While concealers are excellent tools to cover up scars, acne, and blemishes, it’s quite tricky to buy a good one without guilt. This is because many brands might test them on animals. But luckily, more and more brands are taking an ethical approach while testing out their products today. So, if you’re looking for the best cruelty free concealer on the market, you’re in for a treat! In today’s article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about cruelty free concealers, so you can pick the ideal one for your needs.
So without further ado, let’s dive in!
Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Cruelty Free Concealer
While shopping for a good concealer that is also cruelty free, there are various aspects that you have to keep in mind in order to get the ideal one for your needs.
Here’s a brief overview of each one of these points and what to consider in each one of them:
Cruelty Free Doesn’t Mean Vegan
A lot of people think that any vegan product is necessarily cruelty free and vise versa, which is why many people might use the terms interchangeably. While the two terms stand out for the same ethical approach, a cruelty free product isn’t necessarily a vegan one.
The term “cruelty free” describes any product that didn’t involve the use of animals while testing out the formula. However, the product might still have ingredients derived from animals in them.
On the other hand, a company might not use animal products in the formula of the concealer but still test them on animals. For the most part, a lot of people are expecting the products to be both vegan and cruelty free. That’s why you have to check for both of them independently from one another.
The Ingredients Used
Another thing you want to consider while shopping for a cruelty free concealer is the ingredients used in the formula.
Many companies might use harsh chemicals that offer high spreadability and long-lasting abilities. However, they slowly but surely destroy your skin.
Always make sure that the product you’re buying is free from these nasty chemicals, including Parabens, Phthalates, Nonylphenol, Triclosan, Hydroquinone, Ethoxylates, and Triclocarban. In fact, some of these ingredients, especially phthalates, are carcinogenic.
How Long it Lasts
A concealer is supposed to cover up the dark spots, hyper or hypopigmentation, spots, and scar, and other imperfections while you’re out on your day. With sweat, exhaustion, and time, some formulas might come off or fade away. Ideally, a good concealer should last for 8 to 16 hours without creasing or caking, so always check for that.
Consistency and Blending
Whether you’re going for full-on makeup or a minimalistic look, the concealer has to blend well and not show rough lines of application on your skin. Also, thick and heavy concealers might end up creasing or caking in the undereye area, giving off a nasty cakey lump that ruins your look.
The Availability of Shades
Concealers are used to cover up imperfections and blend them into your skin color, so you have to pick the exact same tone as your skin. The more shades the manufacturer offers, the easier it’ll be for you to find the ideal one for your skin tone.
Make sure that you check the manufacturer’s tips here, as some shades might end up looking one or two shades darker when they dry up, so you have to keep that in mind.
Your Skin Type
All concealers are not created equal. Some of them are oily while others dry up pretty quickly. Using a greasy concealer on oily skin will leave a strong sheen on your skin, which is the exact opposite of the matte finish that many women are seeking.
Ideally, people with normal to dry skin should use this formula while others with oily complexion should try a drying one to balance things out.
Cruelty Free Certification
If you’re unsure about the claims of the product for being cruelty free, certifications from authoritative organizations will help you stay in the safe zone.
Some organizations, such as The Leaping Bunny and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) inspect and check different organizations that claim that their products are cruelty free or vegan.
What is the Best Way to Use a Concealer?
One of the things that confuses many women about concealer is how to keep it stable for the longest time. I’ve also seen so many users asking whether to use foundations or concealers first. The answer to this question depends on whether the concealer is a natural tone one or a color corrector.
As a rule of thumb, applying color correctors before concealers and foundations should help them last for the longest time on your skin because they’ll be protected by other layers. However, if you’re aiming for a quick cover-up for blemishes without using corrector concealers, then you should start first with foundation.
Top 5 Cruelty Free Concealers Available on the Market
Finding a good concealer that both great quality and cruelty free can be quite daunting with all the options available out there.
To help you find the best cruelty free and vegan concealer for your needs, here’s a brief overview of the top 5 concealers that fits the bill:
1. NYX PROFESSIONAL Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand
Kicking off the list with one of the best concealer options out there if you’re looking for an item that gets the job done without costing you an arm and a leg all the while staying vegan, and free of any kind of cruelty or animal testing.
Although lots of products on the market only claim that their products are cruelty free, NYX Professional concealer wand is one of the few concealers on the market to get a Peta certification for that!
The product is safe for all types of skin, so you won’t have to worry about extra precautions for your oily or extra-dry skin.
Another great thing that I like about this concealer is that it’s available in various shades. With up to 23 shades including the correcting ones, you can guarantee that you’ll find the ideal one for your needs!
Other users also loved the item for being an excellent value for money. They also noted that the concealer blends quite well and gives full coverage. The thicker consistency is great for some but not all. However, it makes it super stable throughout the day without being too cakey.
Pros
- Excellent bang for the buck
- Decent consistency and high stability
- Certified by Peta for its cruelty free claims
Cons
- The concealer is a bit thick, which might not suitable for everyone
2. e.l.f. 16HR Camo Full Coverage Concealer
e.l.f is one of the biggest drugstore brands when it comes to good quality while staying affordable, which is why they e.l.f. Camo Full Coverage Concealer is easily one of the best selling concealers on the market, and the most awesome part is that it’s also vegan!
As the name suggests, the e.l.f. Camo Full Coverage Concealer offers extensive coverage and up to 16 hours of flawless skin that’s stable and not cakey.
The product is also available in 26 different shades that work with all types of skin. However, I find it particularly ideal for those with oily skin.
In addition to being vegan and cruelty free, the product is also free of phthalates, parabens, phenols, the carcinogenic hydroquinone, as well as other dangerous chemicals. For all these reasons, the product won the 2019 Cosmopolitan UK Beauty Award.
The formula used in this concealer is creamy and blends quite well. However, it comes out as a bit dry under the eyes, which is why a lot of users counterbalance the formula with moisturizers to prevent the fine under-eye lines from forming.
Pros
- Free from harsh and toxic chemicals
- An excellent choice for users with oily skin type
- Free from various carcinogenic and skin harsh components
Cons
- The concealer is a bit dry under the eye, so it will show fine lines in dry skin type
3. Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer Full Size
Recommending Tarte products is one of the easiest jobs on the planet! The Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer needs no introduction as it’s already one of the most hyped concealers on the market!
Despite being a whole lot pricier than your average drugstore brand, this one delivers for every claim it makes. The formula of the concealer offers full coverage and blends quite easily, offering an excellent lifted look.
The ingredients used in this product are top shelf, including mango seed, shea butter, licorice root extract. These items ensure excellent consistency that prevents creases and undereye fine lines.
Moreover, the formula is vegan and free of cruelty as well as all the toxic and harsh chemicals used in cheap products, such as mineral oils and parabens.
The users loved the natural composition and the consistency of the product. Multiple buyers were also satisfied by how gentle this formula can be when compared to other intense products out there.
Pros
- An ideal choice for users with sensitive skin
- Uses various natural ingredients
- Offers excellent consistency
Cons
- Premium price tag
4. Physicians Formula Conceal RX Physicians Strength Concealer
If you’re on a strict budget, you don’t have to settle for a product with compromised quality just to be cruelty free! Instead, you can opt for this wonderful concealer from Physicians Formula.
The Conceal RX Physicians Strength is a highly affordable and long-lasting formula that you can use to cover blemishes and scars with a highly spreadable consistency and little to no creasing. The formula uses carnauba wax, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin B5 to support healthy skin while keeping the surface smooth and well-concealed for over 12 hours.
In addition to regular skin tones and shades, the product is also available in correcting shades, such as light green ones.
Multiple users praised that the product ensures medium to full coverage while staying smooth and gentle on the sensitive skin.
Pros
- Ideal for buyers on a strict budget
- Gentle on sensitive skin
- Helps greatly with dark spots and circles
Cons
- Not suitable for a dry skin
5. KAT VON D Lock-it Foundation
Last but not least, if you’re looking for a premium concealer with high pigmentation and an impressive range of shades to pick your ideal one from, you should keep the Kat Von D Lock-it Foundation in mind.
The product is remarkably versatile and easy to apply. The product gives you the foundation in pea-sized droplets that offer a medium to full coverage and a matte finish, which saves on usage and won’t feel heavy or thick on your face.
Kat Von D offers a huge range of shades, including an ultra-white one for fair skin tones. The cruelty free and vegan product is also highly versatile, as it can be used as an eyeshadow primer to even out the blemishes and dark spots.
A lot of users on the internet love how the product conceals acne and lasts all day long! Additionally, many women found that this formula also does a great job at lighting up the undereye region and covers the signs of exhausted eyes without oxidizing or creasing.
Pros
- An excellent choice for covering up acne
- Double as an eyeshadow primer
- Has a huge range of shades
Cons
- A bit pricey
Wrap Up
There you have it! A complete guide with everything you need to know about cruelty free concealers. As you can see, a good cruelty free concealer should also have a gentle formula that lasts for a long time without creasing and forming fine lines
For these reasons, I’d pick the NYX PROFESSIONAL Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand as the overall best cruelty free concealer because it has a non-greasy formula that stays on for hours without wearing off, creasing, or caking.
However, if you don’t mind splurging a little extra to get an ultra-premium product, you should treat yourself to the Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer Full Size!
This product amassed a cult following despite being highly expensive due to the flawless and creamy texture that stays on throughout the day and doesn’t form any creases.
You might also like our review of the best cruelty free eye cream!
Lora is a native Californian currently living in the Southeast. She is an artist, designer, blogger and nature lover. Her hobbies include herbalism, cooking, baking, creating DIY aromatherapy recipes, sipping wine and listening to music. She also loves to go hiking and camping.
