My Top Three Pics for Clean/Vegan Foundations
By Tracey Steele
March 24, 2025
I LOVE A STICK OR CREAM COMPACT FOUNDATION! I find them so much easier to apply than a regular liquid foundation. I can really focus on the areas that I want a little help camouflaging. I also find these types of foundations a little quicker to apply, which makes them great for those early mornings when you are trying to get out the door and get to where you need to be. I tested two clean/vegan foundation sticks and one cream compact foundation over the last several months. I also chose different price points, to provide you with options to choose from.
IN THIS POST:
Foundation as part of your skincare routine
Why you should choose a clean (non-toxic)foundation
Choosing the right color
My top 3 picks for clean/vegan foundation and how to apply them
Foundation as part of your skincare routine:
After your skincare products the foundation formulation that you choose for yourself is so important to your everyday routine. It is basically part of your skincare routine; it completes not only the look of your skin, but how your skin feels. You want to have a foundation that will nurture your skin just as much as your skincare. Every day we are exposed to so many toxins; we don’t want to add to that by using products on our skin (our skin is our largest organ after all) that will add any further toxic burdens to our bodies. You want to avoid anything that is going to be disruptive to your endocrine system.
What I look for when choosing a foundation:
No parabens- Parabens function as a preservative. They are an endocrine disruptor that can end up in human breast tissue. Some of the ingredient names that are parabens are: butylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben,propylparaben
BHA/BHT- These are preservatives that can be endocrine disruptors also and have been linked to cancer BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) or BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
No phthalates- Phthalates function as plasticizers that make products pliable. For example, they make nail polish stick to nails. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors that have been associated with birth defects.
Fragrance- That scent that you love in your products is considered a trade secret, therefore it can prohibit transparency from a company. Fragrance can be made up of toxic chemicals to make it stick to your skin, such as phthalates. So, if the label just says fragrance, perfume, parfum, flavor and doesn’t list what the fragrance consists of I would avoid it.
No animal ingredients (animal ingredients can be anything from glycerin, beeswax, lanolin to carmine)
Cruelty Free- I always make sure a product that I purchase has the Leaping Bunny Logo on it to ensure that it is cruelty free.
Choosing the right Color:
It’s important to choose the right formula for you based on the coverage and results that you desire. You also want to make sure you are choosing the correct color, because that will set the look for the rest of your makeup.
Tips on choosing the best color for you:
1) You can go on the company website and take their quiz by choosing your shade family: very light, light, medium, medium deep, deep. Then choose your undertone: cool, warm, neutral, olive.
2) Another way to find the correct shade is to send a selfie of yourself, or you can book an online consultation (Westman Atelier provides both of these options)
3) The best option is to go to your local Sephora, Ulta or Credo Beauty if you are lucky enough to have one near you to get color matched in person. Check with your store to make sure they carry the brand you are interested in before you make the trip.
Now that you know what to look for when choosing your color let’s take a look at some of the current foundations that I am loving.
Brands I’m loving:
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick: $68
This creamy stick foundation makes my skin look luminescent. This is my all-time favorite foundation. I get so many compliments on my skin when I wear this. I use a round flat top foundation brush to apply this product or my fingers. I glide the brush over the tip of the stick to get the desired amount of foundation then pat/lightly brush over my skin. This way I have more control as to how much coverage I want or need. I would say you could build this foundation to a medium coverage. This foundation feels lightweight on my skin and does not settle in my lines. It is also dual purpose: it can be used as a concealer in addition to being your foundation.
Atelier Skin Foundation has vegetable derived squalene to help prevent moisture loss and restore suppleness in your skin as well as Camellia Seed Oil, which is made up of 88.5% Oleic Acid that is rich in skin nourishing Omega 9’s
It is a little spendy, but a little goes a long way. If you need help in finding the right shade for you: you can upload a selfie send it in and someone will get back to you in two business days. You can also schedule a free video call with a clean beauty concierge to get your match. And if you have a current base/color that you love you can search their database to match your current color with a color in the skin foundation stick. I use Atelier 0.5 as my concealer and Atelier 1 for my foundation. There are 20 shades to choose from.
ILIA Skin Rewind Complexion Stick: $48 ($43.20 with a reoccurring purchase)
This formula has a natural a natural almost satin looking finish. It is lightweight and buildable to the coverage you prefer. It feels very lightweight, almost like you are not wearing any makeup, but covers what you need and your skin feels soft to the touch and nourished after applied. I apply this directly onto my skin and then spread it out with a paddle brush or the flat round brush. The dimple on the side of the bullet case makes it easy to hold in one hand and apply directly to your face. It has winged kelp extract that delivers hydration to replenish your skin, ceramide-peptide complex for firming and strengthening the skin’s barrier, as well as butterfly lavender extract (love the name of this ingredient!) that helps smooth the look of fine lines and wrinkles. You can use the find my shade or the shade guide on their website to help you find your perfect match. There are 42 shades in this formula. I wear shade 7W
MOB Blurring Ceramide Cream Foundation: $26
This cream foundation has ceramide 2 which softens and sooths as well as aids in strengthening your skin’s barrier. It feels creamy and lightweight to the touch. It also has hyaluronic acid that is hydrating for us dry/sensitive ladies. This formula comes in 36 shades. I like to apply this formula with my fingers directly onto my face and then use a flat top foundation brush to even the color out. I wear shade Gold 20.I love that the MOB Brand uses biodegradable packaging for all their products. The compact is very lightweight, which makes it great for traveling.
You can’t go wrong with any of these foundations, they all nourished my skin, and made my skin feel soft and supple.
We are fortunate to live in a time where there are so many companies making amazing clean/vegan beauty products that better the health of our skin all while helping us to look and feel amazing!
I hope this helps you find the right foundation formulation for you. Drop a comment below and let me know if you’ve tried any of these brands. Tell me your favorite!”
***If you enjoyed this blog post check out my last post on my favorite clean/vegan lip color products.
With Love,
Tracey
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