I like so many others love Sephora. It’s one of my happy places and I can spend countless hours browsing and adding things to my basket! However, with our current state of economy and inflation, things are not as they once were. Is it possible to find affordable products at Sephora? Specifically, makeup? Absolutely! I will share the best affordable makeup at Sephora that are cruelty-free and under $25!
Affordable Makeup at Sephora! Cruelty-Free and Under $25!
I can make a whole post dedicated to the brand LYS! They are a woman and black-owned brand making “clean beauty” accessible to all at an affordable price sold at a luxury retailer like Sephora. But they’re many other gems and I’ll be sharing them in every category! This post excludes sale-priced items and limited edition items. These are worthy products you can find under $25 at Sephora to keep up with your makeup-loving addiction!
Is Sephora Cruelty-Free in 2022?
Sephora has its own in-house brand and many of its products receive rave reviews and are affordably priced at under $20. Their foundation seems to be a favorite of many influencers. While the luxury retailer sells many cruelty-free products, unfortunately, it saddens me to say that still in 2022 the in-house brand Sephora collection is not cruelty-free.
Related: The Best Sephora Gift Sets for The Beauty Lover!
Does Clean at Sephora Mean Cruelty-Free?
Understandably so, some people may confuse ‘clean at Sephora’ to also mean cruelty-free. However, a product that is formulated without certain ingredients such as mineral oil, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, and formaldehyde is what makes these specific items clean. While most of the brands are cruelty-free it is not true for all brands listed. For example, Sephora’s own in-house brand lists certain items as clean. But as we know, they are not cruelty-free. So no, clean at Sephora does not mean cruelty-free!
Affordable Makeup at Sephora

Affordable Foundations at Sephora
The triple-fix serum foundation from LYS comes in 35 shades and has buildable light-to-medium coverage. Infused with skincare such as hyaluronic acid, this foundation beautifully evens out your skin tone and for those with dry skin (such as myself), it provides a beautiful luminous finish and doesn’t really settle into fine lines.
Mini Affordable Foundations Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora
Affordable Concealers at Sephora
The One/Size Turn Up The Base Butter Silk Concealer is said to be a do it all concealer. It’s a medium-to-full-coverage concealer and is a thick viscosity that comes in 24 shades. Many beauty lovers rave about this concealer and love using it as a foundation as well.

Affordable Concealers Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora

Affordable Brow Products at Sephora
When it comes to brows ABH takes the crown. They have a cult following for a reason and this may have been the first ever product I purchased from Sephora way back when. The pencil comes in 12 shades and is retractable and it is so easy to use! You can’t go wrong creating beautiful hair-like strokes on your brows!
Affordable Brow Products Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora
Affordable Eye Shadows at Sephora
This mini palette has a beautiful color story that speaks romance. It’s a mix of warm and cool tones (though leaning a bit warmer) that will suit any skin tone. Alternatively, if you’d like a cooler tone palette The Glam One is beautiful!

Affordable Eye Shadows Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora

Affordable Blushes at Sephora
Can you have too much blush? I don’t think so! With so many blush options, the popular Rare Beauty soft pinch is a favorite! A little goes a very, very long way! You will definitely get your money’s worth with this!
Affordable Blushes Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora
Affordable Bronzers at Sephora
Second, to blush is bronzer! Having the right bronzer adds such a beautiful warmth to the skin, especially with cooler months ahead. You can’t go wrong with the Rare Beauty bronzer sticks and LYS matte bronzer is a winner!

Affordable Bronzers Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora

Affordable Lip Products at Sephora
Sometimes a gloss is all you need to feel put together! You can find a decent amount of lip products at Sephora that are fairly affordable, but you cannot go wrong with the Fenty Beauty gloss bomb! It’s become a staple in my routine!
Affordable Lip Products Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora
If you love to line your lips (it really makes such a difference!) I love Rare Beauty’s kind words lip liner!
Affordable Mascaras at Sephora
The ILia mascara is lovely for a natural everyday look. With mascaras, it’s a great option to opt for minis if you have more than one you regularly use. Given the six-month expiration, minis are best!

Affordable Mascaras Under $25 + Cruelty-Free at Sephora
Shopping at a luxury retailer like Sephora can feel overwhelming and daunting. Especially, if you’re within a set budget. However, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible! It is highly doable and you can find many great items for under $25!
I hope this post was helpful! I’d love to know what are your favorite products to shop for at Sephora. Leave a comment below sharing some of your favorites!