*Note: This post has been updated to include additional natural makeup brands
Even though I do not wear makeup often, as part of my clean beauty journey I have been on the hunt for some great natural makeup brands. Fortunately, a year ago I signed up for a subscription box and natural beauty products are frequently included in the box – to my pleasure!
A couple things to know about natural makeup. First, most of the blushes and highlighters (and sometimes even eye shadows) are creams, not powders. As a result, the products blend into the skin much better and look more natural. They also do not rub off when talking on the phone or taking your shirt on or off. Cream products give a bit of a dewy look though, so if you have oily skin choose a cream based blush with a matte finish.
Second, since these products are cream based, the packaging often recommends you use your fingers to apply it. I strongly recommend that you do not do that. No matter how clean your fingers, the risk of contamination is high. Instead, you may find you need to invest in new, better quality makeup brushes. For applying my highlighters, I prefer RMS Beauty’s Skin 2 Skin Blush Brush (it’s a stippling brush). I like the RMS Beauty brush because it never results in an over application of product! For application of my blush, I use Sigma’s 3DHD Kabuki brush, again, it does not result in the over application of product and ensures the product only highlights my cheeks.
One last thing. Before I start listing my favorite products, I want to let you know my makeup philosophy. I do not use makeup to cover anything – so no foundation and no concealer, even if I am in the midst of a breakout. My flaws are my flaws. Instead, I use it to accent certain parts of my face, mainly my lips and cheeks. I already have pink cheeks so any blushes are simply meant to highlight the pink that’s already there. Additionally, I actually only use highlighter right along the edges of my cheekbone just because I really like to highlight the natural glisten that’s already on that part of my face. If you always wear foundation and concealer then perhaps consider omitting it from your routine as part of your natural makeup journey. I’m here to tell you that you are beautiful just as you are.
Now, with that said, below is a list of my favorite natural makeup brands:
Peek Beauty
Peek Beauty makes natural beauty products with organic and/or natural ingredients. You can purchase their products from their website or Birchbox. Their website also has a “No-No, List” page, which lists all of the ingredients banned from their products.
I use their blush products, specifically the Metalimatte Naturally Quick Drying Blush in Aboo. I enjoy the consistency of the product and I appreciate the soft color it adds to my cheeks. The color looks completely natural on my skin and it does not sweat off during the day. Plus, their products are not coconut-oil based so I have never had an issue with breakouts.
One final thing to note, they seem to make colors that compliment a wide variety of skin tones. I really do think any woman, no matter the skintone, could find a blush that suits their skin well. That is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to products today – too often they cater to a limited range of skin textures and tones. As if there is only one woman shopping for all these beauty products.
Prices: All products (except sets or collections) costs $22.
RMS Beauty
Another growing player in the natural beauty market is RMS Beauty. In addition to being available for purchase on their website, RMS Beauty’s products can also be purchased at a number of retailers, including Birchbox, Dermstore, Sephora and Nordstrom (to name a few). RMS Beauty’s website has a page devoted to the ingredients contained in each of its products.
While I really like the consistency of all of RMS Beauty’s products, I cannot use the majority of their products. The majority of their products are made from a coconut oil base, which I cannot use on my face. Coconut oil-based products cause pretty severe breakouts for me. So, if you have oily- or combination-oily skin, you might want to stay away from coconut oil-based products or at least test them on your face in a spot you can easily cover with your hair.
As such, I use their Lip2cheek on my lips and I use their Un-powder (untinted) to help with shine control. Seriously, a little dab of the Un-powder in the morning keeps me shine free all day!
Prices: Cost ranges from $20 – $44
Honest Beauty
The Honest Company has been around for quite some time and while it has definitely had its share of controversy, I actually really like one of Honest Beauty’s highlighter products – the Spotlight and Strobe Kit. It blends so seamlessly into my skin that it does not even look as if I am wearing makeup at all. Even though they do not have a page specifically devoted to their ingredients, they list the ingredients in each product on the respective product page.
Prices: Cost ranges from $12-$22
Ilia Beauty
Ilia’s products can be purchased on their website and at a variety of retailers, including Birchbox, Bluemercury, and Sephora. The FAQ page of their website has an entire section devoted to the ingredients in their products.
I use their Satin Cream Lip Crayon and I absolutely love the consistency. It applies incredibly smoothly, the color lasts nearly all day (even through eating), and it just wears nicely. The only thing is you have to be careful when you start wiping away after a meal or you will find lipstick all over your face! That does not really bother me though – I’m pretty diligent.
Prices: Cost ranges from $24-$54
Suntegrity Skincare
The final company I will reference (for now at least) is Suntegrity Skincare. You can purchase their products on their website or at the Dermstore. As with nearly all of the companies listed above, they have a page specifically devoted to the ingredients that are and are NOT included in their products. I use their Suntegrity Lip C.P.R. All of their lip products contain SPF (the good SPF). I think it is pretty easy to forget the importance of applying SPF on our lips, but they also need to be protected from the sun’s UV rays.
Prices: Cost ranges from $24-$54
Kosas
Kosas has become one of my favorite beauty brands, as of late. I currently use their new 10 second eyeshadow and their lipsticks. You can purchase their products on their website and a variety of stores, including, Sephora . Their lipstick goes on incredibly smooth and has true staying power. It is also very moisturizing, which I really appreciate.
Antonym Cosmetics
Antonym makes a great baked blush that blends beautifully – it can either be applied lightly for a minimal look or more heavily if you want to go bold and dramatic. I absolutely love this product. They make other products and I look forward to trying more in the future. You can purchase their products on their website or at Sephora.
W3LL People
I have been using W3ll People’s mascara for the past 3 months. My lashes always look fuller and bolder when I use this product. The only issue is that sometimes the product irritates my contacts towards the end of the day and then I frantically have to take out my lenses. It is not water proof so be careful if you are an eye rubber. You can purchase this on their website.
Resources
Article: Cream Makeup 101: Applying it Like a Pro