If you’re anything like me, clean beauty is somewhat of a new concept. For a long time, I got my products from the drugstore rather than from clean makeup brands or all-natural skincare companies. However, earlier this year, I went through a small crisis after watching the HBO documentary mini-series “Not So Pretty.”
This documentary exposes some of the biggest flaws within the modern beauty industry, and the first episode is all about makeup and the long-term damage that some of the world’s most popular brands can do to our bodies. Almost immediately after finishing the episode, I panicked and threw out over half of the products in my makeup bag.
While I was relieved to know that I would no longer be putting damaging products on my face every morning, now I had a new problem; most of my makeup was gone! I now had to completely restock my entire supply of beauty products, and I had no idea where to start.
Luckily, over the past several months, I’ve discovered a few brands that are truly natural and organic, and don’t cause any scary, long-term health problems. These brands saved my empty makeup bag, my skin, and my conscience. Here are five clean makeup brands that you absolutely need to try.
ILIA has quickly become one of my all-time favorite clean makeup brands. They are one of the most highly rated clean beauty brands on the market, and their philosophy is that makeup and skincare should go hand in hand. They say that they “believe in skin that looks like skin,” and their products really reflect that concept.
All of ILIA’s products contain active skincare ingredients, meaning that whenever you’re putting on their makeup, you’re also taking care of your skin! Almost every single one of their products also contains SPF, which is an incredibly important factor in both makeup and skincare, and it also helps activate those skincare ingredients.
ILIA is also eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and vegan-friendly, and both their packaging and their products are highly sustainable. This is an incredible feat for any brand, and it’s what boosts their incredible reputation as a trustworthy clean makeup brand.
Price Range: $24-54
(My favorite ILIA products: Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, Limitless Lash Mascara)
Juice Beauty is typically renowned for its all-natural skincare (the Stem Cellular 2-in-1 Cleanser is my personal favorite), but they’re also an incredible clean makeup brand. Their founder, Karen Behnke, started the company out of a passion for environmentalism and wellness. She wanted to make a change in the beauty industry by partnering with scientists to create organic skincare and makeup formulas for all types of skin.
To create their products, Juice Beauty gathers the majority of their ingredients from USDA Certified Organic farms. They promise a “beyond natural” brand and use botanicals as the base for all of their products. Juice Beauty’s makeup is also plant-pigmented, which means you can take comfort in the fact that you’re not patting chemicals all over your skin.
Juice Beauty is vegan and cruelty-free, and they’re one of the most ethical and eco-friendly clean makeup brands out there. They’re incredibly conscious of wellness and produce all of their cosmetics in environment-friendly ways.
Price Range: $15-49
(My favorite Juice Beauty makeup products: SPF 8 Lip Moisturizers, Phyto-Pigments Last Look Cream Blush)
Kosas didn’t initially set out to create a clean makeup brand, but as they began formulating their products, they found that the most effective, skin-improving ingredients were all clean! They want to create a brand that is all about how your skin feels with makeup on (and they want it to feel good!).
Nature is the primary source of Kosas’ ingredients, and they use botanical formulas and safe synthetics in all of their products. Plus, Kosas was founded by a chemist, so you can trust that everything is safely and smartly engineered for your skin type.
Like most clean beauty brands, Kosas is cruelty-free, eco-friendly, and vegan-friendly. You are definitely in safe hands with this awesome company, and they are one of my absolute favorites.
(Price Range: $15-44)
(My favorite Kosas makeup products: Tinted Face Oil, Air Brow, Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25)
Burt’s Bees has been a popular brand for a long time, but did you know that their makeup is made from completely naturally sourced ingredients? Since 1984, they have been one of the most affordable, highest-rated clean beauty brands in the world.
I used to think that Burt’s Bees was just a lip balm company, but their makeup line is amazing. They use all-natural ingredients, and their packaging is recyclable and eco-friendly. In addition to this, their company also supports and sponsors honeybee health and donates millions of dollars every year in grants.
Also, Burt’s Bees is the cheapest clean makeup brand on this list, and they definitely won’t break the bank. Their prices are comparable to any other standard drugstore makeup brand (so no excuses!).
(Price Range: $5-20)
(My favorite Burt’s Bees makeup products: All Aglow Lip & Cheek Stick, Blush Makeup, Tinted Lip Balm)
RMS Beauty was created by a makeup artist and was an early pioneer of the clean beauty movement. Their founder, Rose-Marie Swift, knew she wanted to create products that were both safe to use and could be beautiful and long-lasting for both runway shows and for everyday wear.
RMS Beauty has an incredible reputation in the beauty industry, and a big part of that is due to the raw, organic materials used in their products. In all their cosmetics there are ingredients that enhance and improve your skin; so, you’re essentially doing skincare while you wear makeup!
Their packaging is also recyclable and reusable, and RMS Beauty is committed to putting out food-grade, cruelty-free, and GMO-free products on the market. They are a fan-favorite clean makeup brand, and one of my personal favorites, too.
(Price Range: $20-55)
(My favorite RMS Beauty makeup products: Luminizer, ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primer, UnCoverup Concealer)
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