10 Non-Toxic Makeup Brands: The Key to a Healthier, More Natural Beauty Routine
Image: ILIA
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the best Non-Toxic Makeup brands in 2024
In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the beauty industry, with more and more consumers seeking non-toxic makeup options. The rise of non-toxic makeup can be attributed to a growing awareness of the potentially harmful ingredients found in traditional cosmetics. People are now more conscious about what they put on their skin and opt for products free from chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.
Non-toxic makeup not only offers a safer alternative but also provides numerous benefits for the skin. These products are often made with natural and organic ingredients that nourish and protect the skin from environmental damage. They are also gentle on sensitive skin, reducing the risk of irritation.
In addition to being healthier for the skin, non-toxic makeup also aligns with the values of many consumers. People are increasingly concerned about sustainability, animal welfare, and supporting ethically sourced ingredients. Non-toxic makeup brands prioritize these values and offer cruelty-free, vegan, and sustainable products.
So, if you want to transform your beauty routine into a healthier and more conscious one, non-toxic makeup is the key!
Why Switch to Non-Toxic Makeup?
One of the key benefits of non-toxic makeup is that it is gentle on the skin, making it suitable for many different skin types, including those that are more sensitive. Conventional makeup products often contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin, leading to redness, itching, and breakouts. On the other hand, non-toxic makeup is formulated with more gentle and soothing ingredients that minimize the risk of irritation.
Another benefit of non-toxic makeup is that it can improve the overall appearance of your skin. Traditional cosmetics often contain ingredients that clog pores and contribute to acne breakouts. Non-toxic makeup, on the other hand, allows your skin to breathe and promotes a clear and radiant complexion.
Furthermore, non-toxic makeup brands often prioritize sustainability and ethical practices. You are contributing to a more sustainable and ethical beauty industry by supporting these brands. Non-toxic makeup is often cruelty-free, vegan, and packaged in eco-friendly materials. If you prefer for your makeup to be Vegan, as well as Non-Toxic, make sure to check out this post here.
COMMON TOXIC INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN COSMETICS:
Traditional beauty brands use numerous synthetic ingredients that can harm humans and the planet. Because the beauty industry is largely unregulated, companies have been allowed to use thousands of harmful ingredients for years without any consequences.
Why does this matter? Because these ingredients have been linked to cancer, respiratory issues, hormone disruption, and numerous disorders. What we put on our skin is directly absorbed by our bodies, so prioritizing sustainable, non-toxic products is essential.
The easiest way to ensure that a product is safe to use is to confirm that it doesn't have any of the following chemicals:
Parabens:
Parabens are extremely common in beauty products and are used as preservatives. Unfortunately, parabens are endocrine disruptors that negatively impact both humans and animals.
Phthalates:
These chemicals are commonly used in beauty products that contain fragrance or nail polish. They are also linked to endocrine disruption. Phthalates can be labeled as DMP, DEP, DBP, and DEHP.
Artificial Fragrance:
Most fragrances in beauty and household products are made of numerous chemicals. You can't research how it may affect you since you don't know what it's made of. Try to avoid any products that include fragrance on their ingredient list and look for non-toxic options instead.
Formaldehyde:
Formaldehyde is a commonly used gas that acts as a preservative. Unfortunately, despite how often it's used, it is a known carcinogen at high levels of exposure and can act as a skin irritant.
Petrolatum:
Petrolatum, i.e. petroleum jelly, isn't unsafe when properly refined. Many petroleum-based products, particularly in the U.S., are not properly refined. If they aren't, they may contain PAHs, which are toxic chemicals and suspected carcinogens. The only way to ensure petrolatum is safe for use is for brands to be transparent about their refinery history, which isn't required in the U.S.
Now, let’s go over some brands we DO recommend for your non-toxic beauty journey…
Our Favorite Sustainable, Non-Toxic MakeUp Brands:
1. Ilia
Favorites: Multi-Stick / Super Serum Skin Tint
An ethical & sustainable line dedicated to creating the purest products, ILIA uses certified organic bio-active botanicals to rejuvenate your skin. Not only do their products perform exceptionally well, but they also have a sleek look with conscious packaging.
The label runs a recycling program, so your empties never see a landfill. Even letting you send empties from other brands, Ilia doesn’t overcomplicate its formulas with many different ingredients, and they use packaging materials like recycled aluminum and glass when suitable.
2. Zakiella
Zakiella is Reimagining Clean Beauty™ through its eco-conscious and ethically sourced colourful cosmetics. They opt for high-quality natural and certified organic ingredients to create their lip colors and eyeshadows. Zakiella's cosmetics line is certified Cruelty-Free by Leaping Bunny and handcrafted in Canada. Zakiella takes a minimalist view with their ingredients (the list is short enough to fit on a lipstick cap!), keeping only the best for excellent performance. They are mindful of their packaging and print their labels directly on the product to avoid unnecessary individual cardboard boxes. You can even purchase eyeshadow refills!
3. Axiology
Favorite: Balmie Duo Set
Your new go-to for plastic-free & vegan lipstick!
Axiology offers a variety of lip balmies in different textures and colors, ranging from shimmery, creamy, rich, sheer to soft. Additionally, their lipstick comes with a tubeless application to reduce environmental impact, and their packaging is made from recycled cardboard which is compostable or recyclable.
Axiology is a brand that is dedicated to avoiding animal testing and ingredients, as well as palm oil, and aims to utilize natural ingredients as much as possible.
4. The Organic Skin Co.
Favorite: Draw the Line Eye Liner
The Organic Skin Co. (TOSC) is at the forefront of the movement towards high-performing, regenerative skincare.
Focused on natural beauty that delivers from every angle, TOSC creates synergistically blended products that care for your skin and our planet.
It fuses high-tech science (it’s a world leader in the use of revolutionary supercritical CO2 extracts), with pure organic ingredients, and next-gen sustainable packaging.
5. Elate
Favorite: Essential Mascara
A toxin-free, vegan & sustainable line with a mission to care for each other, our communities, and our planet, Elate uses healthy ingredients to make clean cosmetics to add to your beauty ritual.
Refills are sent out in seed paper envelopes that grow flowers when planted – super cute. The brand also offers lipsticks and other makeup with less plastic packaging, made from Forest Stewardship Certified bamboo and glass. In addition, their packaging materials can be sent back to be effectively recycled.
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6. NOTO
This beauty brand is based in Los Angeles and is known for its gender-neutral products. Customers can refill their products in-store, and all ingredients are locally sourced and vegan. Additionally, the products are animal-testing free and fair trade certified - ticking all the boxes for ethical and sustainable beauty.
NOTO's multi-purpose sticks and pots of color can be used on your lips, eyelids, and cheeks, which means you need to buy fewer products, helping to reduce overconsumption and waste.
All packaging is made from glass, metal, biodegradable materials, or recycled plastics.
7. Au Naturale
Favorite: Matte Lip Stain
Au Naturale is a line of vegan, organic, and paraben-free beauty products made with ethically sourced ingredients.
They are leading a revolution in clean beauty and encourage consumers to demand responsibility from other cosmetic brands.
Our favorite product from their line is the Matte Lip Stain, which is made with ethically sourced ECOCERT pigments and crafted with organic oils and waxes.
This formula is incredibly long-lasting!
8. Gabriel
Favorite: Nail Polish
A natural, gluten-free & vegan line advocating healthy living, Gabriel is bringing out the existing natural beauty in women.
They are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and have a recycling program for makeup products.
Most of their makeup line is made in the US, and they use eco-friendly packaging.
Their non-toxic nail polish line is among the best we've tried and highly recommended!
9. Trestique
Trestique is another brand that uses refillable packaging and recycled materials for their 2-in-1 products.
These products are designed to be endlessly refillable with a variety of items such as blush and concealer sticks, highlighters and bronzers, brow pencils and gels, mascara, and lip crayons.
The brand is vegan and transparent about its use of recycled materials, with up to 98% in their packaging materials.
Additionally, any product that is not refilled can be returned to the company for proper recycling.
10. Izzy
Check out Izzy for the world’s first zero-waste mascara ($39 for a one-time purchase, or you can sign up for more cost-effective membership).
It comes with no outer packaging and is shipped in reusable mailers which have been made with upcycled materials.
The tube doesn’t contain any plastic and is made from stainless steel. It’s designed to be cleaned and refilled over 10,000 times — so you basically never have to throw away another mascara for the rest of your life!
Plus, they recently launched lip gloss, lip butter & brow balms.
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