Cruelty-free makeup is makeup that is not tested on animals during any stage of production or sales. It’s easier today to find ethical products. However, it’s equally essential that the best cruelty-free bronzers are effective. The last thing you need is for your face to look like a muddy mess.
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What Makes A Bronzer Cruelty-Free?
Cruelty-free bronzer is never tested on animals and doesn’t involve harming animals. For example, you won’t find carmine or crushed beetles in cruelty-free makeup because that involves hurting animals.
Some countries require animal testing on cosmetics before they’re sold in stores. A brand is not considered cruelty-free if it sells products where animal testing is required by law.
Cruelty-Free Scams
It’s essential not to fall for cruelty-free scams. Some brands claim to be cruelty-free on their websites or imply this. For example, a brand may claim that it doesn’t test its products on animals and is cruelty-free. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t sell them in countries where testing is required or that third-party suppliers don’t test ingredients on animals.
PETA Certified
Truly cruelty-free brands can become certified to demonstrate their cruelty-free status to consumers. Brands that are certified cruelty-free are usually Leaping Bunny or PETA-certified. You can also search the PETA website to find cruelty-free brands. Once companies are certified cruelty-free, they can feature the PETA or Leaping Bunny logo on their website and product packaging.
Cruelty-Free Vs. Vegan
Cruelty-free doesn’t always mean a product is vegan. Cruelty-free means that no animal testing was conducted, and no animals were harmed during the manufacturing of the product. Vegan, on the other hand, means a product doesn’t contain animal ingredients.
A product can easily be cruelty-free but not vegan. It’s common for companies to ethically source ingredients like snail mucin or beeswax, ensuring no animals are hurt. However, because the product has an animal ingredient, it’s not considered vegan.
Products can also be vegan but not cruelty-free. For example, suppose a product doesn’t contain animal ingredients, but its suppliers test the ingredients on animals to ensure they’re safe. The company may also sell products in countries where animal testing is required by law. Because of this, the company can’t become certified as cruelty-free.
Key Features To Look For In A Bronzer
The best cruelty-free bronzers are the ones that work best for you. Always remember this is subjective. One person’s heaven is another person’s hell. Look for a bronzer that suits your skin tone, matches your desired finish, and works for you. There are a few key points to consider when searching for a new bronzer.
- Shade Range: The brand should offer an inclusive shade range that complements your skin tone. Bronzer should be 1-2 shades darker than your foundation if you’re wearing it as a bronzer. However, bronzer drops used for an all-over glow should be one shade darker to avoid a fake tan look.
- Finish: Determine the finish you want, and then select a bronzer that matches it. Matte bronzer works well for those with oily skin because it helps create a balanced complexion. It can also be used to create a cloud makeup look. There’s also dewy, demi-matte, luminous, and satin finishes.
- Formula: Consider whether gel, liquid, powder, or cream bronzer will work well for you. There are also bronzer sticks, which are typically a cream formula. Do you need a waterproof bronzer?
- Skin Type: Your skin type can help you determine whether a bronzer is right for you. Determine whether you have oily, combination, dry, or mature skin, and select a bronzer with ingredients specifically formulated to work with your skin type.
Bronzers should be easy to blend for a more natural appearance.
Best Cruelty-Free Bronzer
Baked Bronze-n-Brighten Multipurpose Bronzer
Baked Bronze-n-Brighten Bronzer is the multipurpose bronzer you’ve been missing in your life. The self-adjusting pigments help the bronzer match your skin tone so it never looks orange. The formula is hand-crafted in Italy and infused with skin-loving ingredients to help nourish your skin while you get the sunkissed radiance you want.
It gently glides across the skin like a cream blush, but doesn’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making this a great idea for anyone with mature skin. One the other hand, anyone can wear this blush and enjoy the pigment. It’s suitable for oily and dry skin. It’s so versatile it’s hard not to love it.
Why You’ll Love It
- Lightweight
- Pigmented
- Self-adjusting pigments
- Never orange
Conceal + Perfect Sunkissed Bronzer Drops
Milani is 100% cruelty-free. Many of their products are also vegan, including these lightweight bronzer drops. The sheer formula blends easily into the skin for a natural glow. You can easily wear these bronzer drops alone for a no-makeup look or with your other makeup.
Infused with skincare ingredients, this hybrid product helps keep your skin moisturized so it feels silky smooth. Copper peptides and tripeptides help support elasticity, reducing the appearance of fine lines. Hydrating ingredients like a hyaluronic acid complex keep the skin hydrated for skin that feels like silk.
Why You’ll Love It
- Hydrating
- Natural glow
- Lightweight
- Sheer color
Pool Party Bronzer Palette
Pool Party Bronzer Palette is the perfect way to get a gorgeous glow all year round. The versatile palette has shades that work for various skin tones, making it perfect if you’re not sure which shade to use. The variety of colors make it suitable for year-round use.
Pigments glide across the skin with a sheer to light finish. However, you can also build up the color for more pigment. Easily blend them together for a customized look. Mineral Fusion is Leaping Bunny certified. Products are also gluten-free and vegan. This palette is refillable, helping reduce waste.
Why You’ll Love It
- Lightweight
- Silky feel
- Blends easily
- Sheer color
100% Pure Cocoa Infused Bronzer
100% Pure specializes in creating effective makeup products utilizing natural ingredients, such as cocoa and fruit pigments. It is a 100% cruelty-free brand. Many products are also vegan and gluten-free. Light reflective minerals and gemstones offer a luminescent finish for the ultimate sun-kissed glow.
Why You’ll Love It
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Natural ingredients
- Blends easily
- Feels smooth and silky
WithSimplicity Pressed Mineral Bronzer
With Simplicity, offers the basic makeup products you need with a cleaner ingredient list. Products are practical and easy to use, just like this pressed bronzer. It offers sheer pigment, but you can build it up to provide medium coverage. The light pigment is perfect for a natural glow when you don’t want to look like you’re wearing makeup. It blends easily into the skin, too.
This brand offers a complete line of vegan and cruelty-free products. Pressed Mineral Bronzer is also gluten-free and doesn’t contain fragrances or dyes. The only downside is that there are only two shades available, so you might not find something if you have very light or dark skin.
Why You’ll Love It
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Buildable color
- Natural appearance
- Blends easily into skin
Healthy Blush/Bronzer/Shimmer
Dr. Lily Ros Organics using a similar formula for blush, bronzer, and shimmer, so all you have to do is pick a shade that matches your needs. The bronzer shades are brown and give you the pigment you need. It comes in a loose powder, but a sifter ensures you don’t accidentally use too much product.
All Dr. Lila Ros Organics products are safe for use during pregnancy, cruelty-free, and packed with good-for-your-skin ingredients, such as soothing rose petals. The pigments used in this 100% natural formula are NPA-approved.
Why You’ll Love It
- High-quality packaging
- Pigmented
- Long-lasting color
- Melts into the skin
Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer
This best-selling bronzer is infused with skincare ingredients to nourish and hydrate the skin while providing long-lasting color. The Amazonian Butter Formula was carefully crafted to keep skin moisturized and ensure the formula felt silky smooth. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and doesn’t have gluten.
The powder formula is also packed with refined pearls and soft-focus pigments to smooth the skin while you slowly transform into a glowing goddess. Easily apply it with a brush or your fingers.
Why You’ll Love It
- Smooths skin
- Conditions and moisturizes
- Inclusive shade range
- Long-lasting
NYX Buttermelt Bronzer
This long-lasting formula has a matte finish but melts like butter into your skin. It’s so lightweight you can’t tell you’re wearing it. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free. It provides up to 12 hours of wear time, too. It’s fade and transfer-resistant, making it perfect for long days when you don’t have time for constant touch-ups.
Shea, mango, and almond butters nourish and moisturize the skin, keeping your skin healthy while you enjoy a gorgeous, natural glow. These butters also help the pigment last longer.
Why You’ll Love It
- Lightweight
- Soft matte finish
- Conditions skin
- Inclusive shade range
Iconic London Ultimate Bronzing Powder
Iconic London Ultimate Bronzing Powder gives you a flawless matte finish that doesn’t look chalky, patchy, or orange. Cool-toned bronzers can easily double as a contour. The chic packaging is stylish and luxurious.
The formula is vegan and cruelty-free. It doesn’t have shimmer or flecks of glitter, ensuring a smooth matte look. It sits comfortably on the skin without feeling too heavy or caking as the day progresses. The large-sized compact helps you get more bang for your buck.
Why You’ll Love It
- True matte finish
- Lightweight
- Gorgeous packaging
- A little goes a long way
Best Cruelty-Free Bronzer
Finding the best cruelty-free bronzer means selecting the shade and formula that suits your preferences, whether it’s a true matte formula or a bronzer stick with a creamy, dewy finish. These bronzers all come from brands that don’t test on animals. Check out the rest of the site to discover more!
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