This post will teach you everything you need to know about cruelty free lip products. When shopping for cruelty-free lip products, it can be difficult to know what “cruelty-free” really means. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the terms “cruelty-fee” and “no animal testing” are not regulated. This is why it is so important to check for cruelty-free certifications, and what they mean. Before we dive into the products, here is a brief overview of the common cruelty free certifications.
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Common Cruelty-Free Labels and What They Mean
If you’re already familiar with labels and certifications, you can skip ahead to the product list below.
Beauty Without Bunnies
Beauty Without Bunnies was created by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). There are two tests PETA uses to certify cruelty-free companies.
According to PETA, the Animal Test-Free PETA certification is given to “companies and brands that have verified that they and their suppliers do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world and that they will never do so in the future.”
According to PETA, the Animal Test-Free PETA Vegan certification is awarded to “companies and brands that meet the same requirements and whose entire product line is free of animal-derived ingredients. These companies are truly cruelty-free.”
The Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny, is a cruelty-free brand that certifies companies. According to the company, almost all products have been tested on animals in the past, including water. The company allows the purchase of animal-tested ingredients if the tests meet the company’s cruelty-free requirements.
“Choose” Cruelty-Free Certification
Choose Cruelty-Free is a cruelty-free brand based in Australia. Brands are categorized based on the following criteria:
- V: Vegan
- SV: Some products are vegan
- VT: Vegetarian
- BP: No animal testing (does not include harm to insects)
- POF: Palm Oil Free
The company issues a CCD accreditation to brands that meet the following standards:
- The brand must have a five-year record free of animal testing
- Brands cannot participate in retail markets that require animal testing
- The supply chain, company, manufacturers and ingredients used must be free of animal testing
EEOC/CCPB Certification: European Organic Certifiers Council
The EEOC does not allow animal testing. On March 11, 2013 the CCPB released the Organic Cosmetics and Animal Testing section of the CCPB website to explain why the certification stopped allowing animal testing. The EEOC, also known as the CCPB is based in Italy, and uses an Organic IT system and personalized inspection to certify brands.
Why Do Cruelty-Free Lip Products Matter?
Cruelty-free lip products matter because they have a positive effect on the environment. Buying clean, cruelty-free products means you are contributing to the health of your environment as well as your personal health. Animal testing and cruelty has social justice implications and is not environmentally sustainable.
When available, cruelty-free products are such an easy way to elevate your clean product routine and support the environment.
Cruelty-Free Lip Products by Category
Clean Beauty is a spectrum (even essential oils can affect product ratings). Remember, just because a product is cruelty-free, doesn’t mean it’s clean or contains safe ingredients
Below are several clean, certified cruelty-free lip products.
- PETA: Free of Animal Testing & Vegan
- PETA: Free of Animal Testing
- CCPB European Organic Certifiers Council
- Leaping Bunny
Free of Cruelty & Animal Testing & Vegan (PETA)
Herbivore Botanicals
Herbivore Botanicals is a vegan, chemical-free, and cruelty-free brand that emphasizes sustainability. The brand was created by Julia Wills and Alexander Kummerow. The couple needed an eczema-friendly solution to everyday skin care products. Herbivore Botanicals lip balm holds the PETA Animal Test Free (Vegan) Certification: PETA certification page for the company.
Safe, clean beauty score of 2 on Think Dirty
Tower28 Beauty
Tower28 Beauty is a vegan, cruelty-free brand created for sensitive skin. Amy Liu created the brand to find a healthy solution for consumers with eczema. The brand features the Animal Test Free PETA Vegan Certification: PETA certification page for the Tower28 Beauty. This lip gloss will leave your lips smooth and conditioned without causing irritating skin prone to eczema outbreaks.
Clean score of 3 on Think Dirty
Axiology
Axiology is a brand devoted to cruelty-free lip products. The brand was started to address a gap in the beauty industry– earth-friendly products free of palm oil. Axiology is cruelty-free and vegan, featuring the PETA Animal Test-Free Vegan certification page. See the PETA certification page for this company here.
A safety rating for Axiology is not available on EWG or Think Dirty. The safety of this product was evaluated with CosDNA. According to the database, the lipstick contains two ingredients with a moderate rating: orange oil and titanium dioxide (an ingredient commonly found in sunscreen). Please consider carefully whether or not you have any allergies or may become irritated by orange oil or ingredients in sunscreen.
100% Pure
100% Pure is a vegan, cruelty-free brand that emphasizes purity in every product created for consumers. The brand defines natural as “An ingredient or formula composed of plant, mineral, and/or marine vegetation that undergoes chemical changes due to biological processes such as fermentation, distillation, and cold processing.” Each ingredient is cross checked to ensure ingredients used are not tested on animals. PETA Animal Test-Free (Vegan) Certification page for this company. A safety rating for Axiology is not available on EWG or Think Dirty. The safety of this product was evaluated with CosDNA.
Juice Beauty
Juice Beauty is cruelty-free and vegan. Karen Bahne created the brand after looking for healthy beauty products during her pregnancy. After realizing the options were limited, Bahne launched her own skincare company. According to the Juice Beauty website, all of her products have an “antioxidant and vitamin-rich organic botanical juice base, rather than PEGS/petroleum derivatives or water” to deliver best results: PETA Animal Test-Free (Vegan) certification for Juice Beauty. The safety of this product was evaluated with CosDNA. Please see the ingredient list/rating here.
Elate Beauty
Elate Beauty is a cruelty-free and vegan company that is grounded in “5 Conscious Beauty Principles.” According to the company:
- Impact: Mindset matters and small changes can make a world-wide difference
- Ethics: Elate Beauty believes in “authenticity, transparency, and trust” in all aspects of brand interactions
- Community: Charity donations are part of the brand’s pillar principles
- Future: Creative solutions are a crucial part of life at Elate Beatuty
- Mission: Elate Beauty strives to become waste free, and values quality and sustainability.
Elate Beauty holds the PETA Animal-test free (Vegan) certification for Elate Beauty.
Clean score of 0 on Think Dirty
Free of Cruelty & Animal Testing (PETA)
Ogee
Ogee is a cruelty-free brand that is certified by PETA. The brand’s focus is to take clean beauty to a new level and introduce high quality organic products into the clean beauty market. The brand is not vegan, but does offer some vegan products. According to the Ogee FAQ’s the following products are vegan:
- Gentle Glow Cleansing Cloths
- Seeds of Youth Serum
- Jojoba Glow Face Oil
- Liquid Gold Cleansing Oil
- Luminous Botanical Face Mist
PETA Animal Test Free certification for Ogee | NSF Certified Organic
Safety of Ogee lip oil was verified with CosDNA: see rating here The product does include peppermint oil, pigment, and titanium dioxide (common sunscreen ingredient) which can affect the rating of the products.
Ogee is popularly known for its clean ingredients and its ingredient list is clean. However, the fine print is important : ” May contain [+/-]: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Carmine (CI 74570), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).” If you have any allergies or sensitivities, please consider this product carefully.
Rejuva Minerals
Rejuva Minerals was founded by Brenda Hyre in an effort to find a solution to products that were irritating her skin. The brand is all natural, organic, and clean.
PETA Cruelty-Free Certification Clean Scores: EWG Certified and Think Dirty
W3II People
W3II People upholds a “super clean” and “super natural philosophy. According to W3II People, the brand focuses on ingredients that are healthy and believes beauty begins on the inside. Ingredients are plant-based, gluten free, and dermatologist-approved. Most products are also EWG verified. Here are other great options from the brand if you are looking for a tinted lip gloss.
W3LL People Clean Commitment | Clean Score on Think Dirty
PETA Animal Test Free certification W3LL
Rituel De Fille
Rituel de Fille emphasizes natural ingredients. The brand was started by three sisters with a passion for natural products. The brand is certified by PETA and the Leaping Bunny. Although the Leaping Bunny does allow for certain animal testing, PETA does not. If the Leaping Bunny does not meet your standards, rest assured that Rituel de Fille does meet the PETA requirements.
PETA Certification and Leaping Bunny Certification
Glo Skin Beauty PETA
Glo Skin Beauty is all about healthy ingredients with natural results. The company uses mineral-based products to nourish the skin, and provide a natural approach to clean beauty.
RMS Beauty
RMS Beauty was created by Rose-Marie a makeup artist who became sick from chemicals found in her cosmetic products. After Rose-Marie linked her health concerns to her beauty products, she started RMS Beauty to help others.
RMS Beauty is certified by the EWG as a clean and safe product for consumers with a “green” rating and an EWG safety score of 2
The brand holds the Animal Test-Free PETA certification. See the PETA certification page for RMS Beauty.
Coastal Classic Creations
Costal Classic Creations believes health, earth-friendly habits, and beauty are inseparable. The clean lipstick brand is certified by the Environmental Working Group. Despite the EWG Clean certification, the brand does contain orange oil which can cause irritation in some people. The orange oil ingredient is rated 5, but the overall product is certified as clean by the EWG as safe. PETA Animal-Test Free Certification Page Leaping Bunny Certification page for Costal Classic Creations Clean EWG Score of 2
Thrive Causmetics
Thrive Causmetics emphasizes healthy ingredients and philanthropy. This clean beauty brand has a wide range of colors if you are looking for a deeper color. PETA Animal-Test Free certification page for Thrive cosmetics Safe score of 1 on EWG (limited data) Leaping Bunny certification page for Thrive Cosmetics
The Headliner Lipstick receives a moderate rating of 4 on the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Database because it contains a concentration of blue food coloring: “CI 42090 (FD&C BLUE NO. 1 OR D&C BLUE NO. 4) ALUMINUM LAKE.” This is a food dye, approved by the FDA for use in medications and food.
Although this is an FDA approved dye, please consider carefully whether or not this aligns with you. Sources Healthline food dye
Cruelty-Free: Leaping Bunny Certification
Crunchi
Crunchi is all about delivering truly organic, toxic-free, clean ingredients to consumers. According to Crunchi, “These aren’t buzz-words anymore. They are a way of life. Our way of life.”
The brand received a safe score of 1 on the Environmental Working Group database and features the Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification. See the Leaping Bunny certification page for Crunchi products here.
Au Natural
The Au Naturale multistick receives an EWG score of 2. The multistick is cruelty-free and perfect for adding a touch of color to the lips or cheeks. Leaping Bunny Au Natural Certification
Kosas
Kosas Wet Lip Oil is all about comfort, healthy ingredients, and skin care. The brand creates products that heal the skin and look amazing as well. Clean EWG rating of 2 lip gloss Leaping See the Leaping Bunny Certification page for this brand
Mineral Fusion
Mineral Fusion lipsticks are certified as safe for consumers by the Environmental Working Group (EWG certification for Mineral Fusion) Leaping Bunny certification page for Mineral Fusion
Vapour
Vapour Organic Beauty is certified by the Leaping Bunny Program. See the Leaping Bunny certification page for Vapour Organic Beauty. Vapour Organic Beauty Aura Multi Use Classic, Eros: EWG Clean Beauty Score of 1
However, some Vapour lipstick contains rose flower extract, which may potentially irritate some consumers. Remember, ratings are product-specific. For this reason, some products (such as the Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick, Madam) received a moderate clean beauty score of 3 by the EWG. If rose oil is a cause of concern for you please consider carefully.
BeautyCounter
Beauty Counter creates clean products, educates consumers, and has a “Never List” to help consumers learn about ingredients to avoid in the clean beauty industry. EWG Verified Certified Leaping Bunny Certified EEOC/CCPB Certification: European Organic Certifiers Council
Kjaer Weiss
Kirsten Kjaer Weiss founded this clean, sustainable makeup brand for consumers lookig for high quality organic products. One of the highlights of Kjaer Weiss is the sustainable lip product packaging. Every Kjaer Weiss product is created with sustainability in mind. The brand offers foundation in addition to lip products for consumers. EWG Clean Beauty Score: 1 and certified by the CCPB.
Some Kjaer Weiss products are rated with a score of 3 because they contain essential oils and benzoyl alcohol, a common preservative used in organic products to replace parabens (also common in essential oils). Benzyl alcohol is a safe preservative in cosmetic products when used in small quantities, but the safety is product-specific. Some products with benzoyl alcohol are EWG certified such as the W3LL People Bio Extreme Mascara. Please review the product list.
Lip Care Products
Lip Balm: Olio E Osso
Olio E Osso is certified cruelty-free by PETA and has a clean beauty score of 1 on the EWG. The brand’s focus is “simple beauty for everyone.” Olio E Osso is all about natural, clean beauty alternatives that anyone can use. See the PETA certification page here.
Lip Scrub: Eco Lips
Eco Lips is certified cruelty free by PETA and has a clean score of 2 on the EWG. The brand supports sustainability and fostering a healthy planet. See the EWG score of 2 PETA certification
The Clean, Cruelty-Free Beauty Spectrum
Clean Beauty is easy to navigate when you know what to look for. Clean lip products are rated on a spectrum, so some products are cleaner than others. Essential oils often affect product ratings because oils and “parfums” are trade secrets. Retailers do not always disclose the ingredient list of perfumes.
