What Is Cruelty-Free Anyway?

It’s a term that’s been in use by animal rights activists since the 1950s to promote the use of products that avoid harming animals. It was first used in the anti-fur movement in fashion but became associated with cosmetics and personal care products in the 70s. A cruelty-free label means that a company does not test its products on animals. It does not mean that the product contains no animal-derived products like gelatin, for example. Cosmetics using exclusively plant-based ingredients are considered vegan.

Leaping Bunny and PETA

Leaping Bunny, PETA and other animal-rights organizations are instrumental in promoting the welfare of animals and discouraging companies from testing their products on them. Leaping Bunny is a coalition of eight international animal protection organizations that have formed the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). It advocates for a single international standard in cruelty-free cosmetics. The Leaping Bunny certification is given to cosmetics and personal care companies that do not test their products on animals anywhere in the world. PETA is a vegan organization, and its website maintains a cruelty-free shopping guide and a database of vegan cosmetic companies.

Why Should I Buy Cruelty-Free Cosmetics?

You may be thinking, “I’m all for cosmetics that don’t test on animals, but what are the benefits for me?” Here’s why it’s good for you: Testing products on people gives you a much more accurate human response to an ingredient. Anticipating whether you’ll have an allergic reaction to a mascara is harder to predict if it’s tested on a bunny. You have the comfort of knowing your cosmetics are safer for you, and bunnies too!

What Are Top Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands?

Believe it or not, you’ll find cruelty-free eye makeup in every price range, from drugstore staples to luxury brands. Cruelty-free cosmetics are not just for luxury labels and affluent customers! There’s good news for every budget. Curious about cruelty-free brands out there?

Here’s a breakdown of some popular eye makeup brands with a solid cruelty-free pedigree. Prices are based on a tube of mascara:

Inexpensive (under $10)

You’ll find these brands at your local drugstore, or you can find them at online cosmetic retailers like ULTA Beauty.

  • e.l.f.
  • Flower Beauty (vegan)
  • Milani
  • Wet n’ Wild

Budget-conscious ($11-$20)

These brands are available in a variety of places - online, at brick-and-mortar retailers like Sephora, or at department stores.

  • Clinique
  • NYX
  • Urban Decay

Moderate ($21-$30)

Brands at this price point are sold online, at beauty specialty retailers, and department stores.

Luxury (more than $35)

Luxury cosmetics like Chantecaille are sold at high-end department stores.

  • Chantecaille (vegan)

Cruelty-Free Makeup Removers

Some of the same brands you’ll find on this list also make cruelty-free eye makeup removers. NYX and Urban Decay both have cruelty-free removers, as does RevitaLash. Paula’s Choice is another brand that carries a cruelty-free, vegan makeup remover. Some of these makeup removers contain oil, however. If you’re a faux lash girl, that won’t work for you. If you wear either strip lashes or eyelash extensions, it’s important to make sure that you use only oil-free eye makeup removers.

Like our cosmetic products, BeautyGARDE’s lash & brow shampoo is both cruelty-free and 100% oil-free. It’s also hypoallergenic.

Cruelty-Free Makeup Removers Also Safe For False Lashes

There are a lot of makeup removers out there. Most of them come in a bottle or in a packet of wipes. Some of them contain oil. Navigating the makeup remover aisle can be a minefield when you wear false lashes and you want to protect your investment!

With falsies, you can’t rub a cotton ball or makeup wipe into your delicate lashes. They’ll break, twist or get full of lint. Rubbing in your eye area may also weaken the adhesive bond, and then your falsies won’t last as long.

BeautyGARDE lash & brow shampoo has a completely unique applicator. It features a locking charcoal brush head that gently cleans between your lashes without tugging or pulling on your faux lashes. The charcoal in the brush is anti-microbial. You can use the shampoo to remove eyebrow makeup, eyeshadow, liner and mascara.

Even if you don’t wear false lashes, our lash shampoo is a gentle, effective eye makeup remover. It will even take off waterproof mascara! It comes in a handy, on-the-go size that fits easily in your makeup bag or your carry-on bag.