Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Founded

2016

Price range

$13 – $20

Shipping

Worldwide

Catalogue

14 products

Half Caked Beauty Brand Logo

Half Caked

Independent brand — verified
About

Half Caked is an American indie makeup brand founded in 2016 by sisters Nicole Masifilo and Sonja, built around a nostalgic, whimsical aesthetic and a genuinely rigorous approach to what goes into the products. The range focuses on everyday colour cosmetics rather than limited editions, with the brand explicitly prioritising holy grail products people repurchase over novelty launches. Eye, lip and face products make up a catalogue designed to be worn constantly, with the packaging and naming carrying the playful, sweets-inspired identity the sisters built the brand around. What sets Half Caked apart is its published clean beauty standards, an unusually detailed document for a brand this size. Products are formulated without parabens, sulfates including SLS and SLES, cyclic silicones D4, D5 and D6, phthalates, alcohol and, in face products, fragrance. Where talc is used it must carry asbestos-free documentation. The brand is also candid that formulated without is not the same as a guarantee of one hundred percent free from, a caveat most competitors omit. Every product is one hundred percent vegan and PETA certified, with no animal-derived ingredients or by-products, and manufacturers must submit updated Animal Non-Testing Declarations before each production run. Original formulations are sourced from international labs with fair working conditions stated as a requirement. The sisters remain closely involved in formulation and customer communication. Priced in the affordable tier, Half Caked delivers this level of ingredient discipline at accessible cost, and is exceptionally well documented for a women-owned independent.

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Brand Details

Contract manufactured
PETA Beauty Without Bunnies
Last reviewed
Oct 2026
Independent brand
Verified
N
Nicole
S
Sonja

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Frequently asked questions

Is Half Caked cruelty free and vegan?
Half Caked states all its products are 100 percent vegan and cruelty free, and is certified by PETA Beauty Without Bunnies.
Is Half Caked good quality?
Half Caked earns praise as one of the best affordable indie makeup brands, with reviewers calling its liquid shadows metallic, easy to blend, and long wearing.
Who founded Half Caked?
Half Caked was founded by sisters Nicole Masifilo and Sonja, who named the brand after growing up sharing everything as siblings.
When and where was Half Caked founded?
Half Caked was founded in 2016, launching with just six shades of liquid lipstick during the height of the Instagram liquid lipstick trend.
What makes Half Caked different?
Half Caked differentiates itself by rejecting trend chasing limited editions, positioning as playful, shareable makeup meant to last rather than fleeting drops.
What's the bigger story behind Half Caked?
Half Caked has grown into an estimated 3 million dollar business run by a small team, staying a genuinely family run indie beauty brand.

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