The Best Hypoallergenic Drugstore Makeup Brands

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Let's start off by saying that drugstore products are everything: who doesn't love running to their local CVS in sweatpants and a hoodie, perusing the aisles like a kid in a candy store? Much different than pacing through grocery aisles or even going to the mall, drugstore runs are special. Where else can you grab a Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey, nail polish remover, a birthday card for your bestie, and a gorgeous new lipstick all in one place? You can find us filling up our shopping baskets with every kind of miscellaneous product under the sun, and you can bet they put some much-needed pep in our step to get through the rest of the week. Drugstore hauls make us happy, especially when makeup-related, but they don't always stand the natural, hypoallergenic test.

While you might not associate drugstore products with clean beauty, times are changing. More and more makeup brands are adopting vegan outlooks while keeping products paraben- and fragrance-free, even at impossibly-low prices. While reserving pure, good-for-you ingredients for luxe products is a thing of the past, you still have to know what you're looking for when you head to the drugstore for a beauty run. Not all cheapie products are created equal, and some brands contain well-known irritants that might wreak havoc on your skin and do more harm than good. But no need to fret: we've found drugstore-found brands that keep things hypoallergenic, and will work great on even the most sensitive of skin types.

For some drugstore brands, the proof is in the pudding — or at least in the name. When it comes to Physician's Formula, the brand's products are tailor-made for even the most sensitive skin, and aptly innovated by scientists around the world. Sure, their shimmery highlighter and contour palettes are pretty enough all on their own (and more on that later), but the brand's products stand out the most for their attention to clean, dermatologist-approved beauty. As per the Physician's Formula website, the brand is 100% hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, natural, clean, organic, and safe for skin and the environment, refusing to use more than 500+ common beauty ingredients they see as harmful. This is exactly why the brand's products are great for any complexion concern, even sensitive types, and blend skin-happy ingredients with effective, gorgeous formulas.

Made without hundreds of known irritants, it's no wonder many dermatologists recommend Physician's Formula without a second thought. The epitome of "healthy beauty," the brand fills a gap in the makeup world, bringing luxurious-feeling products to drugstores while promising zero flare-ups or skin reactions. And you would never guess they come with such natural ingredient lists: the brand's Butter Cookie Bronzer ($12.99) is a cult favorite, while their All-Star Face Palette ($17.99) combines shimmery highlighters and blushes while steering clear of common allergens, and being free of gluten and parabens. New York City dermatologist Sejal Shah, M.D. told SELF that the brand is a fantastic hypoallergenic drugstore makeup option, perfect for sensitive skin, and always noncomedogenic.

Another sustainable, uber-clean, hypoallergenic makeup brand found in tons of drugstores and supermarkets is Jessica Alba's own Honest Beauty. While it started off as a baby brand geared towards organic diapers, wipes, tear-free shampoos and bubble bath formulas, Honest Beauty had expanded to a valuation of $2.7 billion at the time of their May 2021 IPO (via Morning Brew). Far away from just catering to new mothers, the brand now offers spa-like shower rituals, safe home cleaning products, and yes, hypoallergenic beauty you will adore.

As per the brand's website, Honest Beauty has made a pact to make products that are "clean" and "sustainable," with "health and wellness" at the forefront. Buying their makeup means you're protecting your skin and the planet, since it's formulated without harmful chemicals of concern. In fact, Honest is all about carefully selecting their ingredient lists, and they make sure to avoid 2,500+ chemicals that may cause harm down the line. Their "no" list is the most extensive we've seen, selected through extensive studies of skin toxicity, making sure sensitive complexions feel just fine after application. They don't use the word fragrance in ingredient lists, because that can mean just about anything, and might just be one of the best makeup brands for easily-irritated skin.

We can't get enough of their Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer ($16.99) (one is sold every two minutes!), which Healthline recommends as an amazing non-irritating option that's free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, and sulfates.  Their dermatologist-approved Get It Together Eyeshadow Palette ($22.99) is a must-try, too (via Greatist). 

A brand you might not expect could be good for your skin apart from being budget-friendly? E.l.f. Cosmetics is best known for being easy on the wallet, offering foundations that cost just around the same as your morning cup of coffee, and lip glosses that might be cheaper than drugstore chewing gum. We've always loved the brand, but we didn't know they had an impressive clean beauty ethos to boot.

As per E.l.f.'s FAQs page, the brand is proudly vegan, cruelty-free, not tested on animals, gluten-free, beeswax-free, hypoallergenic and tested to be noncomedogenic for little to no chance of irritation, flare-ups, or breakouts. Even more, the brand is careful to steer clear of phthalates, parabens, hydroquinone, and sulfates, so you can feel good about what you're applying on your skin. Great for your complexion and the environment, let's not forget that E.l.f.'s products are some of the best in the business — and downright-amazing.

Now that we know their makeup is tested with sensitive skin in mind, excuse us while we go a bit crazy down a shopping rabbit hole. If you suffer from allergies and breakouts, try the brand's Acne Fighting Foundation ($6), a product Refinery29 commends for being chock-full of pimple-zapping ingredients like salicylic acid, witch hazel, tea tree and aloe. Similarly, their Hydrating Camo Concealer ($6) recently went viral for a reason, with Today noting its thousands of Amazon five-star reviews, creamy consistency, buttery-smoothness, and buildable coverage for delicate skin types.

If we're talking about French-based, dermatologist-tested, clean beauty drugstore brands, there's no way we can go without mentioning cool-girl brand Avène. Found in the offices of dermatologists and plastic surgeons just as often as you can spot the products in your local CVS, Avène is about accessible, authentic skincare that puts clean formulations first. Instead of focusing on gimmicky marketing like other brands sometimes do, this one centers on sterile, thermal spring water bottled right from the Southern French town of Avène, right at the Orb River. As per the brand's website, Avène spring water's soothing properties were first discovered in the 1700s after it cured a horse's alopecia. From that moment forward, the brand expanded to become a worldwide powerhouse, imbuing its distinctly neutral-pH-balanced water into all kinds of skincare products and cosmetics.

As a leader in sterile cosmetics, Avène makes sure to keep preservatives out of their products, reducing chances of irritation by a landslide. Even more, their thermal spring water nourishes and balances problematic skin, keeping their skin lineup noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic and easy on any complexion. The brand is just as effective when it comes to makeup, although their lineup is unfortunately short and sweet (to say the least). We love their Mineral Tinted Compact SPF 50 ($36) for on-the-go sunscreen powder touch-ups that add a sheer glow to any makeup look. Byrdie named it the best tinted sunscreen for sensitive skin that money can buy, applauding its satin finish.

Another clean beauty drugstore brand that also comes through with gorgeous, covetable packaging and shimmery formulations is none other than Pacifica Beauty. As per Well + Good, the brand was founded in 1996 by Brook Harvey-Taylor in her Oregon kitchen, always keeping a 100% vegan, cruelty-free, clean skincare ethos — even before it became popular. Starting off with perfumes and soon expanding into highlighter palettes, eyeshadows, moisturizers, face masks, SPF, and more, Harvey-Taylor told Well + Good, "I love seeing the way my 16-year-old daughter and her friends think about ingredients—it's so different than my generation. They're going to drive what beauty looks like in the future and I already see huge changes because of them." Clearly, Pacifica Beauty got a head start — and their drugstore products are still some of the best you can buy if you're looking for clean, hypoallergenic beauty,

Working with PETA to make people understand ingredient toxicity since the 90s (via Best Under 250), it's little wonder that Pacifica Beauty is great for even the most sensitive skin. As recommended by Heathline, the brand's Coconut-Infused Mineral Eye Shadow Palette ($17.99) is unbeatable when it comes to gorgeous makeup that's easy on the eyes (pun-intended). As explained by the outlet, this palette is vegan, cruelty-free, and contains zero petroleum, silicone, phthalates, or carmine, an insect-derived ingredient commonly used to color makeup products (eek!). Even better, the shadows are actually skin-soothing, blending in coconut water to go on smoothly without irritation or flare-ups around the eyes.

Another hypoallergenic, clean beauty alternative we love that's specifically catered to darker skin tones is BLK/OPL, a showstopping skincare and makeup brand. As per the company's website, BLK/OPL got its start in 1994, innovating amazing, true-match foundation solutions for a diverse range of skin shades. Focusing on other skincare concerns like hyperpigmentation and oil balancing, new owners Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack are ready to take the brand to the next level. All about easy, functional beauty that works for every skin tone, this brand offers cruelty-free, vegan, plant-based options that are still cost-effective and go easy on your wallet. Still keeping their mission of offering tons of shades to pick and choose from, BLK/OPL is an unbeatable option for diversity and good-for-you beauty all in one.

As per Amaka, this brand has been used by celebrities around the world for years, including Jada Pinkett Smith, Tyra Banks, Oprah, and none other than Michelle Obama (yes, you'll be in great company). According to the outlet, BLK/OPL's TRUE COLOR® Soft Velvet Finishing Powder ($10.25) is a fantastic, 100% hypoallergenic option, and is oil-absorbing for all skin types, as well as paraben- and cruelty-free. The oat and corn starch in the formula is calming to easily-irritated skin, while mica colors naturally. Their TRUE COLOR® Skin Perfecting Stick Foundation SPF 15 ($10.95) is another hypoallergenic option, while also being fragrance-free with an impressive 24-shade range. Antioxidants vitamins C and E pack your complexion with skincare benefits, while aloe makes it soothing.

Last but certainly not least, Yes To is that drugstore brand you always pass when strolling the aisles at Target, really tempting you to pick up another watermelon-scented face mask. Major retail temptations aside, Yes To is a brand we can't get enough of when it comes to clean, good-for-your-complexion beauty that's just as fun as it is functional. As per the brand, it is committed to using plant-based ingredients, steering clear of harsh chemicals, while also keeping prices wallet-friendly (which we love!).

A leader in drugstore-found, botanical skincare and beauty, Yes To's products are at least made out of 95% natural ingredients, using fresh-from-the-vine, real watermelon, tomatoes, avocado, grapefruit, cucumbers, tea tree and coconut in their products. This brand is also cruelty-free, doesn't use microbeads or artificial colors, and only uses responsibly-sourced palm oil. When it comes to chemicals, Yes To only uses what's absolutely necessary, and even provides an ingredient glossary on their website to clarify any doubts or concerns. This is a brand that truly cares about keeping your skin healthy the clean way, and although it's best known for soothing sheet masks, charcoal scrubs, and creamy cleansers, it's more than just skincare.

If you're interested in a good-for-you, non-irritating gloss, don't sleep on Yes To's nourishing balms and lip oils. As recommended by Allure, the brand's Coconut Cooling Lip Oil ($6.50) works as a soothing gloss with none of the stickiness. Natural coconut, avocado and eucalyptus make this a spa in lip oil form!