5 best cruelty-free drugstore makeup products from certified brands, compared

5 cruelty-free drugstore makeup products compared by formula and price

The 5 cruelty-free drugstore makeup products compared below cost $4.99 to $15.00 and come from brands that a certifier lists today. All five are drugstore picks.

1. essence Baby Got Blush: the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup under $5

essence Baby Got Blush is the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup under $5, at $4.99 at Ulta Beauty on October 2, 2026. essence sells it as a cream blush stick for cheeks that can be applied to lips and eyelids. Ulta Beauty shoppers rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 172 reviews. PETA lists essence as cruelty-free.

2. NYX Butter Gloss: the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup for lip gloss

NYX Butter Gloss Non-Sticky Lip Gloss is the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup for lip gloss, at $6.00 at Ulta Beauty on October 2, 2026. NYX describes a silky-smooth, non-sticky lip gloss. Ulta Beauty shoppers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 7,460 reviews. PETA lists NYX as cruelty-free.

3. e.l.f. Power Grip Primer: the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup as a primer

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer is the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup as a primer, at $11.00 at Ulta Beauty on October 2, 2026. e.l.f. describes a gel-based face primer that smooths skin and grips makeup to help it last longer. Ulta Beauty shoppers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 24,666 reviews. e.l.f. holds the Leaping Bunny certification and appears on PETA’s list with the vegan designation. e.l.f. states that its products are 100% vegan.

4. Milani Baked Blush: the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup as a powder blush

Milani Baked Blush is the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup as a powder blush, at $12.99 at Ulta Beauty on October 2, 2026. Milani describes a powder blush baked on Italian terracotta tile that gives radiant color for up to 12 hours. Ulta Beauty shoppers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 1,867 reviews. PETA lists Milani as cruelty-free.

5. e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter: the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup for glow

e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter is the best cruelty-free drugstore makeup for glow, at $15.00 at Ulta Beauty on October 2, 2026. e.l.f. describes a liquid filter that gives the skin a soft-focus radiance, worn alone for sheer coverage. Ulta Beauty shoppers rate it 4.5 out of 5 across 10,009 reviews. e.l.f. holds the Leaping Bunny certification and appears on PETA’s list with the vegan designation. e.l.f. states that its products are 100% vegan.

Which cruelty-free drugstore makeup products are vegan?

The cruelty-free drugstore makeup products in this list that are vegan are e.l.f. Power Grip Primer and e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter. The other brands do not state a vegan status for these products.

What is the price of cruelty-free drugstore makeup?

The price of cruelty-free drugstore makeup is $4.99 to $15.00 across these 5 picks. In this list, the drugstore picks cost $4.99 to $15.00. The cheapest certified pick, essence Baby Got Blush, costs $10.01 less than e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, the most expensive one. Prices are the Ulta Beauty prices on October 2, 2026.

How do you check that drugstore makeup is cruelty-free?

You check that drugstore makeup is cruelty-free by looking up the brand, not the product, on a certifier’s list. A certification covers the whole brand and its suppliers, and the word “cruelty-free” on a package is an unregulated claim in the US.

• e.l.f. meets the Leaping Bunny standard or its international version, which requires supplier monitoring and independent audits.
• essence, NYX, e.l.f. and Milani appear as cruelty-free in PETA's cruelty-free listing, which rests on a signed statement of assurance from each brand and its suppliers.

Which other cruelty-free makeup goes with these drugstore makeup products?

The other cruelty-free makeup that goes with these drugstore makeup products is listed below, from the same certified brands.

• Drugstore lipsticks from the same brands are in our cruelty-free lipstick.
• Polish under $11 is in our cruelty-free nail polish.

Is all drugstore makeup cruelty-free?

No, not all drugstore makeup is cruelty-free: Maybelline, L’Oréal Paris and Revlon are drugstore brands that PETA lists among the companies that test on animals.

Does cruelty-free drugstore makeup mean vegan?

No, cruelty-free drugstore makeup does not mean vegan drugstore makeup. Cruelty-free refers to animal testing, and vegan refers to animal-derived ingredients. Leaping Bunny states that its list does not cover the composition of ingredients.