Awards & Recognition

I have news that still feels surreal: VE Cosmetics has been named a winner in the BASA Awards! This moment means so much more than recognition, it’s proof that even a one-woman brand, operating from midnight spells and determination, can reach for the stars.

VE Cosmetics reflects on the local business awards, staying true to its vegan, cruelty-free, and ethical roots and proof that integrity is its own victory.

“VE Cosmetics celebrates winning a Stevie Award 2025—honouring our decade of vegan, cruelty-free, ethical beauty and alternative innovation.”

Under the flicker of candlelight and the watchful gaze of the moon, we’ve been keeping a little secret… The veil has finally lifted, and we can share the news — VE Cosmetics has been named a finalist in the UK Small Business Awards 2025. Out of tens of thousands of small businesses across the UK, our little coven has been recognised in the Best Beauty Business category. The competition was fiercer than ever, with stricter judging and higher entry standards, making this achievement all the more spellbinding.

🎩 Gothic Glam Meets High Society: VE Cosmetics Takes Vanity Fair 🎩 Hold onto your top hats, because VE Cosmetics has just made another grand entrance—this time in the chambers of Vanity Fair (Deutschland)! It’s surreal to see our little coven of ethical alchemists featured under the headline “Ethics and Innovation: How VE Cosmetics Is Reshaping Beauty Standards”—you can read the full piece here After 10 years of stirring the cauldron of change—offering our expertise for free, empowering manufacturers to craft truly vegan lines, and shouting loudly enough to expose child exploitation in mica mines—it seems the world is finally listening. But let’s be clear: this isn’t mere glitz.This is validation.Our unwavering ethics, our science-first approach, and our relentless advocacy have earned a seat at the high table. In the world of beauty, where profit often trumps principles, we chose a different path. We chose transparent formulations, cruelty-free certifications, and community over capital. We insisted that beauty shouldn't cost the earth—or human lives. Seeing our hard work featured in Vanity Fair isn’t just a trophy. It’s proof that ethical innovation does demand respect. It signals that the industry is waking up to a new standard—one rooted in accountability, compassion, and radical creativity. This recognition isn’t just ours—it belongs to every ethical pioneer, every consumer who refuses to compromise, and every marginalized voice we amplify through our brand. So we tip our hat (and sharpen our eyeliner) to this moment. Because it's official: Ethics are luxe. Innovation is power. And alternative brands? We're the future. With pride, defiance, and just a touch of flair,Lynsey 

🕯️ From the Shadows to the Spotlight: VE Cosmetics in Forbes 🕯️ It finally happened.We clawed our way out of the underworld — and straight into Forbes. Yes, that Forbes. After over a decade of conjuring up ethical chaos in an industry addicted to glossing over cruelty, we’re honoured (and a little bit gobsmacked) to be featured in an article that shines a light on what we’ve been fighting for since day one. You can read it here: VE Cosmetics: How One Company is Reshaping Beauty Through Science and Advocacy This isn’t just press. This is a reckoning. For years, VE Cosmetics has put principles before profit .. a decision that doesn’t make the path easy, but makes it worth it. While others focused on market trends, we were knee-deep in science, ethics, and magick, helping manufacturers strip away animal by-products, expose greenwashing, and create genuinely vegan alternatives. And we did it for free.Why? Because real change doesn’t happen when you're watching the bottom line. It happens when you're willing to get your hands dirty, metaphorically, and occasionally with a lot of spilled glitter. We've stood against child exploitation in mica mining. We've challenged complacency in cruelty-free claims. We've raised our voices (and our eyeliner wands) against industry giants because silence was never our style. To see this work recognised in a publication like Forbes? That’s not just a win for us.It’s a win for every alternative brand that’s been told they’re “too niche.”For every customer who’s chosen ethics over aesthetics.For every gothic soul who’s felt unseen in a beige beauty landscape. This moment is proof that being unapologetically us, black lipstick, sharp ethics, and all was always the right path. We’re not done. We’re just getting louder. Thank you for walking this path with us. Here's to building a better beauty industry — one spell, one serum, and one rebellion at a time. 🖤 With eternal gratitude,Lynsey & the VE Coven

o be recognised on a global stage for doing what we believe in — creating gothic, cruelty-free beauty without harming animals or the planet — is nothing short of magickal. 🌱🕯️

Lynsey Drewett, the visionary founder of VE Cosmetics, has recently been recognised for her outstanding achievements, earning a nomination for the prestigious Business Mum of the Year Award at the Women in Business Awards. 

VE Cosmetics has been recognized with a 2025 Global Recognition Award for its innovative approach to ethical beauty innovation and exceptional commitment to addressing environmental and social challenges.

🖤 Finalist – Going Green Award, E-Factor Small Business Awards 2024 🖤 This means more than we can put into words. We’re honoured to have been named a finalist in the Going Green category at the 2024 E-Factor Small Business Awards — a moment of recognition that reflects not just what we do, but why we do it. At VE Cosmetics, we’ve built our brand on uncompromising ethics — from rejecting child labour and animal cruelty, to demanding transparency in an industry that often hides behind glitter and gloss. We’ve made it our mission to shine a light on the darker underbelly of the beauty world — one where exploitation is far too common and accountability far too rare. To be seen for this work is incredible — but the truth is, it shouldn’t make us stand out. This should be the baseline. Ethical sourcing. Environmental responsibility. Zero cruelty.These shouldn’t be revolutionary — they should be standard. Still, we’re deeply grateful for the recognition, and for every single one of you who continues to support our magick-fuelled rebellion. Your love keeps the fire burning. 💚 Here’s to pushing the industry forward — one lipstick, one spell, one act of defiance at a time. #VECosmetics #GoingGreenAward #EthicalBeauty #VeganMakeup #CrueltyFreeCosmetics #GothicBeauty #WitchOwned #NoMoreGreenwashing

🖤 VE Cosmetics Named One of Britain’s Top 100 Small Businesses 🖤 Posted: August 2024 We’re beyond proud to share that VE Cosmetics has been chosen as one of the UK’s official #SmallBiz100 for 2024 by Small Business Saturday. To be recognised as one of the top 100 small businesses in Britain is an incredible honour — especially as a fiercely independent, vegan, cruelty-free, and unapologetically gothic brand that refuses to follow the mainstream. This recognition shines a spotlight on our values: ethics over trends, rebellion over conformity, and beauty that doesn’t harm animals, people, or the planet. It’s proof that doing things differently can still earn you a seat at the table — or better yet, let you build your own altar. 🖤 Thank you to everyone who’s stood with us, supported us, and helped this magickal little brand rise from the shadows. We’re just getting started. [Read the full feature in The Grimsby Telegraph here.] #SmallBiz100 #VECosmetics #GothicBeauty #CrueltyFreeMakeup #VeganBrand #WitchOwned #SmallBusinessBigImpact

Today we received a rather exciting email from Louise Jane CEO Of The Vegan Choice Awards. Please see below:  I have been a huge supporter of VE Cosmetics for quite some time now, so I couldn't contain my excitement when I got my hands on their Magickal Multi Tint. This incredibly ethical company has consistently amazed me with its fantastic range of cruelty-free vegan cosmetics, and this stunning product has only strengthened my admiration for them. Personally, I'm obsessed with the shade 'The Answer'! It was the perfect choice for my recent holiday makeup. The colour complemented my sun-kissed skin flawlessly, and its versatility was a great help in simplifying my packing and speeding up my daily routine. One of the things I loved most was how effortlessly it blended onto my skin and how buildable it was. Whether I wanted a subtle, sunkissed glow on my cheeks and nose or a more intense color on my lips, this tint delivered. Plus, it had miraculous staying power. It stayed put all day long, even in the water. In all, I can't praise this product enough! It's not only unbelievably effective but also a guilt-free choice for makeup enthusiasts who care about ethical practices in the beauty industry. - Louise Jane, CEO The Vegan Choice Awards You can find our magical multi tints here   Displaying CEO Endorsement - VE Cosmetics UPDATED.pdf.

🖤 VE Cosmetics – Finalist for Best Online Small Business 2023 🖤 We’re thrilled to share that VE Cosmetics was named a finalist in the Screen Stars category at the 2023 E-Factor Small Business Awards — celebrating the best online small businesses in the region. As a gothic, vegan, and cruelty-free brand born from rebellion and built online, this recognition means the world. Our digital coven has always been our power — a space where we can connect with likeminded souls, raise awareness about unethical industry practices, and offer beauty with backbone. These awards shine a much-needed light on the passion, grit, and magick that goes into running small independent businesses — and we’re honoured to stand among so many other incredible local entrepreneurs. 🕯️ From our haunted lab to your screen — thank you for being part of the journey. #VECosmetics #ScreenStarsAward #SmallBusinessFinalist #EthicalBeauty #WitchOwned #OnlineBusinessMagic #CrueltyFreeCosmetics #GothicBeauty #RebelWithACause

Following on from your nomination acceptance, we have now completed our research stage within the Global Vegan Awards hosted by LUXlife, I am thrilled to email you with our highly anticipated results – some good news through recent crazy times! VE Cosmetics are among this years’ Global Vegan champions and have been awarded: Most Innovative Independent Vegan Make-Up Brand - UK   Read it here

Indie Beauty Awards Finalist at the Indie Business Awards

Best Vegan Cosmetics Provider! How amazing is that! 

Vegan makeup but not neutrals.....we like colour, and gothic bold tones. 

🖤 We Won! Best Product – Luxe Health & Beauty Awards 2017 🖤 We are beyond thrilled (and still a little in shock!) to announce that VE Cosmetics has won Best Product in the LUXE Health & Beauty Awards 2017. As a fiercely independent, vegan, and cruelty-free brand, this recognition means the world. Every potion we create is hand-crafted with purpose, performance, and principle — no shortcuts, no compromise, no animal testing ever. To be honoured among the best in beauty is not just a win for us — it’s a win for conscious consumers, ethical rebels, and anyone who believes that dark glamour and integrity can go hand in hand. Thank you to everyone who has supported our magickal little brand. This is only the beginning.🖤 #VECosmetics #LuxeBeautyAwards #BestProduct2017 #VeganMakeup #CrueltyFreeBeauty #GothicGlamour #WitchOwnedBrand