These 10 products are the ones I reach for again and again, because they're the best I've found. They're the ones that made me go, "Dayuuum!"
Here they are, in no particular order.
Disclaimer: Not sponsored. These are products I personally use and love. Some of the products mentioned were received as PR samples, but I genuinely love and recommend them. Some of the links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from retailers or stores at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Cruelty-Free Kitty!
1. Flower Beauty Light Illusion Foundation ($14)
I'm obsessed with this foundation, and I can't believe the price point. The bottle says "Luminous Makeup Nude-Skin Feel" and they 100% nailed it. I love the dewy finish, it blends into the skin so seamlessly, and it has good lasting power too for a dewy foundation. 10/10 would recommend.
Available from and Amazon with 14 shades to choose from.
2. ($45)*
I don't wear primer often, but when I do, it's Marc Jacobs Perfecting Coconut Face Primer. It brings a little bit of glow while being super hydrating, and the sleek white-and-frosted-glass packaging just brings me joy, man. It also contains squalane.
Available from .
3 ($35)*
Do I have to apologize for including Shape Tape? I just haven't found a better concealer. A little bit goes a long way as it has high coverage, but it also has a light and liquiddy consistency. This means it's high-coverage without being cakey, and I think that's its main strength. A tiny amount will take care of any blemish or undereye discoloration.
Available from with 30 shades to choose from.
4. ($64)*
I majorly hit pan on my Ambient Powder and I recently bought the trio as a replacement. These powders are simply the best if you're looking for a way to set your makeup without completely mattifying it. They're beautiful and luminous.
Available from Sephora with several shades and formats to choose from.
5. HAN All Natural Eyeshadow in Taupey Plum ($15)
I'm not a fan of the left shade (Sunset) because its formula is kinda chalky and less pigmented, but the right shade (Taupey Plum) is purr-fection. I love the buildable and blendable formula, the gorgeous rusty plum color, and the finish. I've been reaching for it a lot this year, and it's nice to have one single eyeshadow instead of a whole palette when traveling. These are also made in the USA.
Available from Amazon.
6. Rituel De Fille Lipstick ($24)
I'm a big fan of Rituel De Fille's lipsticks. I love their formulas, and the shades they come up with are always so beautiful and unique. Their Enchanted Lip Sheer in Whitethorn is a lovely day-to-day MLBB. It's a neutral-pinky matte shade with just the right moisture, and it's also also long-lasting. The fact that their formulas are clean is also a huge plus.
Available from Rituel De Fille.
7 ($68)
Is it just me, or does the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow kinda look like an IIlluminati item? Regardless, the packaging is just as gorgeous as the product. I've been using both the contour and highlight shades quite a bit, so I didn't want to show you the busted pans. Feel free to check out my full review if you'd like closeups. Tl;DR perfect formulas and shades.
Available from in Light/Medium and Medium/Dark.
8. Au Naturale The Anywhere Multistick ($35)
My go-to blush for about a year now. These are really easy to work with and I apply them with my fingers. The result is so natural-looking. They blend into the skin with their glowy formula, and they're perfect for any natural, glowy, or daytime lewk. Destiny is a peachy tone that works well with warm skin tones, and Awaken is pinky-neutral. I use both depending on my mood.
Definitely check out my full review with swatches.
Available from Au Naturale with 10 shades to choose from.
9. Ecobrow ($26)
Ecobrow is Dip Brow's younger sister who goes to Coachella and uses natural deodorant. When I first tried Ecobrow, I wasn't blown away. It's not as intense as Dip Brow. But it grew on me. Out of all my brow products, I've been reaching for it the most this year. Now that I find Dip Brow to be "too much", I like that Ecobrow is easier to work with and more forgiving.
However, I did not like the Ecobrow brush and I use it with Anastasia's brow brush instead. It's my brow combo of choice.
Available from Amazon.
10 ($24)
I love mascaras with big fat wands, so naturally I was drawn to Kush. It's great at volumizing without clumping in one single coat, and it's also intensely black. The tube has a good weight to it and it feels luxurious. If you like Better Than Sex and big volumized lashes, you might enjoy this one too.
Available from Sephora.
Thank you for reading! These were my absolute favorite makeup products of all time. If you're looking for cruelty-free products to try, I hope this list gave you some ideas!
*Brands with an asterisk are owned by a parent company that tests on animals, although they are cruelty-free themselves.
What are your top favorite cruelty-free makeup products ever? Don't hesitate to leave a comment and let me know.
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Tnx for such An important mission!!
Marc Jacobs was included in one of the brands that test on animals yet you included it in one your reviews. I’m confused ????
Marc Jacobs Beauty is cruelty-free but Marc Jacobs Fragrances are tested on animals! The brand is licensed by 2 different companies.
Don’t forget Tropic make up and skincare which is vegan, free from toxic ingredients and freshly made in the UK! I have used it for 3 years and have just become an ambassador. The make up range is gorgeous!
LOVE Thrive Causemetics mascara! Leaves me with amazing lashes.
I love Thrive’s mission so I’ll have to check it out!
Thanks Lynne Connolly. I live in France, so this list may also come in handy. I’m going cruelty-free this year and I’m excited. Thanks Suzanne Rose for your work.
Thank you Malia, wishing you all the best for 2020!
I got so excited when I saw Marc Jacobs on your list until I did some quick googling and saw Fragrances was separate and not cruelty-free. Man, I miss Daisy (but on the other hand, I’ve been reading about all the toxic junk in perfume.) It makes me appreciate the service you provide even more. So much vigilance is required to not inadvertently support animal testing.
This year, I’ve really liked:
Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation
Ulta Brush Bath
Sun Bum Replenishing Shampoo & Conditioner
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Facial Wash and Scrub
CoverGirl Lash Blast (I’m overjoyed to support them going cf. I don’t like all of their products, but for the price this mascara is incredible.)
Pacifica French Lilac perfume
Alba Botanica Jasmine and Vitamin E Moisturizer
Hi Vanessa, thank you for all your suggestions! I love Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation, it used to be my go-to!
Cruelty free doesn’t have to be expensive. There are lots of lower priced brands, some of which outperform the expensive ones. Have you ever tried BH Cosmetic’s highlighters? Or their baked eyeshadows? They are better than some higher end brands. And own brand makeup from places like Aldi and Primark are surprisingly good, not to mention No 7, which is a Boots brand.
To take a specific example, I loved the Charlotte Tilbury concealer that had the highlighter at one end and the concealer at the other. But it made my eyes sting and gave me red, itchy skin. So I found the same kind of product at ELF for a fraction of the price, and bonus, I don’t have an adverse reaction to it.
I live in the UK, so I can’t easily get hold of Milk brands, which is a shame, as they sound really good.
My cruelty-free journey (I took it up as a New Year’s Resolution two years ago) has been an exciting one, as I’ve discovered plenty of products, both high end and low end.
Ah I so wish we got some of these brands in South Africa! Such a great post!
Cassidy x
I didnt know Marc Jacobs is cruelty free. Thats great news!
Marc Jacob Beauty is cruelty-free, but be careful because Marc Jacobs Fragrances are owned by a different company and are not cruelty-free!
100% pure eyeliner
Zao make up (all)
Kat von d i dont’t know, the products are cruelity free, realy?
Yes Kat Von D is cruelty-free!
Love this list!!! My personal favorites from this year are:
Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
Tarte Amazonian Clay Concealer ( it goes on smooth and lasts a long time!)
Tarte Busy Gal Brow Gel
Bare Minerals Mineral Veil
Bare Minerals Matte Powder Foundation
e.l.f Rose Gold Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
Thank you so much for posting this! I have become very conscious of looking for Cruelty free beauty products and wanted to completely revamp my makeup bag. You’ve made it so easy! Happy Holidays and all the best for the upcoming year. X0X0 ~ Lily
That’s awesome to hear, thank you Lily! Wishing you all the best for the new year and good luck on your cruelty-free switch!!!
Amazon. Com sells a lot of cruelty products. I have been using Milani products . Are they on your list as cruelty-free?
Yes, Milani is on my cruelty-free list 🙂
Thank you so much for doing this! The new year is a fun time to try new stuff. 🙂
Thanks Melissa, hope you have a wonderful 2020!
This year I started using another skincare line called Instanaturals. It’s cruelty free (obviously) and have clean ingredients. In the few months I’ve been using it I do see a difference! I hardly break out (hormonal) and the texture of my skin is smoother & brighter. I also fell in love with Tarte , especially their mascara (the purple one). And I just got the Alfiffa body wash in lavender. And I’m loving it! Thanks for all your guidance! Been switching to cruelty free and your help is great! ????
Awesome, so glad I made your cruelty-free switch easier! I’ll check out your recs for sure! 🙂
I thought Marc Jacobs and tilbury were not cruelty free? Whenever I reach for their bottles or products I do not see the bunny sign.
They are both cruelty-free, just not certified!
Does anyone know about a good brown mascara?
I love the 100% Pure mascara and it comes in a brown shade.
Thank you for sharing your top products with us. I did not research all the brands you recommended, but I think you should alert your readers that Hourglass is owned by Unilever and Tarte is owned by Kose. Neither parent company is cruelty free When I research whether a brand is cruelty free, I look up who owns the company. Many brands which represent themselves as cruelty free are owned by a company which tests on animals
Hi Jacqueline, you’re correct and I edited the post to reflect this. For anyone who avoids parent companies that test on animals, there’s also Marc Jacobs Beauty (cruelty-free) which is owned by Kendo (cruelty-free) which is owned by LVMH (not cruelty-free).
I’m a big fan of that Kush mascara this year too! Better than Sex & Perversion leave me with raccoon eyes, but this one doesn’t.
Yesss I didn’t have this problem with Kush either!
My top mascara: Marc Jacob’s Velvet Noir + the mascara primer. Worth. Every. Cent.
Love Colourpop eyeshadow.
Love Hourglass
I love that Marc Jacobs mascara too but I don’t have the primer! The mascara was a close second though.