Welcome to part 2 of my collaboration with my beauty blogger friend, Tal, from
Tal's Beauty Opinion. If you missed part 1, you can find it
linked here.
In our posts today, we will each be sharing our top 5 cruelty-free beauty brands.
It was really tough to narrow it down to the top 5 as there are so many more cruelty-free brands that I really love! Perhaps we should have made it a top 10.
I based my choices not only on favourites but if there are a lot of items in each brand that I love. For example, if I've only tried one great product from a cruelty-free brand, it didn't make the cut.
I don't have much high-end makeup at all, so my choices for makeup are pretty affordable and accessible. I haven't had the opportunity to try a lot of indie brands yet, so my choices are also mainstream, for the most part.
When it comes to skincare, this is where I'm willing to spend more, as you'll see.
While I was preparing for this post, I was a
little lot overwhelmed by the amount of products I had within each brand, especially when it came to makeup. So in the interest of this post, the photos feature just some of my favourites from each brand.
Live Clean
 |
Live Clean |
My pick for hair and body care is Canadian company Live Clean. They make amazing, affordable, cruelty-free products that are free from harsh chemicals and are made with natural ingredients. They are eco-friendly and their products work! I know that my collab partner is a big fan of this brand too. I can't wait to see if she also chose them as part of her top 5.
Live Clean has an extensive line of hair products as well as skincare and suncare. I love many of their products. Some of my favourites are the
Pink Fire Shampoo &
Conditioner to protect my colour treated hair, the
Monoi Oil Body Wash, and their
Argan Oil Body Lotion (not pictured).
Pure + Simple
 |
Pure + Simple & Holistic Vanity |
I discovered
Pure + Simple products around 2012. The staff are super knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to what products will address your skin concerns. They have never steered me wrong with a recommendation. They also happen to be a Canadian company. Their products are also natural and free of harsh chemicals.
Pictured are just a few of their products that I love:
Algae Serum,
Lactic Acid, Sensitive Skin
Exfoliant & Mask, and their Holistic Vanity
Camellia Oil. Their
Collagen Elastin Plus (not pictured) is my
top pick for anti-aging. It's really pricey, but if you can afford it, I cannot recommend it enough!
Note: they'll even give skincare and product recommendations over the phone!
e.l.f Cosmetics
Elf cosmetics is one of my picks for makeup because they have so many products that I love. They are super affordable but they have some really stellar products.. many of their products are even dupes for high-end makeup products! Their line is extensive and there are definitely some misses in the line, but that goes for pretty much any brand. Elf does have some major hits, though.
Pictured above are some of my favourite e.l.f. products: Illuminating palette,
Studio blushes,
makeup brushes, Smudge Pots,
Matte lip color, Baked eyeshadows and
blushes, and
Mineral eyeshadows- Love!
Essence Cosmetics
Essence is such an amazing line at the drugstore. I'm not sure how they make such great products at such great prices! They make my absolute favourite lip liners. Their blushes are the bomb- I'm pretty sure I own ALL of them! I love their single eyeshadows, lipsticks, eye base and bronzers. They also make some eyeliners that are super pigmented and don't budge!
Physicians Formula
Physician's Formula is the least affordable of my makeup favourites in this post, but you can always find them on sale for around 40% off at one drugstore or another. I always wait for a sale and stock up. I'm not sure why they don't have eyeshadows and lip products in their line, but for now, I'm loving their
blushes,
BB creams,
bronzers, and their
Shimmer Strips eyeliners don't budge!
Honourable Mention:
Wet n Wild
It had to be done! I have an honourable mention in the makeup category because I just couldn't leave
Wet n Wild out! I mean, what other drugstore company makes eyeshadows as good Wet n Wild does?! Their eyeshadows are the most buttery, creamy, and highly pigmented eyeshadows at the drugstore. I just wish they'd come out with some new colours and some mattes!
Also pictured is their infamous "Reserve Your Cabana" bronzer which is really a subtle highlight. It's less than $5 and it's gorgeous! It's also supposed to be a dupe for some high-end highlighters. It's such a great highlighter for aging skin or those who want a subtle highlight. Wet n Wild blushes are also highly pigmented and gorgeous. Pictured is Pearlescent Pink, a gorgeous pinky/coral with subtle shimmer. It's actually a dupe for The Balm's Frat Boy, and supposedly also a dupe for Nars Orgasm blush (although, I cannot confirm the latter). Also pictured is one of their .99 cent lipsticks because they are great for the price too!
And, because Wet n Wild makes awesome nail polishes too.....
Let me know in the comments what your favourite cruelty-free brands are!
Ps. Don't be surprised to see a part 3 in this series. ;)
Come and join in on all the blogger fun over at a Fabulous & Fun Life and The Best of Blogosphere!
Have a blessed day!