This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may make a small commission on items purchased through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
The Ultimate Guide to Non-Toxic Makeup Products
Did you know that the average woman is exposed to over 160 chemicals before walking out the door in the morning?
Pretty scary to think about. A study conducted by the EWG in 2020 found that women are exposed to nearly double the amount of harmful chemicals men are exposed to daily.
These chemicals include:
Formaldehyde
PFAs
Mercury
Parabens
Quaternium 15
And more..
Today I will share some of my favorite non-toxic makeup products I’ve tested for myself! These are all brands and products that I love and trust to use for myself and my 12-year-old daughter.
If you’re new to my blog, welcome! I’m Michaela. Mom of six, including a cancer fighter. I blog about motherhood, recipes for large families, our non-toxic journey, and my son’s fight with cancer. Here are some of my most recent posts about non-toxic living:
Nutrition and Non-Toxic Living
Now more than ever, it is crucial to research the products you are purchasing and what chemicals you could be exposing yourself to. Making simple swaps that we’ll cover in today’s post will help you lower your exposure and reduce your risk of potential health issues from using products that contain these harmful chemicals.
All the brands I plan to share today have received an excellent rating from EWG’s Skin Deep database, have been personally tested by me to ensure they are worth the purchase, and won’t ruin your budget! When I started my non-toxic journey, I quickly noticed how pricey some brands are. As a mom of six, sticking to a budget is crucial. I refuse to waste money on a product that won’t work. You can trust that every brand I share works well and offers affordable products.
Here are some of the topics we’ll cover in today’s post:
What is non-toxic makeup?
Harmful ingredients to avoid
Benefits of non-toxic makeup
How to identify non-toxic makeup products
Top non-toxic makeup products
Non-toxic makeup for different skin types
Tips for transition to non-toxic makeup
What is Non-Toxic Makeup?
The term ‘non-toxic makeup’ is up for interpretation, but to me personally, I will not purchase any products that don’t pass my inspection. It can be difficult, but I’ve been doing this for so long that it’s become second nature to me to read labels and know if I instantly trust a brand. My process includes reading the ingredient list and checking for items I am uncomfortable with. If unsure, I’ll use the EWG Skin Deep Database to get another opinion.
If this sounds overwhelming to you, it’s okay! I have created a free checklist that I’d love to send you to help you through this process. If you’re interested, sign up for my email list here, and I’ll send you my FREE Learn Your Labels Checklist to download! It’s a one-page list of commonly used harsh chemicals and which products you will most likely find them in. You can keep it right on your phone and pull it out when choosing a new product to test out.
There’s a difference between ‘clean,’ ‘healthy,’ ‘natural,’ and non-toxic makeup products that we should cover as well. When a product is labeled as ‘clean,’ no regulations or testing are required before using this word to describe a product. Unfortunately, as consumers, we have to be vigilant when making decisions, but until more strict regulations are in place, we must research and spend our money wisely. This is similar for words like ‘healthy’ and ‘natural’. There are just no regulations in place that brands must pass before using such words.
The difference between using these words and researching non-toxic alternatives is that many of the products are tested to ensure they are free from harsh chemicals, dyes, and toxic ingredients when products that are greenwashed or labeled as clean are not.
Harmful Ingredients to avoid when researching non-toxic makeup
My Learn Your Labels Checklist covers these more in-depth, so remember to sign up for my email list to get a copy of that!
Here are some of the most common chemicals I work to avoid when choosing non-toxic makeup products:
Parabens- Causes issues with hormone dysregulation and infertility.
Phthalates- Liver, kidney, lung, and reproductive damage.
Formaldehyde- Irritation to the skin and throat and increased cancer risk.
Aluminum- Linked to breast cancer, aluminum can also cause an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Talc- A known carcinogen, Talc can also cause lung issues.
Sulfate- Reduced lung function and irritation of the skin and mouth.
Fragrance-synthetic fragrances are common in beauty products and are known neurotoxins that cause nausea and respiratory issues.
PFAs- cause liver and thyroid damage as well as infertility and cancer.
While this list is not exhaustive, these chemicals are most commonly found in beauty products and can cause serious health issues with prolonged exposure.
Benefits of non-toxic makeup
In addition to protecting your health by switching to non-toxic makeup, you’ll also be helping the environment in the process. The chemicals we try to avoid can also cause harm to our planet and shouldn’t be so widely used the way they are today.
PFAs have been found in nearly half of our water supply in the United States. Water that makes its way to our home contaminates fish and other animals and causes serious harm to our health and the health of other animals in our country. By reducing our use of conventional beauty products and switching to safer alternatives, we can help reduce excess chemicals that end up back in our water supply.
Using non-toxic makeup can also clear your skin and unclog pores as no heavy ingredients clog it, allowing it to breathe!
How to identify non-toxic makeup products
I mentioned this previously, but the best way to identify safer alternatives to conventional makeup products is by researching labels and familiarizing yourself with chemicals you no longer feel comfortable using. This may not be something you learn to do overnight. If this takes you some time to really grasp, that’s okay! Don’t feel like you should master this in one day and immediately know from now on what chemicals to avoid for the rest of your life.
It took me about 6 months to feel confident in reading labels and understanding what ingredients I was no longer comfortable using on my body or in my home. Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s okay to research one product at a time, one ingredient at a time, before moving on to more research!
The system I use is very simple. I choose one item I want to research at a time. We’ll use mascara, for example. Instead of throwing out my entire makeup bag and starting from scratch, I choose one product at a time, take a day or so to research non-toxic mascara and make a purchase. I use Amazon sometimes and make note of the return policy in case that product does not work for me so I can return it within the proper timeframe. That way, I can test a product, but if it doesn’t work for me, I’m not out any money. There is nothing wrong with utilizing a return policy that is in place to help customers! Remember that when researching any products, you may want to swap out.
I made the mistake once of throwing out my entire cleaning cabinet and starting from scratch. Not only was it wasteful and expensive, but it was also incredibly stressful. I won’t make that mistake again. It’s okay to take things slow and replace one product at a time. This will help avoid any sense of overwhelm and help you stick to your budget.
When working to identify non-toxic makeup products, use the free download I’ve mentioned and the EWG Skin Deep Database if you’re unsure. The database rates products on a scale, with a lower number being the safest option. Remember, it isn’t perfect, and you need to feel confident about your research. I try to avoid seed oils when making purchases as much as possible, but the EWG database doesn’t give a rating based on these oils, so I know I need to do extra research to find brands I am comfortable purchasing from.
Top non-toxic makeup brands
The brands I’m sharing today have multiple products rated well by the EWG database and work wonderfully in my experience. I will never recommend a product to you that I haven’t personally tested out for myself.
These products are:
Free of synthetic fragrance
Received a 1 or EWG certification from the Skin-Deep Database
Have no harsh chemicals
Work well and stay on even through sweat and lots of movement.
I will list each brand and the products I have tried and loved from each brand.
Ilia- Liquid foundation, mascara, lipstick/blush combo, concealer
Honest Beauty- Mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow gel, primer
W3ll People- powder foundation, mascara, eyeshadow
Beautycounter- lipgloss, foundation, mascara, eyebrow gel
Mineral Fusion- eyeshadow, foundation
Non-toxic makeup for different skin types
I have oily skin and need products that will mattify my skin, especially across my forehead and nose. If you like a bit of a dewy look, many of the brands I previously suggested offer foundations in different coverages and finishes.
I love that finding safe, non-toxic brands has become a little easier. While I wish it were more mainstream, researching safe brands is easier than ever with the internet and databases available to us today. Just make sure you’re doing your own research and not solely relying on a website to do it for you.
The goal is not to live a 100% toxin-free life: there’s no such thing! The goal is to be as educated as possible and feel confident in the products you’ve chosen to purchase.
Tips for transition to non-toxic makeup
Like cleaning and personal care products, transitioning to non-toxic makeup products should be gradual. I know it can seem tempting to throw everything out and start from scratch, but this is not only expensive but unwise. If you react poorly to a product, you want to know what caused the reaction instantly. If you’ve thrown out your whole bag and started fresh, there’s no way of knowing what product is causing the issue. Take things slow and wait at least a week between each swap you make.
Many brands offer excellent return policies. Make note of that and use it to your advantage! If you don’t love a product and are still within the return window, return it and try again. This will help you save money and find products you love and trust without ruining your budget.
Conclusion
Remember that switching to non-toxic makeup doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take the information you learned in this post and gradually change your makeup routine. It’s okay if takes you 2, 3, or even 4 months to replace your makeup routine! These changes should be sustainable and make you feel confident in the brands you purchase from.
Thank you so much for being here today! If this post was helpful to you, please remember to share and pin it to your favorite board on Pinterest.
Until next time,
M
This site may contain links to affiliate websites including Amazon. I may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you through Amazon or other potential affiliates and no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
