Top 10 Cruelty-Free Drag Queen Makeup Tips
Besides serving looks and giving stunning performances, many drag queens have used their platform (heels) to stand up for animals. RuPaul once appeared on the cover of PETA’s “Global Beauty Without Bunnies Shopping Guide,” and Alaska Thunderf*ck and Heidi N Closet have teamed up with us to advocate for cruelty-free cosmetics.
We can all take inspiration from fierce, animal-friendly drag queens by using vegan and animal test–free products from compassionate beauty brands to follow these makeup tips:
1. Moisturize
First things first: Having a consistent skincare routine will help make your face clean and soft. Try Trader Joe’s’ Ultra Hydrating Gel Moisturizer, which is filled with aloe leaf juice, birch leaf extract, green tea extract, and other skin-soothing ingredients.
2. Start With a Primer
To create a flawless base, prep your face with a primer so that your makeup goes on smoothly. Pacifica’s VEGAN COLLAGEN Skin Solve Face Primer and GLOWY VITAMIN C Skin Solve Primer can help improve skin texture and are never tested on animals. 🐰❤️
3. Brush Your Blush
All drag queens know you need a quality brush set to blend your makeup. Get a bright blush like Milani’s Baked Blush to add color and warmth to your complexion—and blend it in using the company’s F210 brush.
4. Lay the Foundation
Look for a foundation that matches your skin tone—then blend it all the way down to your neck. You’re sure to find your match with Urban Decay’s Face Bond Self-Setting Waterproof Foundation, which comes in 40 shades.
5. Use Contour Magic
Contouring can work like magic when you use it correctly. For example, you can apply a lighter concealer like the Liquid Touch Brightening Concealer from Rare Beauty down the bridge of your nose to give it a sculpted look and then use a darker powder on the sides to shape it.
6. Go for Soft Eyes
Drag queens often use makeup to make their eyes look softer and rounder. Here’s how to do this: Outline your ideal eye shape with L.A. Color’s Gel Eyeliner, then apply the Alluring Beauty 7 Color Eyeshadow Palette for added glam. Finally, follow Kim Chi’s advice by using fur-free falsies—Dramatilash Xtra lashes are gorgeous and don’t harm minks or other animals used for fur.
7. Don’t Stress on the Brows
Don’t worry too much about making everything look even—after all, who has completely even brows? 🤷 Whether you’re tryna create a whole new brow or fill in around the edges, just try following the natural shape of your brows with the dual-ended Instant Lift Brow Pencil from e.l.f. (It’s a steal at $3.)
8. Get Some Glitter
Glitter is the secret ingredient that can boost your drag queen look to the max. HALF MAGIC, a 100% cruelty-free company founded by TV series Euphoria’s makeup artist, offers GLITTERPILL glitter sets in varieties like Microcosm and Neptune Daddy. If you’re adding glitter over a cream base, be sure to apply it as quickly and carefully as possible.
9. Line Your Lips First
Ready to have your mind blown? Lining your lips before setting your base will help your liner and lipstick stay on longer once you apply setting powder. 🤯 Use the Slim Lip Pencil and Suede Matte Lipstick from NYX to get long-lasting results and luscious lips.
10. Finish With Setting Powder
Setting powder gives you the finishing touch for makeup while making fine lines, pores, and shine less noticeable. Grab wet n wild’s Icon Luminous Setting Powder for a weightless loose powder that’ll leave everyone gagged.
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Keep the cruelty-free makeup ball rolling—use animal-friendly products to pull off retro looks from the ’30s through the ’90s!
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