Finding the best cruelty-free mascara isn’t just about choosing a product that hasn’t been tested on animals. The best formulas also deliver dramatic volume, longer-looking lashes, smudge-proof wear and nourishing ingredients that are kind to sensitive eyes.
Whether you’re looking for a vegan tubing mascara, a waterproof option for all-day wear or an affordable everyday favourite, The Women’s Journal team has tested and reviewed the highest-rated cruelty-free mascaras available in the UK. Below, you’ll find our expert picks for every budget, lash type and beauty routine, helping you choose the best cruelty-free mascara for volume, length and all-day wear.
What Makes a Mascara Cruelty-Free?
A cruelty-free mascara is one that has not been tested on animals at any stage of its development, including both the finished product and its ingredients. When shopping for cruelty-free beauty products, look for trusted certifications such as Leaping Bunny or check reputable resources like PETA’s Ultimate Cruelty-Free List to verify whether a brand is cruelty-free. If you’re looking to build a completely ethical beauty routine, browse our guide to the best cruelty-free beauty brands.
It’s also important to remember that cruelty-free doesn’t always mean vegan. While cruelty-free mascaras aren’t tested on animals, some formulas may still contain animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax or lanolin. Vegan mascaras, on the other hand, are made without any animal-derived ingredients, instead using plant-based waxes, natural oils and mineral pigments. This guide includes both cruelty-free and vegan mascaras, making it easy to find the right formula for your beauty routine and lifestyle.
Editor’s Picks: The Best Cruelty-Free Mascaras for Volume, Length and All-Day Wear
- Best Cruelty-Free Mascara: Refy Beauty Lash Sculpt Mascara
- Best Cruelty-Free Mascara for Volume: Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara
- Best Cruelty-Free Mascara for Length: CODE BEAUTIFUL Lash Kit
- Best Cruelty-Free Mascara for Sensitive Eyes: Poppy Sloane Hypoallergenic Mascara
- Best Cruelty-Free Waterproof Mascara: Ere Perez Avocado Waterproof Mascara
- Best Vegan Mascara: Delilah Cosmetics Definitive Volumising and Defining Mascara
- Best Budget Cruelty-Free Mascara: Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
- Best Luxury Cruelty-Free Mascara: Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara
How We Chose the Best Cruelty-Free Mascaras
Our editorial team selected every mascara in this guide based on its formula, ingredients, value for money, customer reviews and verified cruelty-free credentials. We assessed each mascara for lash definition, volume, length, longevity and overall wear, prioritising formulas that deliver reliable results without compromising on ethical standards. From natural everyday lashes to dramatic, full-volume looks, we chose trusted brands that offer quality formulas for every lash type and beauty routine.
Best Cruelty-Free Mascaras
The best cruelty-free mascaras combine ethical beauty with high-quality formulas. Whether you’re looking for dramatic volume, longer-looking lashes, waterproof wear or a formula that’s gentle on sensitive eyes, these editor-approved mascaras combine ethical beauty with formulas that deliver volume, length and all-day wear.
Refy Beauty Lash Sculpt Mascara
This 12-hour mascara is designed to lift, lengthen and separate the lashes at the same time, creating a natural-looking, defined look. Not only is it cruelty-free, but it’s also suitable for all skin and lash types, being fragrance and paraben-free, as well as vegan.
The brush is designed to simultaneously curl and separate the lashes for a longer, lifted look, perfect for creating natural-looking lashes. Formulated with Vitamin E, the Refy mascara also nourishes, promoting stronger and breakage-free lashes.
Rumi Cosmetiques VolumeCare+ Mascara
Enjoyed by women over 40, Rumi Cosmetiques’ VolumeCare Mascara is designed to coat the lashes and give a beautiful thickening effect, while prioritising the health of your lashes. Great for those with sparse lashes, the formula is both buildable and water-resistant, infused with conditioning peptides to maintain the quality of your natural eyelashes. The long brush design is made to coat every lash, even short ones, with product to create a bold, lengthened effect.
Best Cruelty-Free Mascara for Volume
If you’re looking for the best cruelty-free volumising mascara, these top picks are designed to create fuller, thicker-looking lashes without compromising on ethical beauty standards. From buildable everyday formulas to dramatic, false lash-inspired finishes, these cruelty-free mascaras deliver impressive volume while helping to define, lift and separate every lash.
Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara
Fenty Beauty’s Volumizing Mascara does exactly what its title says. The creamy, long-wear formula coats the lashes to create a striking and voluminous lift. Coming in a sleek tube, the brush bristles are textured to give a thickening effect. For those who love a dramatic false eyelash look, this is the perfect mascara to achieve it, without the hassle of applying falsies.
The mascara also sits comfortably on the lashes and doesn’t feel sticky or heavy, giving it a weightless feel. Ideal for nighttime makeup that warrants glamour and drama, it’s one worth investing in. We tested the mascara in black, but it also comes in striking cobalt blue and earthy brown.
Sweat and humidity-resistant, the mascara doesn’t streak or smudge, making it suitable for long wear, especially during the summertime.
Zoeva Voila Lash Volume Mascara
The Voila Lash Volume Mascara from Zoeva balances thicker-looking lashes with a lash-kind serum. Its star ingredient list includes 2% botanical active, Panthenol & Vitamin E and Jojoba & Sunflower Wax to nourish the lashes and keep them conditioned. The formula is also designed to be buildable, so you can create anything from soft volume to a bold, falsies-inspired look.
Best Cruelty-Free Mascara for Length
If you’re looking for the best cruelty-free lengthening mascara, these formulas are designed to create longer-looking, beautifully defined lashes. Whether you prefer a natural everyday look or a more dramatic finish, these cruelty-free mascaras deliver impressive length, lift and separation without clumping or flaking.
CODE BEAUTIFUL Lash Kit
The Lash Kit from CODE BEAUTIFUL comes with their iconic CODE VLM Mascara and CODE FFL Lash Primer. Both products go hand in hand to create a beautifully lifted lash look. First, apply the primer and wait 30 seconds to condition the lashes into a naturally fanned shape. Then apply the mascara, which comes in three shades: black, brown and dark blue.
Its wand is long and textured, helping to give the lashes a fluttery yet dramatic look with the added length – and a touch of volume too. It’s the ideal mascara for creating everyday, elegant lashes, perfect for lovers of a more natural lash look. Surprisingly, the combination of the two products didn’t feel heavy on the eyelashes and felt comfortable to wear. Neither the lash primer nor the mascara clumped, giving the lashes a separated yet fuller look.
Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Mascara
If you’re looking to extend and add drama to your lashes, The Lash Extensions Mascara from Milani needs to be on your beauty radar. Coming in a gorgeous green and gold tube, it applies smoothly onto the lashes to create a dramatically lifted look.
Its long, thin wand has short bristles that effectively coat the lashes in the tubing formula. Tubing mascara wraps each lash rather than simply painting on top of them, which helps to create its signature false lash look. The formula is also made with Shea Butter and Castor Seed Oil to condition and smooth the lashes.
Once dried, the mascara gives the lashes a noticeably lifted effect, perfect for creating naturally lengthened lashes for daytime or evening makeup looks. The product felt lightweight on the lashes, and it was easy to remove with just warm water, with the tubes simply sliding off the lashes.
Best Cruelty-Free Mascara for Sensitive Eyes
If you’re looking for the best cruelty-free mascara for sensitive eyes, these gentle formulas are designed to minimise irritation while delivering beautifully defined lashes. Made with eye-friendly ingredients and long-lasting formulas, these cruelty-free mascaras offer volume, length and lift without compromising on comfort, making them ideal for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers alike.
Poppy Sloane Hypoallergenic Mascara
The Tres Chic smudge-proof mascara is hypoallergenic and formulated without irritating properties, including parabens, palm oil, bismuth, lead, mercury, talc and phthalates. Thoughtfully created with sensitive eyes in mind, the mascara doesn’t require harsh makeup removers or extra scrubbing to remove. You can simply use warm water to remove, as the tubing easily comes off the lashes.
The brush head is fluffy and long in length, perfect for creating a naturally voluminous lash look. For those who prefer an intense eye look, Poppy Sloane recommends applying coats of the mascara immediately before it dries down.
Love Ethical Beauty All-in-One Natural Mascara: Black
Love Ethical Beauty’s All-in-One Mascara is made for sensitive eyes, created with natural and plant-based ingredients that are free from irritants. The formula lengthens the lashes while giving them a voluminous and flawless finish.
As well as being gentle on the eyes, this mascara is both waterproof and smudge-proof, lasting all day without streaking or smudging. The brush itself is fluffy and long, great for creating a fluttery lash look. Use one coat for an everyday look, or add a few extra coats for a more dramatic look.
Best Cruelty-Free Waterproof Mascara
If you’re looking for the best cruelty-free waterproof mascara, these long-lasting formulas are designed to withstand rain, humidity, workouts and busy days without smudging, flaking or running. Whether you want natural definition or dramatic volume, these waterproof cruelty-free mascaras keep your lashes lifted, defined and flawless from morning to night.
Ere Perez Avocado Waterproof Mascara
The Avocado Waterproof Mascara from Ere Perez is ideal for natural-looking lashes. The textured, slightly spaced wand is great for separating the lashes, giving them a fluttery finish and extending your natural lash length. Layer up for extra volume, or simply sweep on one coat to give some added definition.
The formula is designed to be gentle for sensitive eyes, with Mamey Sapote and Avocado Oil to condition and stimulate lash growth. It feels lightweight and breathable, and lives up to the promise of being long-lasting. The mascara even survived a high-intensity workout class without streaking or running. You can also wear it in bold black or soft brown, depending on your preferences.
This mascara is great for creating curl in the lashes and makes the lashes noticeably longer and more defined, without caking or clumping the lashes. Perfect for a soft, everyday glam that also supports the health of your natural lashes.
Zao Makeup No Drama Waterproof Mascara
Withstand the rain, sweat, tears, allergies and more with the No Drama Mascara from Zao Makeup. The ultra-smooth formula glides on for a soft application, infused with Shea Butter and Vitamin E to condition and strengthen your lashes. Those with sensitive eyes will also enjoy this mascara, as it easily comes off with a gentle oil cleanser.
The silicone brush head is slightly curved to get into the root of lashes to give it a lifted curl while also preventing clumping. What’s unique about the brush and tube is that it’s made from bamboo, making it a beautiful display for a makeup collection or a thoughtful gift.
Best Vegan Mascara
If you’re looking for the best vegan mascara, these cruelty-free formulas are made without any animal-derived ingredients while delivering impressive volume, length and definition. Whether you prefer a natural everyday look or bold, full lashes, these vegan mascaras provide long-lasting wear without compromising on ethics or results.
Delilah Cosmetics Definitive Volumising and Defining Mascara
With ethical, luxury beauty at the heart of every product, the Definitive Mascara from Delilah Cosmetics is both high-quality and animal- and skin- friendly. Free from Parabens and animal-derived ingredients, the mascara is a conscious choice for those wanting a thicker and fuller lash look.
The lightweight feel of the mascara makes it breathable and comfortable for long wear. You can customise your look depending on whether you prefer more subtle or striking lashes. The brush itself is short, with well-spaced bristles to create a voluminous look that doesn’t clump the lashes together.
Applying the product felt comfortable due to the softness of the bristles and the carefully curated formula containing olive waxes for smoothness. It’s a customisable and luxurious mascara for creating lashes that look good while staying environmentally kind.
Blinc Original Tubing Mascara
Blinc’s Original Tubing Mascara is both cruelty-free and vegan, made ethically and with care. Perfect for creating a long-wear, natural look, the tubing polymers in the mascara grip each lash, coating them with formula for that lengthened look. The tubes don’t smudge or flake, withstanding sweat and humidity, so you can go about your day knowing your lashes look flawless.
While the mascara creates definition and length through its creamy formula, it’s still easy to remove. As it’s a tubing mascara, simply rinse away with warm water and light pressure, so the mascara gently melts off the lashes. It’s a great, low-maintenance option for lashes that look put-together.
Best Budget Cruelty-Free Mascara
Cruelty-free mascara doesn’t have to come with a premium price tag. We’ve selected the best budget cruelty-free mascaras that deliver impressive volume, length and long-lasting wear while maintaining trusted cruelty-free standards. These affordable picks prove you don’t have to compromise on quality, results or ethical beauty to achieve beautifully defined lashes.
Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara
At a retail price of just £3.99, the Lash Princess mascara from Essence is an affordable choice for achieving longer, fuller and fluttery lashes. The straight brush head is long and textured, which helps to grip the individual lashes and create the false yet effortless look.
Also coming in a waterproof version for extra longevity, this mascara is made to dramatise your lashes while also surviving the day or night. The mascara comes in a variety of shades, from purple to brown, making it great for creative, colourful makeup looks too.
If you want to take your look one step further, Essence’s Call Me Queen Mascara is perfect for intensifying your eyelash look. Coating the lashes in an extra-thick and volumising formula, the mascara is ideal for those who love a more coated and bolder look. Always cruelty-free and skin-kind, Essence fulfils the promise of clean beauty without a high price attached.
e.l.f. Cosmetics Incredi-curl Curling Mascara
The Incredi-curl mascara from e.l.f. is a must-have for creating voluminous lashes that also look natural. Created to precisely curl, the double-sided wand is curved, adapting to the pattern of your lashes. The bristles on the brush are ideal for gripping and volumising their shape.
While the formula is bold and relatively thick, it applies smoothly, sitting comfortably on the lashes. The mascara is also streak-free, so you don’t have to worry about smudged undereyes. It’s ideal for layering to create a statement, false eyelashes look, giving the lashes a noticeable lift that touches the tip of the eyelids.
Best Luxury Cruelty-Free Mascara
Finding a luxury mascara that’s also cruelty-free isn’t always easy as many high-end beauty brands still don’t meet recognised cruelty-free standards. We’ve selected the best luxury cruelty-free mascaras that combine premium formulas with beautiful volume, length and definition, so you can enjoy high-end beauty without compromising on your values.
Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara
The Kitten Lash Mascara from Lisa Eldridge comes in two striking colours, warm brown and deep black, with a special limited edition Marilyn Monroe tube. Designed to fluff and fan the lashes for a fluttery, full look, the wand is specially curved with flexible micro-bristles to prevent clumping.
The formula is also created with the health of your lashes in mind, infused with three hero ingredients: Organic Olive Tree Derived Wax, Carnauba Wax and Jojoba to soften and grow your lashes. What’s great about this mascara is that the formula is buildable. One coat creates a light, naturally lengthened look, but you can also sweep a few more coats for a voluminous finish.
Anastasia Beverley Hills Open Lash Sculpt Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara
Enhance and sculpt your lashes with the Anastasia Beverley Hills lengthening and volumising mascara. The formula is made to be nourishing, created with Biotin, Collagen and Peptides to support healthy and full-looking lashes. Sweep the product across the lashes from the root. The textured bristles get to work coating and separating the lashes to give a lengthened and fuller look, without clumping or flaking.
Perfect for creating both everyday makeup and looks on the glamorous side, this mascara is ideal for its buildable and lash-friendly formula, so you can adjust depending on your preferred look.
Best Cruelty-Free Mascaras FAQs
What is a cruelty-free mascara?
A cruelty-free mascara is a mascara that has not been tested on animals at any stage of production, including the final product and its ingredients. When choosing a cruelty-free mascara, look for verified cruelty-free symbols or check whether the brand has recognised cruelty-free certification.
Are cruelty-free mascaras vegan?
Not always. Cruelty-free mascaras are not tested on animals, but they may still contain animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax or lanolin. Vegan mascaras do not contain any animal-derived ingredients and instead use alternatives such as plant-based waxes, natural oils and mineral pigments.
Do cruelty-free mascaras work as well as regular mascaras?
Yes, cruelty-free mascaras can deliver the same range of results as traditional formulas, including volume, length, definition and long-lasting wear. Many cruelty-free brands use advanced formulas and innovative ingredients to create mascaras that perform well without compromising on ethical values.
What is the best cruelty-free mascara for sensitive eyes?
The best cruelty-free mascaras for sensitive eyes are those made with gentle formulas that avoid potential irritants such as fragrances, parabens and harsh ingredients. Look for mascaras that are hypoallergenic, ophthalmologist-tested or designed specifically for sensitive eyes.
What is the best cruelty-free waterproof mascara?
The best cruelty-free waterproof mascaras combine long-lasting wear with formulas that resist smudging, running and flaking. Waterproof options are ideal for humid weather, long days, special occasions or anyone who wants their mascara to stay in place throughout the day.
How do you choose the best cruelty-free mascara?
When choosing a cruelty-free mascara, consider the lash effect you want to achieve, whether that is volume, length, definition or a natural finish. You should also consider the formula, ingredients, brush shape, wear time and whether it suits your eye sensitivity and makeup preferences.
Are cruelty-free mascaras better for your lashes?
Cruelty-free mascaras are not automatically better for your lashes, but many formulas include conditioning ingredients designed to support softer, healthier-looking lashes. Choosing a mascara with nourishing ingredients, a comfortable formula and easy removal can help prevent unnecessary stress on your lashes.
