The Best Natural & Organic Makeup Brands of 2021

WRITTEN BY:  DIANE ELIZABETH K. | PUBLISHED: 02/13/2018 | LAST UPDATED: 07/14/2021

When we set out create the ultimate list of organic makeup brands, we honestly didn’t think that it would be so difficult! Let me tell you, it is a wild world out there filled with confusing ingredient lists, cheap fillers, and make up products that simply do not work well. There are even makeup brands claiming to be “certified organic” that use talc, propylene glycol, and artificial dyes in their products. So, our team of researchers dug deep to find the REAL organic & all natural makeup brands.

Instead of just reading the mission statements of these brands, we researched each and every product, ingredient, and clean claim made by these makeup brands. The result? This may very well be the most comprehensive list of ACTUALLY CLEAN makeup products ever created!

Every single organic and natural makeup product on this list is free from Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, BHA, Coal Tars, Aluminum, Triclosan, Talc, Propylene Glycol, Polyethylene/PEGS, Steareths, Bismuth Oxychloride, TEA/DEA (triethanolamine/diethanolamne), and a whole host of other “dirty” ingredients. Each product also receives rave reviews from customers across the web, so you don’t have to worry about performance. Many organic makeup products 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 Makeup Products at the bottom of this list for more information on these ingredients, their safety, and how they work.

How to Use This List: The list below includes 15 amazing organic and all-natural makeup brands that we could find from our research. Some products contain organic ingredients while others contain non-gmo all natural ingredients. Some are vegan and some are gluten free. Some contain mica for shimmer and some do not. You get the point. The best way to find the perfect makeup product for your particular needs is to use our “Filter By” feature below to sort the list by the criteria that matters most to you. This will let you easily find the best vegan makeup, gluten free makeup, and makeup brands by type. Happy hunting!

1. *GRESSA SKIN – ORGANIC CORRECTIVE MAKEUP

*GRESSA SKIN – ORGANIC CORRECTIVE MAKEUP | $$$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$$

Gressa's Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation has us hooked. It's a beautiful mix between an organic facial serum and natural liquid foundation. Meaning, it feels weightless while still providing a good bit of coverage. Gressa's makeup products are also packed with anti-aging, soothing, and vitamin-enriched ingredients---so you're getting a bit of skin care as well! This may very well be one of the best "clean beauty" foundations around. Besides that holy grail product, Gressa makes a liquid bronzer, an eye tint, a lip gloss, liquid blush, and liquid highlighter that are all quite lovely.

Shop *GRESSA SKIN – ORGANIC CORRECTIVE MAKEUP

2. *HAN SKIN CARE COSMETICS – NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP

*HAN SKIN CARE COSMETICS – NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP | $ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $

HAN makes some of the cleanest and most affordable organic makeup around. In fact, you won't find a single product from HAN that's over $18. While they don't yet make a foundation, HAN does offer a nice variety of makeup products including eyeshadows, bronzers, multi sticks, concealers, and lip products. We absolutely love their Rose Dust All-Natural Multi-Stick which works well as a lip, cheek, and eye tint (and just $16!). HAN's organic Lip Gloss is another favorite from our tests---it has a silky smooth finish and a beautiful sheen which rivals some luxury lipstick brands.

Shop *HAN SKIN CARE COSMETICS – NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP

3. *ANNMARIE – MULTI-PURPOSE NATURAL MINERAL FOUNDATION

*ANNMARIE – MULTI-PURPOSE NATURAL MINERAL FOUNDATION | $$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$

Annmarie is an organic skin care brand that just happens to make an amazing line of mineral foundation. Their made with just titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica, and zinc oxides and come in 8 different shades. The wonderful thing about these mineral foundations is that you can simply add a drop or two of your favorite facial serum to transform the powder into a creamy liquid foundation. Annmarie also offers a neat little sample kit which lets you sample all of the shades (and one of their famous facial oils) in one affordable kit.

Shop *ANNMARIE – MULTI-PURPOSE NATURAL MINERAL FOUNDATION

4. *100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED NATURAL MAKEUP

*100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED NATURAL MAKEUP | $ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $

100% Pure makes some of our favorite organic and all-natural makeup products. Their line is called Fruit Pigmented or Fruit Dyed Makeup because their products get their rich colors from delicious natural fruit pigments (think cherries, pomegranate, strawberries, etc.). This not only gives their products a beautiful range of hues, but it also makes them almost good enough to eat. Our favorite 100% Pure makeup products include their 2nd skin color corrector, fruit pigmented pomegranate oil anti-aging lipstick, and their fruit pigmented full coverage water foundation.

Shop *100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED NATURAL MAKEUP

5. *AU NATURALE COSMETICS – NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP

*AU NATURALE COSMETICS – NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP | $$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$

Au Naturale offers a wide range of all natural and organic makeup options. They offer everything from foundations to mascara (and everything in between) as well as powder and cream-based options. The thing we love about Au Naturale is how much product you get for the price. For example, their Pure Powder Blush comes in a nice large pot with super smart packaging (to keep your product from spilling and dispense the perfect amount) for just $25. Some of our other favorite bang-for-your-buck products from Au Naturale include their Anywhere Creme Multi-stick, Pure Powder Bronzer, and their Starter Kits.

Shop *AU NATURALE COSMETICS – NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP

6. *VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY – ORGANIC MAKEUP

*VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY – ORGANIC MAKEUP | $$$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$$

Once we tried a few products from this brand, we instantly understood why they chose the name "Vapour" for their organic makeup line. That's because their products feel light as air on your skin. The entire makeup line is crafted with certified organic and all-natural ingredients. While many of Vapour's products are worth trying, there are a few standout products that we highly recommend. Namely, Vapour's Essential Daily Primer, Luminous Foundation stick, Mesmerize Mascara, Velvet Lip Gloss, and their Illusionist Concealer. Oddly, Vapour also makes one of our favorite natural deodorants: AER.

Shop *VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY – ORGANIC MAKEUP

7. *HUSH + DOTTI – ORGANIC MAKEUP

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

Hush + Dotti is another super clean organic makeup brand that still performs with the best of them. With the exception of their liquid eyeliner (which we found to be too clumpy and hard to apply), we really enjoyed using the products from this line. Their Organic Liquid Foundation and Concealer are definitely worth checking out. They provide a good bit of coverage, feel silky smooth, and come in a variety of beautiful shades. We were also surprisingly impressed by their Gel Eyeliner and how well it stayed put after all day wear.

Shop *HUSH + DOTTI – ORGANIC MAKEUP

8. *ELATE CLEAN COSMETICS – ORGANIC & NATURAL MINERAL MAKEUP

*ELATE CLEAN COSMETICS – ORGANIC & NATURAL MINERAL MAKEUP | $$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$

Elate Cosmetics makes a stunning array of all natural & organic mineral makeup options. Their products contain around 75% organic ingredients and they never use nano particles in their formulas. From pressed powder and liquid foundations to vibrant eyeshadows and vegan lipsticks, Elate offers a wide range of options in a variety of shades. Another thing that we can't help but comment on is how gorgeous their packaging looks and feels in person! Some of our favorite Elate products include their Refresh Foundation, Universal Creme Blush, Liquid Eyeline, and Pressed EyeColour Eyeshadows.

Shop *ELATE CLEAN COSMETICS – ORGANIC & NATURAL MINERAL MAKEUP

9. *HENNE ORGANICS – LUXURY ORGANIC LIP TREATMENTS

*HENNE ORGANICS – LUXURY ORGANIC LIP TREATMENTS | $$$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$$

Henne Organics makes luxurious organic treatments and tints for your lips. While Henne is most known for their ultra-creamy luxury lipsticks (made with over 80% organic ingredients), our team fell in love with some of their lesser known products. Namely, their 86% organic lip treatment serum made with a 24k gold plated rollerball applicator and their USDA Certified Organic Nordic Berries Sugar Lip Scrub. Every product we've tried from Henne is a stand-out. If you suffer from dry, chapped lips or just want to treat your kisser to some #selfcare, you won't be disappointed with Henne.

Shop *HENNE ORGANICS – LUXURY ORGANIC LIP TREATMENTS

10. *JUICE BEAUTY – ORGANIC MAKEUP

*JUICE BEAUTY – ORGANIC MAKEUP | $$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$

Some of our favorite makeup treasures are made by Juice Beauty! Juice Beauty is an organic and all-natural skin & makeup brand that has exploded onto the mainstream in recent years. Just because you can find Juice Beauty at your local Whole Foods doesn't mean that they don't make some truly noteworthy makeup pieces. A few gems worth checking out include their Phyto-Pigments Cream Blush, Phyto-Pigments Youth Cream Compact Foundation, Stem Cellular CC Cream (really sheer coverage), and their Phyto Pigments Perfecting Concealer, and the Phyto Pigments Luminous Lip Crayons.

Shop *JUICE BEAUTY – ORGANIC MAKEUP

11. *SAPPHO NEW PARADIGM – VEGAN ORGANIC MAKEUP

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

Sappho New Paradigm was founded by a veteran makeup artist with a vision for cleaner beauty standards. Sappho's entire line is free from talc, dimethicone, GMOs, soy, nano particles, gluten, and every other gnarly ingredient we could think of. Their products are seriously well crafted (you can tell that the products were formulated by an expert) and offered in a wide variety of shades. Some must-try Sappho products from our trial include their Vegan Mascara, Essential Foundation, C.C. Cream, Eyeshadows, and Blush.

Shop *SAPPHO NEW PARADIGM – VEGAN ORGANIC MAKEUP

12. *INIKA ORGANIC – CERTIFIED ORGANIC MAKEUP

*INIKA ORGANIC – CERTIFIED ORGANIC MAKEUP | $$$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$$

INIKA organic is an Australian Certified Organic makeup brand with an international presence. The line is 100% vegan, 100% natural, cruelty free, and the entire line is certified organic. INIKA makes everything from foundations, concealers, eyeshadows, lip products, and everything in between. They offer a variety of affordable trial sets and starter sets so that you can try a few of their key products before committing to a larger purchase. A few of our favorite INIKA products include their Long Lash Vegan Mascara, Loose Mineral Foundation Powder with SPF 25, and Baked Mineral Blush Duo.

Shop *INIKA ORGANIC – CERTIFIED ORGANIC MAKEUP

13. *RMS BEAUTY – ALL NATURAL MINERAL MAKEUP

*RMS BEAUTY – ALL NATURAL MINERAL MAKEUP | $$$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$$

RMS Beauty was founded in 2008 and was one of the early pioneers of clean makeup products. They've grown to an international brand that makes some pretty amazing makeup products that almost double as skin care. For example, their Un-Cover Up Cream Foundation pot contains more antioxidants and nourishing plant extracts than most organic moisturizers! Their products all come in an impressive array of pigments, so everyone is sure to find their match. Some noteworthy gems from RMS are their Cream Foundation, Lip2Cheek Tints, Un Cover Up Concealer, and their beautiful Living Luminizer highlighter.

Shop *RMS BEAUTY – ALL NATURAL MINERAL MAKEUP

14. *NU EVOLUTION – ALL NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP

*NU EVOLUTION – ALL NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP | $$$ |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten Free, Vegan
Price : $$$

NU Evolution makes simple, yet beautiful mineral makeup options made with natural and organic ingredients. Unlike some mineral makeup brands that make their products entirely out of minerals, NU Evolution packs their products with antioxidants, plant extracts, and nourishing oils to add a little nutrient boost to your makeup routine. The brand makes some of the most beautiful natural and subtle shades of blush, eye shadow, and bronzers that we've tested. We're madly obsessed with their "Soho" Pressed Blush, "Chic" Pressed Eye Shadow, "Chianti" Lipstick, and their Pressed Powder Foundations.

Shop *NU EVOLUTION – ALL NATURAL & ORGANIC MAKEUP

FILTER BY TYPE

*Gressa Skin – Organic Corrective Makeup ($$$)

Gressa's Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation has us hooked. It's a beautiful mix between an organic facial serum and natural liquid foundation. Meaning, it feels weightless while still providing a good bit of coverage. Gressa's makeup products are also packed with anti-aging, soothing, and vitamin-enriched ingredients---so you're getting a bit of skin care as well! This may very well be one of the best "clean beauty" foundations around. Besides that holy grail product, Gressa makes a liquid bronzer, an eye tint, a lip gloss, liquid blush, and liquid highlighter that are all quite lovely.

TAKE THE QUIZ & FIND YOUR PERFECT ORGANIC MAKEUP

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

*HAN Skin Care Cosmetics – Natural & Organic Makeup ($)

HAN makes some of the cleanest and most affordable organic makeup around. In fact, you won't find a single product from HAN that's over $18. While they don't yet make a foundation, HAN does offer a nice variety of makeup products including eyeshadows, bronzers, multi sticks, concealers, and lip products. We absolutely love their Rose Dust All-Natural Multi-Stick which works well as a lip, cheek, and eye tint (and just $16!). HAN's organic Lip Gloss is another favorite from our tests---it has a silky smooth finish and a beautiful sheen which rivals some luxury lipstick brands.

*100% Pure – Fruit Pigmented Natural Makeup ($)

100% Pure makes some of our favorite organic and all-natural makeup products. Their line is called Fruit Pigmented or Fruit Dyed Makeup because their products get their rich colors from delicious natural fruit pigments (think cherries, pomegranate, strawberries, etc.). This not only gives their products a beautiful range of hues, but it also makes them almost good enough to eat. Our favorite 100% Pure makeup products include their 2nd skin color corrector, fruit pigmented pomegranate oil anti-aging lipstick, and their fruit pigmented full coverage water foundation.

*Annmarie – Multi-Purpose Natural Mineral Foundation ($$)

Annmarie is an organic skin care brand that just happens to make an amazing line of mineral foundation. Their made with just titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica, and zinc oxides and come in 8 different shades. The wonderful thing about these mineral foundations is that you can simply add a drop or two of your favorite facial serum to transform the powder into a creamy liquid foundation. Annmarie also offers a neat little sample kit which lets you sample all of the shades (and one of their famous facial oils) in one affordable kit.

The Ox Box: Organic Beauty Box (No Subscription!)

SPECIAL EDITION! 77% OFF one of the world's most premier certified natural skin care brands with this Limited Edition Amala Beauty Ox Box. Experience six Amala bestselling, clinically proven skin care products, like their Advanced Firming Complex Moisturizer and Skin Plumping Hyaluronic Serum, in this exclusive Skin Care Ox bundle!

*Vapour Organic Beauty – Organic Makeup ($$$)

Once we tried a few products from this brand, we instantly understood why they chose the name "Vapour" for their organic makeup line. That's because their products feel light as air on your skin. The entire makeup line is crafted with certified organic and all-natural ingredients. While many of Vapour's products are worth trying, there are a few standout products that we highly recommend. Namely, Vapour's Essential Daily Primer, Luminous Foundation stick, Mesmerize Mascara, Velvet Lip Gloss, and their Illusionist Concealer. Oddly, Vapour also makes one of our favorite natural deodorants: AER.

*Hush + Dotti – Organic Makeup ($$)

Hush + Dotti is another super clean organic makeup brand that still performs with the best of them. With the exception of their liquid eyeliner (which we found to be too clumpy and hard to apply), we really enjoyed using the products from this line. Their Organic Liquid Foundation and Concealer are definitely worth checking out. They provide a good bit of coverage, feel silky smooth, and come in a variety of beautiful shades. We were also surprisingly impressed by their Gel Eyeliner and how well it stayed put after all day wear.

*Au Naturale Cosmetics – Natural & Organic Makeup ($$)

Au Naturale offers a wide range of all natural and organic makeup options. They offer everything from foundations to mascara (and everything in between) as well as powder and cream-based options. The thing we love about Au Naturale is how much product you get for the price. For example, their Pure Powder Blush comes in a nice large pot with super smart packaging (to keep your product from spilling and dispense the perfect amount) for just $25. Some of our other favorite bang-for-your-buck products from Au Naturale include their Anywhere Creme Multi-stick, Pure Powder Bronzer, and their Starter Kits.

TOO MANY CHOICES? GET MATCHED! TAKE THE MAKEUP QUIZ

Confused about which of our Best Organic & Natural Makeup Brands will work best for you? Take our quick Organic & Natural Makeup Quiz & get matched with 5 personalized recommendations from this list in just seconds.

*Henne Organics – Luxury Organic Lip Treatments ($$$)

Henne Organics makes luxurious organic treatments and tints for your lips. While Henne is most known for their ultra-creamy luxury lipsticks (made with over 80% organic ingredients), our team fell in love with some of their lesser known products. Namely, their 86% organic lip treatment serum made with a 24k gold plated rollerball applicator and their USDA Certified Organic Nordic Berries Sugar Lip Scrub. Every product we've tried from Henne is a stand-out. If you suffer from dry, chapped lips or just want to treat your kisser to some #selfcare, you won't be disappointed with Henne.

*Elate Clean Cosmetics – Organic & Natural Mineral Makeup ($$)

Elate Cosmetics makes a stunning array of all natural & organic mineral makeup options. Their products contain around 75% organic ingredients and they never use nano particles in their formulas. From pressed powder and liquid foundations to vibrant eyeshadows and vegan lipsticks, Elate offers a wide range of options in a variety of shades. Another thing that we can't help but comment on is how gorgeous their packaging looks and feels in person! Some of our favorite Elate products include their Refresh Foundation, Universal Creme Blush, Liquid Eyeline, and Pressed EyeColour Eyeshadows.

*Juice Beauty – Organic Makeup ($$)

Some of our favorite makeup treasures are made by Juice Beauty! Juice Beauty is an organic and all-natural skin & makeup brand that has exploded onto the mainstream in recent years. Just because you can find Juice Beauty at your local Whole Foods doesn't mean that they don't make some truly noteworthy makeup pieces. A few gems worth checking out include their Phyto-Pigments Cream Blush, Phyto-Pigments Youth Cream Compact Foundation, Stem Cellular CC Cream (really sheer coverage), and their Phyto Pigments Perfecting Concealer, and the Phyto Pigments Luminous Lip Crayons.

*Sappho New Paradigm – Vegan Organic Makeup ($$$)

Sappho New Paradigm was founded by a veteran makeup artist with a vision for cleaner beauty standards. Sappho's entire line is free from talc, dimethicone, GMOs, soy, nano particles, gluten, and every other gnarly ingredient we could think of. Their products are seriously well crafted (you can tell that the products were formulated by an expert) and offered in a wide variety of shades. Some must-try Sappho products from our trial include their Vegan Mascara, Essential Foundation, C.C. Cream, Eyeshadows, and Blush.

*INIKA Organic – Certified Organic Makeup ($$$)

INIKA organic is an Australian Certified Organic makeup brand with an international presence. The line is 100% vegan, 100% natural, cruelty free, and the entire line is certified organic. INIKA makes everything from foundations, concealers, eyeshadows, lip products, and everything in between. They offer a variety of affordable trial sets and starter sets so that you can try a few of their key products before committing to a larger purchase. A few of our favorite INIKA products include their Long Lash Vegan Mascara, Loose Mineral Foundation Powder with SPF 25, and Baked Mineral Blush Duo.

GET MATCHED! TAKE THE ORGANIC MAKEUP QUIZ

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

*RMS Beauty – All Natural Mineral Makeup ($$$)

RMS Beauty was founded in 2008 and was one of the early pioneers of clean makeup products. They've grown to an international brand that makes some pretty amazing makeup products that almost double as skin care. For example, their Un-Cover Up Cream Foundation pot contains more antioxidants and nourishing plant extracts than most organic moisturizers! Their products all come in an impressive array of pigments, so everyone is sure to find their match. Some noteworthy gems from RMS are their Cream Foundation, Lip2Cheek Tints, Un Cover Up Concealer, and their beautiful Living Luminizer highlighter.

*NU Evolution – All Natural & Organic Makeup ($$$)

NU Evolution makes simple, yet beautiful mineral makeup options made with natural and organic ingredients. Unlike some mineral makeup brands that make their products entirely out of minerals, NU Evolution packs their products with antioxidants, plant extracts, and nourishing oils to add a little nutrient boost to your makeup routine. The brand makes some of the most beautiful natural and subtle shades of blush, eye shadow, and bronzers that we've tested. We're madly obsessed with their "Soho" Pressed Blush, "Chic" Pressed Eye Shadow, "Chianti" Lipstick, and their Pressed Powder Foundations.

Common Mineral Ingredients in Natural Makeup Products

There are a few ingredients that you’ll see pop up as you research the ingredient lists of many natural and organic makeup products. These ingredients are titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica, silica, zinc oxide, and ultramarines. All of these ingredients are natural minerals that 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. We’ve done our research and compiled the best information that we could find on the safety and effectiveness of these minerals.

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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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
about-author_diane-elizabeth125
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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Skin Care Ox product reviews are 100% brand neutral. Skin Care Ox does not accept compensation in exchange for reviews. Additionally, there are no paid advertisements on Skin Care Ox. From time to time, brands will submit products to our team for review. Whether we procure the products ourselves or they are submitted to our team for review—our reviews remain honest and neutral.

Skin Care Ox is primarily funded through affiliate commissions. Meaning, when you purchase a product via a link from our website, we earn a small commission on the sale from the retailer (at no additional cost to you). Skin Care Ox is a member of numerous affiliate networks representing hundreds of cleans beauty brands and retailers. Because of this, no single brand or company has control over our review decisions. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more information.

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.

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.

11 Comments

  1. Avery JoYcelyn Block January 12, 2019
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