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19 Affordable Non-Toxic Makeup Brands You Have To Try

Most people are only now becoming more aware of the effects that makeup has, be it on your skin, a newborn baby, or on coral reefs of the world. And for good reason!

This awareness has been leading to non-toxic makeup products having much more visibility now than any time before.

Affordable non-toxic makeup can feel like it’s hard to find so I wanted to put together a list of brands that are actually committed to clean beauty to help you improve your makeup routine!

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19 Affordable Non-Toxic Makeup Brands You Have To Try

As a caveat to this list, please always double check the ingredients list of the specific product you are looking at!

While these brands make an effort to create non-toxic products, it is always worth it to double check the ingredients list of the product you intend to purchase. Let’s get to it!

1. Alima Pure

A brand from Portland, Oregon, this brand was founded as one that makes luxurious, high-performing makeup using clean ingredients.

Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, nanoparticles, etc., Alima Pure is the first color cosmetics company to have become a B corporation.

Their environmental commitment extends to 1% of their annual gross revenue being contributed to grassroots environmental organizations for protecting the planet. 

Alima Pure’s powder foundation comes in 45 shades and costs $26. Their cream blushes are $22.

2. Axiology (save 20% with code GENTWENTY)

Axiology is a brand that was founded after the founder Ericka learned that all lipsticks she had used had been tested on animals.

Soon after, she set on a mission to buy only vegan makeup creating Axiology which is a palm-oil and cruelty-free brand. They will never do any animal testing.

The ingredients used in Axiology makeup are all organic. Their hero ingredients include castor oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, orange oil, kokum butter, and soy butter. They are one of the top organic beauty brands on the market.

They recognized the problem that most makeup packaging ends up in landfills and came up with the solution to recycle your tubes by mailing the empty bottles or tubes you would like to be recycled. 

Their most-sustainable product yet are zero-waste lip balms called balmies and are 3 for $36. Their stunning highlighters are $14. 

Balmies

3. Clover by Clove+Hallow

Produced with a “do no harm” philosophy, Clove + Hallow acknowledges that they do their best to reduce the environmental impact of doing business as there is no perfect solution.

Only ethical sourcing of ingredients is done using vetted suppliers and you won’t find phthalates, synthetic fragrances, talc, PEG’s, formaldehyde-donors, or parabens in their products.

Products are filled in glass, refillable, or previously recycled plastics and put in fully recyclable unit cartons. They also provide a management guide for all types of their packaging. 

Their products were recently reformulated into a new product line known as Clover.

4. Corvus Botanicals

Committed to making a positive impact on the environment and society, Corvus Botanicals believes in having a more ethical and sustainable supply chain and production.

Offering alternatives for fast cosmetics, they focus on using renewable, pesticide-free recycled materials both in their ingredients and packaging. They also work with ethical farmers to source the best quality, organic, fair-trade produce. 

They have beautiful lip tints for just $5 in a huge array of colors. The ingredient list is simple and they are a very reasonable price.

This is a one-woman-owned and operated Etsy shop so you might have to check back for product availablilty! But I promise it is worth it.

5. HAN Skincare Cosmetics

When she was pregnant, the founder of HAN Skincare cosmetics, Susan found the need to look for safer and healthier makeup.

Staunch believers in clean beauty, their products deliver captivating color, skin health benefits, and clean ingredients saying a strong NO to around 2700 toxic ingredients. They are scented with essential oils.

Their updated packaging made from recycled paper and post-consumer recycled plastic can be composted or recycled at home or put into Credo’s Pact Bins.

Carmine, an ingredient made from a female cochineal beetle is not used in any of their products. 

Their blushes are $16, their concealer is $18, and their lipgloss is $15. 

Han Skincare Cosmetics

6. Lily Lolo

Lily Lolo is a cruelty-free brand that has a whole range of products with no perfumes or dyes. Ninety percent of their products are vegan friendly and have a cruelty-free international certificate.

They also have a “how-to” section on their website where they explain how to…all things beauty, for instance, How to: Bronzed beauty, How to: Iconic eye, that can serve as your ultimate guide to always looking good!  

Their bestsellers include their $14 lipstick, $24 cream foundation, $24 cheek duo, and $32 eyeshadow palette.

Lily Lolo Makeup

7. Mineral Fusion

Apart from the cosmetics, nails, skin, and hair sections, Mineral Fusion stands apart because it has a separate section for winter makeup products shop.

With their “try it on” option, you can try on all shades of their face, cheeks, lips, eyes, and brows products with a virtual try-on tool. Many of their products are still handmade. They’ve also recently launched refillable palettes.

Their best-selling foundation comes in 32 shades and is $32. Their mascara comes in 3 colors and is $20.

8. P/Y/T Beauty

Featured in magazines such as Shape, Allure, Fashion, Glamour, and Vogue, P/Y/T Beauty is a brand that you should look out for.

Saying NO to all the nasties present in makeup, they go by the motto “clean beauty and sustainable packaging”. They use PCR in their packaging and give plastic a second life. Additionally, they also use sugarcane-based plastic in many of their tubes. They even offer an exciting student discount of 25%!

Their Rosy Nude eyeshadow palette has 12 shades and is $28. Their brow pencil is $14. And their liquid liner is $16.

PYT Beauty

9. Range Beauty

Range Beauty, a Black-woman owned business, is the first clean brand to launch a makeup line for acne and eczema-prone skin.

They provide good for skin and zero irritation ingredients in their products which lets your skin look and feel delicate after use.

With their Shade finder, you can find the perfect shade of products for your skin color and type. With raving reviews on Forbes, Into the Gloss, Refinery29, etc. this brand should be definitely on your list whilst shopping for clean makeup products.

The Hydrating Foundation is $21, the translucent powder is just $16, and the dual eye/highlighter is $14.

10. Ere Perez

Created by the magical woman Ere, who is curious about nature and healing, this brand’s website is a clean and no-nonsense one that is fairly easy to navigate and shop from. This is one of my personal favorite natural makeup brands.

The brand also released a new range in 2018 which showcased unique Australian native ingredients.

Their informative journal is all about not only makeup but also a clean and peaceful lifestyle where you can find a range of topics from how to achieve the perfect lashes to recipes for making coconut cranberry cookies!

Their Rice Powder Bronzer is $38,  the Oat Milk Foundation is $40, and the cream blush for lips and cheeks is $28.

They have just released 3 news shade of both the Jojoba Eye Pencil and their Coco Crayon!

The eyeliners are perfectly creamy for a stunning smokey eye.

The Coco Crayon can be used on your eyes or lips and is a zero waste makeup product!

11. Root Pretty

Root Pretty is a feminine brand founded on the principle that what you put on your face and body should be natural and safe.

Started out as a hobby from her kitchen, the two things that the founder Krista Dolash wanted to address were the harmful chemicals in makeup as well as the high cost of makeup.

With Root Pretty, you can order subscription boxes apart from gift options as well. You can also have the option of refilling or buying in bulk.

A cool thing about Root Pretty is that you can choose your packaging, whether plastic, glass or refill. Root pretty also has non-toxic cleaning products for sale!

Their eyeshadows are $10, lip balms are $8, and bronzer powder is $12. 

12. W3ll People

W3II is an award-winning makeup brand that produces plant-powered products. Their motto is “All people can be well people” and aim to make clean beauty accessible to all. Renewable botanicals like green tea, turmeric, pomegranate, rosehip, etc. are the main ingredients featured in their products. W3II are clean beauty pioneers with over 35+ and growing EWG-verified (Environmental Working Group) products.

They have great products for sensitive skin and are one of the most well-known clean beauty brands.

Their brow pencil is $12, the Power eyeshadow palette is $19, and their tinted moisturizer is $30. 

affordable non toxic makeup

13. Crunchi

A highly popular and critically acclaimed clean beauty brand, Crunchi has a few products owning badges for clean beauty.

Research from non-profits and compiling evidence-based research for many years has helped them crack the code for ingredients that will not put your health at risk.

For this purpose, only Ecocert ingredients are used in their products! They have many organic products that also work as skincare as well as makeup.

While they are one of the more expensive brands on this affordable non-toxic makeup list, you need very little of products so they last a long time making them actually less expensive in the long run because you don’t have to purchase them as often.

Their foundation is $50 and blush is $32.

14. Honest Beauty

Honest Beauty has everything you are looking for in terms of non-toxic makeup. They believe in the logic that clean ingredients equal happy skin. Their makeup sections are different from the usual hair, skin, eyes, lips, etc. of normal beauty websites.

Honest Beauty has the sections Baby + Diaper, Beauty, Bath + Body, Cleaning, Jess’s faves, Hand sanitizer which shows their effort to provide non-toxic products that a woman at every stage of her life is looking for.

Honest is one of the pretty clean makeup brands, but do be sure to double check their ingredients. Some of their products do use synthetic dyes (seen as “Lake”).

Their lip balms are $9, their eyeliner and brow pencil are both $13, and their powder blush is $16.

15. RMS Beauty

RMS beauty is our favorite for non-toxic skincare and makeup (we have already mentioned them in our earlier posts on non-toxic skincare). They’re all about enhancing your natural beauty versus covering it up.

Raw, food-grade, and organic ingredients are used in RMS beauty products in as close to their natural state as possible.

The main ingredients used in RMS makeup products are Buriti oil, coconut oil, Vitamin E, Jojoba oil, Rosehip oil, and an RMS adaptogenic blend.

With the RMS rewards program, you can also earn swift points which you will be able to redeem for free products and other discounts. 

Their Luminizer Quad comes with four products and is $48 ($12/each) and their new cream shadows are $26.

RMS Beauty

16. Vapour

The brand Vapour calls itself “unconventionally clean” because they are solar-powered, respectfully waterless, and provides rewards for empties.

You could also get samples for foundation, color, and primer. On purchases over $50, they also offer free carbon neutral shipping.

You can also join their rewards program by following them on social media, creating an account, and recycling four or more empty bottles!

Their Minimalist Makeup Set is $42 and their Lunar Eclipse Set is $69.

Vapour Beauty

17. Exa Beauty

Exa Beauty describes itself as retailer risk-takers. Their name comes from the name for the decimal 1018 because of their wide range and impact.

With a foundation that comes in 43 colors, this brand is all about inclusivity. Committed to providing every person the perfect clean shade match, you could also take the “Get matched” quiz on their website.

They are a dermatologist-approved brand and also have the Credo Clean standard. Moreover, their products have some seriously funky packaging!

Their foundation is $38 and their Eye Sparklers are $22.

18. Gabriel Cosmetics

Founded by Gabriel De Santino in 1992, from his experience in homeopathic skincare, Gabriel Cosmetics does not compromise on aesthetics, functionality, or accessibility.

Earth-conscious and ethical options are offered with 100% natural ingredients and Gabriel Cosmetics has now grown into a beauty empire with the addition of Gabriel, Zuzu Luxe, and Clean kids naturally.

They also have a diverse collection of organic skincare, recycling programs, and a discount program for healthy cosmetics. 

Their lip liners and eye liners are $12, liquid radiance is $12.50, and eye shadow is $14.30.

19. Silk Naturals

Silk Naturals, based out of New York is an independently owned award-winning makeup brand.

Their website is very attractive because they have several product offers and discounts available. Featured in Daily Mail and Vogue, they’ve been making clean beauty products since 2006.

They make vegan and cruelty-free makeup affordable and accessible to all with their time-tested formulas and clinically backed ingredients.

This is your one-stop-shop for all things non-toxic makeup! And they definitely have some of the most affordable prices out there and made in small batches.

Their duochrome eye shadows are under $5, their dry skin foundation is $11, and their concealers are $6.50.

Why does non-toxic makeup matter?

Normal makeup is formulated with many of the most toxic ingredients available out there.

Applying these ingredients generously on your face and body enables the pores on your skin to absorb these nasties causing severe problems to your health.

There are way too many scientific studies that prove that many of the ingredients used in makeup are just not safe for human health. These studies cannot be ignored any longer!

A brand should technically only use ingredients that are safe for human health. Unfortunately, the beauty industry currently lacks severe regulations, so the onus is on you (the consumer) to make the right choices of products for your face and body. 

A large percent of skin conditions like allergic dermatitis and irritant dermatitis is caused by the products you use on your skin. To remedy these problems, you buy and apply even more toxic makeup products. Isn’t it time for this cycle to stop?

Ingredients To Avoid In Makeup

Although traditional makeup has a whole bunch of toxic ingredients, here we mention only a few of them:

  1. Formaldehyde– A well-known carcinogen. Formaldehyde releasers like DMDM hydantoin, Diazolidinyl urea, quarternium-15 are also present widely in makeup. 
  2. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)– Widely used as thickeners and solvents, this chemical can cause irritation and systemic toxicity.
  3. Toluene– This solvent is linked to brain toxicity especially when pregnant.
  4. Talc– Talc is dangerous because it can be contaminated with asbestos which is a known carcinogen and can cause lung disease.
  5. Teflon– Added to cosmetics to improve its texture, Teflon causes hormone disruptions.
  6. Carbon Black– When inhaled can be linked to cancer.
  7. Parabens– The most well-known ingredient to have appeared in breast cancer tissue samples. 
  8. Fragrance – Fragrance is not only unnecessary in makeup, but when listed in an ingredients list, it can actually be one of over 3,000 ingredients that companies to do not have to disclose

We’ve even seen recently that Johnson & Johnson has recalled products for being contaminated with carcinogenic byproducts.

Additionally, cosmetics manufacturers have reported “using 88 chemicals, in more than 73,000 products, that have been linked to cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm.”

Many products are not regulated and are untested in the beauty and personal care product industry.

Final Thoughts on These Non Toxic Makeup Brands

As you can see, there are so many wonderful clean and affordable non-toxic makeup brands to try. Even switching to natural products one product at a time in your makeup routine will make a difference.

Which of these affordable clean beauty brands are you going to try out first?

About the Author

Nicole Booz

Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.

Website: genthirty.com