The Ultimate Cruelty-Free Foundation Guide (Updated for 2018!)
Many Logical Harmony readers ask for help finding a good foundation that is both cruelty-free and vegan. That’s why I created this cruelty-free foundation guide! Many people assume that it is hard to find cruelty-free foundation or vegan foundation, but it is actually a lot easier than you may think!
In fact, it can be a little overwhelming once you realize all the options that are available. Whether you’re looking for a BB Cream, Tinted Moisturizer, Cream Foundation, Liquid Foundation, Powder Foundation… There are lots of vegan and cruelty-free foundation options!
That’s why I decided to create the cruelty-free foundation guide. This guide includes brands that offer cruelty-free and vegan BB creams, CC creams, serum foundations, liquid foundations, mineral foundations, and powder foundations. You can even get them at stores like Sephora, Ulta, Beautylish, Nordstrom, and more.
This is the most recent update of a post I originally published on February 27, 2015.
The following brands are all cruelty-free and have vegan foundation options. Some of these brands offer foundations that are not vegan, so be sure to read ingredients before purchasing. Brands that are 100% vegan are noted.
Cruelty-Free BB Creams, Cruelty-Free CC Creams & Cruelty-Free Tinted Moisturizers –
- 100% Pure
- Andalou Naturals
- Adorn Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Beautycounter
- BellaPierre
- COOLA (find a list of vegan products from COOLA here)
- Cover FX
- DeVita – 100% vegan
- Dr. Hauschka
- ELF
- Inika – 100% vegan
- Jane Iredale
- Josie Maran Cosmetics
- Juice Beauty – 100% vegan
- Lily Lolo
- Mineral Fusion
- Pacifica – 100% vegan
- Perfekt
- PUR Cosmetics (find a list of vegan products from PUR Cosmetics here)
- Smashbox (find a list of vegan products from Smashbox here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Suntegrity
- Supergoop!
- Tarte (find a list of vegan products from Tarte here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Too Faced (find a list of vegan products from Too Faced here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Ulta Beauty
- Urban Decay (find a list of vegan products from Urban Decay here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
Cruelty-Free Liquid Foundation –
- 100% Pure
- Adorn Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Alexami
- Alima Pure
- Antonym Cosmetics
- Barry M
- Beauty Without Cruelty – 100% vegan
- BECCA (find a list of vegan products from BECCA here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Bella Mari – 100% vegan!
- Charlotte Tilbury (find a list of vegan products from Charlotte Tilbury here)
- Cover FX
- Elate Clean Cosmetics
- ELF
- Ellis Faas
- Emani – 100% vegan
- Face Atelier
- Gabriel Cosmetics
- Hourglass Cosmetics (find a list of vegan products from Hourglass here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Illuminare Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Inika – 100% vegan
- Jane Iredale
- Jouer Cosmetics (find a list of vegan products from Jouer Cosmetics here)
- Juice Beauty
- Kat Von D Beauty
- Marc Jacobs Beauty
- Mineral Fusion
- Note Cosmetics
- PUR Cosmetics (find a list of vegan products from PUR Cosmetics here)
- Silk Naturals
- Smashbox (find a list of vegan products from Smashbox here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Tarte (find a list of vegan products from Tarte here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- The All Natural Face – 100% vegan
- The Body Shop
- Too Faced (find a list of vegan products from Too Faced here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Ulta Beauty
- Urban Decay (find a list of vegan products from Urban Decay here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
Cruelty-Free Serum Foundation –
- 100% Pure
- Charlotte Tilbury (find a list of vegan products from Charlotte Tilbury here)
- ELF
- Gressa
- Pacifica – 100% vegan
- Perricone MD
- PUR Cosmetics (find a list of vegan products from PUR Cosmetics here)
- Tarte (find a list of vegan products from Tarte here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
Cruelty-Free Powder Foundation (Pressed and Loose) –
- 100% Pure
- Adorn Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Alexami
- Alima Pure
- Antonym Cosmetics
- Au Naturale – 100% vegan
- Barefaced Beauty
- Barry M
- BellaPierre
- Bella Mari – 100% vegan
- Cover FX
- Emani – 100% vegan
- Everyday Minerals – 100% vegan
- Gabriel Cosmetics
- Honeybee Gardens
- Hourglass Cosmetics – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Hynt Beauty
- Inika – 100% vegan!
- Jane Iredale
- Josie Maran Cosmetics
- Juice Beauty
- Kat Von D Beauty
- Lily Lolo
- Meow Cosmetics
- Mineral Fusion
- Modern Minerals – 100% vegan
- PUR Cosmetics (find a list of vegan products from PUR Cosmetics here)
- Root (use code TASHINA for 10% off) – 100% vegan
- Silk Naturals
- Sweat Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Tarte (find a list of vegan products from Tarte here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- The All Natural Face – 100% vegan
- Too Faced (find a list of vegan products from Too Faced here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Urban Decay (find a list of vegan products from Urban Decay here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Wander Beauty
- ZuZu Luxe
Cruelty-Free Stick Foundation –
- Anastasia Beverly Hills
- Au Naturale – 100% vegan
- Cover FX
- Hourglass Cosmetics (find a list of vegan products from Hourglass Cosmetics here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Tarte (find a list of vegan products from Tarte here) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Wander Beauty
Cruelty-Free Cream Foundation –
- 100% Pure
- Adorn Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Cover FX
- ELF
- Emani – 100% vegan
- Juice Beauty
- Kat Von D Beauty
- RCMA
If you have a favorite cruelty-free foundation that is missing from this list, please leave a comment and let me know! Curious about the cruelty-free status of a brand? Check out the Cruelty-Free & Vegan Brand list!
Other cruelty-free shopping guides:
Hey Tashina, CoverFX isn’t 100% vegan! Their lip products and blushes contain carmine!
Hi Rowan,
While in the past those items did have carmine, CoverFX no longer makes blush and their current lip products do not contain carmine. They spent 2013 and early 2014 transitioning all of their products to vegan formulas. I hope this helps!
I’m so glad your site exists. Thanks!
Thank you so much for reading!
Are any of the NARS foundations vegan? I’m looking for non-comedogenic foundation, and I noticed that you reviewed their primer, so I’m wondering about their foundations (preferably powder for me personally). Thanks for your help and all that you do!
Hi Christy,
I’m not sure if any of them are vegan or not. NARS is cruelty free, but their parent company tests. This is why they are not included in this list. Your best bet would be to contact their customer service team to find out about options. I hope this helps!
What about tarte? How is their foundation aren’t they cruelty free?
Hi Jenny,
Tarte is owned by a parent company who tests on animals. Why Tarte is still a cruelty free brand, this list does not include any brands with a parent company who tests. I hope this helps!
I first started using vegan make-up a few years ago when I realised that I was allergic to carmine and that mineral make up, especially foundation does not irritate my uber sensitive skin. That was the start of my journey to becoming a vegan in all aspects of life and it all started with an itchy face! It is fantastic to see how much this industry is growing and how much more choice there is in such a short period. I use Lily Lolo mineral foundation but I can’t use their blusher as they have carmine in them (and are therefore not vegan). In the UK there is a brand called B (found in Superdrug stores) which is 100% vegan and anothe called GOSH which has liqued and mineral foundations, both vegan.
I haven’t heard of many of the liquid foundation brands. Where can they be purchased?
The best place to find most of them is on the brands own websites. I’m in the process of adding in links to this page. 🙂
What about tarte?
Hi Jenny,
Tarte is cruelty free, but is owned by a parent company who does test on animals. Brands with parent companies who test are not added to this list. I hope this helps!
Can you update this with shade ranges and spf, and links to reviews if applicable? I’m super pale so finding the right foundation is tricky, since I need sun protection and for it to not be too dark
Thanks for the suggestion, Cordelia! I can add in more info where possible. 🙂
Thank you for this!! I struggle with acne and am always looking for more liquid foundation options. Do you have a list of what ingredients are not vegan so I know what to look for? I have been using hourglass liquid foundation and becca liquid foundation because I know they are cruelty free. I am assuming they are not vegan as they are not on the list. If I had an ingredients to avoid list to reference that would be super helpful! Of course I do not want to intentionally use animal products. Thanks again for your help 🙂
Hi Cathryn,
With ingredients, there are lots that could come from animals, a plant, or be synthetic. The best bet is to ask the brand themselves about the ingredients of a specific formulation and/or shade. The more detailed you can be with your question, the easier it will be for them to tell you if that option is vegan or not. In the meantime, I do have a list of commonly used ingredients that may be from animals here – Animal Ingredient List. Hopefully this helps!
Adorn cosmetics
Thanks for suggesting Adorn! They are not yet on the Cruelty Free & Vegan Brand List, but I have reached out and will add them to the appropriate area when I hear back.