My Favourite Affordable and Easy to Find Cruelty-Free Beauty Products

Thanks to the internet and the hard work of animal welfare organisations, many people are starting to become more aware of not only what they are putting on their skin but how those products were manufactured in the first place.

Perhaps some of you will be thinking, ''Why does it matter if a product I use has been tested on an animal?'' And my answer to you is simple. Not only are there extensive moral and ethical implications attached to using animals for cosmetic testing but there is also the matter of an animals skin and their reactions being very different to our own as humans.

Cosmetics are not essential, they are a luxury that we choose to indulge in as part of our daily self care routine and therefore I believe it is our responsibility to source products that come from a cruelty-free background. With many companies now joining the cruelty-free movement, there is now a wide array of high quality products that are safe for those of us who are conscious of the well-being of our furry friends.

Even though there are fantastic ranges, it can be very difficult to find products that don't break the bank which is why I have decided to compile a list of my favourite affordable go-to products and companies.

Face masks are a really relaxing and nourishing way to take care of our skin and rid ourselves of any unwanted blemishes and stress.

I find that 7th Heaven have created a wonderful range of masks for both men and women that are designed to combat any skin problems you may be facing for a fantastic price. They come in easy to store sachets that in my experience contain enough product for up to 4 generous applications.

Besides being cruelty-free and amazing value for money they are also environmentally friendly!

Similarly, Superdrug have their own range of inexpensive but effective face masks and other skin and hair care products that you can find in your nearest store.

Finding the right moisturiser for your skin type is essential but for some it can also be a nightmare; some creams are too thick and oily, others may cause you to break out and some just don't seem to do, well...anything at all. So finding one that is also cruelty-free must be even harder right? No, not really. Most cruelty-free products are also completely natural based which can actually make your search much easier.

Again when it comes to cruelty-free skincare, Superdrug offers a fantastic range, but my preferred moisturiser comes from Royal Jelly as it is both lightweight and long lasting with amazing results. They too have a large collection of well priced products that feel so luxurious on your skin while remaining cruelty-free so be sure to check them out.

For facial cleansers and toners I definitely recommend trying out the products from Yes To. They are unbelievably well priced and their items are mostly made from natural ingredients so you can be sure that no harsh chemicals are being put onto your skin.

Over the years I have tried many different bath and body products but I always end up back with my favourite three which just happen to be the most cost effective.

Everyone raves about LUSH Cosmetics and for good reason. They give a wide selection of uniquely fragranced bath and body products that are unmatched by anywhere else and their prices are very reasonable.

Another of my favourites, which you may have already guessed at, is of course S&G. I love their citrusy scents and refreshing humour when it comes to naming their products.

Finally we have Treaclemoon who are vegan as well as being cruelty-free. You can find their products fairly easily as they are always available in large chain grocery or drug stores like Tesco and boots. As far as I'm aware the company only create bath and shower gels which is the only downside as their scents are so captivating.

Hair care is very important and many people find themselves purchasing their products after being drawn in by television or online advertisements without truly knowing or researching if these products are cruelty-free or not.

My number one shampoo and conditioner comes from Soap and Glory. Having very long hair and thick hair I would often find myself going through a ridiculous amount of shampoos and not only was the cost mounting up but finding places to store back up bottles was becoming increasingly difficult. Although the S&G shampoo and conditioner seems a lot pricier than the average store bottle, I find that I go through the product far less quickly and the results last longer on my hair meaning I have to wash it a lot less.

When it comes to hair masks, I like to make my own using a cocktail of organic product to maintain the overall health and shine of my hair but there are plenty of cruelty-free and even vegan masks available from many companies, some of which I have mentioned.

I, like many other people, regularly dye my hair and although I now opt for Henna dyes (also cruelty-free) as I no longer use any of the crazier colours, when I did, I would always use La Riche Directions. I rarely hear anyone raving about it but it was such an amazing product that gave me vibrant results without the horrible chemical smell. It is a completely vegetable based dye so there is no chance of any damage being done to your precious locks.

Boots Natural Collection offers cruelty-free alternatives for almost all of your makeup needs including: foundation, concealer, tinted moisturisers and mascara at a very low cost of £1.99 each. This range is perfect for those who are on a low budget or are just beginning their makeup journey.

Lavera are a little bit more expensive but still affordable and they have a wider range of makeup essentials that would suit more people.

Laval and Stargazer both offer quality cosmetics at a very low cost and have tailored their products to suit even those who are dress alternatively, like myself. They offer bold and daring eye-shadows, whimsical eyelashes, long lasting face powders and anything else you could possibly need to add to your makeup kit.

Lastly we have e.l.f and as mentioned above Soap and Glory. I personally find these two to offer the highest quality products that work best with my skin as well as giving me long lasting wear throughout the day.

Makeup brushes are often something people don't consider when it comes to buying cruelty-free products. They are so busy thinking about the products that have to applied to the skin that they forget to do background checks on their brushes.

Morphe have very high standards when it comes to their brushes and for this reason they are used by many professional makeup artists which often leads people to believe that they are going to be out of their price range. Surprisingly, their brushes are very affordable and the set above can be found on their site for only £14.

There are so many cruelty-free beauty products out there and they can be found anywhere, all that is required is a little research and some dedication. I hope that this post has been able to show you just how easy it is to build up a collection of high quality products that are ethically sourced and are kind to your bank balance.

Let me know your favourite cruelty-free products below and if you are just starting your cruelty-free journey leave a comment to say how it has been going for you.