With the warmer weather ahead, we are getting excited for nights under the stars, dewier skin [1], and supershiny lips [2] that reflect the sun. If you're looking for a vegan lip gloss to help you with the latter, you might have noticed that picking up the right formula requires a little extra legwork. To make it easier, we've asked celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon [3] how to find the best cruelty-free option.
First, you should consider the ingredients on the back of the label. According to Aharon, you want to choose products with emollients like avocado oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or fruit oils since those trap in moisture and give your lips a dose of hydration. In order to make sure the brand you're using is vegan, the first step is to check for the Leaping Bunny label, which indicates a product is cruelty-free. Still, though: "Just because a brand is cruelty free [4] doesn't mean that they are fully vegan," said Aharon. "If you see ingredients like gelatin, retinol or collagen, beware. There are plant based and vegan options for ingredients like collagen [5] but it's worth looking into further to be sure."
Check out a few of Aharon's favourites from Hourglass, Tower 28, and Ere Perez, plus some of our vegan lip gloss picks ahead.
Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss
Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss [6] ($28)
E.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Lacquer
e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Lacquer [7] ($3)
Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss
Tower 28 Beauty ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss [8] ($14)
Milk Makeup Holographic Lip Gloss
Milk Makeup Holographic Lip Gloss [9] ($17, originally $24)
Beauty by POPSUGAR Be The Boss Lip Gloss
Beauty by POPSUGAR Be The Boss Lip Gloss [10] ($18)
Urban Decay Wired Vice Lip Chemistry
Urban Decay Wired Vice Lip Chemistry [11] ($22)
Ere Perez Mango Lip Honey
Ere Perez Mango Lip Honey [12] ($26)
Urban Decay PlumperLip Gloss
Urban Decay PlumperLip Gloss [13] ($22)
Thrive Causemetics Lip Mate High-Shine Reviving Lip Gloss
Thrive Causemetics Lip Mate High-Shine Reviving Lip Gloss [14] ($24)