Vegan lipsticks we love

You might think your glam lippie-wearing days are over when you choose to live green, but fret not. There’s a selection of colours and lipstick brands that’ll make your transition to a vegan lifestyle way organic.

Not-so-fun fact? It turns out most red lipsticks are made from a red dye called Carmine (a combination of crushed and boiled female Cochineal insects) and you said you didn’t like creepy crawlies. Other ingredients include beeswax and wool wax (a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals). Granted that’s some and not all lipsticks, but it’s a definite ick-factor to be considered.

The truth is, until now, many of us probably didn’t give the ingredients of cosmetics a second thought. After all, you’re only applying it to your face… and finding the perfect colour to suit your skin tone is hard enough! To be honest, if it’s a perfectly packaged, well-known brand that lasts way after eating second breakfast, we’re usually sold.

Luckily, now that beauties are being more #woke brands are taking note and stepping up. And if you’re interested in a more conscious lifestyle it’s good to know there are options out there.

Vegan lippies you can feel good about using

Brands like Lush, Wet ‘n Wild and Smith & Cult offer vegan lipsticks that will allow you to live green and still enjoy a hint of colour and a pep in your step thanks to their colours that pop – without the whole endangering species aspect.

We’ve been adding greener alternatives into our beauty routine and Lush is a great go-to. Besides the array of cruelty-free lotions and scrubs, the vegan lipsticks and balms are pretty nourishing too. They contain ingredients like candelilla wax, organic Jojoba oil and rose wax – and you’ll be spoiled for choice with the matte, long-lasting and glossy finishes.

Smith & Cult is more of a splurge buy, but the lippies look ultra glam and you’ll no doubt feel like a celeb who just-so-happens to be saving the planet – one lipstick at a time. Smith & Cult is vegan, gluten and paraben-free, and also 8-free (formulated without bad guys like Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide or Triphenyl Phosphate). Shop these fab lippies here.

If you’re searching for a more budget-friendly option, Wet ‘n Wild is a trusted beauty brand that’s vegan and cruelty-free, and it’s also good for the environment and your wallet too. Score! Easily accessible and available at Clicks stores, they have a wide selection of on-trend shades, finishes and nourishing balms to choose from.

Beauty with a conscience FTW!