Last updated April 22, 2023

The Best Clean Beauty Makeup Products

Struggling to find non-toxic makeup products that actually work? Girl I got you! In this post, I’ve rounded up the best clean beauty makeup products in each category from foundations to brows.

Clean Beauty guide with non-toxic and natural makeup

Why Clean Beauty?

Clean beauty means a non-toxic product that is made without a long ingredients list linked to harmful health effects AND when a brand is transparent with their ingredient list. (If a brand isn’t transparent, this is a major red flag).

Did you know the United States government doesn’t review the safety of cosmetics before they are sold? Cosmetics are commonly made with untested chemicals, and companies can use almost any ingredient they choose.

This is absolutely mind-blowing considering an average woman uses an average of 12 personal care products that contain 168 different chemicals. Men too! Most of these products are applied directly to the skin, the body’s largest organ where ingredients can be absorbed directly into the blood stream.

A lot of chemicals used in personal care products pose little risks at very low doses, however some chemicals in cosmetics are linked to causing cancer, reproductive and neurological harm and developmental delays. They also can interfere with the hormone system and have been linked to endocrine diseases and some types of cancer.

Since 2009, 595 cosmetics manufacturers have reported using 88 chemicals that have been linked to cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm in more than 73,000 products.

Common Ingredients To Avoid in Makeup Products

Start with these toxic ingredients to avoid:

Parabens (Propylparaben and Isobutylparaben) – found in makeup, moisturizer, shampoo, spray tan products, etc.
Fragrance – found in moisturizers, deodorant, lotion, face cream, shampoo, conditioner, makeup, etc. If you see the word “fragrance or parfum” on a product, avoid at all cost.
Sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS – found in foundation, shampoo, body wash, face wash, mouthwash, toothpaste (can be a major contributor of acne, especially cystic acne, around the mouth and chin)
BHA – found in exfoliants and parfum/perfume (fragrance)
Triclosan and triclocarban – found in cosmetics, toothpaste, deodorant, and antibacterial soap. Look for a label like “antimicrobial”.
Polyethylene/PEGs laurate– found in makeup, face or lip scrubs
Petroleum Distillates – found in mascara
Oxybenzone – found in sunscreen. Opt for a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium oxide instead.
Formaldehyde – found in nail polish, perfume, makeup remover
Phthalates like dibutyl phthalate – banned from the European Union, they are widely used in colored cosmetics, fragranced lotions, perfumes, and body washes.

How Can I Pick Safer Products?

I promise choosing safer and clean beauty makeup products is not hard! There are so many amazing clean beauty brands out now, that perform just as well as what’s in your makeup bag now.

Keep it simple – choose products with a small ingredients list
Research products – use EWG’s skin deep database to see how your products rank. You can also use the Think Dirty app.
Shop from online clean beauty stores – The Detox Market, Credo Beauty, Thrive Market (my review), and Sephora (clean beauty section) are all good options.

MY Clean Beauty Makeup Product Recommendations

FOUNDATION

ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation – gives great coverage, but still feels lightweight. Compares to Armani, Bobby Brown, and NARS foundations.
W3LL PEOPLE Stick Foundation – creamy stick foundation that instantly melts into the skin. No grease and no crease. It’s perfect for on the go touch-ups!
100% Pure Healthy Foundation – full coverage liquid foundation that soothes the skin, absorbs oil, and gives you a flawless matte finish. They also have a tinted moisturizer if you want light to medium coverage with a dewy finish.
Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation – gives good coverage, while still looking natural, and lasts all day! If you prefer powder to liquid, this is for you!
Sappho New Paradigm Essential Foundation – light to medium coverage and gives a soft glow to the skin.
Kosas Tinted Face Oil – medium coverage foundation that evens skin tone, minimizes pores, and conceals imperfections. It’s fluid out of the bottle, then dries with a matte finish.
Josh Rosebrook Tinted Nutrient Day Cream with SPF 30 – hydrates and protects your skin with SPF 30. It’s lightweight, fast-absorbing, and gives you a grease-free glow.

PRIMER + CONCEALER

RMS BEAUTY “Un” Cover-Up – this concealer is long-lasting, easy to blend, and won’t look like you are wearing any makeup at all. It melts perfectly into your skin leaving you look refreshed and glowy. It’s amazing to cover up under-eye circles (won’t crease), or use as a light coverage foundation all over.
W3LL PEOPLE Bio Correct Concealer – offers a high amount of coverage, while also de-puffing, brightening, and improving the texture of your skin. Gives you a bright-eyed, rested look.
Hynt Beauty Duet Perfecting Concealer – melts into skin, is cake-free, and stays all day. It’s moisturizing enough to wear on the eyes, and won’t break you out.
Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer – lightweight and silky concealer that gives you medium coverage and blends so well!

MASCARA

Lily Lolo Natural Vegan Mascara – this mascara is a cult favorite, and one of my favorite mascara’s. It gives you length, volume, and the formula is smooth and creamy. The best part is it’s long-lasting and gentle for sensitive eyes. It’s also buildable if you want more dramatic lashes.
ILIA Limitless Lash Masca ra – super buildable and flake-free. It lifts, lengthens, and curls giving you tons of volume. I love the dual-sided brush that allows you to define, lift, and separate the lashes easily. This mascara is perfect for those with lashes that are untamable.
W3LL PEOPLE Expressionist Mascara – Another cult favorite, this mascara has a thin wand that gives you control over every single lash, while also defining thin, short, and hard to reach lashes. It’s great for layering with another volumizing mascara.

BROWS

Kimiko Beauty Super Fine Eyebrow Pencil – great dupe for the Anastasia eyebrow pencil!
Ecobrow Eyebrow Defining Wax – lightweight wax that gives you the effect of full brows, especially if you have naturally light eyebrows
PYT Beauty Defining Brow Pencil – two-sided retractable eyebrow pencil with spoolie makes it super easy to fill in patches.
TOK Beauty Volumizing Brow Gel – I love to apply this brow gel after filling them in with a pencil. It gives them a thicker, fuller look but still leaves the brows soft (not stiff and crunchy).

EYELINER

Alima Pure Natural Definition Eye Pencil – last all day and doesn’t irritate my eyes
Ilia Clean Line Liquid Liner – is smudge proof, and has a super fine tip that glides on easily. The tip gives you plenty of control, and dries quick.

EYESHADOW

Kosas 10-second liquid eyeshadow – obsessed with these beautiful metallic colors, and they are easy to layer!
Aether Beauty Rose Quartz Crystal Gemstone Palette – sustainably packaged, with 12 shades (ultra-matte, shimmer, duo-chrome and metallic finishes). The colors are so glamorous and the shadows go on smooth. It stays on all day, even those with oily lids.
Lily Lolo Laid Bare Eye Palette – the best neutral palette that you can wear day to night, and stays on all day!
Ilia The Necessary Eyeshadow Palette Warm Nude – this palette has a mix of matte, satin, and metallic finishes to take you from day to night. The colors are so beautiful and are long wear. The palette also comes in a cool nude.
RMS Beauty Eye Polish – creamy eye shadows with metallic hues that makes the eyes glow. It doesn’t irritate the skin. They do tend to crease, as with most cream eye shadows so make sure to use a primer.

BLUSH + HIGHLIGHTERS

Tower 28 Beachplease Luminous Tinted Balm – obsessed with the magic hour and happy hour colors. You can use it for both lips and cheeks. They give you a sun-kissed glow, and aren’t sticky.
Olio E Osso Tinted Balms – these tinted balms are perfect for on the go. They are super moisturizing and can be used on the lips, and face.
RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek – hydrating enough for both the lips and cheeks, and made with all organic ingredients. Beautiful colors and last all day! Love the paradise and promise colors.
RMS Beauty Living Luminizer – melts into skin, gives a subtle gleam that’s not to glittery or shimmery, for casual wear.
Lily Lolo Pressed Blush – beautiful mineral blush. It’s perfect if you want a natural look. Love the Tickled Pink, and Just Peachy colors.

BRONZER

Lily Lolo Pressed Bronzer – obsessed with this natural mineral bronzer. It gives the perfect natural looking, sun-kissed glow. I wear the shade Miami Beach for fair/medium skin.
Kosas Color+Light: Crème – the ultimate crème cheek duo. It’s perfect for every day, is flattering, and looks so natural. I love the Tropic Equinox shade!
Han Skincare Cosmetics HAN Bronzer – another one of my favorite bronzers. It’s talc free, perfect for all skin types, and gives a smoothy, glowy finish. AND it smells like chocolate!
Alima Pure Bronzer – gives you a soft, natural glow that’s perfect for sensitive skin and fair skin tones.

LIPS

Kosas Weightless Lip Color – long-lasting, not drying, and goes on smoothly. Obsessed with the fringe, undone, and rosewater colors.
ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner – soothes and conditions the lips with a sheer touch of color
RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek – hydrating enough for both the lips and cheeks, and made with all organic ingredients. Beautiful colors and last all day! Love the paradise and promise colors.
Tower 28 ShineOn Lip Jelly – Lip gloss that’s truly non-sticky, super-shiny, moisturizing, and just the right amount of color.

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