Just like with food, vegan makeup formulas are defined as cosmetics made without animal-derived ingredients. That includes everything from animal pigments to animal byproducts, like honey and beeswax. If a makeup product is labeled as vegan, you can rest assured that it’s made without animal ingredients of any kind.

At NYX Professional Makeup, our vegan formulas are made with synthetic and non-animal-derived alternatives to ingredients that are usually animal-derived. We use synthetic wax in place of beeswax, plant-derived pigments instead of animal pigments, and lab-made ingredients that provide long-lasting wear and color payoff, without harming any critters. For a full rundown of a specific product’s ingredients, check out its packaging or pull up its product page on nyxcosmetics.com.

Vegan and cruelty-free are often discussed together, but they are not totally the same. For a brand to be cruelty-free, like us, it means that none of their products or ingredients are tested on animals. That said, there is no legal definition of cruelty-free, and it’s not regulated. That’s why it’s important to look for outside certification if animal welfare is something you’re passionate about. At NYX Professional Makeup, we’re certified by PETA as being 100% cruelty-free—in other words, nothing you buy at NYX Professional Makeup is tested on animals. Many of our products also have vegan formulas, meaning that they contain no animal products or byproducts. Cosmetics can be cruelty-free without being vegan, though, so if you’re vegan (or want to support vegan makeup), make sure to take a look at the ingredients list or product description before purchasing.

Any kind of makeup can have a vegan formula! At NYX Professional Makeup, our vegan-formulated cosmetic offerings include everything from face makeup, like primers, foundations, concealers, and setting sprays, to lip colors, eyeliners, mascara, and more. We’re working on expanding our vegan offerings even more.

Pro Tip: Upgrade your routine with our electrolyte-infused collection, which includes three makeup staples that have long-lasting vegan formulas.

By now, you can probably guess that vegan-formulated mascara is mascara made without animal products or pigments. We have several mascaras in our lineup, but if vegan-formulated mascara is what you’re after, we recommend our classic On The Rise Volume Liftscara. The mascara has a lash-lifting formula and an innovative hourglass-shaped wand that coats each hair, instantly adding visible volume and length to your eyelashes.

If you’re vegan—or committed to using only vegan-formulated beauty products—you’ll want to steer clear of anything that contains animal ingredients. This includes everything from makeup products to skincare and even beauty tools like makeup brushes. It can be tricky to figure out what is and isn’t a vegan formula, especially if you’re new to the vegan lifestyle, so we make it easy by featuring our vegan-formulated offerings right here on this page.