- A staple blending brush. The MAC 217 is a staple eye brush for me and I personally can see why it's a hyped brush. I tried many good blending brushes, but the 217 has something slightly better among all. Cruelty free source for hair instead, because whatever THIS is, it's terrible. And I usually like synthetic brushes!
- Aug 09, 2021 Cruelty-Free Brands List Last Update: Aug 9, 2021 (Please note: we do our best to keep this list updated, but please contact brands directly or visit Leaping Bunny or PETA for up-to-date cruelty-free certification information.) Click to Expand each Cruelty-Free Brand List (Click “More” to see the full lists.).
- Not only are synthetic makeup brushes completely cruelty free, but they also work better with cream products as they absorb less product. However the main argument for real hair brushes is that.
There are MANY cosmetic and brush companies that claim to be ‘Cruelty Free.” Although the only ones that would truly be able to claim cruelty free would be those that only make synthetic bristles. Which is perfectly fine… unless you are a makeup artist. Because the very best synthetic brush in the world, cannot apply powder products like a natural bristle can. Even the companies that claim they have new technology that gives the tips of the bristles a frayed edge to pick up powder better than they used to…. I’ve tried them and although frying the edges may work slightly better, I still consider them unacceptable for use with powder products which would include eyeshadows, powder blush, bronzer, face powder, etc.
Cosmetics (Estee Lauder) cruelty-free? Search for cruelty-free and vegan companies and products using PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies database.
What bothers me most is that many brands that make natural bristle brushes and still claim to be cruelty free which is impossible. Let me explain why. In order to get away with their claims, these companies often claim that they don’t kill the animals for their hair. Instead, they opt to “give squirrels haircuts.” This statement mesmerizes many people, who are happy to hear that the animals are not harmed. But it is nothing more than an outright lie that has proven to be a profitable marketing gimmick. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no such thing as a bald squirrel farm. Besides shearing sheep, there is no other type of animal barber business. No one is grooming squirrels or any other animal for that matter.
Who could think up such a thing? Well, you have MAC to thank for this claim originally. I am unaware if the animal haircut theory was literally taught through their corporate trainers or that some MAC salesperson took it upon themselves to say it sell some brushes and it just caught on like wildfire. But MAC certainly didn’t put a stop to it. Since they got away with it without being questioned for decades, many other brands have followed in their footsteps. Claiming to sell “cruelty free,” natural bristle brushes results in millions of dollars in business. A large portion of these customer sales are made up from cruelty free advocates and those that innocently believe it and promote it! There are many lies and myths in the beauty industry but this is one of the biggest. It completely saddens me that dozens of companies get away with promoting unethical lies and profit greatly from it.
If you still believe there may be such a thing as cruelty free, natural bristle makeup brushes, or bald squirrel farms, please consider the following facts.
#1. Can you imagine being the squirrel wrangler that has to run around catching the squirrels to give them haircuts or grooming? There is no such position.
#2. How exactly would you get the squirrels to sit still while you gave them a haircut? They’d have to be sedated. Which technically would also be considered cruel in itself to drug them with shots in order to get them to hold still to give them actual haircuts. Or they’d have to keep them in metal bondage unable to move for years at a time like the bunnies, ducks and beagles used for medical research. Now ask yourself, would that be cruelty free? And how long do you need to brush a fridge squirrel before you get 10 hairs?! Forget about how many it takes to make a dame eye shadow brush!
#3. If there is not a squirrel wrangler, than it would mean that the squirrels would have to be kept in cages for the years it would take their hair to grow back before you could shave them again. That would be considered cruel also.
#4. What would the expense be to house, feed and clean up after tens of thousands or even millions of bald squirrels for the years it would take to grow their hair to grow back just so someone could give them additional haircuts? Now add to that, the expenses it would take to also pay a staff of employees to take care of them, feed them, pick up the feces and such for all the years in between haircuts?! And include the cost of having to keep a heater on since the squirrels are bald most of the time. Because if all their natural hair is gone their body temperature would extremely drop and cause illness. Or maybe in addition to the squirrel barbers and squirrel wranglers, there might be squirrel fashion designers that knit them sweaters.
The point is that the expenses that would be incurred to give squirrels haircuts would be FAR greater than the cost of what the hair could be sold for to make makeup brushes. If all that common sense isn’t enough to convince you, here are more facts.
#5. If animal hair was actually cut with scissors or shaved off the animal, then there result would be millions of random single loose hairs that would take thousands of manual hours to sweep up and separate hairs by hand to arrange by length, thickness, softness necessary to be utilized to make a single brush. (The tail hair is different than breast hair, etc.) This manual labor would cost more then you can imagine even at 3rd world country pay rates, resulting in brushes that would be hundreds of dollars each to make a profit. And we all know that there are makeup brushes on the marketing in prices starting at just a few dollars.
Although there are some brushes over a hundred dollars, the average quality natural makeup brushes are typically between twenty and fifty dollars each. So once again, this is evidence that there is no such thing as a bald squirrel farm or any bald animal farm that is used for makeup brushes for that matter.
I have personally interviewed numerous people in many positions within the brush industry. When interviewing an actual brush manufacturer, if you ask if animals are harmed, most dance around the truth. Because, no one wants to think about animals being harmed or killed and of course they want your business. Unethical companies often get away with using psychology by eluding to what people want to hear. But they don’t say what most ‘think’ they are hearing. They are taught to say, “Animals do not have to be harmed to make a brush.” And most people accept that answer and assume the rest… It is simply a game of psychology and wishful thinking that has allowed many brands to fool millions of consumers for many decades.
So their statement could be better clarified if they actually said, “Animals do not HAVE to be harmed to make a brush. But that is only if you have endless supplies of money and the manpower to do everything necessary to do “the haircut” thing.” But they don’t say that. If all brush manufacturers were honest, they’d say, “Our company make brushes from the pelts of dead animals.” Because they all do.
I have even personally spoken to the owners and Presidents of 4 of the top brush companies in the world and while most are honest and admit to using pelts, one of them was insistent on their natural brush line being cruelty free. Even after enlightening the owner to the above, this person swore that her brand was cruelty free. However, she had more doubt in her voice. Than she said, “Look… I don’t know how they do it but the manufacturer that I work with knows that they would not have my business if they were not cruelty free.” Hmmmm, think about that for a moment. If the manufacturer told her the truth, they would lose her business. And she’d go to one of their competitors, who would likely lie and get all her business or tell the truth since ALL rushes are made from pelts. As they had nothing to loose by lying to her.
She proudly told me that she had been to the factories and seen her brushes being made. So I said, “So… you’ve actually seen the squirrels and other animals getting haircuts?!” She then said, she had never witnessed the hair being removed from the animals. So I asked, did you see or smell any live animals at your manufacturers facility? She thought abut it and said, “No.” The reason for this is because there are no animals at these facilities, they are shipped pelts of the dead animals. So I then asked her if she had ever asked for proof of their claim that they didn’t harm or kill the animals. She then informed me that she simply took their word for it.
She then became angry that I did not believe or have the faith in her resources. So she proudly gave me their information to find out for myself. So, of course I called them. They tried to bullshit me with the same crap they tell everyone… I pressured them for proof. I said show me the bald squirrels, show me a video of the haircut process. Because you know there would be video footage of that if it existed! Not to mention there would be a job description filed with the government or E.D.D. for squirrel wranglers, squirrel shavers, etc. and there is NOT such positions! Anyway, I proceeded to point out all the ways that it was not possible to do what they were eluding to… It took about 25 minutes into the conversation, but he finally admitted that all brushes were made from pelts… Just as I had known all along.
It’s business and people tend to believe what they want to hear. If you think that all skin care is truly good for you, you’d be mistaken about that as well. An enormous amount of products women use literally expedite self inflicted aging at a faster rate then genetic aging will occur. You know why? So we will start using anti-aging and wrinkle creams sooner and they are more expensive. So the cosmetic companies all get even richer. It’s business. Cigarettes and nicotine, soda and caffeine, processed foods make you crave more food, its all legal and we are all being duped. People need to stop being sheep and question things.
And for the record, I love animals very much. I do not condone animal abuse or torture in any way shape or form. But the facts are… a synthetic brush is only good for applying wax based products. Even though lots of brands claim their synthetic brushes are different and work great for powder. They cannot even compare to a natural bristle brush in application or product usage. So please don’t kill the messenger. I am only here to deliver the truth. But a lot of people don’t want the truth and prefer the unethical, scam version that makes them feel better about themselves. As I always say, you don’t know what you don’t know until someone enlightens you about what you didn’t know.
Love and Wisdom,
Donna xo
'This long-wear, matte blush is infused with lock on primer powder to ensure a full day of perfectly placed blush. [It] grips your cheeks like second skin.'
One of my favorite blushes also happens to be the most affordable option on this list. It comes in 7 matte shades, all vegan. My favorite is 'Always Cheeky', a brightening peachy pink. I love it because it doesn't fade throughout the day, and it has incredible color payoff so I've barely made a dent. You can find them at elf, Ulta and Target.
| Brand | elf |
| Price | 6$ |
| Quantity | 0.35 oz. |
| Finish | matte |
| Buy | elf |
| Ingredients |
Are Mac Brushes Cruelty Free Makeup
2. Milani Baked Blush
'These richly pigmented, highly buildable [baked] blushes feature satin and shimmery shades...for the ultimate pop of cheeky color for any skin tone.'
The cult classic Milani Baked Blush in 'Luminoso' is actually vegan, along with 10 other stunning shades! Like its name, it has a very luminous finish. This is my go-to blush when my skin is feeling a little dull. It brings instant light to the face; no highlighter needed. Other than Milani, they're sold at Ulta and Target.
| Brand | Milani |
| Price | 7$ |
| Quantity | 0.12 oz |
| Finish | luminous |
| Buy | Milani |
| Ingredients |
A great vegan cream blush from the drugstore is the Flower Blush Bomb. They have a lightweight gel formula that blends out beautifully and lasts all day. It comes in 7 vegan shades, and because of their cream formula, they're really easy to mix together for a custom hue. My personal favorite shade is 'Pinched', a radiant nude pink. Find em at Flower, Ulta and Walmart.
| Brand | Flower |
| Price | 10$ |
| Quantity | 0.3 oz |
| Finish | dewy |
| Buy | Flower |
| Ingredients |
These blushes are incredibly well-loved for their buildable formula, pigmentation and cute packaging. As of now, all of Colourpop’s many pressed powder blush shades are vegan except for 'Why, Hello', “Enchanted Mirror” and “I Need Space”. When in doubt, look for the vegan leaf symbol (pictured below) on the product page before you order. The largest selection is on the Colourpop website, but they also sell some at Ulta.
| Brand | Colourpop |
| Price | 10$ |
| Quantity | 0.21 oz |
| Finish | matte |
| Buy | Colourpop |
| Ingredients |
A new affordable cream blush on the market, the Pacifica Cheeky Cherry Cheek Stains are perfect for a subtle 'no-makeup makeup' look. They come in 3 sheer cherry-infused shades that look flattering on a multitude of skin tones. They're available at Pacifica, Ulta and Target.
| Brand | Pacifica |
| Price | 12$ |
| Quantity | 0.5 oz |
| Finish | dewy |
| Buy | Pacifica |
| Ingredients |
The Blossom Blushes come in 12 versatile vegan shades. My favorites are 'Daisy' and 'Nectarine', and I keep them in my huge magnetic palette for everyday use. Nabla's magnetic refill system allows you to choose between putting the pan into a custom pallete or compact. I find these blushes have a high-end velvety texture and a they blend in flawlessly for a natural, second skin effect. Aside from the Nabla website, you can find them at Ulta.
| Brand | Nabla Cosmetics |
| Price | 12$ |
| Quantity | 0.12 oz |
| Finish | matte |
| Buy | Nabla Cosmetics |
| Ingredients |
Talc, Mica, Squalane, Zinc Stearate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Tocopherol, Silica, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower, Tin Oxide, Alumina, Limonene, Linalool, Parfum (Fragrance), May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Red 7 Lake, Red 6 (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)
6 Luxury Blushes
7. Clove + Hallow Hydratint Blush Serum
'Get a hydrated, healthy flush with this lightweight blush serum infused with meadowfoam oil and hyaluronic acid.'
A perfect option for dry skin, the Hydratints give cheeks a hydrating, lightweight flush of subtle color. Its formulated with skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and meadowfoam oil to hydrate and plump the skin. In addition to the Clove + Hallow website, you can find it at Petit Vour, The Detox Market and Amazon.
| Brand | Clove + Hallow |
| Price | 20$ |
| Quantity | 0.5 oz |
| Finish | dewy |
| Buy | Clove + Hallow |
| Ingredients |
Water (Aqua), Coconut Alkanes, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glyceryl Stearate, PVP, Gluconolactone, Stearic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hyaluronate, May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxide CI 77491, Iron Oxide CI 77499, Manganese Violet CI 77742, Iron Oxide CI 77492
8. Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek
'Two-in-one stick doubles as a sheer blush and hydrating lip tint. Color payoff builds as you swipe.'
The Milk Lip + Cheek is a two-in-one hydrating cream blush stick with mango butter, peach nectar and avocado oil. It comes in 5 sheer vegan shades. My favorite is 'Werk', a dusty rose. I absolutely love the stick format because it's really easy to use for a quick makeup look. Plus, you get a huge amount of product which is enough to last a lifetime. They also come in a mini size perfect for travel. Lip + Cheek is available at Milk Makeup, Sephora and Amazon.
| Brand | Milk Makeup |
| Price | 28$ |
| Quantity | 1 oz |
| Finish | dewy |
| Buy | Milk Makeup |
| Ingredients |
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Cire de Candelilla, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica, Fragrance (Parfum), Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isopropyl Myristate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil/Huile Végétale Hydrogénée, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Bis-Stearyl Dimethicone, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Tristearate, Mica, Limonene, Linalool, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850)
9. Ere Perez Beetroot Lip & Cheek Tint
'Long-lasting tint for cheeks and lips. Water-based formula featuring beetroot extracts to nourish and hydrate skin. Rich in antioxidants, this healthy tint acts as a natural stain and lasts all day.'
If you're looking for a fun clean option, the Ere Perez Lip & Cheek Tints deliver a vibrant pop of color derived from beets! While I can't verify whether the beets are sourced from Schrute Farms, I can verify that they produce incredibly vivid shades of pink and red, perfect for a natural stain. Other star ingredients include rosehip oil and blue agave. You can find them at Ere Perez, The Detox Market and Amazon.
| Brand | Ere Perez |
| Price | 28$ |
| Quantity | 0.12 oz |
| Finish | dewy |
| Buy | Ere Perez |
| Ingredients |
Water, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Extract, Beta Vulgaris (Beetroot) Extract, Glycerin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Methylcellulose, Agave Tequilana (Blue Agave) Nectar, Potassium Sorbate, May Contain (+/-): Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, CI77891, CI45410
10. Kosas Color & Light: Crème Cream Blush & Highlighter Duo
'An ultra-blendable cream blush and highlighter palette in versatile duos of balancing, brightening, foolproof, clean, and skin-conditioning formulas—each duo is available in two levels of intensity for color that complements every mood and every skin tone.'
Kosas makes beautiful clean blush and highlighter duos made with apricot, rosehip and jojoba oils. They come in 8 different coordinated colorways, all vegan. Kosas also makes a powder version if cream blush isn't your thing. The duos are available on the Kosas and Sephora websites.
| Brand | Kosas |
| Price | 34$ |
| Quantity | 0.32 oz |
| Finish | dewy |
| Buy | Kosas |
| Ingredients |
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Isononyl Isononanoate, Micocrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), C10-18 Triglycerides, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethyhexylglycerin, Silica, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360)
Are Mac Brushes Cruelty Free Products
11. Cover FX Monochromatic Blush Duo
'Consciously formulated without talc for a weightless texture and seamless application, these richly pigmented duos deliver an airy, breathable veil of color. Use the matte and shimmer shades individually or layer them together to customize your finish.'
This is the perfect option when you can't decide between matte and luminous blush. The pigmented duos give you the flexibility to create a variety of looks with a multidimensional finish. They come in 6 striking shade combinations, all formulated without parabens, gluten, mineral oil, fragrance, talc, sulfates and phthalates. In addition to Cover FX, they're available at Sephora and Ulta.
| Brand | Cover FX |
| Price | 38$ |
| Quantity | 0.51 oz |
| Finish | matte and luminous |
| Buy | Cover FX |
| Ingredients |
Matte Blush: Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Myristyl Trisiloxane, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/dicaprate, Mica, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 6 (CI 15850), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Ultramarines (CI 77007) Shimmer Blush: Mica, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, Glycerin, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus, Xanthan Gum, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Silica, Dicalcium Phosphate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)
12. 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Blush
'Gorgeous shades of fruit pigmented blush give cheeks a flush of healthy, natural color. Our antioxidant-rich formula softens skin while you wear it, with anti-aging rosehip oil and nourishing cocoa and avocado butters.'
These luxurious clean blushes get their color from natural pigments like cherry, pomegranate, peach, plum, cranberry, and strawberry, and are formulated rosehip oil, cocoa and avocado butters. The finely pressed rice powder in the formula makes them feel extra smooth to the touch. The 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Blush is available in 12 vegan shades at 100% Pure and Amazon.
| Brand | 100% Pure |
| Price | 38$ |
| Quantity | 0.32 oz |
| Finish | luminous |
| Buy | 100% Pure |
| Ingredients |
As an added bonus, it can create a lovely monochromatic look if you use the same lipstick you're wearing on your lips. For a more natural look, stick to shades without shimmer. A few of my favorite vegan lipsticks for this technique are the Flower Petal Pout Lip Color in 'Berry-More'($8), Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in 'Love of My Life' ($28) and 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Pomegranate Oil Lipstick in 'Foxglove' ($30), but any bullet lipstick will work!
Like I said in the beginning, blush is one of my favorite things. So naturally, I'd love to hear about your favorite vegan and cruelty-free blushes in the comments!
Other Vegan Guides
If you're looking for more vegan guides, start here:
This Complete List of Vegan Makeup Brushes Will Help You Go Fur-Free
15 Must-Have Vegan Handbags That Make Leather Obsolete
The Complete List of Vegan Shoes From 100% Vegan Brands
Shop Cruelty-Free—It's Easy!
Find the best cruelty-free makeup, skincare, hair care products and more with our curated database. Shop here to find ethical products.