Estée Lauder has just announced its backing of the #BeCrueltyFree campaign led by the Human Society International, the largest effort in history to ban global animal testing. The cosmetics giant is sold in over 150 countries and has over 25 brands in its portfolio, including the likes of Clinique, Tom Ford and Jo Malone.
The company has joined the likes of other major beauty manufacturers such as Coty, Unilever and Procter & Gamble, who have all pledged to support the important cause.
Anna Klein, senior vice president of Global Corporate Affairs for The Estée Lauder Companies said of the commitment: ‘We are proud to partner with Humane Society International, an organisation that has done such thoughtful work advocating for animals everywhere. They have been a wonderful partner and advisor as we work together towards our common goal to bring an end to cosmetic animal testing worldwide’.
With Elle Woods campaigning for the cause since 2003, and the EU banning cosmetic testing on animals back in 2013, we’ve been seeing a lot of big beauty brands making the change towards a cruelty-free cosmetics industry, but it’s still a global problem.
According to Cruelty Free International, at least 115 million animals may be used in experiments worldwide each year, whilst Human Society International suggest that for every new pesticide or chemical tested, 10,000 animals have had to make the sacrifice.
President and CEO of Human Society International, Kitty Block explained that, ‘animal testing is last century’s science, but to legislate it out of existence required us to join forces with forward-looking industry leaders like The Estée Lauder Companies. I’m confident that by working together with beauty companies through our #BeCrueltyFree campaign, we can help bring an end to cosmetics testing on animals by 2023’.
This means that hopefully we’ll be seeing the Leaping Bunny certificate on the backs of our go-to Estée Lauder beauty products very soon. The logo can be found on cosmetic and household products which don’t conduct, commission or are party to animal testing, this includes the formula and ingredients within the product.
It’s a big step forward for ending animal suffering, but with the UK taking the top spot as the biggest reported user of animals within the EU (3.9 million experiments reported in 2014), there’s still a long way to go.
Show your love for cruelty-free beauty with our edit of the best vegan beauty products below:
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Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint
While we're all major fans of Hourglass' signature powders, its luxury base formulas are also a hit. This lightweight vegan skin tint comes in an elaborate range of shades and provides a weightless lasting coverage that doesn't break down throughout the day. Add to cart, immediately.
Vieve Modern Radiance Cream Bronzer
If there's one thing that beauty influencer and make-up artist Jamie Genevieve has mastered, it's a pigmented cream that appears totally skin-like. This sleek bronzer has been a failsafe for the ELLE UK beauty team throughout winter and we're not switching it out any time soon.
Saie Dew Blush
This buildable blush is light, pretty and totally believable. Stocked with shades from baby pink to sunburnt flushes, its effortless gel can be used as a pop of colour on pared back bases or layered over powder for a rich lively hue.
Milk Makeup Sculpt Stick
Looking for a travel-friendly contour product? This bitesize stick is one of the creamiest sculptors on the market. Formulated without animal byproducts, its super emollient texture is generously pigmented with truly cool, shadow-like tones. This is how we're cheating model-ready cheekbones this season.
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation
When we heard Charlotte Tilbury's new vegan-friendly foundation launch was landing, we were pretty damn excited, and with good reason. The perfect antidote to the miserable British weather, Beautiful Skin foundation boosts your complexion with a glowy and plump finish. No dry patches welcome here.
Tower28 BeachPlease Luminous Tinted Balm
This Californian brand knows how to inject some sunshine into your make-up routine. A swipe of this balmy tint onto your cheeks will grant you a dewy post-surf flush on a Santa Monica beach without getting your feet wet.
Glossier Ultralip
If you're looking for a lippie that feels like a balm, without compromising on punchy pigment, this hyaluronic acid and nourishing three-oil blend is the buttery-soft lipstick for you. The girl-next door of beauty struck gold with this one.
Huda Beauty GloWish Cheeky Vegan Blush Powder
In four fresh-skinned shades, from a warm soft peach to a cool pop of cherry, this foolproof vegan blush blends like a dream. Build to your hearts desire, either for a sheer wash of healthy colour or a brighter flattering flush.
If you're looking for a just-woke-up-like-this base, this is the skin tint we'd vouch for. With SPF30, niacinamide, squalane and hyaluronic acid, this lightweight elixir ticks some serious skincare boxes, all wrapped up with a gentle boost of skin-evening coverage.
KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin Perfecting Foundation Balm
There's a reason you couldn't scroll down your Instagram feed without seeing this foundation when it launched; one swipe of this balm leaves your complexion with more coverage than a royal wedding, with a hydrating yet soft matte finish that could convert even the most hardcore dewy-finish devotee.
There's nothing more gutting than spying a pretty palette and realising its rife with carmine (a non-vegan red or purplish-red pigment commonly used for eye make-up). Luckily, this copper-hued collection of shadows is completely plant-based, with some of the butteriest tones we've ever swatched. Totally harmonious, this is our go-to for a multi-dimensional sunset smoky eye.
We can’t judge beauty products on what they smell like but if we did, this would be a winner. The bronzer gives you a chocolate hit whilst managing to keep cheeks perfectly bronzed (no patchiness to see here).
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
The ultra-pigmented Rare Beauty blush truly is make-up gold. Adored by TikTok and the ELLE UK beauty team alike, you only need a light-handed dab of this concentrated colour and voilà! A prettifying flush that lasts all day.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat
The original Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb has remained a fan favourite and for good reason; it's glossy, it's comfortable and it's vegan. So, it was no surprise when we fell in love with their latest iteration, the Gloss Bomb Heat. This wet-look lip makes your lips look visibly fuller in the same flattering shades we know and love.
Axiology Beauty Lid To Lips Balmies
If you're looking to streamline your make-up bag as well as making it more vegan-friendly, these nifty multipurpose crayons from Axiology lend a balmy tint to your lips, cheeks and lids. The bonus? They're completely plastic free.
