Cosmetics & Perfume
Or "One woman's struggle to overcome adversity".
OK, so it's not that bad but seriously this was one of the hardest changes for me. Almost all commercial cometics not only tests on animals but contains animal ingredients. The good news is that mineral cometics is generally vegan (although it may still have been tested on animals so choose the brand wisely).
Cosmetics
Here are some vegan cometics brands. You can buy online if there are no retailers near you. Some of the Australian ones will pop up in specialty/health/organic stores and at vegan expos if you want to try before you buy. Some of the online stores will offer sample sizes to try colours.
In store;
Adorn Minerals - vegan cosmetics, you can find this range in specialty stores and online
Inika - An Australian brand of organic vegan cosmetics, you can find this range in specialty stores, Myer and online
Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment - (for cracked lips, chafing, rash etc) made from paw paw extract, available in Priceline and pharmacies
Nude by Nature - a great Australian brand of mineral cosmetics that are 100% cruelty free, available in pharmacies
Natio - all Natio products are free of animal products except the lip colours which contain beeswax and insect products and their make-up brushes which contain animal hair, Natio is available in selected pharmacies. There website should show if each product is vegan. Here's a link to an email they sent me.
Online (some are US/UK brands but all will mail to Australia);
Amina Cosmetics - cosmetics & skin care
Arbonne - cosmetics, skin care, bath & spa (apparently they do an excellent primer!)
Aussie Mineral Makeup - An Australian brand of cosmetics
Beauty Without Cruelty - cosmetics, skin care, nail polish & hair care Chantecaille - is a French brand of cosmetics, skin care and fragrance which is mostly vegan. Gorgeous products but you will pay for it.
Devita - cosmeticsand skin care
Derma E - makes vegan BB Cream
DNM - cosmetics and skin care
Ecco Bella - US brand of click on the "vegan" range for cosmetics, skin care, hair care, fragrance
e.l.f Cosmetics - An international brand of online vegan cosmetics and it's cheap cheap cheap!
Everyday Minerals - US brand of cosmetics, skin care & bath
Gabriel Cometics - cosmetics, skin care & spa
Goth Cupcake - a US company that make vegan cosmetic and really cute hair flowers made from recycled stickers
Inika - An Australian brand of vegan cosmetics, you can find this range in specialty stores and online (USA now too!)
Josie Maran - the following products are vegan. Link here.
Kuush - cosmetics, skin care, bath and fragrance
Larissa Bright - cosmetics, skin care, men's, babies, fragrance, bath & spa
Lime Crime - USA based 100% vegan company who has lots of funky colours - think Katy Perry
Livinia - cosmetics and skin care
Manic Panic - US brand of cosmetics (make excellent vegan mascara)
Mattify! Cosmetics - US brand of vegan make up designed for oily skin
Minerale - cosmetics
Monave Cosmetics - 95% vegan cosmetics & skin care
Musq - cosmetics and skin care
My Earth Natural Cosmetics - cosmetics and face care
OCC - OCC is a vegan line of cosmetics - great lipstick glosses
Out of Eden - cosmetics, bath & body care, oils and candles (and a men's range)
Scout - cosmetics, hair care, skin care
Sevi - cosmetics, skin care, hair care, bath, fragrance and pet care
Shiro Cosmetics - US brand of handmade vegan mineral cosmetics, great eyeshadow & lipstick/gloss shades
SpaRitual - vegan nail polish & spa
Tarte Cosmetics - has a vegan section
VANI-T - Australian brand of vegan mineral cosmetics, tanning, bath & body (only Multi-Sticks and our Lip Crayons contain beeswax)
Yuva - cosmetics and skin care
Zosimos - skin care, hair care, fragrance, candles, cosmetics, insect repellent (double check their "vegan guide" because a few products contain honey, silk or beeswax)
Make Up Remover
Jason - Vegan face, body hair, oral, sun & kids
Natio - skin care is all vegan. Here's a link to the email they sent me.Simple - vegan skin care range
Yes to Carrots - Most of their products are vegan (but some do contain beeswax, so read the labels carefully)
Simple - have a wide range of vegan skincare, including make-up remover
Cosmetic Tools
Most cosmetics brushes use animal hair.
Some of the online cosmetics stores will have their own vegan make up brushes.
Eco Tools is a vegan brand available from Priceline and online stores.
e.l.f Cosmetics - An international brand of online vegan cosmetics and it's cheap cheap cheap!
Face Paint
Vegan Faces is a UK brand that makes organic mineral cosmetics and face paints. They are excellent for children with sensitive skin.
Bronxer/Fake Tan
Eco Tan - Australia organic fake tan - available at selected pharmacies and online.
Hippy Heaven Natural Beauty - makes vegan bronzer tanning spray
Inika Cosmetics -make a Purely Bronzed Certified Organic Tinted Bronzing Mousse
Lavera - makes a self tanning spray, available from The Vegan Store online.
Natio - all skin care products are vegan. Here's a link to an email they sent me.
Pod Puraceuticals - SPF 15 Liquid Tan
VANI-T - has vegan tanning solutions
Nail Polish
Butter London is all vegan nail polishes and are stocked in pharmacies and health food shops all over the place, just call the Style Patisserie for your nearest stockist.
e.l.f Cosmetics - An Australian brand of online vegan cosmetics also has nail polishes
Keeki - is a vegan brand of nail polish remover & funky coloured nail polishes and very cheap. I found them at (Taste Organic, Crows Nest, NSW Australia)
Lime Crime - USA based 100% vegan company who has lots of funky colours - think Katy Perry
Natio - all Natio products are free of animal products except the lip colours which contain insect products. There website should show if each product is vegan. Here's a link to an email they sent me.
Priti NYC - vegan nail polish available from The Arctic Vegan Store
SpaRitual - vegan nail lacquers, available from The Vegan Store online.
Perfume
Most perfume uses animal musk (click here for explanation) - I know, eeeeewww - not to mention test on animals (click here for explanation). Great article here from Splash of Scent on animal ingredients and testing in perfumes!
Essential oils are usually fine. Unfortunately most of the vegan perfumes are only available online but some do provided cheap testers to try. Most specialty & online stores will stock solid oil perfumes but here are some other alternatives (personally I like alcohol based sprays);
A Perfume Organic - Australian company that make premium perfumes in gorgeous bottles
doTERRA Essential Oils - carries some pure flower roll ons such as Rose, Gardenia, Lavender and Jasmine!
Chantecaille - for top of the range expensive perfume (around $180) you have this gorgeous French brand of vegan perfume.
Ecco Bella - click on the "vegan" range for their vegan perfumes. I love Bourbon Vanilla
Eco Sevi - make two eau de parfums
Evodia - Australian organic brand of skin care, candles, perfume, bath & body, available in pharmacies (they say they don't use animal products but I notices a couple have honey so just read the label)
Faunfare - Australian company that make liquid oil and solid oil perfumes (some come in lockets which make a gorgeous present)
Florame natural vegan perfume - come in many scents - can only buy at Vegan Health and Beauty online store which have very cheap delivery! I trie
Chantecaille - for top of the range expensive
Chantecaille - for top of the range expensiveChantecaille - for top of the range expensived the Vetiver and it was like fly spray but some of the others might be nice :)
L'Occitane - most of the perfumes are vegan (one contains honey), here is the list of vegan ones.
Lavara - make simple fragrances such as rose, lime & orange.
Lavanila - make a gorgeous range of vanilla based perfumes (and deodorants). The online store doesn't ship to Australia but you can find a lot of the range on eBay!
Le Labo - New York based vegan mens and womens fragrances, boutiques all over (including Sydney & Melbourne). Also available from their online store.
Lush - is all vegetarian but only some vegan - they do have some vegan perfumes, just look for the vegan symbol next to the product.
One Seed Perfume - Australian brand and you can get testers for $4! All Vegan except the "Freedom" range which contains beeswax. I love "Grace".
Pacifica - make a range different scents in liquid perfumes, solid perfume, body wash, candles and body lotion. You can buy internationally on their online store or in Australia (NSW Stockists) you can buy from Scentiments, Vegan Health and Beauty or Everyday Luxuries and The Arctic Vegan Store
PHLUR - is a fairly recent brand of vegan pefume and have samples available for purchase!
Pure Gaisha - make perfume oils
Splash of Scent - beautiful natural floral vegan perfumes
Stella McCartney - the only commercial brand of perfumes that are completed vegan
Tsi-La -
Venustus - make premium perfume if you want to spend a bit more
Zosimos - skin care, hair care, fragrance, candles, cosmetics, insect repellent (double check their "vegan guide" because a few products contain honey, silk or beeswax)
Men's Cologne
Herban Cowboy - vegan men's products, can buy on Amazon or Uproar
Jack Black - is a mens range of cologne and skin care. All vegan products are listed here. Jack Black is available online at Mankind.
L'Occitane - most of the perfumes are vegan, here is the list of vegan ones.
Le Labo - New York based vegan mens and womens fragrances, boutiques all over (including Sydney & Melbourne). Also available from their online store.
NOTE: Please note that Tom’s of Maine, Burt’s Bees, The Body Shop, Pureology, St Ives and Urban Decay products are not tested on animals. However, they are owned by companies that do test their other products on animals and should still be avoided because of this. Giving these somewhat “cruelty-free” companies money still funds vivisection.
Choose Cruelty Free is an Australian organisation that lists the companies that don't test on animals. The name is deceptive because not all of these companies are vegan - they all have codes next to the name to specify which ones are. The vegan ones I've checked out and most are on the lists I've provided but things change so please check the list often.
Vegan Beauty Review is a super awesome website dedicated to vegan beauty products. Sunny road tests samples given to her by vegan companies or just stuff she's found out on her own. It's an US site but a good chunk of the companies do ship to Australia, although they can't ship nail polish. Not just cosmetics and skin care but also shoes, bags accessories etc.
OK, so it's not that bad but seriously this was one of the hardest changes for me. Almost all commercial cometics not only tests on animals but contains animal ingredients. The good news is that mineral cometics is generally vegan (although it may still have been tested on animals so choose the brand wisely).
Cosmetics
Here are some vegan cometics brands. You can buy online if there are no retailers near you. Some of the Australian ones will pop up in specialty/health/organic stores and at vegan expos if you want to try before you buy. Some of the online stores will offer sample sizes to try colours.
In store;
Adorn Minerals - vegan cosmetics, you can find this range in specialty stores and online
Inika - An Australian brand of organic vegan cosmetics, you can find this range in specialty stores, Myer and online
Lucas' Paw Paw Ointment - (for cracked lips, chafing, rash etc) made from paw paw extract, available in Priceline and pharmacies
Nude by Nature - a great Australian brand of mineral cosmetics that are 100% cruelty free, available in pharmacies
Natio - all Natio products are free of animal products except the lip colours which contain beeswax and insect products and their make-up brushes which contain animal hair, Natio is available in selected pharmacies. There website should show if each product is vegan. Here's a link to an email they sent me.
Online (some are US/UK brands but all will mail to Australia);
Amina Cosmetics - cosmetics & skin care
Arbonne - cosmetics, skin care, bath & spa (apparently they do an excellent primer!)
Aussie Mineral Makeup - An Australian brand of cosmetics
Beauty Without Cruelty - cosmetics, skin care, nail polish & hair care Chantecaille - is a French brand of cosmetics, skin care and fragrance which is mostly vegan. Gorgeous products but you will pay for it.
Devita - cosmeticsand skin care
Derma E - makes vegan BB Cream
DNM - cosmetics and skin care
Ecco Bella - US brand of click on the "vegan" range for cosmetics, skin care, hair care, fragrance
e.l.f Cosmetics - An international brand of online vegan cosmetics and it's cheap cheap cheap!
Everyday Minerals - US brand of cosmetics, skin care & bath
Gabriel Cometics - cosmetics, skin care & spa
Goth Cupcake - a US company that make vegan cosmetic and really cute hair flowers made from recycled stickers
Inika - An Australian brand of vegan cosmetics, you can find this range in specialty stores and online (USA now too!)
Josie Maran - the following products are vegan. Link here.
Kuush - cosmetics, skin care, bath and fragrance
Larissa Bright - cosmetics, skin care, men's, babies, fragrance, bath & spa
Lime Crime - USA based 100% vegan company who has lots of funky colours - think Katy Perry
Livinia - cosmetics and skin care
Manic Panic - US brand of cosmetics (make excellent vegan mascara)
Mattify! Cosmetics - US brand of vegan make up designed for oily skin
Minerale - cosmetics
Monave Cosmetics - 95% vegan cosmetics & skin care
Musq - cosmetics and skin care
My Earth Natural Cosmetics - cosmetics and face care
OCC - OCC is a vegan line of cosmetics - great lipstick glosses
Out of Eden - cosmetics, bath & body care, oils and candles (and a men's range)
Scout - cosmetics, hair care, skin care
Sevi - cosmetics, skin care, hair care, bath, fragrance and pet care
Shiro Cosmetics - US brand of handmade vegan mineral cosmetics, great eyeshadow & lipstick/gloss shades
SpaRitual - vegan nail polish & spa
Tarte Cosmetics - has a vegan section
VANI-T - Australian brand of vegan mineral cosmetics, tanning, bath & body (only Multi-Sticks and our Lip Crayons contain beeswax)
Yuva - cosmetics and skin care
Zosimos - skin care, hair care, fragrance, candles, cosmetics, insect repellent (double check their "vegan guide" because a few products contain honey, silk or beeswax)
Make Up Remover
Jason - Vegan face, body hair, oral, sun & kids
Natio - skin care is all vegan. Here's a link to the email they sent me.Simple - vegan skin care range
Yes to Carrots - Most of their products are vegan (but some do contain beeswax, so read the labels carefully)
Simple - have a wide range of vegan skincare, including make-up remover
Cosmetic Tools
Most cosmetics brushes use animal hair.
Some of the online cosmetics stores will have their own vegan make up brushes.
Eco Tools is a vegan brand available from Priceline and online stores.
e.l.f Cosmetics - An international brand of online vegan cosmetics and it's cheap cheap cheap!
Face Paint
Vegan Faces is a UK brand that makes organic mineral cosmetics and face paints. They are excellent for children with sensitive skin.
Bronxer/Fake Tan
Eco Tan - Australia organic fake tan - available at selected pharmacies and online.
Hippy Heaven Natural Beauty - makes vegan bronzer tanning spray
Inika Cosmetics -make a Purely Bronzed Certified Organic Tinted Bronzing Mousse
Lavera - makes a self tanning spray, available from The Vegan Store online.
Natio - all skin care products are vegan. Here's a link to an email they sent me.
Pod Puraceuticals - SPF 15 Liquid Tan
VANI-T - has vegan tanning solutions
Nail Polish
Butter London is all vegan nail polishes and are stocked in pharmacies and health food shops all over the place, just call the Style Patisserie for your nearest stockist.
e.l.f Cosmetics - An Australian brand of online vegan cosmetics also has nail polishes
Keeki - is a vegan brand of nail polish remover & funky coloured nail polishes and very cheap. I found them at (Taste Organic, Crows Nest, NSW Australia)
Lime Crime - USA based 100% vegan company who has lots of funky colours - think Katy Perry
Natio - all Natio products are free of animal products except the lip colours which contain insect products. There website should show if each product is vegan. Here's a link to an email they sent me.
Priti NYC - vegan nail polish available from The Arctic Vegan Store
SpaRitual - vegan nail lacquers, available from The Vegan Store online.
Perfume
Most perfume uses animal musk (click here for explanation) - I know, eeeeewww - not to mention test on animals (click here for explanation). Great article here from Splash of Scent on animal ingredients and testing in perfumes!
Essential oils are usually fine. Unfortunately most of the vegan perfumes are only available online but some do provided cheap testers to try. Most specialty & online stores will stock solid oil perfumes but here are some other alternatives (personally I like alcohol based sprays);
A Perfume Organic - Australian company that make premium perfumes in gorgeous bottles
doTERRA Essential Oils - carries some pure flower roll ons such as Rose, Gardenia, Lavender and Jasmine!
Chantecaille - for top of the range expensive perfume (around $180) you have this gorgeous French brand of vegan perfume.
Ecco Bella - click on the "vegan" range for their vegan perfumes. I love Bourbon Vanilla
Eco Sevi - make two eau de parfums
Evodia - Australian organic brand of skin care, candles, perfume, bath & body, available in pharmacies (they say they don't use animal products but I notices a couple have honey so just read the label)
Faunfare - Australian company that make liquid oil and solid oil perfumes (some come in lockets which make a gorgeous present)
Florame natural vegan perfume - come in many scents - can only buy at Vegan Health and Beauty online store which have very cheap delivery! I trie
Chantecaille - for top of the range expensive
Chantecaille - for top of the range expensiveChantecaille - for top of the range expensived the Vetiver and it was like fly spray but some of the others might be nice :)
L'Occitane - most of the perfumes are vegan (one contains honey), here is the list of vegan ones.
Lavara - make simple fragrances such as rose, lime & orange.
Lavanila - make a gorgeous range of vanilla based perfumes (and deodorants). The online store doesn't ship to Australia but you can find a lot of the range on eBay!
Le Labo - New York based vegan mens and womens fragrances, boutiques all over (including Sydney & Melbourne). Also available from their online store.
Lush - is all vegetarian but only some vegan - they do have some vegan perfumes, just look for the vegan symbol next to the product.
One Seed Perfume - Australian brand and you can get testers for $4! All Vegan except the "Freedom" range which contains beeswax. I love "Grace".
Pacifica - make a range different scents in liquid perfumes, solid perfume, body wash, candles and body lotion. You can buy internationally on their online store or in Australia (NSW Stockists) you can buy from Scentiments, Vegan Health and Beauty or Everyday Luxuries and The Arctic Vegan Store
PHLUR - is a fairly recent brand of vegan pefume and have samples available for purchase!
Pure Gaisha - make perfume oils
Splash of Scent - beautiful natural floral vegan perfumes
Stella McCartney - the only commercial brand of perfumes that are completed vegan
Tsi-La -
Venustus - make premium perfume if you want to spend a bit more
Zosimos - skin care, hair care, fragrance, candles, cosmetics, insect repellent (double check their "vegan guide" because a few products contain honey, silk or beeswax)
Men's Cologne
Herban Cowboy - vegan men's products, can buy on Amazon or Uproar
Jack Black - is a mens range of cologne and skin care. All vegan products are listed here. Jack Black is available online at Mankind.
L'Occitane - most of the perfumes are vegan, here is the list of vegan ones.
Le Labo - New York based vegan mens and womens fragrances, boutiques all over (including Sydney & Melbourne). Also available from their online store.
NOTE: Please note that Tom’s of Maine, Burt’s Bees, The Body Shop, Pureology, St Ives and Urban Decay products are not tested on animals. However, they are owned by companies that do test their other products on animals and should still be avoided because of this. Giving these somewhat “cruelty-free” companies money still funds vivisection.
Choose Cruelty Free is an Australian organisation that lists the companies that don't test on animals. The name is deceptive because not all of these companies are vegan - they all have codes next to the name to specify which ones are. The vegan ones I've checked out and most are on the lists I've provided but things change so please check the list often.
Vegan Beauty Review is a super awesome website dedicated to vegan beauty products. Sunny road tests samples given to her by vegan companies or just stuff she's found out on her own. It's an US site but a good chunk of the companies do ship to Australia, although they can't ship nail polish. Not just cosmetics and skin care but also shoes, bags accessories etc.