5 Cruelty-free Beauty Brands To Look Out For In America

We all know that the US is pretty much the capital of the beauty world. Tons of cosmetics come from America, both big household names as well as indie brands. I recently took a trip to the big apple and brought home a bunch of cruelty-free makeup brands to try. After trying them for a couple of months, here are some exciting brands that I think you should look out for when planning a trip to the United States of America.

 

1. FLESH BEAUTY

Photo: Courtesy of Flesh

Now, this brand had decided to name themselves with a word that kind of makes you uncomfortable (just like the word, moist) but the innovative range of beauty products from Flesh has certainly caught my attention.

Flesh describes themselves as uncensored, unfiltered and unapologetic. By the looks of their Instagram feed, you can tell that this is one edgy brand. Even if you're not a beauty junkie, you'll want to follow them just for their visuals.

Photo: Courtesy of Flesh

Since their launch, they've come up with a few exciting products, but one product stood out for me. That product is none other than the Flipbook Makeup Sheet. It's a little booklet with 100 sheets of makeup pigment. The booklet is mainly for cheeks with pigments for bronzing, blush and highlighting. I would usually tear the paper in half so as not to waste it. If you prefer something high in pigmentation, this is not the product for you. It's better on bare skin and touch-ups. The Flipbook is something that I've never really seen around though it does remind me of how the ancient Chinese queens used to apply lipstick with a sheet of paper dipped in rose pigment.

Flesh is cruelty-free, but they are not 100% vegan. Here's a list of their vegan products: Fleshpot Eye & Cheek Gloss, Proud Flesh Matte Liquid Lip, Fleshy Lips, Touch Flesh Highlighting Balm and Strong Flesh Lipstick.

Currently only available at Ulta.

2. BLISS

Photo: Courtesy of Bliss

Before my trip to New York, I've never heard of Bliss. I happen to come across it at Target, and since then a bond was formed. Bliss is one brand that I regret not buying more to take back to Singapore.

Bliss is a PETA-certified, cruelty-free skincare brand that is also free from parabens, phthalates, SLS, SLES and other harmful ingredients. Now, that's what I want in my skincare. After all, nobody wants nasty stuff on their skin. They sell affordable skincare products that actually work. Regretfully, I only bought three products when I was there but here's my favourite from the bunch.

Photo: Courtesy of Bliss

The Blood Orange & White Pepper Body Butter saved my dry winter skin. The sudden change from staying in a winter country to a hot and humid one can do some damage to the skin. I used it twice a day, right after the showers and it did magic. My skin felt so soft and smooth. The only downside is that I wish it came in a bigger bottle!

Bliss is cruelty-free and certified by PETA.

Currently, they do not ship to Singapore. If you're heading to the US, you can find them at Target, Ulta, CVS, Riley Rose and Urban Outfitters.

3. MILK MAKEUP

Photo: Courtesy of Milk Makeup

All hail Milk Makeup because I'm genuinely obsessed with them since they started. Milk Makeup is all about personal style and experimentation. It's a brand that embraces different forms of beauty and also very supportive of the LGBT community. I also love the fact that they try to push the boundaries of beauty standards while still ensuring that their brand remains cruelty-free, vegan and clean.

Photo: Courtesy of Milk Makeup

 

While I've tried many of their products before, I'm impressed with their range of blur products. The Blur Stick and Blur Liquid Matte Foundations are my two favourites. The Blur Stick is a silicone-free matte primer that creates a blurring appearance to your pores. In addition to that, it creates a smooth canvas for your makeup. I can't live without it, and I even have backups.

Photo: Courtesy of Milk Makeup

The Blur Liquid Matte Foundation was the second child to the range. It's full coverage and sits nicely on the skin. Because it's full coverage, you only need a tiny amount for your entire face. Sometimes, I feel that I don't even need any concealer on top because this foundation does the job for me. A downside is that the product starts to separate when you don't use it for long. To solve that issue, give it a shake before you squeeze it out, and it'll be fine. The brand recommends to use it with a silicone applicator, but I much prefer using my trusty Universal Do-It-All Face. With the foundation and the brush, it's a killer combination for a full coverage streak-free application.

Milk Makeup is cruelty-free, vegan and paraben-free. Currently, they do not ship to Singapore, but you can find selected products at COMA Makeup. If you're heading to the US, you can find them in Sephora.

4. BESAME COSMETICS

Photo: Courtesy of Bésame Cosmetics

For all the vintage lovers, you will love Bésame Cosmetics. Started by a cosmetic historian, Gabriela Hernandez, the brand creates cosmetics that are directly inspired by the past. You know that they do their homework as all their colours are a replica of true vintage beauty products. Not only are their packaging gorgeous but the products itself are beautiful. To make things more exciting, they often do collaboration pieces with Disney!

Photo: Courtesy of Shop Disney

As a makeup junkie and a big fan of Snow White, I must say I was extremely excited to hear about a makeup collection featuring the princess who is the fairest of them all. The packagings are designed so nicely that it is worthy of being a collector's piece. Besides the packaging, I enjoyed the Snow White Ever Translucent Powder Compact. It sets my makeup for hours and creates this powdery finishing that is just so smooth.

Photo: Courtesy of ModCloth

The Disney collection is more of a limited edition collaboration so it might be gone before you even have a chance to go to the US. So I would also recommend that you try their 1938 Cream Rouge. The colour might look very strong, but it starts off light. From there, you can build it up to your desired amount. It's also very blendable and tiny, so it's very suitable for travel.

Bésame Cosmetics is cruelty-free. It is not 100% vegan at the moment. The vegan products are all powders, House of Bésame Debutante Sheers as well as the cream rouges.

They also offer free international shipping for orders over USD$60. Yay! They do have a store in Burbank, California so if you're around the area, you should check them out!

5. SUMMER FRIDAYS

Photo: Courtesy of The Cut

The Insta-famous skin care brand that every blogger is talking about is none other than Summer Fridays. This brand is the one to watch because they only have three products and they are seriously ruling the internet skincare world. I mean, they started the brand with just one product and took over Instagram. When the famous Jet Lag Mask flooded my feed, I knew I had to try it for myself and see what's the hype.

Two bloggers, Marianna and Lauren, started summer Fridays in the search for something with good ingredients that gave their skin a selfie-worthly glow. With their first product, they create a mask that will leave your skin looking fresh even after being confined in an aeroplane, filled with recycled air. Sounds like a gimmick but trust me, it works.

Photo: Courtesy of The Cut

While they did release two more masks while I was in New York, I knew I had to try the OG Jet Lag Mask before tackling the others. This mask is exceptionally multipurpose. You could use it as a daily moisturiser, an eye cream and a mask. I love using it to lock in moisture in the night. I would continue my usual night-time routine and finish off by applying a thick layer of the Jet Lag Mask all over my face. The next morning, I would wake up with glowy skin. My skin would feel so hydrated and smooth.

Summer Fridays is a cruelty-free brand, and their masks are vegan. You can find them in all Sephora stores in the US. At the moment, they do not do international shipping, but you can try ordering it from Cult Beauty.

So here are five cruelty-free beauty brand that you should check out. Now, you're fully ready to plan a vacation to America!