There’s no worse feeling than discovering your favorite makeup brands test on animals. Finding a suitable alternative can be tricky, especially if you’re having to opt for a brand that you’re not all that familiar with.
You shouldn’t have to sacrifice on quality just because you want to find the best cruelty free mascara.
Why should we have to opt for an inferior product just because we’re conscious of the impact our chosen mascara has on animals?
The good news for you is that I’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of cruelty free products for quality to find a suitable alternative.
You won’t have to worry about being caught out with any of these products. I’ve double checked the manufacturer backgrounds to ensure that they’re all 100% cruelty free.
DISCLOSURE: Luiere.com is reader supported so if you buy any products featured on this site I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure here.
The Top 3 Cruelty Free Mascaras Summarised
OUR TOP PICK
My favorite pick out of all the cruelty free mascaras I found was the essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara.
Most importantly this is cruelty free and essence doesn’t test on animals. In fact, it’s a PETA certified brand in this respect!
You also won’t have to compromise on quality with this particular mascara. It aims to give you the dramatic volume that you’re after, and will save you from having to buy false lashes.
The unique conic shaped brush helps to separate and define your lashes for the dramatic look you crave, all without those horrible clumps.
Another great feature of the essence mascara is that it will last you all day.
You won’t have to worry about reapplying it several times throughout the day to maintain the volume you’re after.
It won’t flake or fade and should last you for the whole of your working day.
What’s great about this mascara is that it’s available in a variety of packages. You can choose to opt for a single tube of mascara, or buy multiple tubes if you’re super impressed with the results.
Pros
- PETA certified - guaranteed cruelty free makeup
- Dramatic volume - uses a conic shaped wand for superb application
- Long lasting - will last you for the whole day without needing multiple applications
- Multiple options - choose the best sized package for your needs
Cons
- Wet on application - may smudge against your eyelids when you apply it
EDITORS CHOICE
The Vivienne Sabó Paris Classic French Mascara Cabaret Premiere is another great choice. This is another brand that prides itself on being cruelty free, so you can rest assured that they will be able to support your ethical choices.
This particular mascara aims to give you quality as well as being cruelty free. The Cabaret Premiere delivers a natural look that is clump free.
The mascara is smudge proof and long lasting, and you get a great look from just one application. The Cabaret Premiere mascara gives you clearly defined and luminous lashes to rival your previous favorite brand.
Cabaret Premiere mascara features a petite wand for easier application. The mascara itself is also super easy to remove at the end of the day.
Simply use your favorite makeup remover to easily remove the mascara without damaging your lashes.
An interesting feature of this particular mascara is that it’s available in both brown and black. So you can easily choose the shade that perfectly compliments the rest of your makeup as well as your personal style!
You can also choose to buy the Cabaret Premiere in a double pack if you decide that you absolutely love it. There’s also a primer available to buy if you like to use this before applying your mascara.
Pros
- Cruelty free - the manufacturer never tests their products on animals
- High quality - clump free, smudge proof, and long lasting
- Easier application - mascara features a petite wand for easier application
- Black or brown - choose your preferred shade of mascara
Cons
- Petite wand - not everyone will be a fan of the smaller wand
BEST VALUE
Another great pick from essence cosmetics is the Lash Princess Sculpted Volume Mascara. Needless to say this is another PETA certified mascara that you can use without a guilty conscience.
A sister product to the False Lash Effect Mascara, the Sculpted Volume Mascara is a good choice if you want a bold lash look.
This particular mascara will give you the dramatic volume that you’re after from your mascara.
This is a great feature if you’re fed up with having to compromise just because you want a cruelty free mascara.
This mascara will last you all day, too, so you won’t have to worry about constantly reapplying it throughout the day.
What’s unique about this mascara is the tapered fiber brush.
This works to individually sculpt your lashes to perfection, giving you the definition and volume that you’re after. All without clumps and globs!
Another great feature of this particular mascara is that it’s paraben free and gluten free.
So you won’t have to worry about it irritating your eyes or skin once you apply it.
Thanks to its gluten free nature, this makes it a great fit for you if you suffer from coeliacs disease or other gluten intolerance.
Pros
- Cruelty free - PETA certified brand that doesn’t test on animals
- Dramatic volume - gives you great looking mascara that will last you all day
- Tapered fiber brush - perfectly sculpts your lashes for added definition and volume
- Paraben and gluten free - won’t irritate your eyes and skin
Cons
- Only one color - not available in brown or other lash colors
RUNNER UP
The Wander Beauty Mile High Club Volume & Length Black Mascara is one of my other favorites out of all the cruelty free mascaras I discovered during my research.
This is another brand that is passionate about the cruelty free label. Wander Beauty guarantees all its products are 100% cruelty free and aren’t tested on animals anywhere in the world.
Not only is the Volume & Length mascara cruelty free, but it’s also free from a bunch of nasty chemicals, too.
You won’t find any parabens, gluten, phthalates, mineral oil, or synthetic fragrances in this mascara.
This is a safe mascara that won’t irritate your skin and won’t compromise on your vegan lifestyle, either.
This mascara is worth the investment. It features a special volumizing and lengthening formula that will give you beautiful volume from just one coat.
Perfect if you’re fed up with having to use multiple applications to get the look you want. It makes use of a jet black pigment to give you the bold look you’re after.
This particular mascara is also award-winning, so you can rest assured that you’re buying a quality product.
Another great feature of this particular mascara is that it’s smudge proof, flake proof, and water resistant.
It will last you all day long without the need for several applications every few hours. It’s also super easy to remove after use.
You won’t have to worry about damaging your skin or lashes by trying to remove it.
Pros
- Cruelty free - Wander Beauty prides itself on being 100% cruelty free
- Clean mascara - doesn’t include parabens, gluten, phthalates, mineral oil, or synthetic fragrances
- Perfect application - get great volume from just one coat
- Quality results - smudge proof, flake proof, and water resistant
Cons
- Only one color - not available in brown
RUNNER UP
The Fifth & Skin NATURLASH Natural Mascara was my last pick out of all the cruelty free mascaras I came across during research.
Fifth & Skin is another great brand that prides itself on being 100% cruelty free.
They’re so committed to this promise that they actively pay the Leaping Bunny Organization to take up the pledge.
Another great feature of the Fifth & Skin natural mascara is that it’s hypoallergenic.
This makes it a great fit for your sensitive eyes and it won’t irritate your skin.
It’s a clean mascara that doesn’t include any of the nasty chemicals that other inferior mascaras do. It’s manufactured using botanical ingredients.
This mascara offers you smoother application than competitive natural mascara.
It will lengthen your lashes for that bolder look you’re after without looking artificial.
It’s easy to remove with soap and water at the end of the day, too.
The Fifth & Skin natural mascara is available in both black and brown.
A unique feature of this particular cruelty free mascara is that it’s also suitable for use as a liquid eyeliner.
Simply use your eyeliner brush or other small, slanted brush to dip into the tub, then apply as you would with other liquid eyeliners.
Ideal if you’re looking for a product that can be used for different applications!
Pros
- Cruelty free - Fifth & Skin actively invest with companies to back up their cruelty free reputation
- Hypoallergenic - doesn’t include any nasty chemicals that will irritate your eyes or skin
- Smoother application - gives you bolder, natural looking lashes
- Multiple uses - can also be used as a liquid eyeliner
Cons
- Not too thick - won’t offer you as thick a coat of mascara as competitive products
Best Cruelty Free Mascara Buying Guide
Trying to find a truly cruelty free mascara can be a trickier task than it first appears! Some companies promise that they no longer test on animals.
However, you then discover that they still ship their products to China, where they are required to be tested on animals by law to be sold in the country. Not exactly cruelty free!
Not to worry. I’ve done all the research so that you don’t have to.
I’ve covered all the essential things you need to know about cruelty free mascara so that you can rest assured you’ve found a quality product that won’t make you compromise on your beliefs.
Take a look at everything you’ll need to think about when choosing the best cruelty free mascara below.
Price
Another factor that you’ll need to consider is how much you feel comfortable paying for cruelty free makeup. Some companies use the label to charge even more for their cosmetics.
However, there are plenty of cruelty free mascaras available in the lower price range.
We’d suggest opting for a mascara that you can reasonably afford on a regular basis.
How often you’ll need to buy a new tube of mascara will of course depend on how often you wear it. The more mascara you wear, the more often you’ll have to replace it.
Clean cosmetics
Another factor to consider is the ingredients included in the mascara. Some chemicals which manufacturers add to ensure the makeup lasts longer can cause irritation for your eyes and skin.
Look for a mascara that promises to be clean.
This means it won’t include any parabens, gluten, fragrances, or other nasty chemicals which could adversely affect your eyes or skin. It’s worth remembering that even if a mascara promises to be clean, you may have a reaction to one of its ingredients.
Long-lasting
Once you’ve ensured that your chosen mascara is cruelty free, you will of course want to ensure that it will last you for the whole day.
Some mascaras look great as soon as you put them on, but then need multiple applications throughout the day to stay looking great.
Mascara that promises to be long lasting will last you for the whole of your working day or night out. This will also mean you use less mascara in the long run.
Another factor to consider is a mascara that doesn’t flake once it’s been on for several hours.
Smooth application
You should look for a mascara that promises a smooth application. This should be a mascara that doesn’t clump, will properly separate your lashes, and give them a sufficient coat of mascara.
A great way to discover how smooth the application of the mascara is before you buy it is to see what other customers think.
Take a look at the product reviews to see how they found the mascara’s application.
The smoother the application of your chosen mascara, then the better it will look once it’s on. This could also mean that you only need to use one coat of mascara, too.
Easy to remove
There’s nothing worse than having to scrub away at your eyes for over half an hour because the mascara you’ve applied is so long-lasting that it’s being too stubborn to come off!
Not only can this irritate your skin, but it can also pull out some of your lashes and even cause you more wrinkles in the future.
Take a look at how easy the cruelty free mascara is to remove. Can you use simple soap and water? Does it recommend a makeup remover to get the last of it off?
Some waterproof mascaras are great in theory, but can be a nightmare to remove at the end of the day.
Wand type
There are two main types of mascara wand to consider: straight and curved. The better one for you will be entirely down to your personal preference.
However, it is a factor worth bearing in mind if you do have a preference for one over the other.
Curved wands have been designed to match the natural curvature of your eye. However, some people find that the straight wand is easier to remove from the tube with a decent amount of makeup.
If you don’t have a particular preference for either type of wand, try using both. You may be able to find an application technique that works better for you!
Color
Another factor to consider is the color of your chosen mascara. While most mascaras are black, you may have a preference for brown mascara.
Not all manufacturers offer both as an option. If you prefer the natural tone of brown mascara then you should look for a product that matches your requirements.
It is also worth bearing in mind that redheads may prefer a mascara designed for their particular shade of eyelashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cruelty free mascara?
As I’ve gone into more detail about above, the best cruelty free mascaras are:
- essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
- Vivienne Sabó Paris Classic French Mascara Cabaret Premiere
- essence Lash Princess Sculpted Volume Mascara
- Wander Beauty Mile High Club Volume & Length Black Mascara
- Fifth & Skin NATURLASH Natural Mascara
Is Maybelline mascara cruelty free?
Unfortunately, Maybelline mascara isn’t cruelty free.
While the brand may claim that they no longer test on animals, they use a confusing clarification on their website to trick the consumer into thinking they’re cruelty free.
Products imported into mainland China and some other countries are required to be tested on animals by law.
If you’re looking for cruelty free cosmetics I’d suggest avoiding Maybelline products. Opt for one of the great alternatives I’ve reviewed above!
Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
