We found a cruelty-free skincare routine that’s both effective and affordable. Would you use these products?

After going with a cruelty-free skincare routine, I never want to go back to what I was using before. Using cruelty-free products is something I’m very passionate and concerned about. After all, if there are cruelty-free options that work and are affordable, why would I choose something that’s been used to harm animals?

Where Can Cruelty-Free Products Be Purchased?

It used to be pretty hard to find cruelty-free skincare products, but they’re sold in most retail stores now. I, personally, get mine from Target and online retailers. A lot of brands have a full range of skincare products for a complete cruelty-free skincare routine, including well-known brands like bareMinerals and Smashbox, allowing buyers to save money with bundles.

What Kind Of Products Do You Need For A Full Skincare Routine?

Our cruelty-free skincare routine consists of only four basic steps, but it all depends on your skincare needs. For me, the simpler the better. I have very sensitive skin, so a lot of masks, serums, and spot treatments are too harsh for me.

I’ve been sticking to the basics:

• Exfoliator
• Cleanser
• Toner
• Moisturizer

As a bonus, I’ll also be including the sunscreen I use, as it is essential to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, even in the winter.

Exfoliator

I will typically use Vasanti’s BrightenUp! Exfoliator about three times a week. My sensitive skin is absolutely loving it. My face feels polished and smooth afterwards, and my notoriously red and uneven complexion is soothed. I have seborrheic dermatitis, so this is a big plus for me!

Vasanti uses microdermabrasion crystals and papaya enzymes to achieve this effect. The exfoliator also helps fade dark spots and increase collagen production for healthy, younger looking skin (I also use NeoCell’s collagen complex to help with skin, hair and nails — works great!). Although Vasanti lists “fragrance” as one of their ingredients, it’s way down on the list, and I’ve never had trouble with any irritation whatsoever.

You can purchase the BrightenUp! exfoliator on Amazon and Vasanti’s website for $34. It’s the same price either way! Each bottle lasts me up to six months at the rate I’m using it, which averages out to less than $6 per month!

Cleanser

I’m a simple girl, and I keep my skincare simple too. All I use for cleanser is SheaMoisture’s African Black Soap Bar. Seriously!

It’s wonderfully gentle on my skin, and it lasts FOREVER. My husband and I both use this for body wash as well, but I have a single soap bar set aside for myself that’s just for my face. How many months does one bar last, you ask? I have no idea. I haven’t gotten through one bar yet, and I’ve been doing this since the beginning of 2023!

SheaMoisture’s website describes their African black soap as:

A decadent formula that combines cocoa pod ash, coconut oil, and shea butter, along palm ash and plantain peel, cleanse[sic] out impurities, while the Vitamin E, Aloe, and Oats condition and restore your skin.”

That’s right. This bar soap hydrates. You’ll still need to use a good toner and moisturizer with it, but it won’t leave your skin flaky or peeling. It has helped me clear up my acne without causing any other irritation to my skin. Once again, despite the ingredients including “fragrance,” I have had no trouble with this soap.

I normally get a bar from Target, but SheaMoisture lists it for a dollar cheaper on their website at $4.99. Yep, that’s me. Living the dream. Buying an entire year’s worth (or more) of face wash for only $5.

Toner

This is truly the holy grail of my cruelty-free skincare routine. I only recently found this product, and it has been in large part responsible for finally giving me clear, moisturized skin. I’m talking about Thayer’s Hydrating Milky Toner with snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid.

Thayer’s website lists it as only being available at Target, so I’m not sure whether any products listed on Amazon or elsewhere are legitimate. I picked a 3 oz. bottle up from Target and have never looked back.

I’ve been using Thayer’s witch hazel toner for years, but I could never get through the entire 12 oz. bottle before it lost its potency. It also wasn’t sealing moisture into my skin the way it should, so I gave this a go. My skin has never been softer and more glowing! I’m not kidding you — my red, acne-prone skin that I’ve struggled with my entire life looks GREAT now! The secret is the combination of the snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid, along with elderflower water.

A 3 oz. bottle costs only $4.49 (I recommend this size), but you can get the full 12 oz. bottle for only $14.99.

TIP: Don’t apply this toner with a cotton ball or pad. It will soak into the cotton, and you’ll end up using much more than you need to to achieve even application on your skin. Instead, place a dime-size amount on your fingers, dot it around your face, then gently work it into your skin like you would with moisturizer.

Moisturizer

I used to get such dry red skin that it looked like I was Animorph-ing into a lobster. If I neglect to use the right moisturizer, I still do! I don’t know what I’d do without my Burt’s Bees Sensitive Skin moisturizer.

Burt’s Bees Calming Day Lotion is specifically designed to target redness and irritation. It contains nourishing ingredients like aloe, rice milk, squalane, and honey that leave facial skin smooth and hydrated. It’s also free of parabens and SLS. They also offer a calming night cream from the same line.

Burt’s Bees’ cruelty-free status did come into question not too long ago, as some bloggers pointed out that they sell on mainland China where animal testing is required. Burt’s Bees has since confirmed their cruelty-free status, and they do NOT test on animals. They are, however, owned by Clorox, which DOES test on animals.

If you’d like to omit products with parent companies that test on animals from your cruelty-free skincare routine, we suggest checking out Cruelty-Free Kitty for more info on which cruelty-free companies also have cruelty-free parent companies.

TIP: When using this moisturizer, make sure your skin is slightly damp before applying. While moisturizers do contain hydrating ingredients, their main purpose is to SEAL IN moisture, so making sure your skin is a bit wet when applying will seal in that moisture.

Additional Cruelty-Free Skincare Products

I promised a bonus, and here it is! While I don’t consistently use these products, I have used them in the past and found them to be very helpful and gentle on my skin.

• Sunscreen: Bare Republic Clearscreen Sunscreen Lotion (it smells like oatmeal!)
• Vitamin C Serum: Poppy Austin Vitamin C Serum (less than $12!)
• Anti-Aging Moisturizer: bareMinerals AGELESS Phyto-Retinol Face Cream (expensive, but gentler than retinol)

A Note About My Cruelty-Free Skincare Routine

The products you see listed above work for me, but they may not work for everyone. A lot of people experience dry skin during winter, and that’s what many (if not all) of these products are intended for: dry skin. If, for instance, you have oily skin, these may not be the right products for you. Skincare is very much about trial and error to find what’s right for your particular skin type.

Do you have a cruelty-free skincare routine that you’d like to share with others? Have you tried any of the products listed above? How did they work for you? Let us know in the comments!

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