Using natural products makes me feel good. Like, not just actually feel good physically, but there is something beneficial mentally knowing that what I’m putting in or on my body isn’t anything that could over time be damaging. I knew that a lot of makeup (like everything else it seems like) is made with harmful chemicals, but the thought of trying to replace all of my favorite products with something organic seemed both daunting and undesirable (and expensive)–could I really get the same results with something made from all-natural ingredients?
In my mind, organic makeup just didn’t sound like something that would actually work well. I was imagining something like coconut oil mixed up with nutmeg and being marketed as “foundation.” But, thanks to the internet and my holistic-godess-mother, I came into contact with some products that I actually have come to love more than the ones with chemicals and unnecessary, unhealthy ingredients. Throughout the years, I have slowly made a lot switches to all-natural makeup products and feel a lot better knowing that what I’m putting in my body are ingredients that I can actually pronounce! My hope is that by sharing the organic or all natural products I love I can inspire others to begin to make this healthy change in their daily beauty routine.
I know when I started my search for all-natural or organic products that the choices were both over and underwhelming. I first went to a local health store, but realized I didn’t even know what to look for. The choices seemed limited to things like colored chapstick and mascara made from foreign-sounding-fruits. I tried a few foundations, but they were a little “too organic” (think the whole coconut oil with nutmeg idea). I found the best thing was to look up reviews and blog posts on what brands people were loving and order products online. Once I figured that out, I was able to find some amazing products that are still my go-tos today. If you’re interested in knowing what chemical-laden products you could switch out for something you can feel good about, read on!
Since fall is rolling in and I have yet to post a wellness / natural living post on my blog, I wanted to share my top good-for-you makeup picks for this season! I chose to focus on three brands that state that they work to make products without harmful chemicals, or are working to develop products that use more organic ingredients than otherwise. There is plenty of debate online as to how all natural these brands are, but personally, I figure that any company that is at least consciously trying to make something that is a healthier and give people an organic option is worth a try! I’m hoping in the future to go more in-depth with which brands are the *most* natural, but for now, here is what I use and love– especially during this time of the year!
TARTE
I’m starting with Tarte because it is one of my favorite brands. On their website they state that all of their products are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, synthetic fragrances and gluten, just to name a few things you might not want being absorbed into your skin. I use their Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation (it’s a loose powder, but comes with a kind of mesh overlay that makes it easier anytime I’m wanting a more full coverage over my usual tinted moisturizer, and am thoroughly in love with their lipsticks. They have natural, tasteful shades, and I’ve never tried a more “buttery” lipstick. Their shades of blush are also very pretty, and the compact kind has a soft-feeling when you brush it on. A while back I got one of their cream blushes in my Birchbox subscription and I actually used the entire thing up, which I rarely do unless the product is amazing (and it was amazing – sadly the don’t make the color anymore!). These images show my favorite lip shades that came in a little tri-pack deal they were doing close to this time last year. These shades of pink are perfect for this time of the year because they’re not too pink– the options include a nice, deep plum-like color, a nude-pink color (favorite), and a more girly peachy-pink color. While I use these babies year-round, I really like the way they look with my more fall-ish outfits.
PHYSICIAN’S FORMULA
You’ve probably seen this brand at Walmart or Walgreens. I wanted to include Physician’s Formula specifically because it is super cheap compared to other brands toting the word “organic.” Let’s get real, a lot of us don’t buy organic makeup (or organic anything else) because we don’t want to pay the extra money for it. Well, now you don’t have an excuse for not switching a few of your products to something better for you because Physician’s Formula is good about creating a decent product for an affordable price. On their website, they state that they never allow fragrance, PABA, or any of the 100+ known skin irritants into their products, and they write that allergists, dermatologists, and ophthalmologists can recommend their products. Finally, something kind of cool– on each product page online are little symbols that specifically tell you what is not included in the product, including gluten-free, paragon-free, and cruelty-free options. Look for the products under their “Organic Wear” brand for the most organic options. My top picks from Physician’s Formula are their bronzer and mascara. Physician’s Formula has a ton of bronzer options– it’s actually pretty overwhelming! Personally, I like the Magic Mosaic Multi-Colored Bronzer. It doesn’t have that sheen some bronzers have, so it looks very natural and almost matte-like. It’s a buildable product, meaning that you can use a little or a lot depending on what kind of look you like, which is always nice. As well, it comes in a kind of ombre shade, so you can choose how dark or light you want to go. Overall, it just gives you a nice tan color. As for the mascara, let me say this first: I have felt like finding good organic mascara is like trying to find the perfect man. You think you’ve found it, but then after a couple of times wearing it throughout the day, you know it’s just quite not for you– it’s close to perfect, but just not your soulmate. Other organic mascaras I’ve tried seemed oily to me and didn’t seem to put on much thickness to my lashes. This mascara doesn’t feel organic, which is why I like it. I use the Organic Wear Natural Origin Mascara. Plus, the cap looks like a leaf, which I think is cute.
ORGLAMIX
My mom got me these organic little eyeshadow pots a while back and I still love them. These are all from Orglamix, an online natural cosmetic store. On their website, Orglamix says that they work only in small batches and are cruelty-free and vegan. They offer natural mineral makeup (a lot like BareMinerals, but more of a small batch company, it sounds like). Looking on product pages, you will see that they specifically state that their eyeshadows are made without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals, and phthalates. I won’t lie, I don’t really know what a lot of those things are, but I figure I wouldn’t want them on my eyes. However, even if these eyeshadows weren’t organic, I would still buy them because I actually love the way this stuff applies and stays on. If you only like matte eyeshadow, non-sparkly eyeshadow, or pressed compact eye shadows, these don’t fit the bill. While it doesn’t have a glittery consistency, it is very shimmery. Personally, I love this. I don’t like using eyeshadows that feel flaky or like you have to put five layers on to get any color on. This comes in a loose powder and is pretty potent. It only takes one application for me to get a lot of shimmery color. Also, Orglamix has a ton of color options. Here I have the colors Iris, Pink Pepper (which can also be used as a blush), Grape Hyacinth, Skyline, Stone, Celestine, and Sesame. At $12 per pot, I feel like they are well priced, considering I’ve been using these for a year and still have a ton of product left! I would recommend any of these colors for fall– I know browns and golds are a fall go-to, but I personally like switching it up with greys and purples like these!
Those are my organic makeup picks for fall this year! I hope that if anything, this inspires you to realize that organic makeup products are accessible, work just as well as other products, and are actually pretty affordable! The more research I do on what is actually in makeup and the way that our skin absorbs what we put on it makes taking the time to buy good products that are good for me worth it. I hope it does for you too, and that this post makes taking this step to a healthier face / life easier for you!
