Private label vegan makeup is cosmetics made without animal-derived ingredients by a manufacturer and sold under your brand. Starting is easy: several US suppliers offer vegan lines with no minimum order. Proving it is the harder part. The FDA says there are no legal definitions for “cruelty-free” and has not defined “vegan” for cosmetics, so buyers lean on independent certification and on your ingredient list. One hidden carmine-red lipstick can undo a vegan brand.
I’ll cover suppliers, the certifications that carry weight, the animal ingredients to screen out, and the eye-area rules that matter for MoCRA.
Vegan makeup suppliers with low minimums
From each company’s own site, checked in October 2026 (certification claims are the suppliers’ own):
| Supplier | Published terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DR.HC Cosmetics (California) | Zero minimum for dropshipping; 12 units for wholesale | Says it is Leaping Bunny and PETA cruelty-free certified |
| Selfnamed | No minimum order requirements | Makeup among its categories |
| Indigo Private Label | No minimum order quantities, including its vegan line | Lipstick, gloss, eyeshadow, foundation, blush |
My advice: ask every supplier for ingredient documents for each shade, and confirm in writing that the specific products you choose are vegan. A supplier can be cruelty-free without every product being vegan.
Vegan vs cruelty-free: not the same thing
- Vegan is about ingredients: no animal-derived materials.
- Cruelty-free is about testing: no animal testing.
A product can be one without the other. When you claim both, check both.
Certifications that carry weight
| Certification | What it covers | Cost (as published) |
|---|---|---|
| Leaping Bunny | Cruelty-free: no animal testing by the brand or its suppliers, with a fixed cut-off date, open to independent audits and renewed annually | Free to join for US and Canadian brands; optional logo has a one-time sliding-scale fee |
| The Vegan Society Trademark | Vegan: not tested on animals by or for the company, and no animal-based ingredients | Not published on its main pages |
| PETA Beauty Without Bunnies | Animal test-free, with a vegan version for fully vegan lines | $350 one-time logo license |
Note that Leaping Bunny does not certify ingredients. If “vegan” is your selling point, I’d pair a cruelty-free certification with the Vegan Society trademark or PETA’s vegan logo.
Animal-derived ingredients to screen out
Common ones in makeup:
- Carmine: a red pigment made from crushed cochineal insects, often in lipsticks and blushes. FDA rules require carmine to be declared on the label.
- Guanine: a shimmer ingredient harvested from fish scales.
- Collagen and keratin: animal proteins.
- Tallow and castoreum.
Plant waxes and synthetic alternatives replace most of them. When you review a formula, check every shade separately. Reds and shimmers are where animal ingredients hide.
Eye-area products: color rules and MoCRA
Color additives. A color additive may not be used in the area of the eye unless its regulation specifically allows it. Ask your supplier to confirm eye-area approval for every pigment in eyeshadows and eyeliners.
MoCRA small business exemption. Small cosmetic businesses (under $1 million in average annual US sales over three years) are exempt from facility registration, product listing and GMP requirements, but not for products that regularly contact the mucous membrane of the eye. The FDA’s guidance names eye shadow, eye makeup remover, liquid or mucosal eyeliner and false eyelash adhesive as examples. Honestly, that makes eye products the place where a small vegan brand takes on full MoCRA duties, so plan for it. Our guide to private label skin care covers MoCRA in more depth.
Selling vegan makeup on Amazon
Amazon’s beauty guide lists documents it may request, including invoices for 10 or more units, a GMP certificate, a Certificate of Analysis and MoCRA documentation. Keep certification certificates on file too, and make sure every vegan or cruelty-free claim in the listing matches them exactly.
For related categories, see our guides to private label lash suppliers and private label lip balm manufacturers. If you’d like a team to source and vet suppliers, that’s our complete sourcing management service.
FAQ
What is the minimum order for private label vegan makeup?
Several suppliers offer no minimum order for their vegan or makeup lines; one offers zero minimum for dropshipping and 12 units for wholesale.
Is “vegan” a legal term for cosmetics?
The FDA has not defined it, and says there are no legal definitions for “cruelty-free”. Independent certifications and accurate ingredient lists back up the claim.
What is the difference between vegan and cruelty-free makeup?
Vegan means no animal-derived ingredients. Cruelty-free means no animal testing. A product can be one without the other.
Which certification should a vegan makeup brand get?
Leaping Bunny covers cruelty-free testing but not ingredients. For ingredients, the Vegan Society trademark or PETA’s vegan logo are the common choices.
Is carmine vegan?
No. Carmine is made from crushed cochineal insects, and FDA rules require it to be declared on the label.
Do vegan eye products have extra rules?
Eye-area color additives must be approved for that use, and products that contact the eye’s mucous membrane are excluded from MoCRA’s small business exemption.
Last updated: October 5, 2026. General information, not legal advice; confirm requirements with the FDA and certifiers. Sources: FDA, cruelty free/not tested on animals; Leaping Bunny FAQ; The Vegan Society trademark; PETA Beauty Without Bunnies (PDF); 21 CFR 73.2087, carmine; FDA, color additives and cosmetics; 21 U.S.C. 364h; FDA, MoCRA small business guidance (PDF); DR.HC Cosmetics; Selfnamed; Indigo Private Label.
