Sure, it may be easier than ever before to find a blue shade of lipstick, but when it comes to truly bold, and bright shades, you can't beat alternative make up! Luckily, we're really spoilt for choice these days, with even more cosmetics companies than you can shake a lip gloss wand at, and to help you along the way, we've put together our handy guide to alternative make up brands.
When we first took a peek at the vibrant selection of cosmetics brands available here in the UK we were already spoilt for choice. Now we're having to make some more space in our make up bags, as a fresh new batch of cosmetic brands have landed here in the UK. With so many shades to choose from, you really won't know where to start.
Whether you're looking for eco friendly, vegan make up, or it's that perfect shade of black lipstick that your lusting over, you'll be bound to find it from our hand picked selection of alternative make up companies. Let's dig in shall we?!
As a brand with truly alternative roots, we just adore Illamasqua.
With a truly outstanding range of colourful, and creative make up, you'll be bound to find that perfect shade, and several others.. Most importantly, they're also animal friendly, and offer a wide range of vegan cosmetics, so you can be sure that you're getting some beautiful cruelty free cosmetics.
They're perhaps the most well known alternative make up brands here in the UK. Stargazer have been providing us with a rainbow of colourful shades for decades.
With every product imaginable available across their range - from glitter lipsticks, to foundation, and eyeliners. In recent years they've gone on to add some vegan make up to their range, with a selection of cosmetic glitters, mascaras, and lip glosses.
For a classic vintage inspired look, you can't beat Le Keux Cosmetics. Their range of bejewelled lip paint pots, eye liners, and brushes, are just perfect for the modern pin up!
For a colourful palette of shades, that are also vegan to boot, you'll just adore VE Cosmetics. From glittering eye shadow palettes, to sultry liquid lipsticks, and even magnetic lashes, they've got it all! So you can have truly beautiful, cruelty free cosmetics.
It doesn't stop there of course, there's even more amazing home-grown make up brands that cater for a truly alternative palette of shades. From the likes of Barry M, with their cruelty free cosmetics, to Fairy Pants with their range of vegan make up.
Then there's some outstanding new cosmetics brands, like Fatale Cosmetics, with their luxury vintage inspired make up range that's also cruelty free, and Unicorn Cosmetics, with their fierce lashes, and vibrant vegan make up.
One of the first brands that you'll think of when it comes to alternative cosmetics. We already adore Manic Panic for their vibrant range of hair dye, and their make up is just as bold and colourful!
They've long been providing us with that perfect pale foundation, and lushly dark lipsticks. A brand that's cruelty free, as well as offering some vegan products in their range. You can even buy their cosmetics direct from their UK shop, www.manic-panic.co.uk.
If it's a truly vibrant selection of alternative make up that you want, then you can't beat Sugarpill.With a bold range of highly pigmented cosmetics, from neon eye shadows, to lush bold lipstick shades, and did we mention how cute the packaging is?!
Another amazing brand that's cruelty free, as well as offering vegan products. A small selection of UK retailers can be found online for their cosmetic ranges.
If it's glittery shades that you want, then you'll love Medusa's Make-Up. Offering a bold range of amazing alternative make up, ranging from vibrant eye dusts, to sleek lip glosses, and glitter, as well as being vegan and cruelty free.
You can currently find a small selection of UK retailers stocking their ranges.
For bewitchingly beautiful alternative cosmetics, try Concrete Minerals. Offering a vibrant range of lip tints and eye-shadows. 100% vegan and cruelty free to boot, you can find some of their make up range here in the UK at a selection of online retailers.
Renowned vintage cosmetics brand, Besame, have the perfect range of lipsticks and make up, inspired by classic vintage shades. From pillar-box reds, to pastel lilacs, which you can find at a select range of UK retailers.
It doesn't stop there of course, there are plenty more alternative make up brands to shop from, including Pretty Zombie Cosmetics, who offer a delightfully dark range of lipsticks and shimmers, that are also vegan and cruelty free, and Lime Crime, with their bold range of colourful lipsticks, eye-shadows, highlighters and more, that are also vegan and cruelty free.
We really are spoilt for choice when it comes to alternative make up brands, with more choice than ever before. To find these make up brands even easier, you can find a full list of stockists at our handy directory site, so you can stock up your make up bag with ease!
Why stop there? Find the perfect shade of hair dye to match your make up, with our handy guide to alternative hair dye brands!
Editorial note: This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
Images: Medusa's Make Up | Illamasqua | Stargazer | Barry M | Manic Panic | Sugarpill | Concrete Minerals | Besame