan friendly | Uses natural and organic ingredients | Uses sustainable and recyclable packaging
Our Star Product: Mattifying Facial Moisturiser
Home-grown Australian brand Sukin offers effective, sustainable and affordable natural skin, hair and body care. It brings together high-quality natural ingredients and scientifically proven formulas to create products that are nourishing for your skin and safe for the planet.
5. EcoTools
Best For: High-quality, affordable beauty tools
Ethics: Cruelty free | Vegan friendly | Uses recycled materials | Gives back
Our Star Product: Dry Body Brush
EcoTools offers a makeup and body brush collection that is not only environmentally friendly, but also chic, high-quality, and affordable. Founded by sisters Jen and Stacey, who set out on a mission to create sustainable beauty tools, all EcoTools brushes are vegan. They are also made from recycled materials and renewable bamboo.
6. Lush
Best For: Natural skin and body care
Ethics: Cruelty free | Vegan friendly | Uses natural ingredients | Uses recyclable packaging | Gives back
Our Star Product: Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion
The innovative, independently-owned retailer has made a success out of ‘fresh handmade cosmetics’ on a global scale and garnered a cult following of ‘Lushies’ in the process. Lush is an ethical, environmentally-friendly and fair business and its products are 100% vegetarian, 85% vegan and completely handmade.
7. Botanics
Best For: Effective, plant-based skincare that won’t break the bank
Ethics: Cruelty free | Vegan friendly | Uses natural ingredients | Planet friendly
Our Star Product: Cleansing Foam Wash
The Botanics range uses effective plant extracts sourced from around the world to target skin’s specific needs. The brand’s beauty products are formulated with plant extracts, natural and organic ingredients and are all developed to be effective. Each product is also formulated without nasties such as parabens, phthalates, SLS, mineral oil, petroleum, paraffin, DEA, TEA and Formaldehyde Donors.
8. John Masters Organics
Best For: Luxury organic skincare
Ethics: Cruelty free | Uses organic ingredients | Uses biodegradable and recyclable packaging
Our Star Product: Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask
Using only the purest oils and botanicals, John Masters Organics creates beauty products that are both good for us and good for the planet. The professional hair, skin and body range harnesses the powers of organic, natural elements with the belief that nature is and will always be our greatest resource to help us look and feel our best.
