Make Up

Vegan Makeup in India

Vegan makeup excludes animal-derived ingredients that are still standard in mainstream cosmetics: carmine (crushed cochineal, the red pigment listed as CI 75470), beeswax, lanolin, silk powder and some brush fibres. Cruelty-free and vegan are separate claims — a product can be one without the other, so check both.

Choosing well

• Shade matching for Indian skin tones: most Indian complexions run warm or olive. A foundation that looks grey after an hour is usually too cool-toned, not too dark.
• Lip products: carmine is the most common non-vegan ingredient in reds and berries. Vegan alternatives use iron oxides and beetroot-derived pigments.
• Brushes: synthetic taklon performs as well as goat or squirrel hair and washes more easily.
• Preservatives matter. A cream or liquid with no preservative system and a long shelf life is a claim worth questioning — especially for eye products.
• Check the period-after-opening symbol. Mascara and liquid liner should be replaced within three to six months.
• SPF in makeup rarely delivers its labelled protection at normal application amounts. Use a separate sunscreen.

Related: Lip Care, Skin Care and Vegan Beauty. Pan-India delivery in 3–5 days.