9 Best Cruelty-Free Drugstore Foundations Of 2024, As Per A Makeup Artist

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 expertly crafted products that offer luminous finish, we’ve listed our top favorites below! Go and take a look!

9 Best Cruelty-Free Drugstore Foundations Of 2024 + Buying Guide

1. Best Full Coverage:Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-In-1 Foundation + Concealer

4.3

Image: Milani

BUY ON AMAZON | $9.99

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 statement-making 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 with exceptional results.

Best For: Dry skin

Pro Tip

A spritz of hydrating mist can help the foundation look better. It alos helps to make the foundation look dewy and avoid lines.

2. Best Vegan Formula:NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Full Coverage Foundation

4.2

Now 16% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $12.56

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 expertly crafted 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

Pro Tip

For those with oily skin, try setting powder before foundation for a matte, even look that will last. It will also reduce the need to blot.

3. Best Matte Foundation:Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Matte Foundation

4.4

Now 58% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $6.85

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 oily skin feeling silky smooth and moisturized. This dermatologist-tested 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

4. Best For Mature Skin:EVXO Peek-A-Boo Organic Liquid Mineral Foundation

4

Image: Evxo

BUY ON AMAZON | $30.54

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

Quick tip

Choosing the right foundation for mature skin can be achieved by focusing on particular areas. Look in the mirror and identify where you’d like more coverage. Apply the foundation just to these areas. Step back and review if any additional coverage is needed in these areas.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It has gained over 688 positive reviews on Amazon, making it an all-time best-seller.

5. Best Blendable:E.l.f. Flawless Finish Foundation

4.2

Image: E.l.f

BUY ON AMAZON | $3.3

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

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

This product has made it to our top favorite list with more than 18,017 rave reviews on Amazon.

6. Best Dewy Finish:L.A. Girl Pro.Coverage HD. Long Wear Illuminating Foundation

4.2

Image: L.a. Girl

Now 6% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $7.19

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

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

A whopping 1,299 reviews on Amazon make it obvious that users genuinely love this product.

7. Best For Dry Skin:CovergirlClean Fresh Skin Milk Nourishing Foundation

4

Now 44% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $7.6

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

8. Best Multipurpose:Makeup Revolution London Stick Foundation

4.1

BUY ON AMAZON | $8.5

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

Quick tip

Don’t slather your face with tons of foundation. Use a little foundation product and concealer for any spots needing extra coverage.

9. Best Hydrating:Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation

4.2

Image: Dermablend

BUY ON AMAZON | $42

The Dermablend Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation gives full coverage and helps to conceal uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and redness. This dermatologist-tested 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. The foundation is also loved because it comes in a varied range of shades.

Best For: All skin types

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 to enhance your natural beauty.

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 dermatologically tested and 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 to check if they are dermatologically tested or not. This will help in identifying an ingredient that may end up being harmful to your skin.
• Shade: Go for the shade that is the perfect match or 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 that offers a flawless complexion. A lighter shade will give you a gray, ashy appearance, while a darker shade will make your skin look dull and uneven. You can also check online reviews from users with similar skin tones as yours to find your ideal shade.

Infographic: Top 5 Natural Ingredients In Cruelty-Free Foundations

A cruelty-free foundation can help elevate your beauty as well as your conscience. Several natural ingredients help enhance your skin’s radiance and promote wellness. However, many are unaware how some of the most commonly used ingredients help your skin. Check out this infographic below to learn the top 5 natural ingredients used to prepare cruelty-free foundations.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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.

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.

Was this article helpful?

Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Mary AjakaMakeup Artist

 

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 tailored to the individual.

Read full bio of Mary Ajaka

Baishali BhattacharyaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

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 to this, she was a part of a digital marketing company in Kolkata where she wrote stories on travel, beauty, and home décor.

Read full bio of Baishali Bhattacharya

Srijani Roy Chowdhury Associate Commerce Editor

Srijani is an associate commerce editor with a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal. She is certified in makeup techniques and is also a certified style and image consultant.

Read full bio of Srijani Roy Chowdhury

Srijita DeCommerce Writer

Srijita De is a makeup and fashion enthusiast with a passion for empowering readers through practical tips and tricks to present their best selves with confidence. Armed with a postgraduate degree in English and Literature from the University of Calcutta, she has honed her writing skills and developed an in-depth understanding of the beauty and fashion world.

Read full bio of Srijita De