Guide to Vegan Makeup

Whether you’re trialling a vegan lifestyle for the first time or are a fully-fledged vegan in search of some makeup inspo, you’ve come to the right place! With hundreds of vegan makeup must-haves from your favourite brands, shopping for vegan makeup at Superdrug has never been easier. So join us as we take you through a little bit of terminology training, (yes, there’s a difference between vegan and cruelty-free), as well as some non-vegan ingredients to look out for. What’s more, we’ll finish up with our vegan makeup top picks. Your makeup collection is in for a serious glow up… 

Let’s start with the basics… 

What is vegan makeup? 

Vegan makeup describes products that are free from any animal by-products. A by-product can be an animal ingredient or animal-derived ingredient. So, for example, a vegan lipstick wouldn’t contain the ingredient beeswax as this is derived directly from bees. 

However, the word ‘vegan’ is not to be confused with ‘cruelty-free’. A product that is labelled cruelty free has been produced without any form of animal testing throughout the creation and production process. But here’s where things get a little tricky! Many people assume that vegan and cruelty free go hand in hand, but vegan products can actually be tested on animals, and cruelty-free products can contain animal by products. 

How to be sure if a product is vegan 

For extra peace of mind when purchasing products, look out for certified logos on the packaging. To ensure a product is vegan, check for certifications such as The Vegan Action ‘Certified Vegan’ logo. If you want to check whether a product is cruelty free, look for the ‘Leaping Bunny’ logo.   

For our Superdrug Own Brand ranges, we’ve also created a set of symbols to be super transparent about what to expect from our products, including a vegan symbol. Find out more here! 

Animal by-products you need to look out for 

To make your life easier we’ve picked out common ingredients that you will want to avoid if you’re looking for vegan beauty products.  

Collagen 

Often used in anti-ageing products due to its plumping and firming effect, collagen is naturally produced in animals. In order to get the protein for beauty purposes, it is normally taken from dead animal’s bones, connective tissue and skin – definitely not vegan-friendly! 

Beeswax (also known as cera alba, cera lava) 

This is taken directly from a beehive and can be used in eye shadow, foundation or lipstick. It is taken from worker bees and can take six or more pounds of honey to create just one pound of wax. 

Carmine 

Known by many different names such as cochineal, cochineal extract, crimson lake, natural red 4, C.I. 75470, E120 and carminic acid – phew! This deep red colour is taken from crushed insect body and legs and used to dye makeup products such as lipstick and eyeshadow. 

Keratin 

Used to give you luscious hair this is a protein that is naturally found in mammals, it’s generally taken from hair, nails and horns. 

Guanine (aka CI 75170) 

This gives extra shine and sparkle to your blusher, eyeshadow and nail polish. It is created by scraping fish scales off dead fish and soaking them in alcohol to create an iridescent solution. 

Lanolin 

Sometimes used in lip balms and lotions, this is a fat that’s created from the grease in sheep’s hair. 

Squalene 

Commonly used in various moisturisers and cosmetics, this ingredient is made from the oils found in the liver of sharks. 

Not to be confused with squalane, which is a cruelty-free alternative usually made from either olive or sugar cane. 

Need some vegan makeup inspo? Try these… 

Find more vegan makeup must haves!