Makeup Labs

Tag: vegan beauty

  • Leaping Bunny vs PETA Approved: Which Cruelty-Free Label Can You Trust?

    Leaping Bunny vs PETA Approved: Which Cruelty-Free Label Can You Trust?

    You’ve spotted a little rabbit logo on your foundation and felt good about it. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: not all bunny logos mean the same thing, and some mean almost nothing at all. Anyone can print a rabbit on a box; only a handful of certifications actually verify it.

    The two you’ll see most are Leaping Bunny and PETA. Both certify cruelty-free beauty, but they work very differently, and knowing the difference is what lets you shop with real confidence. Here’s what each one actually guarantees.

    In This Guide:

    1. Cruelty-free vs vegan (a quick recap)
    2. Leaping Bunny: the gold standard
    3. PETA Approved: the bigger database
    4. So which should you trust?
    5. Our Sustainable Picks

    1. Cruelty-Free vs Vegan (A Quick Recap)

    These get muddled constantly. Cruelty-free means the product and its ingredients weren’t tested on animals. Vegan means it contains no animal-derived ingredients (like beeswax or carmine).

    They don’t guarantee each other: a cruelty-free product can still contain beeswax, and a vegan product could, in theory, be tested on animals. If both matter to you, you need to confirm both, which is where certifications come in.

    2. Leaping Bunny: The Gold Standard

    Leaping Bunny, run internationally by Cruelty Free International, is widely regarded as the most rigorous cruelty-free certification there is.

    To earn it, a brand must prove there’s no animal testing at any stage of production, from raw ingredients right through to the finished product, including by its suppliers. It has to put a supplier-monitoring system in place, agree to independent audits, and recommit every single year. That’s the key word: audited. The standard is verified, not just promised, which is why the Leaping Bunny list is more selective (and smaller) than others. The one gap: Leaping Bunny certifies cruelty-free only, not vegan.

    3. PETA Approved: The Bigger Database

    PETA’s programme (its “Global Animal Test-Free” and Beauty Without Bunnies logos) is the other big name, and it works on a different basis. Brands sign a written pledge that they and their suppliers don’t test on animals.

    That makes the process lighter-touch, with less documentation and, crucially, no independent audits to verify compliance, so it relies more on trust. The upside is a much larger database and a genuinely useful free app for checking brands on the go. PETA also offers a combined cruelty-free-and-vegan tier, which Leaping Bunny doesn’t. One nuance worth knowing: PETA has kept some brands certified while they sell in mainland China under its specific conditions, which not everyone is comfortable with.

    4. So Which Should You Trust?

    Both are legitimate, and a brand carrying either logo is a far better bet than one with a random, uncertified rabbit on the box. If you want the strongest possible guarantee, Leaping Bunny’s independent audits make it the more watertight choice. If you want breadth, or a quick cruelty-free and vegan check, PETA’s database is hugely handy.

    Two practical rules. First, ignore unbranded bunny logos, only a recognised certification means anything. Second, if ethics run deep for you, check the parent company too: a small certified brand can sit under a corporate group that still tests elsewhere.

    5. Our Sustainable Picks

    Brands that put their certifications where their marketing is, all shoppable on Amazon UK. Drop your tagged links into the markers below.

    INIKA Organic is the overachiever, Leaping Bunny approved, PETA cruelty-free and Certified Vegan by The Vegan Society, plus COSMOS organic. If you want every box ticked, start here. 

    Try: the INIKA Organic Baked Mineral Foundation.

    e.l.f. Cosmetics is Leaping Bunny certified and 100% vegan, at high-street prices, the easiest way to shop certified without spending a fortune. 

    Try: the cult e.l.f. Power Grip Primer.

    Barry M, a British staple, is cruelty-free and now fully vegan across its range, affordable and easy to find. 

    Try: the Barry M Flawless Original Primer.

    Zao Makeup is registered with The Vegan Society and certified cruelty-free, with the bonus of refillable bamboo packaging, ethics inside and out. 

    Try: the Zao Refillable Bamboo Mascara.

    Read the Logo, Not the Marketing

    A bunny on the box is only as good as the certification behind it. Now you know the difference: Leaping Bunny audits and verifies, PETA pledges and lists, and both beat an uncertified logo every time. Pair a cruelty-free certification with a vegan one and you’ve covered both bases.

    Use the labels as your shortcut, lean on the certified brands above, and explore the rest of our sustainable beauty edit to shop with a clear conscience.

    Featured Products

    References

  • Top 5 best vegan makeup brands you can shop on Amazon UK in 2026

    Top 5 best vegan makeup brands you can shop on Amazon UK in 2026

    You’ve decided you want vegan makeup. Good. Then you turn a compact over, see “cruelty-free” stamped on the back with no mention of “vegan” anywhere, and you’re left wondering whether you’re being sold the real thing or just clever wording.

    You’re not imagining it. The labels genuinely don’t mean the same thing, and brands lean on that confusion. The good news is that once you understand the difference, shopping vegan on Amazon UK gets a lot simpler. Here’s what the words actually mean, how to check a brand properly, and four we’d happily put in our own makeup bag.

     

    In This Guide:

    1. Vegan vs cruelty-free: not the same thing
    2. Does vegan makeup actually perform?
    3. How to check a brand is genuinely vegan
    4. Our Sustainable Picks
    5. Where to start if you’re switching

     

    1. Vegan vs Cruelty-Free: Not the Same Thing

     

    This is the bit that trips everyone up, so let’s settle it. Vegan describes the ingredients: no animal-derived substances such as beeswax, carmine (a red pigment made from insects), lanolin or honey. Cruelty-free describes the testing: the product and its ingredients weren’t tested on animals.

    Crucially, one does not guarantee the other. A product can be vegan but still tested on animals, and a product can be cruelty-free but contain beeswax (INIKA Organic). If both matter to you, you need to see both claims, ideally both certified.

     

     

    2. Does Vegan Makeup Actually Perform?

     

    The old assumption was that going vegan meant accepting weaker pigment or shorter wear. In 2026 that’s simply out of date. Plant-derived and high-quality synthetic ingredients now match conventional formulas on pigment, blendability and longevity, and vegan formulas often skip common irritants, which can make them gentler on reactive skin.

    So if you’ve been holding off because you don’t want to trade performance for principles, you can stop worrying. The brands below aren’t “good for vegan makeup”, they’re good makeup that happens to be vegan.

     

     

    3. How to Check a Brand Is Genuinely Vegan

    Marketing claims are cheap; certifications are earned. Three logos do the heavy lifting for you. The Vegan Society trademark (the sunflower) confirms no animal ingredients. Leaping Bunny is widely regarded as the gold standard for cruelty-free, with ongoing independent audits. PETA approval is the other common cruelty-free mark.

     

    One extra check that matters to thorough shoppers: look at the parent company. A brand can be certified cruelty-free itself while being owned by a group that still sells into markets requiring animal testing, which is why some otherwise-vegan brands don’t carry a Leaping Bunny stamp (Yours). If full transparency is your priority, favour brands that are independently certified top to bottom.

     

     

    4. Our Sustainable Picks

    Four genuinely vegan brands you can buy on Amazon UK right now, across every budget. Drop your tagged links into the markers below.

     

    Best for certification-checkers:

    INIKA Organic. About as rigorous as it gets, Certified Vegan by The Vegan Society, Leaping Bunny and PETA cruelty-free, plus COSMOS organic certification. If you read every label before buying, this is the brand that holds up to it (ethical elephant).

    Try: the INIKA Organic Full Coverage Liquid Foundation, a hydrating liquid base with hyaluronic acid and argan oil.

    Best affordable all-rounder:

    e.l.f. Cosmetics. 100% vegan and Leaping Bunny certified, with brilliant performance for the price, plus a packaging-reduction programme to its name. The easiest place to build a full vegan kit without overspending.

    Try: the viral e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, a glow-boosting complexion hybrid you can wear alone or under makeup.

    Best British high-street name:

    Barry M. A London brand going since 1982, now fully vegan and cruelty-free, with a huge, genuinely affordable range. A reliable, recognisable swap if you want something familiar (VeganFriendly).

    Try: a Barry M Lip Paint for an easy, affordable pop of colour.

     

    Best ultra-budget swap:

    Essence. Now 100% vegan and famous for pocket-money prices, so trying a vegan version of something you already use costs you almost nothing. The no-risk way to dip a toe into vegan makeup.

    Try: the Essence Soft Touch Mousse Foundation, a vegan matte base for just a few pounds.

     

    5. Where to Start if You’re Switching

     

    Don’t bin everything you own, that’s wasteful and expensive, and rather defeats the point. The painless approach is to swap as you repurchase: when your foundation, mascara or lippy runs out, replace that one item with a vegan alternative.

    Start with the products you use daily, since that’s where one swap makes the biggest difference. Pick something from the budget picks above first if you’re unsure, prove to yourself the performance is there, then trade up to a premium certified brand for the products you care most about. Within a few months your whole bag will have quietly turned over, no dramatic overhaul required.

     

    Kind Doesn’t Mean Compromise

     

    Vegan makeup used to come with an asterisk. It doesn’t anymore. Whether you’re driven by animal welfare, cleaner ingredients or both, you can now match or beat your old favourites without spending more, and the certifications mean you never have to take a brand’s word for it.

    Start with one swap from our picks, see how it wears, and let your makeup bag turn over from there. When you’re ready to go further, our guide to cruelty-free certifications breaks down exactly what each label promises, so you can shop with total confidence.

     

    Featured Products

     

    References