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5 Best Cruelty-Free Primers 2024

If you’re looking for the best cruelty-free primers, the good news is that you have a lot of options: hydrating primers, mattifying primers, primers with putty-like consistency, water, serum, or even marshmallows (yes, marshmallows). Regardless of your skin type, budget, or priming preferences, there’s a primer for you ahead — and each one has been certified cruelty-free by either PETA or Leaping Bunny, so you can rest certain that they’re actually animal-friendly.

You should think about two things when choosing a primer: your skin type and your desired finish. If you have oily skin or simply like a matte finish, opt for a mattifying primer; if you have dry skin, opt for a moisturiser with nourishing and moisturising components. There are also dewy primers for individuals who want to look glowy (but not shiny), as well as primers containing salicylic acid, which can assist with breakouts. While all primers work well as a makeup base (which is, of course, their intended purpose), the majority of these primers also look great on bare skin.

FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer

If you have oily skin, this primer’s oil-free formula is your best friend. It’s also a great option for people with combination skin. It features a matte finish that reduces shine and prevents your makeup from cakeing. It evened out your complexion by filling in your pores. If you have oily skin and need long-wear makeup, this is, in my opinion, the finest option.

This primer lies on your skin like a feather spread if you have combination skin. For your base makeup, it eliminates all apparent pores. And without leaving it feeling dry or cracked! Giving your face a soft focus and keeping it picture flawless all day!

Elizabeth Mott Shine Control

Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later...
  • BEST OF KOREAN BEAUTY: We work with the finest Korean manufacturers to bring the best Korean skincare and...
  • MATTE PRIMER FOR PREPPING: Our matte makeup primer readies your face after your skin care regimen and...
  • GET FLAWLESS FACE MAKEUP: Lock in your makeup with the power of our make up primer. This makeup primer...

This primer from Elizabeth Mott is a lightweight cruelty free primer to be applied before foundation. Not only it prevents from face getting extremely oil and shiny after a few hours but also minimizes the pores and fine lines. The primer is just perfect for those who are looking for that matte and long-lasting finish the entire day without any glisten.

This primer, which comes packed with ingredients like Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Triethoxycaprylylsilaneetc, is a cruelty-free brand in PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies program. The primer can be applied directly to the clean skin and just needs a few circular motions to blend in the skin. To ensure maximum satisfaction, the brand runs a money-back guarantee wherein the customer gets money back without any questions asked in case of dissatisfaction.

Elizabeth Mott Shine Control is the Best Cruelty Free Primer 2023

Ellipsis Labs Hyaluronic Makeup

Hyaluronic Makeup Primer by...
  • Supercharged Primer with added Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C.
  • Retains moisture and creates a plumping effect.
  • Primes your face for makeup & foundation application.

A water-based makeup and foundation primer, Ellipsis labs primer is apt for getting a perfect makeup look. It contains skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin c and hyaluronic acid. The primer is useful in getting the soft and plump look. Other than retaining the required moisture of the skin, the primer also gives a glowy look to the skin.

Ellipsis Labs Hyaluronic Makeup is the best primer for foundation

NYX PROFESSIONAL Makeup Studio

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This cruelty-free primer from NYX professional studio is easily absorbed in the skin, therefore, creating that perfect pre-foundation skin. It is an ideal primer for outdoor and full-day events, giving the skin a silky and oil-free texture. Moreover, this primer is available in three shades to suit the different needs of the users. Their bright shade works effectively to cover fine lines and large pores as the best cruelty free primer for dry skin. Then, there is lavender, which is known for giving bright and illuminating yellow undertones. The green shade, on the other hand, works wonderfully to eliminate redness. Last but not least, the primer effectively blends with the skin and is easy to apply.

NYX PROFESSIONAL Makeup Studio is the best primer for all-day use

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer,...
  • PRIMER FOR LONG-LASTING MAKEUP: This e.l.f. primer transforms your face into a flawless, smooth canvas...
  • HYDRATING FORMULA: The formula is infused with grape and vitamins A, C, & E to help boost complexion and...
  • GREAT FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN: Great for acne-prone, combination, and oily skin.

Packed with Vitamin A, C, and E, this primer from e.l.f works perfectly for all skin types and is quite effective. The best cruelty free primer for oily skin hydrating primers leave the skin smooth and flawless to ensure that the application of makeup lasts longer.

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer is the best primer for all skin types

Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Makeup Primer

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COVERGIRL Simply Ageless...
  • PREPS SKIN FOR BEST RESULTS: Makeup primer helps maximize results from liquid foundation
  • HYDRATES SKIN: Nourishing formula keeps skin feeling fresh and hydrated
  • CONVENIENT PUMP BOTTLE: Bottle comes with a pump dispenser for easy use

This primer is a buy-worthy for those looking for an anti-aging foundation primer. Further, the natural ingredients in the solution hydrate the skin and give it a more radiant look and perfect glow. You can apply it as a primer before foundation or solely for a moisturized look.

How to buy the Best Cruelty-Free Primer

Skin Type

There are different types of skin, and therefore, it perfectly makes sense to have products that suit one specific skin type and not others. So, this is true even in the case of the primers used before applying the rest of the makeup. Before buying, you should know your type of skin. For instance, if you have oily skin, then the primer with a mattifying effect should be your choice.

Durability

Again, it becomes a bit challenging to find out a perfect blend between the longevity of the primer and the one suitable for your skin type. The best way is to go for a brand that offers eight hours of longevity because that is the standard that most of the products in this category will offer anyway.

Ingredients

Different customers want different specifications in their beauty products, and it is here where the fine balance of ingredients comes in. One of the most common misconceptions that people have about makeup products is that they confuse cruelty-free products with chemical-free products.
We want our customers to be informed that a product might not have been tested on the animals, but it might still contain chemicals. There are chemicals such as silica which are not considered as skin-friendly in the long run.

Skin Undertone

One of the most effective ways to know what would suit the skin tone is to check the skin undertone. Now, to make things easier, just try the testers first and get different streaks on your hand skin. The one which matches the color of the skin can be used.
While testing different shades, it is better to look for the shades in the sunlight also because the artificial light might be deceiving at times. In case you have tanned a bit, then try to recover and retain your natural skin tone before selecting a primer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to select the shade for primer?

While primers are available in both clear and colors, depending on the skin tone, you can select between the clear one of the colored ones. For instance, clear primers work just fine for the skin tones that do not have blemish issues. However, if you have specific skin issues that you want to be corrected, then there are different types of colored primers. For instance, customers who want to get rid of red marks or spots on the face can use green primers. Similarly, blue primers work well to rejuvenate the skin and for even tones.

Are Primers known for clogging pores?

Well, most of the primers do not clog the pores, but we can never be 100% sure that none does. Ideally, the primers include silicon, which is known for giving a smooth finish to the face. However, an excessive amount of silicon is known for penetrating the skin and clogging the pores.
While it is hard to find a primer that has no silicon, you can always go for the one which has the lowest amount of silica. Remember, the lower the quantity of silicon in a product, the higher would be the price. However, your skin, in that case, will not have to pay the cost of the harmful chemicals being applied on the skin.

Can Primers be used without foundation?

It depends on the kind of makeup that you are going for because a Primer sure can be used without foundation. However, using primer without foundation comes with its caveat where if you are going for heavy make, then both should be applied.
For light makeup and even skin tone, you can use just primers, but the makeup would last for less long in that case.

Is One Primer suitable for all skin types?

The short answer to this is no. Well, there are different types of primers available for different kinds of skin. For instance, if you have dry skin, then the primer with moisturizer would be the better option to select. On the other hand, those with oily skin should go for oil-free primers.
Similarly, at times your skin might be prone to reactions or acne from the use of heavy chemical products. In that case, you would need to go for primers with natural ingredients.