Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started with Cruelty Free Makeup

ByCordelia

Beginner's Guide to Getting Started with Cruelty Free Makeup

Today I’m going to share my beginner’s guide to getting started with cruelty free makeup. I’ve had friends say that they have no idea where to start with going cruelty free and that it’s really overwhelming. I then point out to them brands they already love that they didn’t realize were cruelty free, such as Urban Decay, NARS and Too Faced.

Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started with Cruelty Free Makeup

When you’re at the drugstore, look for brands such as Jesse’s Girl, Physicians Formula, Milani, Wet n’ Wild, Nuance, essence and Nyx Cosmetics. Big name brands such as Urban Decay, Too Faced, NARS, bareMinerals, Tarte, butter LONDON, BECCA and Hourglass are cruelty free too. Most of these brands you can find at Ulta Beauty or Sephora. You may also be able to find them at Nordstrom and Macys, too. I’m throwing in a few indies as well.

I’ve stuck to brands that you can mostly walk into a brick and mortar store and purchase, but if you’re comfortable shopping online, you can always try one of my favorite indie brands – Sugarpill, Makeup Geek, Silk Naturals, Fyrinnae, Darling Girl, Saucebox, Meow, BFTE, Geek Chic, Colour Pop, Lunatick Cosmetic Labs, Melt Cosmetics, Dose of Colors etc.

Beginner's Guide to Getting Started with Cruelty Free Makeup

Above is a list of Cruelty Free brands that you can save to your phone for later use.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. This is a list of the products that I feel are good in each category. For my complete list of cruelty free brands please see Cruelty Free Brand List.

You may also want to check out my Best Cruelty Free Makeup for $5 or less.

Eye Primers

  • Too Faced Shadow Insurance – this is my all time favorite eyeshadow primer
  • Cover FX Anti-Aging Eyeshadow primer (vegan)
  • Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow primer
  • NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer

Face Primers

  • Cover FX Illuminating Primer (vegan)
  • Cover FX Calming Primer (vegan)
  • Cover FX Anti-Aging Primer (vegan)
  • Cover FX SPF 30 Primer (vegan)
  • Hourglass Veil Mineral primer
  • Too Faced Primed & Poreless
  • Nyx Angel Veil Primer

Setting Powders

  • Cover FX Illuminating Setting Powder (vegan)
  • Cover FX Matte Setting Powder (vegan)
  • Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder (vegan)
  • NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder

Setting Sprays

  • Urban Decay All Nighter Spray (vegan)
  • Urban Decay Deslick Oil Control Spray (vegan)
  • Urban Decay Chill Cooling and Hydrating Spray (vegan)
  • Nyx Dewy Finish Setting Spray
  • e.l.f. Studio Makeup Mist & Set

Blotting Powder

  • Nyx Green Tea Blotting Paper

Neutral Eyeshadow Palettes

  • Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (my go-to neutral palette)
  • Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette
  • Urban Decay Naked on the Run Palette
  • Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette
  • Too Faced Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar Palette
  • Too Faced Natural Matte Palette
  • Melt Dark Matter Eyeshadow Stack
  • Saucebox Etude Palette
  • Saucebox Creme de la Creme Palette
  • Kat Von D Innerstellar Palette (leans cool, yay)
  • tarte Tartelette Palette
  • Lunatick Labs Supernatural Palette (vegan)
  • Lunatick Labs Relic Palette (vegan)
  • Kevyn Aucoin the Contour Palette
  • bareMinerals the Posh Neutrals Palette
  • It Cosmetics Naturally Pretty Palette
  • Laura Geller Creme Glaze Palette

Color Eyeshadow Palettes

  • Urban Decay Electric Palette
  • Sugarpill Cold Chemistry Palette (vegan options)
  • Sugarpill Sparkle Baby Palette (vegan options)
  • Sugarpill Heart Breaker Palette (vegan options)
  • Sugarpill Burning Heart Palette (vegan options)
  • Sugarpill Sweetheart Palette (vegan options)
  • NARS NARSissist Dual Intensity Eyeshadow Palette
  • Melt Love Sick Eyeshadow Stack
  • Too Faced Cat Eyes Palette
  • Saucebox Forbidden Fruits Palette
  • Saucebox Temptation Palette
  • Nyx Suede Palette
  • Lunatick Labs Hocus Pocus Palette (vegan)
  • Lunatick Labs Oracle Palette (vegan)
  • Lunatick Labs Beauty from the Crypt Palette (vegan)
  • Lunatick Labs Zombie Defense Palette (vegan)

Single Eyeshadows

  • Urban Decay Eyeshadows (vegan options)
  • Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadows (vegan options)
  • Makeup Geek Eyeshadows (vegan options)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Loose Colour Concentrates (vegan)
  • NARS Duo Eyeshadows
  • NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadows
  • NARS Single Eyeshadows
  • Ardency Inn Modster Eyeshadows
  • bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadows
  • Nyx Prismatic Eyeshadows
  • essence Metal Glam Eyeshadows
  • Prestige Total Intensity Eyeshadows
  • Prestige True Metals Eyeshadows
  • Prestige Color Rush Eyeshadows

Cream Eyeshadows

  • NARS Eye Paints (I also use these as eyeliners and eyeshadow base)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Creme Colour Concentrates (vegan)
  • BECCA Eye Tints
  • Too Faced Bulletproof 24 Hour Eyeliner (chubby liners that can be smudged out into eyeshadow)

Eyeliners

  • Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencils (vegan options)
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliners (vegan options)
  • NARS Eye Paints
  • NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliners
  • Tarte Tartiest Liner
  • Tarte Skinny SmolderEyes Eyeliners
  • Nyx Retractable Eyeliners
  • Ardency Inn Modster Eyeliners

Mascaras

  • Urban Decay Perversion Mascara
  • Physicians Formula Sexy Booster Cat Eyes Mascara
  • Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
  • Urban Decay Subversion Mascara Primer
  • Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara
  • Ardency Inn Punker Mascara

Brows

  • Senna Cosmetics Sketch-A-Brow Pencils
  • NARS Brow Perfector Pencils
  • Nyx Eyebrow Gel
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencils
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencils

Highlighters

  • Too Faced Candlelight Glow Duo (white golden pink)
  • Notoriously Morbid Osteomancy (silvery blue)(vegan)
  • Cover FX Moonlight (vegan)
  • Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powders (vegan)
  • NARS Albatross
  • NARS Illuminators
  • BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector
  • BECCA Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector
  • Nyx Born to Glow Liquid Illuminators
  • Nyx Illuminators

Blushes

  • Urban Decay Naked Flush Palettes
  • NARS NARSissist Blush Palette
  • Makeup Geek Blushes
  • NARS Blushes
  • butter LONDON Cheeky Creme Blushes
  • Per-Fekt Cheek Perfection Gels
  • Too Faced Sweethearts Blushes
  • Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek Blush Palette
  • Tarina Tarantino Blushes
  • Tarina Tarantino Cream Blushes
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes
  • Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oils
  • Josie Maran Coconut Water Cheek Gelees
  • bareMinerals Ready Blushes
  • BECCA Beach Tint Souffles
  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Creme Colour Concentrates (vegan)
  • Nudestix Lip and Cheek Pencils
  • NARS Matte Multiples
  • NARS Multiples
  • Nyx HD Blushes
  • Physicians Formula Argan Wear Blushes
  • It Cosmetics CC Radiance Palettes
  • Cargo Blushes
  • Nyx Cream Blushes
  • Physicians Formula Happy Mood Booster Blushes

Lip Pencils

  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Colour Pencils (vegan)
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Lip Pencils (vegan options)
  • Nyx Slim Lip Pencils

Lipsticks

  • Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks (vegan options)
  • Too Faced Melted Lipsticks (vegan)
  • NARS Audacious Lipsticks
  • Fyrinnae Liquid Matte Lipsticks (vegan)
  • Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks (vegan)
  • LASplash Lip Coutures
  • LASplash Smitten LipTint Mousses
  • Silk Naturals Velvet Matte Lipsticks (vegan)
  • Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks
  • Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencils
  • Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Creams
  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars (vegan)
  • NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils
  • NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils
  • Nyx High Voltage Lipsticks
  • Nyx Wicked Lippies
  • Nyx Butter Lipsticks

Foundations (make sure you check out my Best Vegan Foundations post)

  • Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation (vegan)
  • Cover FX CC Cream (vegan)
  • Cover FX BB Gel (vegan)
  • Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation (vegan)
  • Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation (vegan)
  • Per-Fekt Skin Perfecting Gel
  • bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating Gel
  • NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Liquid Foundation
  • Kevyn Aucion the Sensual Skin Enhancer
  • Josie Maran Argan Tinted Moisturizer
  • Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm
  • Kat Von D Lock-It Liquid Foundation
  • Too Faced Cocoa Powder Foundation
  • BECCA Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme
  • BECCA Ever Matte Shine Proof Foundation
  • tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation (vegan)
  • It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation
  • Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Foundation
  • Pur Minerals Pressed Mineral Foundation
  • Cargo Liquid Foundation
  • It Cosmetics CC Cream
  • Nyx Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation

Concealers

  • Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Skin Conceal (vegan)
  • Cover FX Cream Concealers (vegan)
  • Cover FX Blemish Treatment Concealers (vegan)
  • Urban Decay Naked Skin Complete Coverage Concealers (vegan)
  • bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener
  • Nyx Color Correcting Concealer Palette
  • Nyx HD Concealers

Where to Shop for Cruelty Free BeautyAbove is a list of places that I shop for cruelty free makeup. It’s pinnable and you can always save it to your phone to use later.

More Cruelty Free Posts

Which cruelty free brand have you been drawn to use the most lately?

Cordelia Frost is the creative force behind Phyrra, a treasure trove for cruelty-free indie and goth makeup enthusiasts. She's the author of the game-changing 'Hooded Eyes Makeup Manual' a must-read for hooded eyes makeup.

Cordelia's world is a kaleidoscope of alternative beauty, gothic fashion, and life-enhancing tips, making every visit to Phyrra a journey into a more colorful and inspired self.

76 Comments

  2. I’m definitely spreading the word about this awesome list you created! Thanks for your hard work, I’ll forever be a fan of yours! 🙂

  4. This is so helpful. I’ve been transitioning to CF products for a few months now (all that’s left is figuring out a new foundation/primer combination when I run out). But what about sheet masks and Korean brands in general? I’ve had a difficult time figuring out what is and isn’t CF.

  6. Thank you for keeping us all up to date on who is cruelty free. I ALWAYS come to you first when I get questions from my readers! <3

  8. This is an amazing list! Thank you for all of your hard work, this is so helpful!

  12. Again thank you for compiling this list – it definitely helps everyone to know the cruelty free brands. One brand I will mention here because you can get it in Australia (maybe not the US) that is cruelty free and many products are vegan is Natio. They have a wonderful range of bath and body products that are truly excellent and affordable (even by expensive Australian standards). Their makeup is pretty good as well.

  14. Thanks for all your hard work putting together this huge list. I’m glad to see at least 90% of what I use is totally cruelty free. The rest is cruelty free in the US, but do test in China. It’s been hard to keep up…MAC, Stila and Bobbi Brown went to China behind my back, and I only found out a few months ago. At least they were brands I didn’t buy a lot of.

    I didn’t see LORAC on your list. I thought they were cruelty free. Did this change?

    1. Yep, MAC testing is what pushed me over the edge into cruelty free blogging. Lorac is in a grey area. They basically said they can’t guarantee their suppliers don’t test. I think this means they don’t check.

  16. This is a wonderful starting place for those that want to start moving towards being Cruelty Free as well as a great reference for up-to-date information for anyone. Well done!

  17. This is a great and helpful list. I know some of my friends started following your blog because you help them find new and existing brands… I’m sure they will love this list.

    1. Like I said at the top, this list is mostly for brick and mortar stores that you can walk into and buy products. BFTE is on my cruelty free brands list.

  21. This is a great post! I’m surprised at how many brands I didn’t expect to see as CF.

    1. I know right? doesn’t that make it easier when you realize you don’t have to give up your favorites like Urban Decay?

  23. Wonderful post! This really makes it simple, because it can be overwhelming. I felt that way at first. It’s great that you are letting people know that it doesn’t have to be and that can start with some of the major CF brands and work their way up. You introduced me to the indie brands though and that has been amazing.. Like I was just commenting to someone, the quality is absolutely amazing-much better often than the bigger brands(like the Saucebox ETUDE) and the selection is so much better! I’m actually doing a cruelty free resource post on my site and I’m definitely going to put a link to you and this infographic/post!

  24. Great list! I do feel better about using CF products, even if I haven’t been able to make the switch completely. I’m glad that it’s getting easier to find CF products – and GOOD ones, too.

  25. What a list! I had no idea that Physicians Formula, Essence or butter London are cruelty free. Actually there are quite a few brands on the list I use and didn’t know some of them were cruelty free or vegan.

  26. I’m so much more aware of cruelty free products because of you. This list is perfect for people who want to learn new brands they can use.

  27. First, thanks so much for the list. I use a lot of these brands. My favorite is Urban Decay and Too Faced. But then I have a ton of other favorites. Thanks so much.

  28. This is such a HUGE list. Love it! It’ll make it easier for those nervous about transitioning. One day I’ll make the switch. I’ll have to get rid of my leather purses and stop consuming meat to feel legit but..it could happen. 🙂

  30. I love that so many of my favorite brands are on this list. In this day and age all products should be cruelty free.

  34. What a great resource! I like to list whether a brand I review is CF or not, and sometimes I just can’t find the answer. I will be returning to this post!!

  35. The list looks fantastic! It must’ve taken forever to compile, but the result is well worth it. My cousin is vegan and uses CF beauty products, so I’ll send it her way – I bet she would love it 🙂

  37. yeah, trying to change to cruelty free, been sticking to a lot of lush & illamasqua but still havent found a better mattifying primer than mac (ugh, not cruelty free, i know) hopefully finding one one day soon though…

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