These Are The Best Vegan Foundations Of 2021

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If you're a self-professed beauty junkie, we hear you: Nothing gets us more excited than a Sephora holiday sale, a new Fenty Beauty release (Rihanna does no wrong in our eyes), or a fresh YouTube upload from Manny Mua or NikkieTutorials. We keep a constant rotation of fluffy-as-can-be mascaras, have an entire lipstick wardrobe for every occasion from work days to weddings, and shimmery highlight palettes that go from slightly-dewy to a megawatt shine akin to Times Square. As you can probably expect, foundations are no exception, and we're just as obsessed with them: Sheer and light for brunch, full coverage for a night out, and even products with tons of skincare benefits like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. But finding an amazing vegan foundation is a bit trickier.

Whether you want to add more plant-based products to your makeup arsenal or are going full clean beauty and replacing your entire kit, we've found showstopping vegan foundations that are exceptionally smooth, natural, and downright-flawless. Using absolutely no honey, beeswax, insect-derived carmine for color, gelatin from cows, or even snail slime (you'd be surprised!), these foundations manage to sweep on like butter without the use of any animal products. You can feel good about making a more sustainable choice that doesn't harm animals in the process, while also being gentler on your skin. Even if you've never thought about going for a plant-derived foundation, you might never go back. Ahead, find all our favorite vegan foundations for every skin concern under the sun.

If you deal with oily skin on a regular basis, looking for the perfect foundation might just be about making sure your pesky T-zone area doesn't get greasy. Even though some friends with dry skin might envy your highlighter-esque, always dewy appearance, you may prefer to keep your complexion as matte as can be. Not to fret: There are vegan foundations that can do that and more.

This list could not be complete without some products from cool girl brand Milk Makeup, which keeps things 100% vegan, clean, and cruelty-free. If you struggle with oily skin, go for their Blur Liquid Matte Foundation ($40) with a full coverage formula that goes on lightweight with moisturizing (but not greasy!) vitamin E. Byrdie named this the best vegan matte foundation on the market, citing its water-based consistency, oil and silicone-free approach, and its blurring microspheres that smooth out blemishes and discoloration. Even more, bilberry extract serves as an antioxidant, injecting your skin with natural goodness.

We love Fenty Beauty by Rihanna's Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation ($36) for more reasons than one, but can we just say: A 50+ shade list. If that wasn't heaven enough, it goes on matte and positively poreless, lasts for hours on end, and uses pineapple and papaya extract to soothe and brighten skin. As per Heat World, this is an unbeatable vegan foundation option. It even adapts to the weather so it never dries you out or moisturizes too much. Genius!

If you're on the all-natural camp when it comes to beauty, you probably prefer a speck of rosy lip balm, a tinge of blush, and if you're going for foundation — it better be as sheer as can be. Sound familiar? We've found the best lightweight vegan foundations that will make you forget about your tinted moisturizer for good.

Glossier is synonymous with a kind of au naturel, French girl beauty that we can't get enough of, and their Perfecting Skin Tint ($26) has become a cult classic. As per the brand, this foundation is formulated to toe the line between skin and makeup: A "no makeup makeup" look if you will. In 12 shades that are sheer enough to adapt to a wide-range of tones, this foundation contains luxe diamond powder for a glowy blur effect. Glycerin and castor seed oil make sure it never dries out your complexion, and a dermatologist-tested, fragrance-free approach means less chance of irritating your skin (via Byrdie).

Another fantastic option is EX1 Cosmetics Invisiwear Liquid Full Coverage Foundation ($20), recommended by Heat World as a light, effective base for any makeup look. Although it goes on sheer, it easily works for nighttime glam, with one reviewer explaining, "The coverage can be buildable if you prefer." Oil and fragrance-free with no parabens, the special pigments make the 16 shades work well with lots of tones and add a special radiance as well.

When you think of foundation, you might just think about liquid or cream formulas, but there's so much more out there. Akin to Aladdin showing Princess Jasmine a whole new world, stick formulas are surprisingly easy to use and provide seamless coverage every time. Intrigued? Here are our vegan-friendly favorites.

With an innovative scientific formulation that surprised the entire beauty world, bareMineral's Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick SPF 25 ($33) is the first to create a water-based formula in stick form. This means you get all the ease of application of a buildable stick, with lightweight, natural coverage. As recommended by Independent, this option is foolproof and über blendable with ingredients like olive-based squalane oil and moisturizing algae. Apply this on your skin right from the stick, blending out with a brush, sponge, or fingers, and keep it in your purse for quick touch-ups. Mineral pigments make it radiant for all skin types, and SPF 25 makes it great for day-to-day.

We also adore True + Luscious' Camera Stick Foundation ($32), a powerful stick that is an easy on-the-go concealer and foundation you'll reach for daily. According to Stylecraze, this is an outstanding option if you want a medium-to-full coverage stick foundation that's moisturizing, too. It contains pure, "photo filter" pigments to go on matte with a slight glow, lasts up to 18 hours, and stays supple so it never digs into fine lines.

Conversely, you might feel like splurging on a decadent foundation that blends deeply-effective ingredients and makes any beauty routine a lush ritual. Everybody loves a budget-friendly cheapie, but if you want to spend the big bucks, we've found two vegan foundations that are top-notch.

ILIA's True Skin Serum Foundation ($54) is seriously pricey, but as per the clean beauty brand's devotees, it's worth every penny. As the name suggests, this foundation works just like a serum, delivering medium coverage as it imbues skin with soothing aloe leaf, mattifying mastic, moisturizing olive-based squalane oil, plus hydrating rosehip, marula, and jojoba oils. Stylecraze says this is one of the best light-to-medium coverage vegan foundations out there, describing its ability to balance your complexion over time. This will give you that "lit from within" look, with Byrdie saying it just looks like your skin but better.

Another slightly expensive but wonderful option is Westman Atelier's Vital Skin Foundation Stick ($68), which flaunts the most gorgeous packaging we've ever seen. In 21 inclusive shades, this stick offers dewy coverage and is full of optimal skincare ingredients. Phytosphingosine is a superhero anti-aging active that also reduces inflammation, while camellia seed oil and olive-based squalane both guard the skin from pollutants and keep it hydrated. As beauty expert Jo Levy told Byrdie, "This delivers natural, adjustable coverage" and is great "for those with normal to dry skin."

If you have mature skin, you might want a foundation that delivers anti-aging benefits apart from proper coverage. While you likely have a good roundup of nighttime moisturizers with retinol or vitamin C, applying an age-fighting foundation on a daily basis makes sure you're being proactive around the clock. If it's vegan, too? Even better.

Your chosen vegan anti-aging foundation should be packed with skincare benefits that target wrinkles. That's where Wander Beauty's Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation ($40) comes in. As recommended by Ipsy, this product is moderate-to-full coverage, and delivers a dose of moisturizing hyaluronic acid to give your skin a dewy appearance. Niacinamide works overtime to fill up fine lines and wrinkles, while innovative lotus extract wards off blemishes and makes skin more bouncy with prolonged use. This foundation's black currant component imbues skin with vitamin C and antioxidants to create collagen, its centella asiatica extract may help heal acne scars, and passiflora incarnata is full of linoleic acid for soothing benefits. A concealer-like applicator makes this a breeze to use on the go as well.

We also love BaeBlu's Organic LUX Liquid Foundation ($29.95), which Stylecraze explains contains shea butter, aloe vera, thyme extract, lavender, and olive leaf to bring unbeatable hydration and nourishment to mature skin. This buildable formula goes on slightly sheer, but easily covers blemishes and masks fine lines. According to VegByte, the vitamin E in the formula is a powerhouse for anti-aging, too.

If you're all about a radiant, J.Lo-esque glow, we've scoured through tons of vegan foundations to find the best formulas for luminescence. These two are so good, you might just want to nix your go-to highlighter next time.

All about skincare before makeup, The Ordinary is a brand that believes in industry transparency and good-for-you ingredients. Their Serum Foundation ($6.70) is a godsend, rounding out at an unbelievable price point with a formula that will light up your face no matter how many hours of sleep you got last night. In 21 shades, the real kicker comes with the formula's pigment suspension system, offering a natural, glow-boosting aura. These pigments won't dig into wrinkles, and are mixed with gold and silver highlights for an almost shimmery, gorgeous look. Independent calls the effect "satiny," citing the product's effective medium coverage that still allows skin to show through. This foundation also works for all skin types.

Charlotte Tilbury's Light Wonder Foundation ($44) is a great (albeit more expensive) alternative, keeping skin positively radiant with gleaming "magical pigments" that give you a noticeable glow. Mica, emollient esters, and silicones offer a velvety effect, with Chloe Hamard commending the formula for its SPF 15 and blurring powers. If moisture is your game, the brand's "magic matrix" means your complexion will feel hydrated for 24 hours, and may make pores smaller and wrinkles less noticeable over time.

You might be left wanting more when it comes to liquid foundations, especially if you have oily skin or feel like they're just never breathable enough. While liquid formulations can be great, we've found vegan powder foundations that are just as effective and bring a certain je ne sais quoi of their own.

True + Luscious Velvet Matte Oil-Control Face Powder Compact ($32) is an amazing foundation to try if you want something for touch-ups when out on the town. This is cruelty and paraben-free with pure, natural pigments and plant-based ingredients that are gentle on the skin. Those with oily skin will rejoice at the kaolin clay and silica in the formula, which absorb any and all shine, while vitamin E is antioxidant-rich and deeply moisturizing. This is a buildable powder that goes from sheer and light to full coverage, with VegByte recommending it to anyone who wants to keep oil at bay. It also does not contain fragrance, which is always a plus.

Similarly, Cover FX's Pressed Mineral Foundation ($38) is a vegan makeup workhorse, which Totally Vegan Buzz recommends for its 40-plus shade range, buildable coverage, and 100% natural ingredient list. This matte formula also contains a good dose of oil-absorbing kaolin clay and silica. Plus, it makes spots, scars, and unevenness disappear with just a quick swipe, using phytosphingosine to reduce inflammation and redness.