When you’re putting on a full face of makeup, you probably seldom think about the ingredients you’re putting on (and around) your skin, lips and eyes. You might only reach for the foundation bottle after you’re mid-breakout to read through the ingredients. Spoiler alert: It’s a long list of chemicals that you’ve never heard of. No matter your skin type, there’s evidence that it’s not good to saturate yourself with harsh fragrances, dyes and chemicals every day. Luckily, there’s a growing movement around the idea of “clean beauty” and organic makeup.
The latest eco-conscious trend in beauty benefits both you and the environment — if you choose the right kind. Look for cruelty-free companies (meaning they don’t do animal testing) that use recyclable packaging and ethically sourced ingredients. You should not see ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances and dyes, and silicones on the packaging. Generally, the shorter the ingredient list, the better.
Of course, it can be intimidating to try to find reliable organic products on your own, so we rounded up 10 of our favorite organic cosmetic brands to keep you beautiful—inside and out.
What is “organic makeup?”
According to Sarah Roberts, a licensed makeup artist, beauty and skincare consultant and founder of the online beauty pub: A Beauty Edit, “organic makeup embodies a fusion of aesthetic beauty and nature’s purity: it consists of ingredients organically farmed—without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms—and is designed to prioritize our skin’s health and the environment.”
What are the benefits of organic or clean makeup?
The short answer is: fewer chemicals. “Organic makeup provides a kinder alternative to our skin—reducing the potential for irritation, allergies, and breakouts often caused by the harsh chemicals in conventional cosmetics,” explains Roberts. “When we opt for organic makeup, we endorse sustainable farming practices—a conscientious move aimed at safeguarding our environment,” she adds.
What is the difference between organic makeup and clean makeup?
This is an important distinction. According to Roberts, “organic makeup exclusively contains certified organic components; conversely, clean makeup encompasses items devoid of numerous damaging chemicals and synthetics—even in cases where certification is lacking.”
What’s non-toxic makeup?
Non-toxic makeup—defined by its lack of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and other disruptive chemicals—serves as the cornerstone of a health-conscious beauty regimen. Non-toxic makeup assures us: the substances we apply to our skin—our body’s largest organ—are safe; as a makeup artist, I champion these products for their instant aesthetic appeal and enduring health advantages they confer upon my clients.
You’ll be shocked to hear that some of your brands contain no-nasties, meaning that they formulate without any known irritants. For example, popular skincare and cosmetics company Tarte is non-toxic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly. The brand doesn’t include any parabens, phthalates, mineral oil or even gluten. Check out the rest of our picks below.
1. Rose Inc.
Rose Inc. products are pure and 100 percent plant-derived, so each ingredient is carefully chosen, whether you’re shopping pressed powders, or matte lip glosses. Each product is also made with 25 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. The brand is founded by model-turned-founder Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who has seen and used all types of products during her decade-plus career as a model. The goal for her own brand? Make quality products with quality ingredients that won’t flake or smudge off during the day, and since they’re non-comedogenic, won’t clog your pores. Shop the lip cream weightless matte lipsticks that reviewers call “long lasting” or the cream blush that’s totally refillable, so you can cut down on waste.
2. Tarte
While not truly organic, Tarte Cosmetics is a no-nasties brand that harnesses natural ingredients. It’s cruelty-free and gluten-free and made without harmful ingredients such as parabens, mineral oil, triclosan, phthalates or sulfates. They have a huge selection of cosmetics in gorgeous packaging and in tons of shades. And honestly, we do mean tons—they’re one of the most versatile organic makeup companies out there. Start with one of their bestsellers, like Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation, or Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Glisten.
3. Westman Atelier
Westman Atelier is from legendary makeup artist Gucci Westman. It’s rare for a luxury brand to be mostly organic and only made with clean ingredients out of Italy. Organic jojoba oil is one of the main ingredients used in Westman’s infamous makeup sticks to naturally hydrate the skin without chemicals. Pick up a contour stick for the fastest face sculpt in town or the lipstick palette for lipstick lovers who are tired of toting around multiple tubes of their favorite colors.
4. Ilia Beauty
Ilia products are made of up to 85% organic ingredients and kept in recycled packaging. Try one of their gorgeous tinted lip conditioners like the summer-ready Little Sister or one of their beautifully radiant Multi-Sticks for a healthy flush of color on your cheeks. They also make mascara, setting powders, illuminators, and tinted moisturizer, the latter of which comes in six shades for a range of complexions.
5. Bite Beauty
Bite Beauty makes all-natural, organic lip products in Toronto. Their tagline is that their lip products are healthy enough to eat, since they are made out of organic ingredients such as shea butter and natural oils. You can purchase their lipsticks, glosses, scrubs and masks from Sephora, and we really love their Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon . Bonus: you can visit their Bite Beauty Lip Lab in New York and create your own custom lipstick shade.
6. Physician’s Formula
Many of Physician’s Formula products are free of fragrance, parabens, and gluten, as well as being hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and safe for those with sensitive skin and eyes. They also do not test on animals. Best of all, their prices are extremely affordable and you can find their products for under $20 at most drugstores. Try their Organic Wear foundation; it will give you a natural look and the sun protection you need this summer.
7. Ecco Bella
Ecco Bella calls themselves “an activist company,” which means that they are against animal testing, support organic farming and ethical ingredient sourcing, and don’t use any ingredients in their products that are harmful for consumers or the environment. Most of their products are vegan and they are all made out of organic ingredients. Since they use a limited roster of ingredients and exclude harmful chemicals like fragrance, parabens, and alcohol, their products are ideal for those with sensitive skin. They offer eye makeup, blush, foundation, and our favorite, Flowercolor Lipstick which comes in 17 pretty colors.
8. RMS beauty
RMS beauty products are truly amazing: luxurious, high-performing and good for you. They’re made with organic ingredients like coconut oil (the base of all of their products), cocoa butter, shea butter, castor oil, and jojoba oil. They do not test on animals and they use recyclable packaging. They offer brushes, powders, bronzers, eye makeup, lip colors, and more. Their Luminizer has a cult following, and it’s no wonder: it’s totally gorgeous and works on every skin tone.
9. Josie Maran
All of Josie Maran’s products are infused with organic, ethically sourced argan oil, which is known for its hydrating and beautifying properties. The argan oil used in their products is sustainably harvested from women’s co-ops in Morocco, which benefits both the environment and the workers. Try the Argan Matchmaker Serum Foundation for a glowing, natural beauty look and the Argan Infinity Lip And Cheek Creamy Oil for a dewy flush of color.
10. Juice Beauty
Founded by Karen Behnke in 2005, this beauty company is all about the organic ingredients. Behnke was shocked to realize that all of the beauty products our skin was absorbing wasn’t natural. She combined beauty and chemistry to create some interesting skincare and makeup products. The base of each product is made out of a botanical juice, like aloe, shea and grape seed, instead of petroleum, which works just as well. You should try the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream, which will protect your skin from the sun and even out your skin tone.
11. Vapour Beauty
This desert-inspired clean beauty company, founded by Krysia Boinis and Kristine Keheley, features “high-vibe” color. Your skin looks like it’s covered in conventional makeup, but this time the ingredients are natural. They’ve got luxe lip glosses in a variety of vibrant colors and smooth foundations in their arsenal. We recommend checking out their Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation .
