10 Best Affordable Non Toxic Makeup Brands

You don't have to spend a fortune to get high-quality non-toxic makeup. Here are our top picks for affordable non-toxic makeup brands.

synthetic fragrances. And guess what? Many cosmetic companies still test their products on animals, an unfortunate requirement of using harsh chemicals that shouldn’t be anywhere near our delicate skin.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.

Natural beauty brands tend to be fully transparent about their product formulations and use only natural ingredients, so you know (and can pronounce) exactly what's going on your face. Also important to us, all of the non-toxic makeup brands we’ve included in this post are "cruelty-free," meaning they don't use animal testing. These are just a few of the reasons why organic makeup brands are becoming more popular.

You may not think about it often, but when you purchase new makeup, your choices go beyond just color and consistency. The products that you choose can directly affect your skin, your health, and the environment. Opting for non-toxic makeup will make your skin happy and those bunnies too!

Honest Beauty With Naturally Derived Ingredients

Non-toxic makeup helps your skin to be its best, giving you that natural glow from healthy skin rather than layers of makeup. Non-toxic makeup doesn't hide or deceive how its products are made. With formulas crafted from ingredients derived from nature, there's a level of authenticity and purity.

When you see "certified organic ingredients" on a makeup label, you can trust the product inside was made without harmful chemicals. So, when you put it on your face, you're avoiding chemicals that can potentially be harmful to your health while taking care of your skin at the same time.

Some of the best things for our skin come straight from nature. Ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, green tea extract, and chamomile help to hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation, and help with redness and acne. These natural elements protect and heal your skin as you wear them. Is there a better way to show off the real, beautiful you?

What Makes Makeup ‘Non-Toxic’

Navigating the world of beauty products can often feel like wading through a sea of terms and labels. For the conscious consumers out there, trying to differentiate between non-toxic, certified organic makep, and clean makeup can be tricky. So let’s break it down.

Non-Toxic Makeup

At its core, non-toxic makeup is just what its name suggests: products that do not contain ingredients harmful to our health. These are formulations devoid of certain synthetic chemicals, known irritants, and potential toxins that might be unsuitable for various skin types. For instance, many non-toxic products will not contain mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, siloxanes, SLS’s or BHA’s among others that are commonly found in many traditional cosmetics brands.

Organic Cosmetics

Organic makeup primarily consists of ingredients grown without synthetic chemicals, like pesticides and GMOs, emphasizing ecological balance and biodiversity. The term "organic" is often regulated, with products undergoing certification to ensure they meet set standards related to sustainable farming and ingredient purity.

While the core focus is on the makeup's ingredients, many certified organic brands also prioritize sustainable packaging, cruelty-free practices, and transparency about ingredient sourcing and processing. When shopping for organic makeup, checking for certification labels helps ensure you're getting an authentic product that aligns with health and environmental values.

Clean Makeup

Clean makeup is a broader term that encapsulates the idea of products free from certain "undesirable" ingredients, which could be synthetic chemicals or even natural allergens. The focus here is on transparency. A clean beauty brand ensures that consumers know exactly what's in their products, allowing them to make informed decisions based on their skin types and preferences.

While non-toxic, organic, and clean makeup each have their own distinct definitions, they all converge on one shared goal: offering a safer, more transparent, and skin-friendly alternative in the vast beauty landscape.

Why Switch to Non-Toxic Makeup

By embracing non-toxic and organic makeup brands, you're making a statement that you value health, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Reduced Chemical Exposure

Every time we apply makeup, we introduce our skin to a myriad of ingredients. Affordable all-natural makeup options prioritize your health, eliminating the worry of harmful chemicals. Non-toxic makeup ensures you're not absorbing synthetic fragrances or other questionable compounds.

Friendly to Sensitive Skin

If you've ever experienced skin irritation after applying makeup, you're not alone. So many share stories of redness, breakouts, and discomfort. Much of this can be traced back to the chemicals in traditional products. Plus, most non-toxic makeup brands cater to every skin tone, ensuring inclusivity and diversity.

Eco-friendly and Sustainable

Our choices impact more than just our skin. Opting for palm oil-free products protects our rainforests, crucial for global biodiversity. Moreover, many clean beauty brands are committed to sustainability, from ingredient sourcing to packaging.

10 Affordable Clean Makeup Brands For Your Perfect Makeup Routine with

1) Kosas

Kosas isn't just a makeup brand; it's a statement. With a list banning over 2,700 harmful ingredients, they're reshaping the beauty industry. Their commitment? To blend skincare quality with makeup, making beauty both clean and accessible.

Why You'll Love Kosas:

• Safety First: No parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, or that scary list of chemicals we often gloss over. Plus, they're vegan and cruelty-free.
• The Effortless Glow: Their makeup is crafted for ease. Apply with your fingers, and watch the magic. Each product is designed to complement all skin tones, ensuring an inclusive beauty experience.

Star Products:

• Revealer Concealer: Besides offering robust coverage, it brightens and rejuvenates the under-eye area with the power of caffeine and hyaluronic acid.
• Cloud Set Setting Powder: Your skin, but better. A soft-focus finish paired with hydration from bamboo stem extract.
• The Big Clean Mascara: Get those voluminous lashes without the dreaded smudge. Bonus: castor oil and peptides for that extra lash care.

2) Ilia

Ilia offers the best of both worlds: potent makeup that’s kind to the environment. Founded in 2011, this brand has been a frontrunner in sustainable, skin-nourishing makeup.

Why Ilia Stands Out:

• Eco-Friendly: Cruelty-free, gluten-free, and free from the common culprits like talc and parabens.
• Holistic Beauty: Their products combine skincare, makeup, and sun protection, simplifying your beauty routine.

Must-Tries:

• Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40: Three-in-one magic – skincare, makeup, and SPF.
• True Skin Serum Concealer: Coverage that mirrors the skin’s texture, never looking out of place.

3) Saie

Born from personal struggle, Saie, founded by Danielle Moss in 2016, encapsulates the essence of innovative beauty solutions that respect both our skin and the planet.

Saie's Commitments:

• Clean Ingredients: They're meticulous about avoiding harsh chemicals, ensuring the makeup feels as good as it looks.
• Sustainability at Heart: Think recycled packaging and a recycling program for their empties.

Products You Can’t Miss:

• Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35: Skin protection, hydration, and a hint of color – all in one.
• Glowy Super Gel Lightweight Dewy Highlighter: Achieve that sun-kissed radiance without the sticky aftermath.

4) Alima Pure

If you're a fan of mineral makeup, Alima Pure is a treasure chest. Their minimalist approach to ingredients combined with high-performance results is commendable.

Alima Pure Highlights:

• Pure and Simple: Free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and other nasties.
• Color for All: A wide shade range ensures everyone finds their perfect match.

Best in the Bunch:

• Pressed Foundation: Customizable coverage with a matte finesse.
• Radiant Finishing Powder: For that subtle luminosity we all crave.

5) RMS Beauty

RMS Beauty amplifies the natural beauty we often underestimate. Rooted in nature, their products uplift your skin's genuine glow.

Reasons to Adore RMS:

• Authenticity in a Jar: Their ingredients list reads like a nature lover's dream.
• Real Beauty: Products that don't mask, but magnify your innate beauty.

Top Recommendations:

• Un Cover-up Concealer: Light, breathable, and efficient. Your skin's true companion.
• Living Luminizer: An instant glow-up, naturally.

6) Well People

Overview: Well People is a clean beauty brand that offers natural makeup products. They prioritize the use of safe, high-performance ingredients, and their entire range is vegan and cruelty-free.

Features:

• No Harmful Chemicals: Their products are free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and more.
• High Performance: Offers natural-looking and radiant finishes.
• Environment-Friendly: Uses recycled and recyclable packaging.

Best Selling Products:

• Well Blush: Cream blush with rich pigmentation.
• Well Eye Shadow Palette: Versatile shades for multiple looks.

7) Exa Beauty

Overview: Launched by Credo Beauty in 2020, Exa Beauty emphasizes inclusivity with potent plant-based makeup. They are cruelty-free, vegan, and dermatologist-approved.

Features:

• Inclusive: Aims to provide shade matches for all complexions.
• Clean Standards: Products adhere to the Credo Clean Standard.
• Giving Back: Donates a portion of profits to Women's Voices for the Earth.

Best Selling Products:

• High Fidelity Foundation: Weightless foundation with a luminous finish.
• Splash Zone Oil-Free Hydrating Primer: Prepares skin for makeup.

8) Range Beauty

Overview: A Black-owned beauty brand, Range Beauty creates products for melanin-rich, acne, and eczema-prone skin. Their inclusive approach caters to diverse skin tones.

Features:

• Clean Ingredients: Focuses on non-toxic, skin-beneficial ingredients.
• Inclusivity: Dedicated to representing diverse skin tones in the beauty industry.
• Notable Achievement: First Black woman-owned makeup brand to secure a deal on Shark Tank.

Best Selling Products:

• True Intentions Hydrating Foundation: Hydrates and provides a natural look.
• Golden Hour Eye/Highlight: Dual highlighter and eyeshadow, leaves a beautiful golden glow that is flattering on all skin shades.

9) Westman Atelier

Overview: Founded by renowned makeup artist Gucci Westman, this brand merges luxury with clean beauty, promising effortless and pristine makeup.

Features:

• High Standards: Meets the European Union's standards for clean beauty.
• Clean Ingredients: Prioritizes non-toxic ingredients beneficial for skin.

Best Selling Products:

• Baby Cheeks Blush Stick: Creamy blush in diverse shades.
• Eye Love You Mascara: Enhances lash volume and length.

10) HAN Skincare Cosmetics

Overview: HAN Skincare Cosmetics offers clean, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty products, prioritizing skin health without breaking the bank.

Features:

• Safe Formulations: Free from over 2,700 harmful ingredients.
• Sustainable: Uses eco-friendly packaging.
• Accolades: Featured in Vogue, Allure, and The Zoe Report.

Best Selling Products:

• Serum CC with SPF 30+: Tinted sunscreen with skincare benefits.
• 3-in-1 Multistick: Multipurpose stick in various shades.

Natural Makeup: Not Just a Trend

Non-toxic makeup is far more than just a fleeting trend; natural cosmetics represent a paradigm shift in the skin care industry, reflecting a more mindful approach to beauty and wellness, what we put on our skin, ethical consumption, and how it affects our health.

Natural makeup formulations tend to be gentler, employing natural ingredients like mineral pigments and vitamin E, reducing the risk of irritation, and making them a good choice for those with sensitive skin. Organic products focus on nourishing your skin from within, valuing both internal health and external beauty.

Today, choosing natural, eco-conscious products doesn’t have to break the bank. The clean beauty movement has ushered in a wave of affordable clean makeup.

Suggested Reading: The 5 Best Clean Lip Balms To Keep Your Lips Luscious All Year Long

Clean Makeup vs. Traditional Makeup

Understanding the difference between clean makeup and traditional makeup involves looking at ingredients, effectiveness, and safety, and addressing some common misconceptions.

Ingredients

Clean makeup brands prioritize the use of ingredients that are safe for our skin and the environment. They tend to avoid ingredients such as parabens, synthetic dyes, and synthetic fragrances. However, it's important to note that not all synthetic ingredients are harmful, and many are safe and effective for use in cosmetics.

Effectiveness

There’s a misconception that clean or non-toxic makeup products are less effective than their traditional counterparts. However, many clean makeup brands offer highly pigmented, long-lasting, and high-quality makeup lines that perform as well or even better than traditional ones. It’s all about the formulation and the quality of the ingredients used.

Safety

The safety of a makeup brand is often linked to its ingredients. Clean makeup aims to reduce potential skin irritations and allergic reactions by using fewer synthetic components and allergens. But it’s crucial to remember that “natural” doesn’t always mean safe, and “synthetic” doesn’t always mean harmful. Many traditional makeup products have been safely used for years and have undergone rigorous testing for skin safety.

Affordability

A common misconception is that clean and organic makeup brands are always more expensive. However, many affordable makeup options are embracing clean beauty principles. Many brands, both high-end and drugstore, are expanding their range to include cleaner, more natural products to cater to the rising demand for non-toxic makeup products.

Shelf Life

Clean beauty products often have a shorter shelf life than traditional makeup due to their limited or lack of synthetic preservatives typically used to prolong shelf life of a product, making them more prone to spoilage. Their natural ingredients, like plant-based oils, can degrade faster than synthetic ones.

Without synthetic stabilizers, these products might also experience changes in consistency over time. Higher water content in some formulations can further reduce longevity. Storing them in cool, dry places and monitoring for changes in appearance or smell helps in ensuring their optimal use.

Understanding Organic Ingredients and Certifications

Diving into the world of non-toxic and organic makeup can feel like learning a new language, especially when it comes to deciphering ingredient lists and certifications.

Ingredient lists can be daunting, but they are crucial in making informed choices, especially for those with specific needs like oily skin or eczema-prone skin. Look out for recognizable ingredients like natural oils and botanical extracts.

For instance, a cream blush with a base of shea butter is a good indication of a product that nurtures your skin. On the other hand, if liquid foundations are filled with unrecognizable chemical names, it may be worth further investigation.

Recognizing Common Ingredients

It’s helpful to familiarize yourself with common ingredients found in non-toxic makeup. For example, many non-toxic eye shadows use mineral pigments and natural oils. Gluten-free products can be particularly important for those with allergies.

Reading Labels

When scanning the labels in your makeup bag, it’s crucial to go beyond the front label claims. “Natural” and “organic” are terms that can be loosely used, so delve deeper into the actual ingredient list. Products with shorter and more understandable ingredient lists are typically a good sign of a clean beauty product.

Understanding Certifications

Certifications are your friends in navigating the clean beauty landscape. They provide assurance and transparency about the product's standards. Look for certifications like USDA Organic, which guarantees a level of organic ingredients, and Leaping Bunny, which ensures no animal testing was involved. Understanding what different certifications mean and represent can significantly aid in making informed, conscious choices.

Like this post? Share on Pinterest!