Beauty with a conscience and beauty that is affordable can be synonymous if you do a little research. I have researched 10 affordable make-up brands that are natural, non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic and some are vegan.
Beauty products are one of the least regulated industries in the US. FDA regulations nor the law require cosmetic companies to perform specific tests to prove the safety of their products or ingredients. Not only is there no premarket approval required, but cosmetic companies are under no obligation to disclose their safety information to the FDA. It is the sole responsibility of the cosmetic firm to ensure that their products and ingredients are safe, labeled correctly and in full compliance with the law. The FDA can and does inspect manufacturing facilities to assure US manufacturers and distributors of commercially made cosmetics.
Shockingly, the EU has banned 1,328 chemicals that are known to be hazardous as opposed to 11 chemicals banned in the USA. We are so concerned with what we put into our bodies; we tend to forget the possible effects of what we put onto our bodies.
The brands profiled below are not only affordable but committed to safe and non-toxic ingredients, sustainability, transparency in ingredient sourcing, no animal testing and fair labor conditions.
Alima Pure
This natural mineral-based cosmetic brand out of Portland, Oregon uses only clean and non-toxic ingredients. You will find all your makeup essentials at very reasonable prices. What I found incredibly helpful is that they offer curated sets (10 shades) of Satin Matte Foundation samples, including a Kabuki makeup brush for $24, as of this writing on sale for $19.20 and a $10 credit toward a future purchase of Satin Matte Foundation. An array of shades is available so you are sure to find a perfect match.
Dedicated to protecting the planet, Alima Pure has been 100% carbon neutral since 2008 and supports green initiatives.
Price: $11.20 – $36.80
Credo
Credo is a clean beauty retailer that has partnered with over 130 brands that are devoted to ‘The Credo Clean Standard’ which is the highest standard in retail. Due to health, safety and sustainability concerns, this standard prohibits the use of over 2700 ingredients (The Dirty List®) that are ordinarily used in many beauty products. Credo’s commitment to beauty is unsurpassed. Dedicated to improving the beauty industry for the better, you can shop with confidence knowing exactly what you are putting on your skin.
Price: Varies depending on the brand.
Ilia Beauty
Ilia Beauty believes skincare and makeup are one and the same. Products are formulated with skincare in mind. When it comes to performance, Ilia wearability is at the head of the class. Not only do they cater to a wide age span, but their diverse shades also offer something for every skin tone. True Skin Serum Foundation is available in 18 shades! I personally love, love, love their mascara.
The use of FD&C or D&C synthetic colorants in certain products such as their Multi-Stick and Color Block Lipsticks is a cause for concern as these dyes have been linked to cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23026007/#:~:text=Three%20dyes%20(Red%2040%2C%20Yellow,5%20were%20positive%20for%20genotoxicity
The only way to achieve the vibrant reds is with synthetic dyes as natural only ingredients do not produce the same result. While they are made with better base ingredients and a smaller percentage of FD&C colorants, I would look for better options if this is something you want to wear daily rather than occasionally. Overall, I love this brand with its’ ethical standards and dedication to sustainability.
Price: $18 – $54
Juice Beauty
Widely known for their plant-based makeup, Juice Beauty products are vegan, natural, cruelty-free and USDA certified organic. The use of sustainable energy sources for production is also a big win in my book! This brand listens to its customers. Aging customers raised concerns regarding the lack of healthy skincare products to aid in the visible effects of aging. The solution was to buy a farm and commence natural farming, incorporating their farm-fresh ingredients into their products. Brilliant, right?
Price: $10 – $72
Lily Lolo
Lily Lolo is a mineral-based brand from London with no fillers, dyes, or harsh chemicals that contains antibacterial properties that aid in improving the skin. The color palette offers a variety of dazzling colors and skin tones suitable for the fairest to the darkest of complexions. You are sure to find something amazing.
Price: $12 – $34
Rejuva Minerals
Founded in 2006, this affordable, non-toxic naturally derived mineral makeup brand uses all-natural and organic ingredients, minerals, botanicals, and fruit rather than dyes and chemicals. Clinically tested, EWG VERIFIED™ and MADE SAFE® Certified, Rejuva Minerals products are free of titanium dioxide and mica! You can find all your makeup essentials here.
Price: $13.95 – $31.95
Root Pretty
Based in Waverly, Iowa, this natural vegan brand was created with sensitive skin in mind. All ingredients are non-toxic, organic and ethically sourced. Root tests their products on themselves rather than animals. Samples are available in the Pearl Powder Mineral Foundation, Pretty Booster and Pretty Booster+. Choose 3 samples to find your color match and pay just $5 for shipping & handling. You will receive a $5 coupon towards the purchase of a full-size foundation. With 41 foundation colors and 11 Pretty Booster colors, you are sure to find the perfect match! Many of the pressed and pan cosmetics are refillable as well as the loose mineral powder cosmetics.
Packaging is as minimal as possible, recyclable and made in the USA. The website has an extensive list of empty product containers that can be returned to the company to be sanitized and reused when possible. Such as mascara wands that are donated to a wildlife rescue where they are reused as grooming tools on animals. Genius! What cannot be reused is recycled. I can’t wait to try some of these products.
Price: $8 – $28
Thrive Causemetics
Thrive Causemetics offers a full line of vegan skincare and cosmetics with a broad range of colors suitable for any skin tone. What makes their products so amazing is that they conduct research through their website via questionnaires, when developing a new product to dial in what the consumer wants and needs. This brand completely controls product development.
More importantly, Thrive Causemetics gives back by making a donation for every product purchased. On June 19, 2021, 100% of their profits were donated to 23 organizations that are tackling racial disparities and biases.
“Thrive Causemetics is a movement that anyone can join. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to empower and inspire countless women’s lives.”
Based on the thousands of online reviews, they definitely live up to the hype.
Price: $20 – $45
Known for their high-performance and dermatologist-approved cosmetics that soothe and nourish your skin. W3ll People has created a line of makeup/skincare hybrids that are handcrafted in small batches in the USA. The innovative use of botanicals and hydrating ingredients that are actually good for your skin is a win-win!
E.L.F. Cosmetics purchased W3ll People in 2020 and has since gone through a rebranding. The brand was founded by James Walker, Shirley Pinkson and Dr. Renee Snyder with the objective of making clean beauty accessible and affordable for everyone. Becoming part of the E.L.F. Cosmetics brand they are a step closer to making that a reality. Now available at Target, Walgreens and Ulta Beauty.
Price: $11.99 – $30
Zuzu Luxe
A sister brand of Gabriel Cosmetics, Zuzu Luxe was created with green beauty in mind. Natural, gluten-free, vegan and cruelty-free. All products are created from 100% natural ingredients. The color palette offers bright and bold eyeshadows and lip shades. While this brand is at a higher price point, per the reviews I found online, Zuzu Luxe products have all day staying power. According to one reviewer, a single tube of foundation lasted nearly a year. This brand is definitely worth a try.
Price: $10 – $34.95
For more articles on clean beauty, please go to http://www.ecogeeklife.com/10-budget-friendly-skincare-brands-you-can-use-without-guilt/