18 Best Natural Concealers For Every Skin Type (That Really Work)

PUBLISHED: 02/19/2020

WRITTEN BY: DIANE ELIZABETH K.

RESEARCH & REVIEW BY: Tamryn Burgess. Licensed Aesthetician and Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN).

This article may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more details. To learn more about how we selected the products featured on this list, check out our product review & research standards.

Did you know that using a natural concealer can actually help to lighten dark spots, treat acne, and plump fine lines? A natural concealer is the key to achieving a smooth, flawless looking makeup application–especially if you have pronounced blemishes and dark spots. That’s because the best natural concealers are jam packed with skin nourishing ingredients you’ll expect to find in a potent facial serum or moisturizer. With the right natural concealer, you can both treat your blemishes in the long-term and cover them up in the short term!

What is a Concealer? What is a Color Corrector? How Are Natural Concealers Different? 

Concealers are used to cover dark spots, redness, and blemishes that are visibly apparent under foundations. They are generally more opaque, available in lighter tones, and offer full coverage (or buildable coverage) to hide the most stubborn blemishes. You can find concealers in liquid, cream, and powder forms.

A color-corrector is a type of concealer that is based on color theory. Color theory states that the opposite colors on the color wheel cancel each other out; thus, color correctors offer vibrant colors to cancel out dark circles, redness, and deep purple hues in the skin. You’ll need to use a concealer or foundation over your color corrector once applied to mask the stark color pop; however, they do a fantastic job at hiding the most pronounced blemishes.

Just like natural foundations and other natural makeup products, natural concealers and color correctors work by using a blend of all natural minerals, powders, plant-extracts, and natural pigments to create excellent coverage in beautifully natural shades. Some natural concealers even derive their pigments from real fruits and berries like apricots, coffee beans, cherries, and pomegranates.

Be Cautious of Fake Natural Concealers

Please be aware, just because a product says its clean and natural, doesn’t mean that it is. Unfortunately, “greenwashing” is a practice that is rampant in the beauty and cosmetics industry. Greenwashing is a deceptive marketing tactic in which brands claim that their products are “natural” and “organic” while still filling their products with cheap synthetics, silicones, petrochemicals, and artificial dyes. This is possible because terms like “organic” and “natural” aren’t regulated in the cosmetics industry in the way that they are for the food and agriculture industries (2).

That’s why our mission at Skin Care Ox is to identify, research, and review REAL natural products—and natural concealers were no exception. Instead of just reading the marketing statements of these brands, we researched each and every product, ingredient, and clean claim made. The result? A comprehensive list of the best (and actually clean) concealers you’ll find anywhere.

All of the natural concealers on this list are free from questionable ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, BHA, dimethicone & silicones, coal tars, lake dyes & artificial dyes, aluminum, triclosan, talc, polyethylene/PEGS, steareths, bismuth oxychloride, TEA/DEA (triethanolamine/diethanolamne), and many more(1,4,5,6,). In addition to our own ingredient standards, we also checked each ingredient against the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database for safety. Many concealers on our list contain natural mineral ingredients like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, mica powder, and iron oxides. These are natural + non-toxic minerals that have been deemed safe for cosmetic use; however, many of them aren’t without controversy. If you are curious to learn more about these minerals and why they are so common in organic makeup, then check out our guide on Common Mineral Ingredients in Natural Concealers at the bottom of this page for more information on these ingredients, their safety, and how they work.

Who cares if a product is “clean” if doesn’t work effectively? In addition to our own trials of these natural concealers, we also take into account hundreds of real customer reviews from across the internet. We reviewed dozens of super-clean natural concealers that were poorly designed didn’t pass our bar for effectiveness. In total, we’ve reviewed 112 concealers to bring you this list of the best of the best. Enjoy!

How to Use This List: The list below includes our highest scoring organic and all-natural concealers from our research process.The best way to find the perfect concealer for you is to use our “Filter By” feature below to sort the list by tag to quickly narrow down your choices.

1. *THE ORGANIC SKIN CO – HIDE AND SEEK CONCEALER

*THE ORGANIC SKIN CO – HIDE AND SEEK CONCEALER | $29 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $29

Say Hello to one of our absolute favorite organic concealers of the year! The Hide and Seek Concealer really wowed us on a number of levels. First, it comes in a full palette of 8 shades ranging from porcelain light to deep sculpting brown. Second, it's made with organic supercritical botanical extracts of rosemary, pomegranate, and seabuckthorn which really help to soothe and nourish skin (especially under the eyes). Third, the coverage is simply perfect! This concentrated concealer goes on like butter and blends into the skin without creating noticeable creases. Honestly, we could go on and on.

Shop *THE ORGANIC SKIN CO – HIDE AND SEEK CONCEALER

2. *FITGLOW BEAUTY – CONCEAL+ NATURAL CONCEALER

*FITGLOW BEAUTY – CONCEAL+ NATURAL CONCEALER | $42 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $42

FitGlow's Conceal+ is a super-rich, heavy-duty, and full-coverage natural concealer made with potent ingredients to treat blemishes. The combination of green tea, vitamin K, licorice, caffeine, plant elastins, and nourishing plant oils work to lighten dark spots, kill acne causing bacteria, and plump fine lines--creating a super smooth surface over time. This concealer is available in 8 shades. As for consistency, it's a thick cream that's a little dry, but it blends very well (a little goes a long way). Can crease if your skin isn't moisturized or if you use too much product.

Shop *FITGLOW BEAUTY – CONCEAL+ NATURAL CONCEALER

3. *BAEBLU – FULL COVERAGE ORGANIC CONCEALER

*BAEBLU – FULL COVERAGE ORGANIC CONCEALER | $19.25 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $19.25

A lightweight organic concealer formula that’s perfect for all skin types--even sensitive skin. This natural concealer is made with high quality organic ingredients designed to restore and care for the skin. One of the best things about this concealer is that it comes in 12 shades (Yes, 12!) ranging from ultra fair to richly deep. This concealer works perfectly on top of foundation and covers pimples, scars, dark circles, etc. all day long. Star ingredients include castor oil, coconut oil, candelilla wax, rice bran, cocoa + shea butters, jojoba, as well as titanium dioxide and iron oxides.

Shop *BAEBLU – FULL COVERAGE ORGANIC CONCEALER

4. *100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED LONG LAST CONCEALER W/ SUPER FRUITS

*100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED LONG LAST CONCEALER W/ SUPER FRUITS | $27 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $27

This full-coverage all natural concealer is great for concealing dark spots + dark circles in the short-term, and even better at brightening dark spots over time. That's because this concealer is packed with skin nourishing and plumping ingredients like vitamin C & E, rosehip seed oil, caffeine from coffee beans, carrot root, and chamomile. It's like an undereye treatment and concealer in one! This natural concealer really does provide sweat-resistant, matte, full coverage for all skin types (from oily to dry). Blends easily with either your fingertip or a brush.

Shop *100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED LONG LAST CONCEALER W/ SUPER FRUITS

5. *LILY LOLO – NATURAL MINERAL CONCEALER

*LILY LOLO – NATURAL MINERAL CONCEALER | $18 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $18

A simple all natural concealer made with just kaolin clay, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and iron oxides. That's it! No fragrances, no dyes, no talc, and no gluten. The addition of kaolin clay in this concealer gives it more coverage than your traditional pure mineral powder concealer. Zinc is known for its anti-acne properties, so this concealer is actually highly recommended for oily and acne-prone skin types. Available in four blendable shades. The great thing about this concealer is that a little goes a long way to providing coverage--so it's actually quite affordable.

Shop *LILY LOLO – NATURAL MINERAL CONCEALER

6. *ALIMA PURE – ALL NATURAL MINERAL CONCEALER

*ALIMA PURE – ALL NATURAL MINERAL CONCEALER | $15 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $15

A weightless, velvety loose powder mineral concealer that's perfect for anyone looking for a mineral-only concealer. Made with four essential ingredients - titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, mica and iron oxides, this mineral concealer is great for all skin types; however, it is especially deal for those with oily and acne-prone skin as minerals like zinc help to fight bacteria and balance oil. Perfect for providing coverage to areas of dark spots and under eyes. It goes on smoothly and comes in 6 shades ranging from fair skin tones to deeper skin tones.

Shop *ALIMA PURE – ALL NATURAL MINERAL CONCEALER

7. *AU NATURALE – COMPLETELY COVERED ORGANIC CREAM CONCEALER

*AU NATURALE – COMPLETELY COVERED ORGANIC CREAM CONCEALER | $28 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $28

An incredibly smooth and hydrating under eye + facial concealer capable of building into any coverage level necessary. Made with skin-friendly ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil, coconut mcts, castor seed oil, vegan candelilla wax, jojoba, lavender, and vitamin E. The all natural minerals used in this formula include mica, silica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, and ultramarines. Works well for dark circles, but you'll definitely want to use a brush or sponge as an applicator for layering. All in all, we were impressed with this non-irritating/ non-greasy natural concealer formula.

Shop *AU NATURALE – COMPLETELY COVERED ORGANIC CREAM CONCEALER

8. *HYNT BEAUTY – DUET PERFECTING CONCEALER

*HYNT BEAUTY – DUET PERFECTING CONCEALER | $24 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $24

A beautiful whipped natural concealer that is super concentrated for maximum coverage. Just a tiny swipe of this stuff is enough to cover every blemish you can find. It's got a gorgeous whipped texture that doesn't clog pores, its available in 7 easily blendable, doesn't crease around the eyes, and will last a long time. This concealer is made with ingredients like castor oil, vitamin E, aloe, cupuacu butter, avocado oil, as well as titanium dioxide and iron oxide minerals. If you've got serious blemishes to conceal (under eyes, age spots, acne scars, etc), then try this concealer first.

Shop *HYNT BEAUTY – DUET PERFECTING CONCEALER

9. *HUSH + DOTTI – ORGANIC CONCEALER

*HUSH + DOTTI – ORGANIC CONCEALER | $26 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $26

An organic concealer formulated for covering up blemishes, dark under-eye circles and other imperfections. It's crafted from a blend of ingredients like vitamin E, coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, candelilla wax, and gentle mineral pigments. It's super creamy and does a great job at providing coverage for dark circles, blemishes, and other forms of hyperpigmentation. This organic concealer is available in 8 blendable shades for a decently wide range of skin tones. It goes on smooth, lasts all day, and doesn't look cakey.

Shop *HUSH + DOTTI – ORGANIC CONCEALER

10. *AU NATURALE – COLOR THEORY CREAM ORGANIC COLOR CORRECTOR

*AU NATURALE – COLOR THEORY CREAM ORGANIC COLOR CORRECTOR | $26 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $26

Another great organic color correcting concealer available in five shades for different needs. Flax (light yellow) helps to conceal purple/blue hues such as pronounced dark circles, Lavender (purple) conceals yellow undertones, Sweet Basil (green) neutralizes redness, Peach hides dark circles for darker skin tones, and finally Linen (pink) brightens dark circles and tired eyes. Linen was by far our overall favorite shade for general use. The formula is very creamy (thanks to castor oil, candelilla wax, jojoba oil, meadowfoam seed oil, and lavender oil), but provides all-day coverage.

Shop *AU NATURALE – COLOR THEORY CREAM ORGANIC COLOR CORRECTOR

11. *100% PURE – 2ND SKIN ALL NATURAL COLOR CORRECTOR

*100% PURE – 2ND SKIN ALL NATURAL COLOR CORRECTOR | $25 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $25

These funky little color-correcting concealers are a great way to cover up those dark circles or redness. This natural skin concealer comes in three shades (matcha green, yellow, and peach), each designed to treat a specific color correcting issue: matcha green color corrector works best for redness, yellow corrects deep blue hues and lightens dark circles, and peach gently brightens dark circles. These bright pigments come from real fruit and plant pigments such as green tea, turmeric, and real peaches! Contains a hint of mica for shimmer, best if layered under your daily concealer or foundation.

Shop *100% PURE – 2ND SKIN ALL NATURAL COLOR CORRECTOR

12. *JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO PIGMENTS PERFECTING ORGANIC CONCEALER

*JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO PIGMENTS PERFECTING ORGANIC CONCEALER | $25 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $25

A highly pigmented all over concealer that gives coverage strong enough to hide dark circles. Simply rub your finger in the pot to warm up the product (or use a makeup brush), then apply to your face. It's a little on the drier side, but once it warms up it blends in nicely. Made with moisturizing oils like coconut, grapeseed, and jojoba for easy blending and smooth finish. This concealer is also filled with certified organic anti-aging ingredients to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles like vitamin C, vitamin E, lemon leaf cell extract, and rose flower powder.

Shop *JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO PIGMENTS PERFECTING ORGANIC CONCEALER

13. *SAPPHO – NEW PARADIGM ORGANIC CONCEALER

*SAPPHO – NEW PARADIGM ORGANIC CONCEALER | $32 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $32

A vegan organic concealer blended with a base of coconut oil, jojoba seed oil and sunflower seed wax to nourish and prime skin for foundation application. This concealer comes in 5 shades designed with deeply concentrated pigments and a natural skin-tone base.The touch of orange helps camouflage skin discoloration, while the gentle cream base moves easily with delicate under eye tissue. You won't find any harsh ingredients--just skin-friendly additions like chamomile, licorice, calendula, argan oil, and vitamin E. Feels very light and silky smooth on the skin.

Shop *SAPPHO – NEW PARADIGM ORGANIC CONCEALER

14. *RMS BEAUTY – “UN” COVER UP ORGANIC FOUNDATION

*RMS BEAUTY – “UN” COVER UP ORGANIC FOUNDATION | $36 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $36

This organic foundation is made with the RMS's signature certified organic coconut oil which allows the product to melt seamlessly into skin and provide a natural sheer finish. As an oil-based foundation, it is not matte (a little powder can help) and will leave a dewy finish. Available in 16 beautiful shades from alabaster (lightest) to deep espresso chocolate (deepest). This natural foundation also doubles as a concealer. Great for dry skin types and a little goes a long way. Other certified organic ingredients include castor seed oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and rosemary extract.

Shop *RMS BEAUTY – “UN” COVER UP ORGANIC FOUNDATION

15. *ALIMA PURE – ALL NATURAL CREAM CONCEALER

*ALIMA PURE – ALL NATURAL CREAM CONCEALER | $28 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $28

A comfortable, medium coverage concealer made with hydrating and vitamin-rich ingredients. This concealer is formulated with potent all-natural ingredients like squalene (olive oil derived moisturizer), avocado oil (hydrates skin), shea butter (protects skin moisture barrier) and beeswax (adds protective barrier) to soothe skin. It's got a balmy, buttery consistency that is workable with a sponge, brush, or your fingertips. As another plus, Alima Pure offers 10 shades of this concealer to match almost any skin tone.

Shop *ALIMA PURE – ALL NATURAL CREAM CONCEALER

16. *ECCO BELLA – FLOWERCOLOR COVER UP CONCEALER

*ECCO BELLA – FLOWERCOLOR COVER UP CONCEALER | $21.95 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $21.95

An affordable yet high quality natural concealer that you’ll always want on hand--and always be able to have on hand because of its handy packaging. This easy on the skin, non-greasy and non-toxic concealer is blended with nourishing ingredients like castor oil, palm oil, beeswax, calendula and chamomile to soothe the skin and cover dark circles and other imperfections. Available in two shades, this concealer has excellent coverage without creasing for being cakey. You can apply with your fingers or a concealer brush. For the freshest products, we recommend shopping Ecco Bella directly.

Shop *ECCO BELLA – FLOWERCOLOR COVER UP CONCEALER

FILTER BY TYPE

*The Organic Skin Co – Hide and Seek Concealer ($29)

Say Hello to one of our absolute favorite organic concealers of the year! The Hide and Seek Concealer really wowed us on a number of levels. First, it comes in a full palette of 8 shades ranging from porcelain light to deep sculpting brown. Second, it's made with organic supercritical botanical extracts of rosemary, pomegranate, and seabuckthorn which really help to soothe and nourish skin (especially under the eyes). Third, the coverage is simply perfect! This concentrated concealer goes on like butter and blends into the skin without creating noticeable creases. Honestly, we could go on and on.

GET MATCHED! TAKE THE NATURAL CONCEALERS QUIZ

Need help finding the perfect organic and natural concealer for you? Then, take our free Organic & Natural Concealers Quiz & get matched with the best natural concealer! We've created a custom quiz to help you quickly find the top 5 concealers. Takes just a few seconds to complete---click to get started!

*BaeBlu – Full Coverage Organic Concealer ($19.25)

A lightweight organic concealer formula that’s perfect for all skin types--even sensitive skin. This natural concealer is made with high quality organic ingredients designed to restore and care for the skin. One of the best things about this concealer is that it comes in 12 shades (Yes, 12!) ranging from ultra fair to richly deep. This concealer works perfectly on top of foundation and covers pimples, scars, dark circles, etc. all day long. Star ingredients include castor oil, coconut oil, candelilla wax, rice bran, cocoa + shea butters, jojoba, as well as titanium dioxide and iron oxides.

*100% Pure – Fruit Pigmented Long Last Concealer w/ Super Fruits ($27)

This full-coverage all natural concealer is great for concealing dark spots + dark circles in the short-term, and even better at brightening dark spots over time. That's because this concealer is packed with skin nourishing and plumping ingredients like vitamin C & E, rosehip seed oil, caffeine from coffee beans, carrot root, and chamomile. It's like an undereye treatment and concealer in one! This natural concealer really does provide sweat-resistant, matte, full coverage for all skin types (from oily to dry). Blends easily with either your fingertip or a brush.

*FitGlow Beauty – Conceal+ Natural Concealer ($42)

FitGlow's Conceal+ is a super-rich, heavy-duty, and full-coverage natural concealer made with potent ingredients to treat blemishes. The combination of green tea, vitamin K, licorice, caffeine, plant elastins, and nourishing plant oils work to lighten dark spots, kill acne causing bacteria, and plump fine lines--creating a super smooth surface over time. This concealer is available in 8 shades. As for consistency, it's a thick cream that's a little dry, but it blends very well (a little goes a long way). Can crease if your skin isn't moisturized or if you use too much product.

*Au Naturale – Completely Covered Organic Cream Concealer ($28)

An incredibly smooth and hydrating under eye + facial concealer capable of building into any coverage level necessary. Made with skin-friendly ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil, coconut mcts, castor seed oil, vegan candelilla wax, jojoba, lavender, and vitamin E. The all natural minerals used in this formula include mica, silica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, and ultramarines. Works well for dark circles, but you'll definitely want to use a brush or sponge as an applicator for layering. All in all, we were impressed with this non-irritating/ non-greasy natural concealer formula.

*Hush + Dotti – Organic Concealer ($26)

An organic concealer formulated for covering up blemishes, dark under-eye circles and other imperfections. It's crafted from a blend of ingredients like vitamin E, coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, candelilla wax, and gentle mineral pigments. It's super creamy and does a great job at providing coverage for dark circles, blemishes, and other forms of hyperpigmentation. This organic concealer is available in 8 blendable shades for a decently wide range of skin tones. It goes on smooth, lasts all day, and doesn't look cakey.

*Sappho – New Paradigm Organic Concealer ($32)

A vegan organic concealer blended with a base of coconut oil, jojoba seed oil and sunflower seed wax to nourish and prime skin for foundation application. This concealer comes in 5 shades designed with deeply concentrated pigments and a natural skin-tone base.The touch of orange helps camouflage skin discoloration, while the gentle cream base moves easily with delicate under eye tissue. You won't find any harsh ingredients--just skin-friendly additions like chamomile, licorice, calendula, argan oil, and vitamin E. Feels very light and silky smooth on the skin.

*Juice Beauty – Phyto Pigments Perfecting Organic Concealer ($25)

A highly pigmented all over concealer that gives coverage strong enough to hide dark circles. Simply rub your finger in the pot to warm up the product (or use a makeup brush), then apply to your face. It's a little on the drier side, but once it warms up it blends in nicely. Made with moisturizing oils like coconut, grapeseed, and jojoba for easy blending and smooth finish. This concealer is also filled with certified organic anti-aging ingredients to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles like vitamin C, vitamin E, lemon leaf cell extract, and rose flower powder.

TAKE THE QUIZ & FIND THE PERFECT NATURAL CONCEALER

Make sure that the next natural concealer that you try is the right one for you! Get matched to your perfect organic and all natural concealer in seconds with our Organic & Natural Concealers Quiz. Click now to get started.

*Alima Pure – All Natural Cream Concealer ($28)

A comfortable, medium coverage concealer made with hydrating and vitamin-rich ingredients. This concealer is formulated with potent all-natural ingredients like squalene (olive oil derived moisturizer), avocado oil (hydrates skin), shea butter (protects skin moisture barrier) and beeswax (adds protective barrier) to soothe skin. It's got a balmy, buttery consistency that is workable with a sponge, brush, or your fingertips. As another plus, Alima Pure offers 10 shades of this concealer to match almost any skin tone.

Common Mineral Ingredients in Organic & Natural Concealers

As you begin your research into natural and organic foundations, you’ll start notice a few ingredients popping up over and over again. These ingredients are titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica, silica, zinc oxide, and ultramarines. All of these ingredients are natural minerals which serve very specific purposes in cosmetics. Although they may have non-natural sounding names, these minerals are indeed natural and generally considered safe by many organizations for cosmetic usage. However, some of them aren’t without their share of controversy. As always, we’ve done our research and compiled the best information that we could find on the safety and effectiveness of these minerals so that you can make an informed decision.

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Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)

There is a ton of misinformation floating around about the safety of titanium dioxide. Despite all of the scary things that you might read on blogs about titanium dioxide (TiO2), the mineral may actually be safer than you think. Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring, non-toxic, unreactive white pigmented powder mineral used primarily in cosmetics because it has a brilliant white pigment, reduces the opacity of product formulas (helps to provide “full coverage”), and protects the skin from UVA/UVA radiation. Much of the fuss about titanium dioxide stems from this study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (source) where rats were exposed to high doses of airborne TiO2 (250mg/m) for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for two years. At the end of the study, the rats were found to have an increased rate of lung cancer due to this inhalation. Many people look at that study and determine that TiO2 = bad. There are several problems with this. First, rats are not fair indicators of human performance (rats have thinner skin and are more susceptible to lung stimulants than humans). Second, this is an excessive amount of TiO2 exposure! There is limited evidence of TiO2 carcinogenetic in humans outside of heavy inhalation exposure in industrial and manufacturing settings. In actuality, there are no known adverse effects of TiO2 in human cosmetic use (cosmetic grade titanium dioxide is also known as TD 77891). Even the Environmental Working Group (EWG) rates TiO2 from 1-3 depending on aerosolized (airborne) usage and quantity due to this lack of evidence. There is some concern, however, over titanium dioxide nano-particles because these particles are theoretically small enough to penetrate the upper layers of the dermis. However, a recent EPA study in 2010 (source) showed that “uptake of nano-TiO2 through healthy skin was not observed.” Meaning, there is no evidence that nano-TiO2 was absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream nor was any irritation due to the usage of nano-TiO2 was observed. With all of this said, some people have reported anecdotally that their skin reacts poorly to products with TiO2. Since there is very little evidence of human irritation, it is impossible to tell at the moment whether the irritation was caused by TiO2, nano-TiO2, or something else within their products. As with all ingredients, it is important to do your research, understand the facts, and make decisions that you feel are right for your health.

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Iron Oxides

Iron oxides have been used since the 1900s as natural pigments in cosmetics and other everyday items. These are naturally occurring mineral deposits (think red rock canyons) that won’t irritate the skin, are resistant to moisture, and deliver vibrant color. Iron oxides are some of the few “natural” ingredients where you’ll be better off using the synthetic lab-created versions. Why? Iron oxides that occur naturally are often riddled with heavy metals and impurities like mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. The levels of heavy metals in iron oxides are heavily regulated by the FDA for safety. As a result, iron oxides that are used in cosmetics are typically synthetically produced in a laboratory setting so that they can be purified and free from irritants. Lab-created iron oxides are considered exceptionally safe, hypoallergenic, and free from impurities. Iron oxides received a score of 2 from the Environmental Working Group for safety.

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Mica

Mica is a silicate mineral used in many natural mineral makeup lines because of their beautiful shimmering appearance. The word mica actually based on the Latin word for “to glitter.” While there are no studies that have shown mica to have negative health effects in cosmetics, the Cosmetics Database lists mica as “moderately hazardous” because lung inflammation has been noted due to excessive exposure industrial settings. It is important to separate the hazards of industrial use from that of cosmetics. In fact, the only known population of people to experience any negative effects from mica are workers in manufacturing factories, mines, mills, and construction work—not cosmetic usage. Mica powder receives a score of 2 from the Environmental Working Group for safety. While rare, mica particles do have slightly sharp edges and some people have experienced eye sensitivity or general irritation when using products with mica. If you’d like to avoid mica, then look for products that are matte (no shimmer) and avoid nano-sized mica particles (which can exacerbate irritation). Note: most mineral and all-natural makeup contains mica powder in varying quantities.

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Silica

As one of the most common minerals on earth, silica is an extremely versatile cosmetic ingredient. It is used to absorb sweat, helps product spread easily onto the skin’s surface, and it is used as thickening agent in many creams.  There are two types of silica (one good and one not good for health): crystalline silica (not good) and hydrated silica (good). Hydrated silica (also known as silicone dioxide or amorphous silica) is considered safe for general use by the FDA, has no known links to cancer in cosmetic usage (source), has received a safety score of 2 from the Environmental Working group, and does not cause lung inflammation like crystalline silica. One issue with silica is that it is comedogenic and can clog pores for some. If you’re nervous about clogged pores, then it is best to avoid products with silica or use these products sparingly.

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Zinc Oxide

Zinc Oxide is an inorganic white powder mineral that is used in a wide range of personal care products. While its most popular function is as a sunscreen, zinc oxide is also used as a thickening, lubricating, and bulking agent. It is also used to reduce skin inflammation (think diaper rashes, allergic reactions, and irritations from friction). It is inhert and has shown virtually no risk of skin irritation from cosmetic use. The problem isn’t with zinc oxide, which is fantastic, but with nano-zinc particles which are made smaller to ease absorption. Remember old school white sunscreens? Well, non-nano zinc oxide tends to leave a white residue, so nano-zinc was created to eliminate this. The problem is that these nano-particles may penetrate the skin and may be absorbed into the blood stream. For this reason, it is best to avoid products that use nano-zinc oxide particles. Zinc oxide receives a safety score of 2-3 from the environmental working group depending on its particle size and usage.

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Ultramarines

Natural ultramarine pigments occur within lapiz lazuli (a blue stone), but can also be made from mineral sources such as sodium carbonate and certain clays. Like iron oxide pigments, natural ultramarines can contain unsafe amounts of heavy metals which are regulated by the FDA. As a result, most ultramarines are lab synthesized for purity. You will frequently see the phrase “may contain ultramarines” in many natural makeup ingredient lists. This is because ultramarines are typically only used in darker shades of foundations or in blue/green shades of other cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group gives ultramarine a score of 1-4 depending on their purity (lab created or natural) and usage. Outside of the potential for heavy metal presence in natural ultramarines, there are no known health hazards associated with the cosmetic usage of these minerals.

SOURCES & REFERENCES

1. (2019) EWG: The Toxic Chemicals and Contaminants In Cosmetics | https://www.ewg.org/californiacosmetics/toxic20

2. Cosmetics Labeling Guide: FDA | https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-regulations/cosmetics-labeling-guide

3. Talcum Powder and Cancer | https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html

4. (2018) Ingredient Watch List: Dimethicone, The Smoothing Silicone That Exacerbates Acne | https://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-watch-list-dimethicone-the-smoothing-silicone-that-exacerbates-acne/

5. (2010) CSPI Says Food Dyes Pose Rainbow of Risks | https://cspinet.org/new/201006291.html

PRODUCT BADGES LEGEND
100% NATURAL

100% NATURAL

The product contains only natural ingredients (non-synthetic or lab created). It does not contain anything artificial or synthetic.

100% ORGANIC

100% ORGANIC

The product has been formulated with 100% organically sourced and/or certified organic ingredients.

GMO FREE

GMO FREE

This product does not contain ingredients which have been genetically modified.

GLUTEN FREE

GLUTEN FREE

All of the ingredients contained in the product are free from gluten, wheat, and ingredients which are commonly contaminated with gluten.

VEGAN

VEGAN

The product is made without animal products or byproducts such as beeswax, honey, milk, eggs, etc.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

The product has received an official organic certification from a third party organization such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA Certified Organic), ECOCERT, Australian Certified Organic, and others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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This Article Was Written By…

Diane Elizabeth K., Founder at SkinCareOx.com

Diane Elizabeth founded Skin Care Ox in 2016 after her personal struggle to find truly clean, natural, and organic products. Leveraging her background in biomedical engineering, scientific research + analytics, and entrepreneurship, she created Skin Care Ox to be an easy-to-use resource to find real clean beauty options. Since then, her articles have been read by over 3 Million people and have helped millions choose cleaner alternatives. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband and growing family.

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Finally, every product we review undergoes our Research and Review Process. This includes faithfully trialing the products for a minimum of two weeks, rigorously researching each ingredient, and consolidating real user reviews from across the web.

One Response

  1. Kathy Galderise July 19, 2021

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