5 recommended Vegan and Cruelty Free Foundations
Foundations and concealers are a minefield, there is no doubt about it. One of the main questions I get asked is “what is the best foundation” and whilst everyone is different and there is not one shoe fits all answer to this, there are some great products which can help give the illusion of healthier looking skin without having to pile it on. It goes without saying though, if you want good skin, it starts with eating the right foods – a lesson I learned the hard way! Second to foundations are concealers so once you have read this blog, head over to my Top 5 recommended concealers too!
Since changing my kit, I have spent a long-time researching brands that are cruelty free (i.e don’t ship to China whereby law it’s mandatory to test on animal) and have vegan friendly formulas. Now, just to put you minds at ease “Vegan” formula doesn’t mean it’s some wishy washy hippy “never going to stay on my skin” product, as it’s actually quite the opposite. It just means that there are no animal derived ingredients added in the foundation so if you have sensitive skin, prone to breakouts or have rosacea then I highly recommend switching or at least trying a product which is vegan friendly.
I have narrowed down the search and the following list of foundations will have something for everyone and are all products which most importantly you can go and try in-store. In regards to coverage, my clients tend to like a more natural finish so I have kept that into consideration when deciding which ones to choose too but have listed if they do additional foundations in-case you want a lighter or more full coverage and most are buildable if you wanted to switch from day to evening.
Helpful tips!
I never advise buying a foundation online, regardless to the tips that they show to find your best match, yeah it’s a ball ache but it will save you time and money and allow you to buy confidently online for future purchases. Take some time and visit a counter and ask the product specialist to swatch in a large enough area and always go outside in the daylight and check with a mirror as a lot of stores have lighting which can be misleading when choosing the right shade.
If you are an avid makeup wearer and never leave the house without foundation then I highly suggest getting skin matched twice a year, once in Summer and once in Winter to ensure it looks natural all year round, especially if you are prone to tanning.
For application, I ALWAYS recommend finding the best tools and avoid using fingers. Around 90% of the time I will use a full rounded foundation brush (like real techniques) or a kabuki style brush as it gives a much more even and natural finish. I will be writing a blog about the best foundation brushes so watch this space!
Charlotte Tilbury - Magic Foundation – £34.00
Image - Pinterest
Why this foundation?
My absolute holy grail of foundations! I have so much love for this foundation, in fact this is my most go to brand in my kit, since switching to this from Bobbi Brown and MAC foundations I can safely say that I use this on around 90% of my clients and I haven’t had one single complaint yet. It’s best described as a medium, buildable coverage with a demi matte finish. It’s lightweight in texture but a little goes a long way and blends beautifully leaving skin looking healthier without feeling too heavy. I have used this on most if not all skin types however I will say that if you have particularly dry skin I would I would use a hydrating primer and well as your moisturiser. It benefits from Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Filling Spheres to create the look of a plumper-looking, glowing complexion and has collagen boosting properties reducing the appearance of age spots and helping control acne breakouts. It’s an obvious no brainer for me and had to go in my top picks.
What brands can I switch from?
Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Nars, Dior, Chanel, Elizabeth Arden
What skin type does it suit?
Combination and Oily
Key Features?
Ideal if you want a full coverage SPF15 foundation that will treat & transform your skin, especially if you struggle with melasma, acne, or rosacea.
Concentrated mushroom extract firms, tightens pores & moisturises your skin
Contains Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Filling Spheres
What other foundations do they do?
Light Wonder – Light foundation for a dewy finish
Flawless Filter Foundation – Full Coverage with a matte finish
Where can I buy it from?
Selfridges, John Lewis
2. Cover FX – Natural Finish Foundation - £31.00
Why this foundation?
Cover FX have integrated some great skincare ingredients providing additional benefits in their makeup. There are so many oil free foundations out there that are great for oily skin, but what if you have dry skin and need it to last all day? I think Cover FX has the answer with this Natural Finish foundation. It’s oil free, but water-based that delivers 12 – hour coverage leaving a natural “second skin” finish. They pride themselves on powerful antioxidant properties and It offers 12 hour hydration which is excellent if you have dehydrated skin and Vitamin C, E and F to moisturise and protect the skin. This is a lightweight formula, buildable from medium to full coverage but doesn’t leave the skin looking flat.
What brands can I switch from?
Nars, Bobbi Brown, Benefit, MAC
What skin type does it suit?
Dry, Combination
Key Features?
Fragrance Free
Mineral oil free
Paraben Free
Gluten Free
Sulphate Free
Talc Free
What other foundations do they do?
Cover FX Power Play Foundation
Total Cover Cream Foundation
Pressed Mineral Foundation
Where can I buy it from?
Harvey Nichols, Selfridges
3. Urban Decay – Stay Naked Foundation - £29.50
Why this foundation?
This is another brilliant vegan formula foundation which promises natural looking skin. The coverage, like the others is medium but buildable however it doesn’t seem to look heavy on the skin and is breathable. It’s voted one of the best foundations out there for skin colour machining abilities with 50 shade ranges available with 9 shade intensities (light, medium, dark), 3 mastertones (warm, cool or neutral) and 7 undertones so if you are someone who has to mix foundations to get the right shade or struggle in general then definitely give this a try. This Long-wearing formula that stays true to to shade and minimises the appearance of pores with a matte finish for up to 24 hours.
What Brands to switch from
NARS, Benefit, Make up Forever, Estee Lauder
What are the key features?
Waterproof
Oil free
24hr wear foundation
Minimises pores.
What Skin Type does it suit?
All skin types
What other foundations do they do?
All Nighter – Full Coverage foundation
Where can I buy it from?
John Lewis, Debenhams, Selfridges.
4. Fenty Beauty By Rihanna - Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation - £27
Why This foundation?
Fenty have extensively tested on real people to bring a foundation which is longwear, comfortable on the skin, sweat and humidity proof and oil free. It promises to feel light on the skin and not clog the pores so you can get a full day of wear without feeling heavy. Having used this foundation myself, I have to agree that the 50 shades available is a definite plus and if you have more of an medium to rich skin tone, there are plenty of options for you to get a perfect colour match. Something that is worth mentioning is that it’s important when you get colour matched to try a shade slightly lighter as I found (and so have many others that have written reviews) that once it is absorbed it does dry darker. Don’t let this put you off though because Rihanna’s team of experts have worked hard to create a foundation that ticks most of the boxes and has tried to deliver a natural matte foundation which looks light on the skin and at £27 for 32ml, I think it’s a no brainer.
Tip – It can look heavy quickly so use a small amount and a kabuki brush to give a more natural finish. I also wouldn’t use this is you have dry skin, or pack a lot of moisturiser on first!
Which brands can I switch from?
MAC, Estee Lauder, NARS, Benefit, Make up Forever
What are the key features?
Medium buildable to full coverage
50 shades available
Paraben Free
Vegan Friendly
What skin type does it suit?
Combination, Oily.
What other foundations do they do?
Pro Fltrd Hydrating Longwear foundation if you want a lighter coverage. (N.B. this isn’t a vegan friendly formula)
Where can I buy this from?
Harvey Nichols, Boots.
5. Bare Minerals Performance wear foundation – £31.00
Why this foundation?
As someone who used to suffer from sever acne, I really wanted to include an option for anyone with problematic skin. No makeup out there will stop acne but there are brands which won’t make the breakouts worse and I think Bare Minerals has made a name for themselves because of them being a mineral based makeup company designed to help be kinder to the skin for everyday use. Personally, I am not a huge fan of their powder foundations – but that’s just my opinion, it may really suit others and as the reviews suggest it has helped a lot of people, but I am a fan of this liquid foundation if you are looking for something with SPF (20). This is a buildable to full coverage but a little goes a long way. This natural matte finish 24hr wear foundation comes in 30 shades and is said to improve the texture of the skin according to tests done on women.
Which brands can I switch from?
Any brands particularly if you suffer from acne and rosacea
What skin type does this suit?
This is an oil free formula, helping to control oil all day but it works great on all skin types.
What are the key features?
Blurs pores and imperfections
Oil-free
Paraben-free
Sulphate-free and fragrance-free
Hypoallergenic
Sweat-resistant
Water-resistant
Humidity-resistant and heat-resistant
Where can I buy this from?
Debenhams, Boots.
Wildcard Foundation
Hourglass Vanish Seamless foundation stick - £42.00
Why this foundation?
This one is a bit of a wildcard because of the price but I wanted to include it because I think they are a fabulous company and if you don’t mind spending a little more, want something special and have a thing for beautiful packaging I highly recommend Hourglass. The idea behind creating this foundation is that it also doubles up as a concealer so essentially, you can save money as you have a two in one product. It’s super easy to use, portable and buildable from light coverage to full. What I love about this foundation is that it has a weightlessness of a powder in a long-wearing 12 hour waterproof formula and as you can dab it straight onto the areas of your face where you need the most coverage you can create perfect skin in no time at all resulting in a satin and seamless finish.
Tip: I suggest the best way to apply this is to use a full bodied brush (like real techniques brushes) so you can work it into your skin and blend out. You can also use your fingers to tap the product under your eyes too for maximum concealing
What Brands can I switch from?
Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Dior, Elizabeth Arden
What are the Key Features?
Sulphate free
Light to full coverage
Concealer and foundation in one
Waterproof
Portable and easy to use
What other foundations do they do?
Vanish Finish Liquid foundation – this is the liquid version of the stick if you prefer a more instantly fuller coverage.
Where can I buy this from?
Harvey Nichols, John Lewis
Are there any other brands that do both vegan and cruelty free Foundations?
That’s easy. YES! There are LOADS. Below is a list of some more amazing brands who are available in-store or online.
Anastasia Beverley Hills - Available online
Inika (Organic foundation) - Available online
Illamasqua - Available in Selfridges.
Kat Von D - Available in Debenhams
Tarte Cosmetics - Available online
Physicians Formula - Available online
Glossier - Available online
NYX - Available in Boots
Arbonne - Available online
If you have any questions or need some advice, just drop me a message!