Make-up that’s kind to animals

MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW has asked for vegan and cruelty-free make-up for her birthday. Could you recommend some suitable brands?

Maureen, 56, london. Unless you know what you’re looking for, it can be hard to find cruelty-free make-up, as it is often produced by less well-known brands.

Celebrity make-up artist Justine Jenkins — who has worked with names as diverse as presenter Fearne Cotton, models Millie Mackintosh and Alexa Chung, singer Annie lennox and actress Charlotte Rampling — is an organic beauty expert and cruelty-free pioneer.

She says that while you might be familiar with make-up that’s kind to animals, you may not know that there is also an array of vegan products that are equally essential to the ethically-conscious woman.

For a perfectly balanced make-up bag, Justine recommends starting with a good set of brushes.

EcoTools has a great ethically-sourced range. It also stocks false lashes, hairbrushes and bath and spa accessories. Products are reasonably priced, with most under £10. Try the Mini Essentials Brush Set (£5.99, Boots), perfect for popping into your handbag for touching up on the go.

It’s also a good idea to pop a couple of skincare products in your make-up bag. Justine recommends a moisturiser with SPF to keep skin hydrated. Green People’s Day Solution (£15.95, green people.co.uk) and Age Defy+ Tinted DD Moisturiser (£34.95) both contain SPF 15.

For soft and supple lips, stick to products with natural ingredients — free of parabens and harmful chemicals that can dry out lips. Try Hurraw’s organic vegan lip balms (£3.99, naturisimo.com), which come in delicious flavours such as Earl Grey and lime. The balm can also be used on patches of dry skin and nail cuticles.

For a good foundation, awardwinning vegan brand Inika is a safe bet. The Mineral liquid Foundation (£29.50, inika.co.uk) is my pick: its organic formulation feels light and creates a natural, healthy sheen.

Only apply foundation where you really need it — for example, your T-zone or cheeks. leave the rest of your face looking natural, and your skin will look and feel much better for it.

Then, to cover any blemishes, invest in a good concealer. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Skin Conceal (£15.50, beautybay. com) has a light, creamy texture, so it won’t dry out or look cakey. Mix with a little moisturiser to cover under-eye circles.

Superdrug’s B. Make-Up is another affordable vegan range. The All lengthening Defining Volumising Mascara (£9.99) will transform l ashes, while the B. Defined Eyebrow Kit (£9.99) will help frame your face.

Eyeliner can take make-up from day to night. lime Crime liquid liner (£9.22, limecrime.com) is a great vegan product that comes in a range of gloss and matte finishes and fun colours. Draw as close to the lashline as possible, while looking down into a mirror, so you can keep both eyes open as you apply.

Blusher is a must. Mineral blushers create a lustrous finish, and I particularly like the Mineral Blush loose Powder by Inika (£17, inika.co.uk).

For lip colour, Beauty Without Cruelty offers a great selection of lipsticks, including natural Infusion Moisturising lipstick (£9.99, bwcshop.com) and Jojoba lip Gloss (£5.95).

Finally, as a real treat for your daughter-in-law, splash out on an organic canvas slogan make-up bag (£14, tillyanna.co.uk).

Other vegan skincare brands to try include: Skyn ICELAND ( cult beauty.co.uk), DeVita ( amazon. co.uk), Aubrey Organics ( aubrey organicsuk.co.uk) and Jason ( jasonnaturalcare.co.uk).

JUSTINE JENKINS is Humane Society International’s Be Cruelty-Free Beauty Ambassador.