Drugstore Cruelty-Free Makeup Haul!
Up until about 6 years ago, all my makeup was drugstore—then again, “all my makeup” consisted of a concealer, black liquid liner, mascara and LipSmackers. Then, suddenly, without warning, my world changed dramatically: my little sister went and got a job at MAC. From then on every Christmas and birthday of mine was like a YouTuber’s promo haul, not to mention all the castoffs she casually tossed my way! I got addicted to paintpots and skinfinish and fluidline! I was now officially devoted to high-end makeup.
So, you’ll understand my devastation when I learned MAC had decided to abandon their cruelty-free principles and was now okay with testing on animals. That is until I discovered an even more magical place: Sephora. But the sticker shock with brands like Urban Decay and Anastasia Beverly Hills is real. I knew all high-end was expensive but I never had to worry about that—I was riding the “my-sister-is-a-MAC-makeup-artist” freeloader train.
Naturally, Sephora became the alter I worship at, but the Sephora brand prices still make me cringe. I knew I finally needed to settle for some mascara that is slightly worse than sex, but also cost me less than $30 a tube (no shade, TooFaced).
To save my wallet from overuse , I recently started exploring the drug store aisles of my awkward teen years. And to my delight, there are SO MANY awesome cruelty-free options. I’ll never stop using the Sephora items I love (who can survive without KVD’s Ink Liner? Is life even worth living without ABH’s Modern Renaissance palette?) but I’m happy to see animal-testing free brands are available to everyone, regardless of their budget.
In the video below, I’m walking you through what I’ve been experimenting with. If you don’t have the time to watch, the “hot” or “not”s are listed below for you too. #YoureWelcome #SoConvenientandThoughtful
Hot or Not Cruelty-Free Drugstore Options
Milani AMORE MATTE METALLIC LIP CRÈME
$9.00 each
I have the shade Chromattic Addict and Prismattic Touch
HOT
Essence “All About…” Eyeshadow
$5.49
I have the All About Roses palette
NOT
Marcelle Eyeshadow Quad
$15.95
I have the “jungle fever” palette (*cringe*)
NOT
$9.00
My favourite colour is Cannes (but note, I have not yet tried a Nyx liquid lipstick I didn’t like. Soft Spoken in the Lingerie line is a perfect dupe for KVD Lolita). [2020 UPDATE: My fav colour is now Berlin. I wear it most days)
HOT
e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick
$3.00
I have Pink Minx and Ravishing Rose
Warmish?
Wet N Wild MegaSlicks Balm Stain [2020 Update: Wet N Wild is no longer cruelty-free. Boooo!]
$2.99
I have the shade Truffle in Paradise (love this adorable name)
Warmish?
$7.00 each
I have four shades: Brown, Golden Olive, Deep Purple and Aqua Green
HOT
Nyx SLIDE ON PENCIL
$10.00
I have the colour Azure
HOT
Nyx Stay Matte Not Flat Powder Foundation
$13.00
The shade that was best on my skin was Warm Beige.
NOT
As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, know that you can always hit me up in the comments on YouTube, or chat with me on IG. I always love hearing from you!
xo,
Kassia