Is Milk Makeup Cruelty Free? Yes, Here’s the Complete Truth

Milk Makeup has quickly become a favorite among beauty lovers looking for trendy, easy-to-use products. As more people care about buying makeup that doesn’t harm animals, many want to know if milk makeup is cruelty-free. 

This article gives you the complete answer about Milk Makeup’s cruelty-free and vegan status, including their animal testing policies, vegan ingredients, and clean beauty standards. If you want guilt-free makeup that performs well, keep reading to learn why Milk Makeup might be perfect for you.

Is Milk Makeup Cruelty Free?

Yes, Milk Makeup is 100% “cruelty-free.” This means products are not tested on animals by the brand at any stage of product development or production. Their commitment to being cruelty-free includes:

• No testing of finished products on animals
• No testing of ingredients on animals
• No third-party testing on their behalf
• No testing by suppliers or manufacturers
• No selling in countries where animal testing is required by law (like mainland China)

Milk Makeup has held this strong stance against animal testing since the brand launched in 2016. Their commitment isn’t just talk—they back it up with official certification.

Does Milk Makeup Test on Animals?

No, Milk Makeup does not test its products or ingredients on animals in any way. The brand is very clear about its strict policies against animal testing on their website, stating: “No Animal Testing. Cruelty-free Leaping Bunny Certified.”

Their animal testing policy has several important parts:

1. They never test finished products on animals.
2. They don’t allow instances where their suppliers test on animals, specifically for the ingredients they use.
3. They refuse to hire third parties to conduct animal testing for cosmetics on their behalf.
4. They don’t sell their products in mainland China, where mandatory animal testing is often required by law for imported cosmetics.

This comprehensive approach ensures that no animals are harmed at any point in creating Milk Makeup products, as they are not tested on animals anywhere in the world, meticulously covering both their finished products or ingredients. 

The brand maintains this policy globally, without exception.

Milk Makeup’s Cruelty-Free Certifications

Milk Makeup isn’t just claiming to be cruelty-free—they prove it through respected third-party certification. Since February 8, 2019, Milk Makeup has been Leaping Bunny Certified.

The Leaping Bunny Program is considered the gold standard for cruelty-free certification. To earn this certification, demonstrating how companies can be fully cruelty-free, they must commit to various codes of ethical trade, including:

• Pledging not to conduct any animal testing
• Get written statements from suppliers throughout their supply chain confirming no animal testing
• Allow independent audits of their facilities and ensure their supply chain is regularly audited for compliance
• Renew their commitment annually

This certification is a good indicator of their ethical commitment and gives shoppers peace of mind that Milk Makeup truly abides by the codes of cruelty-free practices. 

The Leaping Bunny logo appears on their packaging and website as proof of their commitment.

Parent Company Analysis: Is Milk Makeup Owned by a Company That Tests on Animals?

Understanding a brand’s ownership can be important for ethical consumers. As of July 2025, Milk Makeup is owned by a parent company, Waldencast plc, which acquired the brand along with Obagi Skincare.

Waldencast describes itself as a “global multi-brand beauty and wellness platform.” The good news for all brands owned by Waldencast, including Milk Makeup, is that Waldencast itself is certified cruelty-free by PETA, which means the parent company also follows cruelty-free practices.

This is significant because it’s a common concern when parent companies are not cruelty-free, even if the individual brand is; some cruelty-free brands are owned by a parent company that tests on animals. 

With Milk Makeup, you can feel confident that both the brand and its parent company share cruelty-free values; this alignment simplifies things, as consumers don’t need to ascertain if the brand can operate independently from the parent company on ethical stances.

Is Milk Makeup Vegan?

Yes, Milk Makeup is one of the vegan brands that is 100% vegan. The brand announced in March 2018 its commitment to offer vegan products exclusively, eliminating any animal-derived ingredients from its formulas.

Prior to 2018, not all Milk Makeup products were vegan, but the brand made the commitment to reformulate everything to be fully vegan, creating vegan products even from those that previously were not. Now, their formulas do not contain any animal-derived ingredients such as:

• Beeswax
• Carmine (a red pigment from insects)
• Lanolin (from sheep’s wool)
• Collagen from animal sources
• Gelatin
• Honey

Instead, Milk Makeup uses plant-based alternatives that perform just as well or better than animal-derived ingredients. Their vegan stance aligns perfectly with their cruelty-free commitment, making them a truly animal-friendly beauty brand.

Is Milk Makeup Non-Toxic?

Milk Makeup is considered a “clean” beauty brand, and for them, clean beauty means having strong standards about ingredient safety. While the term “non-toxic” isn’t regulated in the beauty industry, Milk Makeup takes significant steps to avoid potentially harmful ingredients.

Their “Ingredient No List” is impressive and includes common concerns like parabens and phthalates, and they also ensure their products are free from substances like mercury or mercury-containing ingredients:

Milk Makeup is also:

• Gluten-free
• Paraben-free
• California Prop 65 compliant
• Free from coal tar-derived colorants

Their products are made following strict good manufacturing practice (cGMP) requirements, which ensure consistency and safety. 

These GMP standards, part of their commitment to quality, for products made by Milk Makeup, exceed the basic requirements for cosmetics in the United States.

Milk Makeup’s Clean Beauty Standards

Milk Makeup takes pride in its clean beauty approach. According to their website: “Milk Makeup is all about good ingredients and epic payoff.” Their philosophy is simple:

1. Start with good ingredients
2. Create effective formulas from start to finish
3. Ensure everything is 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free

The brand only uses EU-compliant nanoparticles and is free from bisphenols like BPA. For sun protection products, they use coral reef-safe ingredients, avoiding harmful chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate.

They’re also working to phase out other concerning ingredients, including:

• Alcohol denat
• Cyclical silicones
• Aluminum salts

The brand’s transparency about its ingredients, standards, and commitment to ethical and responsible sourcing helps consumers make informed choices about what they put on their skin.

How to Verify a Brand’s Cruelty-Free Claims

With so many brands claiming to be “cruelty-free,” it’s important to know how to spot genuine policies. Here’s how to verify if a brand is truly cruelty-free:

1. Look for certification logos: The Leaping Bunny logo or PETA’s cruelty-free bunny are reliable indicators, although it’s worth noting that some brands might be fully cruelty-free without being certified due to costs or other reasons, requiring deeper investigation from the consumer.
   
2. Check the fine print: Some brands say “We don’t test on animals” but add “except where required by law”—this often relates to specific animal testing laws in countries like mainland China, meaning they likely do test or allow testing.
   
3. Visit trusted cruelty-free resources: Websites like Cruelty-Free Kitty, Logical Harmony, and Ethical Elephant research and verify claims, often compiling a comprehensive cruelty-free list of brands.
   
4. Ask direct questions to determine whether the brand is truly committed. Contact brands directly to ask:
   
   • Do you test finished products on animals?
   • Do your suppliers test ingredients on animals?
   • Do you sell in mainland China?
   • Do your products contain any animal-derived ingredients? (If you’re also looking for vegan options)

A truly cruelty-free brand like Milk Makeup will share its full animal testing policy and have clear, direct answers to these questions without any confusing language, helping you determine whether a product meets your ethical standards. 

Often, you can find a lot of this information on their official brand pages or FAQs.

Comparing Milk Makeup to Other Cruelty-Free Makeup Brands

How does Milk Makeup compare to other popular cruelty-free makeup brands? Here’s a quick comparison:

Milk Makeup stands out, helping shoppers choose products that are both 100% vegan and Leaping Bunny certified, while also maintaining clean beauty standards. 

This triple commitment is a strong indicator of their ethical practices, is rare in the beauty industry, and makes Milk Makeup an excellent choice for ethical consumers.

Milk Makeup’s Most Popular Cruelty-Free Products

Milk Makeup’s products include a wide range of innovative, cruelty-free items. Here are some of their most popular items that combine ethics with excellent performance:

1. Hydro Grip Primer – A bestseller, this product contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate skin, keeping makeup in place for up to 12 hours while hydrating skin. It’s 94% natural, silicone-free, and oil-free.
   
2. KUSH Mascara – The first-ever mascara formulated with cannabis seed oil instead of beeswax, providing volume without clumping.
   
3. Lip + Cheek Stick – A multitasking stick that adds color to both lips and cheeks in one swipe, featuring mango butter and avocado oil.
   
4. Sunshine Skin Tint – A lightweight foundation with natural coverage and SPF 30 protection in a rollerball applicator.
   
5. Cooling Water – A refreshing, de-puffing stick with seawater and caffeine that cools on contact.

These products have earned high ratings from consumers who appreciate both their performance and ethical standards.

Conclusion

Milk Makeup is truly a cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics brand that backs up its claims with third-party certification and transparent policies. The brand never tests on animals, which means none of their processes involve animal cruelty, uses only vegan ingredients, and maintains high standards for clean beauty.

By choosing Milk Makeup, you’re supporting a brand that values animal welfare, ingredient safety, and product performance. Their official Leaping Bunny certification confirms their commitment to cruelty-free practices, and their 100% vegan formulas ensure no animals are harmed in creating their products.

Common Questions About Milk Makeup’s Cruelty-Free Status