Clean beauty has made strides over the past few years, going from a relatively sparse category to a thriving, innovative one. With clean and natural makeup formulas now up to speed in terms of pigment, texture, longevity, and even packaging style, there’s no better time to make the move towards non-toxic, clean formulas. Devoid of parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, petroleum, and synthetic fragrances, clean beauty and makeup products instead opt to make use of plant and botanical extracts, as well as non-toxic synthetic ingredients.
You’ll also enjoy:
Achieve Lightweight, Glowy Coverage With These Serum Foundations
Skin Fasting Is The Trend That Encourages You To Break Up With Your Ten Step Skincare Routine
Take A Two-pronged Approach To Skincare By Incorporating An Ingestible Beauty Supplement
What’s the difference between natural and clean beauty?
Although the terms ‘natural’ and ‘clean’ are often used interchangeably, they’re actually pretty different. Natural typically refers to the purity of ingredients, with natural beauty and makeup products featuring solely nature-derived ingredients without the use of synthetics.
Meanwhile, clean beauty denotes products that are proven to be non-toxic and safe for human health, however, these can include synthetically manufactured ingredients. Clean beauty products are free from ingredients like parabens, sulphates (including SLS, SLES, and phthalates), mineral oil, and silicones and can often also be sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free, though as a largely unregulated market, this isn’t always the case.
The best clean beauty and makeup products on the market
From blush and lipstick to mascara and foundation, these are our favourite clean makeup products.
1. Ere Perez Beetroot Cheek & Lip Tint
Clean, natural, and cruelty-free brand Ere Perez is not only committed to purity in its ingredients, also placing ethics and sustainability and its forefront. This vibrant multitasker gets its rouge pigment from beetroot, providing a sheer yet intense swipe of colour that works well on its own or over makeup. Acting as a lip or cheek stain, it’s made with rosehip oil and vitamin E to create a formula that glides on easily while working to nourish and moisturise the skin.
2. Juice Beauty Phyto-pigments Ultra-Natural Mascara
A deep, inky black, the Juice Beauty Phyto-pigments Ultra-Natural Mascara will force you to ditch your preconceived notions regarding the effectiveness of natural mascara. The uniquely-shaped spiral brush ensures an even coating, while the blend of carnauba wax, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid works to provide hydration and prevent breakage of your lashes.
3. Kjaer Weis Cream Blush
Blending clean beauty with a clean aesthetic, Kjaer Weis makes makeup that looks and feels good on your face and sits beautifully on your vanity. Housed in their iconic minimalist silver packaging, the Kjaer Weis Cream Blush is made with skincare-first ingredients like sweet almond and jojoba oils, making for a lightweight, blendable formula.
4. Rituel de Fille Forbidden Lipstick
Cruelty-free clean beauty brand Rituel de Fille uses natural ingredients and minimalist formulas to create its highly pigmented products. Made with beeswax, castor seed oil, and jojoba oil, these rich, hydrating lipsticks come in six statement-making shades.
5. Ere Perez Carrot Colour Pot
Makeup that feels like skincare, the Ere Perez Carrot Colour Pot derives its strong pigment from carrots, combining them with skin-soothing oils like jojoba, castor, and avocado to create a rich balm. Using a brush or your fingertips, smooth it onto the apples of your cheeks, lips, or anywhere else you could use a little colour!
6. Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation
Glowy, dewy, and lightweight, the Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation is a true makeup-skincare hybrid. With soothing aloe and moisturising jojoba oil, it provides light-to-medium buildable coverage while working to blue pores, minimise the appearance of imperfections, and provide radiance, perfect for that no-makeup makeup look.
7. RMS Beauty Un-Cover Up
Creamy and blendable, the RMS Un-Cover Up concealer seamlessly erases dark circles, spots, and pigmentation while delivering a naturally radiant finish. Made with jojoba and coconut oil, this silky-smooth concealer slides on easily, providing a mild hydrating and soothing effect.
8. Kosas Color + Light: Pressed Powder Blush & Highlighter High Intensity
Add a little shine with this Kosas blush and highlighter duo. Made with double the pigment, each palette features a blush and highlighter that perfectly complement each other, providing any makeup look with an elevated feel.
Words by T. Angel
Feature image courtesy of Ben Toms for Vogue China
