Full Face of makeup: Cruelty Free!

Posted on by introducinggeorgia

I have recently decided to transition to using only cruelty free cosmetic products. I already do not purchase products made from real leather, suede, fur etc, however, never really gave thought to the makeup and cosmetic products that I was using. Therefore, I decided that when I was in need of repurchasing a product I would search for and replace it with a cruelty free alternative. This brings me nicely to the point of this blogpost. I figured that there will be plenty of people in the same position as me, wanting to make the cruelty free transition, and so I thought I would offer some help to those people and talk about the products that I use on an almost-daily basis for a full face of makeup. 

Primer – e.l.f Studio Blemish Control Primer – £7.50

primer

I did a bit of research into good primers that were of an affordable price and came across this one from e.l.f. All of the products by e.l.f are cruelty free which makes it a great brand to choose since it is so affordable. I have found the primer to be successful in keeping my makeup in place longer that if I were to skip using a primer, however, I haven’t been using it for long enough to judge it’s blemish controlling powers.

Foundation – Kat Von D Lock-it liquid foundation £27

foundation

More on the pricey side, this foundation has, in my opinion, a medium but buildable coverage. I have problematic skin; I have acne, a lot of redness and scarring that takes a very full coverage foundation to cover with one layer. So, although lots of people would describe this as a full coverage foundation, and I can see why, it doesn’t provide that amount of coverage with one layer for me. With two layers I can get a full coverage look which is what I am after. With this amount of product I don’t need to use a concealer which is always a bonus! However, one thing I will say about the foundation is that I find that it doesn’t have the best staying power in the world. It seems to fade in areas, especially where my skin gets oily or if I touch my face it can rub off some of the foundation coverage. I got the foundation online since they don’t have it in stores in the UK, so used the temptalia foundation matrix to choose a shade. I got the shade ‘light 45’ which is slightly too dark for me, bringing me onto my next product.

Foundation lightener – The Body Shop – Shade Adjusting Drops £10

lightening-drops

There’s not really much to say about this product. They do what they say on the tin! It doesn’t affect the coverage of my foundation which is great and I don’t have to waste a full bottle of expensive foundation because of the shade being too dark, so it’s a win-win!

Powder – e.l.f Studio High Definition Powder £7.50

powder

I like this powder because of how fine it is. I much prefer loose powders to pressed powders and the HD powder by e.l.f definitely fits the bill. I get it in the shade ‘sheer’ which is just a very fine white translucent powder. Therefore, it doesn’t change the shade or coverage of my foundation. I feel that it will suit people with oily skin better than those with dry skin, since I have found that it clings to some of the dry patches on my skin. Nevertheless, everything works differently for different people so you may as well give it a try!

Bronzer – Bare Minerals – Warmth All-Over Face Color £20

bronzer

Another more pricey product, the Bare Minerals bronzer was given to me in a gift set for christmas so that saved me a bit of money. I don’t use bronzer or contour products on a daily basis, I only really use the previously mentioned products on a daily basis. However, when I am going out somewhere I want to look like I have made a bit more of an effort, I like to get out the bronzer and make myself look more alive and chiselled. I find that this product has great pigmentation, especially on my pale skin, and so I can use it sparingly. It is also a loose powder so can give a lighter bronzed look if that is what you desire!
Highlight – Sleek MakeUp Face Contour Kit £6.99
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The highlight in this kit is perfect for my skin tone and it is buildable so you can have a subtle glow on your cheekbones or go all out for optimum highlight, whatever you desire! The bronzer in this is also a good alternative to the Bare Minerals one since you get two products for less than half price of the BM Bronzer, which is another bonus if, like me, you love a bargain.
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This mascara lengthens my lashes so well. My eyelashes are naturally an average length, they’re by no means long but also not short. They are blonde on the ends though which creates the illusion that I have non existent eye lashes. The Liz Earle mascara blackens my lashes and makes them look long and full which is the look that I want from a mascara. It doesn’t clump either which is always good! I would like it if they brought out a waterproof version as I prefer wearing waterproof mascara, so Liz Earle, if you’re reading, please do that!
eyebrow
£14 might seem a bit steep for what is essentially a coloured pencil, but it is worth it for the longevity of this product. It lasts such a long time since I don’t need to use a lot of it on a daily basis. I get it in the darkest shade, however, I don’t have dark hair or eyebrows. I use it with a light touch and get the perfect in between shade that I need and at the same time don’t use a lot of product. It also has a brush on the end which helps to tame and groom those unruly hairs into place!
Eyeshadow – Urban Decay Naked Palette £38.50
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I will be the first to admit that £38.50 is a lot of money to spend on eyeshadow, well it is for me anyway! But I saved up having wanted this palette for a long time and it was well worth the money. I don’t wear eyeshadow everyday, but it has the perfect shades that are wearable in the daytime for a natural look whilst also having the darker shades to create a smoky eye for a transition into a night time look. The eyeshadows are very soft and creamy which makes them so easy to blend and it comes with a brush meaning you don’t have to purchase one separately. I always use the brush it comes with since it is so soft and the perfect size for the one-sweep eyeshadow looks that take a maximum of 5 seconds to do. My favourite shades out of the palette are ‘sin’, ‘sidecar’, ‘naked’ and ‘toasted’.
Makeup Brushes – Real Techniques
All of the makeup brushes that I use are from Real Techniques since they are a reliable and cruelty free brand. I use the expert face brush for foundation, the powder brush for, well, powder and the contour brush for contouring. For highlight I just use my finger on my cheekbones. They also have a blending sponge but I prefer to use brushes!

So there we go! I hope that I have provided at least some insight into some of the cruelty free brands/products that are out there and my opinions on them. Let me know of anymore cruelty free brands or products that you like since I am always open to try out new products!

*all of the images I have used are taken from the websites linked.

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