9 Best Cruelty-Free Drugstore Foundations Of 2023 + Buying Guide
Keep your skin smooth and youthful with all-in-one makeup products for everyday use.
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Mary Ajaka is a celebrity makeup artist with 15 years of experience in TV/media, editorial, and bridal makeup. She has a keen eye for detail and understands that each face is unique, which is why she uses different makeup techniques tailore... more
Baishali Bhattacharya Certified Image Consultant, Certified In Makeup Artistry
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Baishali is a beauty and lifestyle writer and holds a master's degree in English from Assam University. She specializes in makeup and fashion and is also a certified Style and Image Consultant. Prior ... more
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Let’s face it; nobody enjoys using products that use animals to test the viability of products as torture is the last thing this world needs. If you are tired of spending your hard-earned cash on luxe makeup that experiments on animals, consider buying the best cruelty-free drugstore foundations to ensure quality along with safety. Not only are these products made from high-quality ingredients, but they also don’t burn a hole in your pocket as they are affordable and have value for money. To help you pick the best one, we’ve listed our top favorites below! Go and take a look!
In This Article
9 Best Cruelty-Free Drugstore Foundations
1. Best Full Coverage:Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-In-1 Foundation + Concealer
Image: Milani The Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-In-1 Foundation + Concealer is a multipurpose product. It has a unique, creamy formula that offers full coverage to cover those pesky under-eye circles, redness, and several skin imperfections. It is available in 29 shades that are ideal for light, medium, tan, and deep skin tones. This lightweight foundation is long-lasting and makes your skin look naturally flawless.
Best For: Dry skin
Pros
- Easy to blend
- Long-lasting
- Waterproof
- Moisturizing
- Lightweight
- Full coverage
- Fragrance-free
- Oil-free
- Value for money
- Extensive shade range
Cons
None
Pro Tip2. Best Vegan Formula:NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Full Coverage Foundation
Here’s some good news for people with sensitive skin. The richly pigmented and lightweight Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Full Coverage Foundation by NYX Professional Makeup provides flawless coverage. It provides a matte finish, is transfer-proof, and lasts for up to 24 hours. This waterproof, liquid foundation is enriched with vitamin E and effortlessly glides onto your skin for a super smooth finish. It comes in 45 different shades that work across a range of skin tones.
Best For: Normal, oily, combination, and sensitive skin
Pros
- Transfer-proof
- Waterproof
- Humidity-proof
- Richly pigmented
- Ultra-lightweight
- Non-comedogenic
- Long-lasting
Cons
None
Pro Tip3. Best Matte Foundation:Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Matte Foundation
The Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Matte Foundation gives you a natural, soft, and velvety matte finish that lasts for up to 16 hours without feeling cakey or dry. It controls shine while keeping your skin feeling silky smooth and moisturized. This lightweight foundation offers buildable coverage that helps you customize your shade, depending on the preferred makeup look. It comes in 16 shades that match warm, cool, and neutral undertones.
Best For: All skin types
Pros
- Full coverage
- Smooth finish
- Long-lasting
- Fragrance-free
- Non-drying
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologist-tested
- Hypoallergenic
- Oil-free
- Affordable
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- SLS-free
- Mineral oil-free
- DMDM hydantoin-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- Triclosan-free
Cons
None
4. Best For Mature Skin:EVXO Peek-A-Boo Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation
Image: Evxo The EVXO Peek-A-Boo Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation is a skin care and beauty product rolled into one. It is designed to even out your skin tone and give you a naturally glowing complexion. This formula has no animal by-products and is enriched with a skin-friendly blend of ingredients like chamomile for its anti-inflammatory benefits, thyme to reduce acne-causing bacteria, and vitamin E to prevent free radical damage, leaving you with healthier-looking skin. It provides buildable medium coverage and a non-greasy finish that stays put throughout the day. This cruelty-free drugstore foundation comes in 12 shades that are ideal for fair, medium, and deep skin tones.
Best For: All skin types
Pros
- Non-comedogenic
- Non-greasy
- Great for mature skin
- Non-irritating
- Long-lasting
- Lightweight
- Buildable coverage
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Plastic-free
- Alcohol-free
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
Cons
- Expensive
- Limited shade range
Quick tip5. Best Blendable:E.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation
Image: E.l.f This easily blendable foundation by e.l.f. offers buildable, medium-to-full coverage with a semi-matte finish that stays on all day. The lightweight 2-in-1 skin care and makeup formula provides hydration to your skin. It is formulated to restore uneven skin tone and texture. The available shades work across an extensive range of skin tones – from fair, light, medium to tan, deep, and rich – along with undertones of cool, neutral, and warm.
Best For: All skin types
Pros
- Great coverage
- Lightweight
- Moisturizing
- Non-cakey
- Oil-free
- Long-lasting
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Nonylphenol ethoxylate-free
- Triclosan-free
- Triclocarban-free
- Hydroquinone-free
- Vegan
- Environment-friendly
Cons
None
6. Best Dewy Finish:L.A. Girl Pro.Coverage HD. Long Wear Illuminating Foundation
Image: L.a. Girl The Pro.Coverage HD. Long Wear Illuminating Foundation by L.A. Girl has a high definition and luminous formula that offers full coverage with a dewy finish. It is enriched with antioxidants that hydrate and improve the skin texture. The brand offers 15 different shades that are ideal for fair, medium, and tan skin tones and a white lightener shade that can be mixed in to develop a customized color.
Best For: All skin types
Pros
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting
- Excellent coverage
- Hydrating
- Paraben-free
- Extensive shades for all skin tones
Cons
None
7. Best For Dry Skin:CovergirlClean Fresh Skin Milk Nourishing Foundation
If you are looking for the perfect dewy finish with a naturally glowing complexion, try the Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk Nourishing Foundation. It is enriched with a nourishing blend of milky coconut and soothing aloe vera extract that gives your skin the hydration it needs. The lightweight foundation doubles as a tinted moisturizer. The brand offers 14 shades of this formula suited for light, medium, and deep skin tones.
Best For: All skin types
Pros
- Lightweight
- Buildable coverage
- Nourishing formula
- Vegan
- Formaldehyde-free
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Talc-free
Cons
- Unpleasant fragrance
8. Best Multipurpose:Makeup Revolution London Stick Foundation
The Makeup Revolution London Stick Foundation can serve multiple purposes – you can use it as a foundation, contour, or highlighter, based on your skin tone. The easily blendable formula essentially melts into the skin for a fresh and dewy look. It provides medium to full coverage and a naturally velvety, matte finish without weighing your skin down. This cruelty-free drugstore foundation comes in 18 shades that suit different undertones.
Best For: Normal to dry skin
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to blend
- Multipurpose
- Easy to apply
- Non-greasy
- Vegan
Cons
- May get cakey
Quick tip9. Best Hydrating:Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation
Image: Dermablend The Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation gives full coverage and helps to conceal uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and redness. This non-toxic product provides a smooth, flawless finish without making the texture look cakey. The lightweight, blendable, and buildable formula lasts up to 24 hours. It has SPF protection that shields you from harmful UV rays and keeps your imperfections from worsening.
Best For: All skin types
Pros
- 24-hour hydration
- Buildable coverage
- SPF 25
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Triclosan-free
- Sulfate-free
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Dermatologist-tested
- Fragrance-free
Cons
None
As if choosing the right drugstore foundation for your skin tone isn’t a herculean task already, add cruelty-free to the mix, and your options narrow down even more. But, fret not, the following pointers shall come in handy in making the right purchase decision when you are out looking for the best cruelty-free drugstore foundation.
How To Choose The Best Cruelty-Free Drugstore Foundation
- Certification: The first step is to ensure that the brand you are looking for is certified cruelty-free. Although most reliable brands mentioning that they don’t test on animals are trustworthy, it won’t hurt to check if they have a Leaping Bunny or PETA certification. Look for these logos on the product label to make sure they are cruelty-free.
- Ingredients Label: While most drugstore brands have organic and vegan formulas these days, it is best to take a look at the ingredients and research if necessary. This will help in identifying an ingredient that may end up being harmful to your skin.
- Shade: Go for the shade that is the closest to your natural skin tone. Consider the skin on your face rather than your hands to ensure you end up with the right shade. A lighter shade will give you a gray, ashy appearance, while a darker shade will make your skin look dull and uneven.
The Bottom Line
These makeup products make your skin look flawless without hurting lives on this planet. They are made of natural ingredients and these potent formulas are free of toxic chemicals like parabens and sulfates. Though the components used in the formula are high-quality, the products are affordable. For example, the Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-In-1 Foundation + Concealer provides excellent coverage and a natural finish, while the Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation provides long-lasting coverage. The EVXO Peek-A-Boo Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation is a blendable option with mineral-based ingredients for those who prefer a more natural choice. They are lightweight, vegan, and non-comedogenic. However, some may have an unpleasant smell and offer a cakey finish. If you have sensitive skin, cruelty-free makeup is the way to go!
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Baishali Bhattacharya, the author of this article, is certified in makeup artistry. She loves experimenting with new and trendy products and reviewing them. She has browsed through multiple online platforms and reviewed several reliable user feedback to prepare the list of the best cruelty-free drugstore foundations. The foundations listed here are made from high-quality ingredients and are easy to blend, lightweight, waterproof, and long-lasting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What foundation brands are cruelty-free?
Some of the most popular cruelty-free foundation brands include L.A. Girl, NYX Professional Makeup, Tarte, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and Makeup Revolution.
Is Nars foundation cruelty-free?
No, Nars foundation is not cruelty-free as their products are tested on animals.
Is L’Oréalcruelty-free?
L’Oréal is not cruelty-free. They allow their products to be tested on animals.
Is cruelty-free foundation the least toxic foundation?
No. Cruelty-free foundations or their ingredients have not been tested on animals but that does not mean they are the least toxic. The formulas may contain toxic chemicals damaging to the skin and human body.
Does cruelty-free mean vegan ?
No, cruelty-free means the product is not tested on animals, and vegan means it contains no animal-derived ingredients.
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