Let's Talk Makeup {UPDATED with a new list of great clean natural makeup companies}

{Originally published Jan. 7, 2014

Updated March 9, 2014}

 

{via}

So I've briefly touched on makeup before, but I wanted to delve a little deeper into this subject.

Makeup is fun and pretty and artistic. Unfortunately, conventional make up is often, literally nice little packages of toxins.  Not so fun. Hmmf :/

 Now, before I am go any father I want to clearly state, I am not judging anyone for using conventional make up or thinking any the less of you, or any thing like that. Every day we come into contact and use things that can potentially cause us harm. IF you like makeup and choose to have a few products that aren't so natural, or If you choose to risk a bit of bismuth oxychloride in your eyeshadow, then absolutely go for it. I have things like nail polish that I love to use on occasion, and aren't natural. I think every "natural" person has something they cheat on a bit, so if make up is something you like and don't necessarily want to be 100% all crunchy crazy, that's fine. I promise I'm not judging!

My only goal with this post is to inform - , and to help provide alternatives if you are interested! .
So, with that out of the way,  Let's take a look at some ingredients that have been tested and proven to be in leading brands of makeup - as well as my cover picture up there which has a nice list of things to avoid -

Arsenic
Lead
Heavy Metals of all different sorts


Now,  I don't know about you, but  I don't fancy those things going onto and into my body. But thankfully there are alternatives. I'm going to discuss a few with you.

For starters, just be aware of what you are looking for, and don't be decieved by labels. There are dozens and dozens of products in the stores that promise "all natural!" "Organic"  - The biggest problem with these products being produced is when they are cleverly packaged to deceive and allure anyone who is more aware of the toxins, and trying to remove them from their regime. so many times you will pick up a nice looking product promising natural ingredients, flip it over to the list of ingredieints and it's as long as your arm and half of the products are synthetic or toxic.
I have talked before about label reading, on my blog, but I will reiterate for this post.
If you are trying to remove toxins from you make up READ LABELS. Educate yourself on what those words mean (because, sometimes, rarely though it may be, a long unpronounceable word may not be as bad as you think). Just because a product has a natural, organic oil in it, that sadly, does not counteract the accompanying cocktail of toxins.


Also, this isn't super relevant, just bit of history -  this isn't completely a new problem. Women have been literally  poisoning themselves for centuries - all in the name of beauty.  In the past women experimented with arsenic for their complexion, belladonna drops for big watery starry eyes. Powdered lead was also used from roman times up to at least the 16th century in women's beauty regimes. Reading ancient beauty regimes may shock and gross you out, but taking a closer look at modern regimes, it's not much better


But fear not my  lovely ladies. When faced with the problem of the alliterative but dangerous
toxic toiletries table, there are thankfully many wonderful alternatives. I am going to touch on my personal choices of make up brands today, but I plan on several more posts on more specific products, and other personal care products besides makeup, (because unfortunately the poisonous products don't stop at our female war paint)

The two makeup brands I use on a daily basis are Willow Tree Minerals and Juicy Beauty. I also use Burts bees, but I definitely am working on replacing these, and I wouldn't recommend them as their ingredients are less than amazing, and there are better alternatives (like Juice Beauty!) UPDATE I have widely expanded my natural makeup horizons since this post. I have now included the companies I purchase my lipstick and foundation from as well as a new list of good reputable companies that I know of/and/or tried swatches from There is a little red star by ones that are new to this post, if you are revisiting.

Willow Tree Minerals -
This is a family run company, etsy based. The owner, Lora developed allergies to conventional makeup, and created her brand with the purest and gentlest products in mind.  I've been using her makeup for a couple years now and have never had a bad reaction to any of her products and they all have great ingredients and No chemicals, talc, perfume, dyes, phthalates, bismuth, parabens or micronized minerals are used.
I use her eyeshadow, blush, eye liners, (pencils and powders) and mascara, and I have nothing but good things to say about these products. I absolutely love them, and plan on using them for a good long while!


When I set out to find an alternative to BB's lip products, discovered Juice beauty. For a long time all they had was the one lipstick. After reading the ingredients list, I promptly placed it on my wish list (for unfortunately, these are really pricey) and was blessed to receive it as a christmas gift. They have recently extended their line of lip products, and I was very very excited to receive all the reflective lip glosses for Christmas and mom said she got them on sale, so if you're interested in these, look out for sales or ask for them for gifts ;) I am still on the hunt for good affordable lip products. I don't use anything with avocado oil though (my mom has a severe avocado allergy, so I don't use it so there is no fear of contamination) so finding good lip products with out it is tricky. If this isn't a problem, Willow Tree has a lip line!

The All Natural Face *newly added site to this list
I honestly can't believe I hadn't heard of this company until so recently, but I am in love. The ingredients are impeccable, it's an independent company, vegan, and I could go on and on. I found them originally through a youtuber I also recently discovered (iluvjesse444 link in sidebar), and I promptly ordered their full foundation sample range as well as some lipstick samples. I now have the full foundation and have been using it daily (as in, the days I wear makeup. not every single day, just fyi ;) I am going to be doing a full review on the company and my full thoughts on the products I tried, so keep a heads up!

Juice Beauty is a Certified Organic beauty line. Most of the ingredients are organic, and they promise "Our formulations are made without parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances"
I also like that the lip glosses are almost all oils produced from fruit and berry seeds which is really interesting and creates a lip gloss like no other. It literally is the perfect gloss, glossy and super shimmery without being that horrible goopy sticky mess. They also smell divine. The one thing I hate about BB's - besides less than stellar ingredients- is that all there lip shimmers are peppermint. I like peppermint. It's one of my favorites, but if I'm going out for dinner or coffee, and not getting something peppermint flavored, I don't want to not be able to wear lip color because the taste with taint whatever I'm eating or drinking. Juice Beauty smells amazing like pink lemonade. (really) and doesn't taste strongly and definitely doesn't affect what I'm eating or drinking. Yay! Just to clarify, I have only used their lip products, and one eyeshadow and haven't really investigated any other products and their ingredients.

Gabriel Color Inc (and ZuZu Luxe)*
I have done a whole review on the lipstick I've purchased from here, and I am absolutely head over heels in love. I don't think I'll ever faithfully wear any other lipstick. I've swatched all their colors multiple times (at my local wholefoods) as well as their luxury line ZuZu Luxe, and all of the lipsticks are absolutely stellar, though pigmentation varies, as well - I'm assuming - the individual lasting power. The ingredients are all really great!

The following companies/indie lines are makeup I have heard amazing things about and know to have great ingredients (but remember, still read labels, I haven't checked every single product from these lines)

100% Pure *
I use their bodywash, and I adore it, but I haven't used any  of the makeup yet, just because I haven't had it in the budget.  Amazon carries some of the makeup for a quite discounted price. I love that their products use fruit pigments instead of dyes and minerals and such. I have heard great things of the mascara, so that will be my first purchase from them.

Brija Cosmetics * 
 I found this line through it's owner, Brianna (iluvjesse444) and I know all the ingredients are great, and she has some really fun products. I really want to try her bronzer, it looks like a beautiful shade. The next time I have makeup in the budget, I am definitely going to be heading over there.

Silk Naturals *
I can't vouch for all their products, but the ones I have seen have excellent ingredients (with the exception of the perfume, it does have fragrance, not EO's) , and I am so stoked that they have all natural mineral clones for the Urban Decay Naked palettes. I fall in love with the colors in those palettes every time I go into a makeup store, but the one time I swatched them, on my hand, it irritated my hand, so I can't imagine what it would do to my eyes, (not to mention all the iffy ingredients..) Again, when budget allows, I will absolutely be purchasing one of the naked clones. I found this company again through Brianna I think, or another youtuber.

Honeybee Gardens *
Again, another company I've found through youtubers, Brianna, EcoholicBeauty, GlamorWonderland, and others have all had good things to say about their foundation, and they have a lot of pressed options that really excite me. The ingredients are good, but don't look *as* clean as some, but definitely not bad!

LilyLoLo *
Another Youtuber find, this time through AllNaturalAspirations. Again, I can't vouch for all the ingredients, and their are some ingredients that will be up to you to decide if you want to use them.
I really want to try their pressed eyeshadow, as I really would love to have at least a few options in pressed form. That is the one thing I really miss before I went natural - being able to put on eye makeup in a few seconds without a unholy mess of powder and pigment everywhere ;)

A few Other lines worth mentioning.


EccoBella These products actually look pretty good. The shadow and blush, concealer, lip stick and gloss all look good.
A few items I saw had "natural fragrance" which can be really dodgy at best. I completely stay away from anything with that "f" word. I am so severely allergic to fragrance - even "natural" that it's just best for me to stay away. Though the "parfum" line look to be made with EO's so this might not be an issue. 

Mineral Fusion. I've swatched a couple of their products at whole foods and the ingredients look good from what I could find, but I've never heard reviews or actually used them. 

Bare Minerals: Definitely not a clean and natural as some, but as far as readily available in store makeup, This is definitely a good place to start if you are overwhelmed. My mom uses their products, and they are certainly better than some. Just please be aware that not all of their products are as clean as others, and their mineral shadows have fillers like bismuth oxychloride 

Also, one other tip - Be wary of things claiming to be green and read the labels carefully. Just because it's good for the environment doesn't automatically make it good for your body! Don't be "Greenwashed!"

I really hope you enjoyed this and  this post helps you make informed decisions.

I have links for most of the youtubers mentioned, and you can easily follow links from their channels to their blogs and other social media. I will eventually be updating this with links, but just copy and paste into google for quick access to the mentioned companies.

~Elissa