14 Vegan Friendly, Cruelty Free Makeup Brands in Canada
We are blessed here in Canada to have a growing number of clean beauty options that value our skin, animals, and the environment. In my opinion, that should be the bare minimum. I’ve put together this easy-to-follow list of 14 brands local to Canada with great ingredient lists, ethics, and colour payoff. The brands are mentioned in alphabetical order.
Bite Beauty
Bite Beauty based out of Toronto sells beautiful lip pigments crafted with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that will leave your lips soft and subtle. All products are vegan and food-grade, allowing you to safely slather on your favourite lip colour without ingredient fear. Their inclusive shade range and long-lasting formulas are sure to impress as they continue to help the ageing and hydration of your lips as you wear them for longer.
POWER MOVE HYDRATING SOFT MATTE LIPSTICK IN HARISSA
Elate Clean Cosmetics
Elate Cosmetics does it all; low waste, fair trade, ethical marketing, vegan & cruelty-free. They’re committed to empowering their customers with the best possible products for their daily rituals. Elate also has an amazing donations program in place to impact the communities around them. Their Amplify line donates 100% of the proceeds every day to the charity of the season, and on the 11th day of every month, 10% of all sales from the day go to the charity/organization chosen for that term.
I recently purchased a few makeup products from Elate and so far, I am satisfied with it.
UNIVERSAL CRÈME REFILL IN BAMBOO CASE IN KEEN
Ilia Beauty
Ilia is a growing name in the clean beauty scene containing active skincare ingredients for powerful impact that shield the skin from environmental stressors. Their skin products also have a strong focus on SPF and the actives that keeps them effective for the entire product’s life. While all of IlIa Beauty cosmetics are cruelty-free, they have a specific section for those deemed 100% vegan. There are some beautiful choices to pick through.
THE NECESSITIES EYESHADOW PALETTE
Lise Watier
This well-known Canadian cosmetics company has been around since the 70s. They have always been against animal testing and ensures product safety through “in vitro” or “self-testing” methods on humans. While the entire company is not vegan, they do have a growing number of products that are in fact vegan friendly.
MICRO-PRECISION LONG-LASTING BROW TINT IN CHATAIN
LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
You’re likely familiar with LUSH’s beautiful bath bombs or shampoo bars, but did you know they sell makeup too? The company has not only not participated, but actively fought against animal testing for the past 20 years. They only purchase ingredients from ethical companies and support global sustainable and environmental efforts through the sales of their products and sourcing.
CHARISMA SKIN TINT HYDRATING BRONZER
NUDESTIX
This might be a makeup brand you are surprised to learn is Canadian. The family trio founders Jenny, Taylor and Ally Frankel understand the need for natural makeup in the current age of sustainability. Jenny is a chemical engineer that worked co-founded Cover-FX before starting NUDESTIX with her two daughters. All products are paraben-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free with vegan options available.
INTENSE MATTE LIP + CHEEK PENCIL IN STILETTO
Marcelle
Marcelle has been a Canadian company since 1973, with a history spanning over 150 years. Their tagline “beauty without compromise”, holds true through their affordable pricing and wonderful ingredient lists that are great for sensitive skin. The brand is recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association for skin health.
*While the Marcelle brand is cruelty-free, it is not 100% vegan.
I tried their mascara and it didn’t work out for me.
WATERPROOF EYELINER IN ESPRESSO
Plume COSMETICS
Best known for their effective lash and brow enhancing serum with an all-natural, long-lasting, preservative-free, safe, and effective formula. The products are 100% cruelty-free and non-toxic. While they try to be vegan wherever possible, it is not a guarantee. I would confirm ingredient lists if this is a determining factor for you.
LASH & BROW ENHANCING SERUM
Pure Anada clean Cosmetics
Pure Anada’s formulator and founder Candace Grenier's goal has been to “create a natural, safer alternative to traditional, mainstream cosmetics.” They thoroughly research supply chains of ingredients and purchase fair trade. Their mineral-based products come from their mines in India, where the owners fund schools and daycare centers for their workers to help maintain an ethical environment. All their products are clearly labelled with logos for their certified PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan where applicable.
VELVET MATTE SHADOW - PRAIRIE GRASS
Sappho
Sappho is a beautiful, high-quality, organic makeup brand offering some of the cleanest and most sustainable products available in the country. The founder JoAnn Fowler is a well-known makeup artist in film and television for over 30 years. The entire brand is cruelty-free and vegan and they hold a high standard for their packaging and planet impact. A yearly donation is made to the Breast Cancer Support Fund supported by the purchase of their talc-free Silky Setting Powder.
SILKY SETTING POWDER IN TRANSLUCENT
Sweet Leilani Cosmetics
Founder LeiLani Kopp is one of the only specialists trained in paramedical corrective makeup and scar - repigmentation in the country. She is conscious of the impact skin conditions can have on makeup performance and vice versa and created a natural, plant-powered line that is conscious of its carbon footprint and quality. Sweet Leilani is 100% vegan, paraben-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, fragrance-free.
PREP PRIME AND POWDER FOUNDATION - AIRBRUSH FINISH
True Glue
If you are a lover of fake eyelashes, you will be thrilled to discover True Glue if you haven’t already! They are a vegan, latex free, and cruelty free brand carrying beautiful lashes, liners, and most impressively an all-natural glue. It is near impossible to find a vegan lash glue that performs well and is free from irritants. The formula is susceptible to water, and takes a bit longer to dry but is a fair sacrifice to make for a natural, truly eye and environmentally safe product.
TRUE GLUE ORIGINAL – ALL NATURAL LASH ADHESIVE
Vasanti Cosmetics
If you haven’t heard of Vasanti yet you are truly missing out. While it isn’t makeup per say, their bestselling Vegan Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator is literally a microdermabrasion facial in a bottle. It will improve skin texture to help your makeup last longer and look better. Their entire makeup line is cruelty free and vegan and filled with incredible pigments that will make your makeup really stand out.
BRIGHTEN UP! ENZYMATIC FACE REJUVENATOR
Hey, Claudia here
I am a senior graphic designer, a dog mom, an advocate for a zero-waste lifestyle, climate change, and sustainability. My articles are based on personal experience and well researched to give you the best source of information for all things zero-waste.