The best natural makeup brand overall
Jane Iredale is a line of mineral makeup formulated with high quality, natural ingredients designed to nourish the skin and enhance its natural beauty. The company is known for its multitasking products and wearable shades. The products are free of perfume, alcohol, synthetic chemicals, and artificial dyes. The makeup is also cruelty-free.
We tested the entire makeup line to see if it lived up to the hype, and the Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powder ($46) is now one of my favorite foundations. This multitasking product comes in 12 shades and works as a foundation, concealer, and sunscreen with SPF 20, plus it soothes your skin and is water-resistant. I loved the coverage and it didn't irritate my sensitive skin.
The Longest Lash Mascara ($35) comes in a squeezable tube and adds volume and length. The Eyeliner Pencil ($17) comes in seven wearable colors and glides on smoothly.
The Pure Moist Lipstick ($25) is also amazing and has a subtle fruit scent. Available in 27 colors, it combines powerful pigments with nourishing natural oils like avocado and jojoba and fruit extracts like pomegranate. I love the PurePressed Blush ($30), a mineral blush that comes in 12 gorgeous colors and has great staying power.
It's not just us who think Jane Iredale products are amazing. The makeup line gets great praise on The Good Trade, The Trendspotter, and Natural Living Ideas. The makeup is hugely popular with Amazon shoppers and Nordstrom buyers too based on the high number of reviews on many products.
Pros: Free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, oil-free, certified cruelty-free, vegan, suitable for sensitive skin, wide range of products and makeup shades
Cons: Expensive
The best non-toxic makeup brand
RMS Beauty is a clean beauty brand that prides itself on the simplicity of its makeup products. The makeup is formulated with unrefined raw, food grade, and organic ingredients, and it's free of toxic chemicals and artificial preservatives. It also bears the "Clean at Sephora" seal which means products are made without certain ingredients, which you can see the full list here.
The award-winning "Un" Cover-Up Concealer/Foundation ($36) can be used — you guessed it — as a light foundation or concealer, and it comes in 16 shades. It evened out my skin tone well. Makeup artists and celebrities swear by the Living Luminizer ($38), and I agree that it's a must-have for your makeup bag.
The Volumizing Mascara ($28) is good for sensitive eyes. Some shoppers said that it doesn't give much volume, but I added a couple more coats and it built up nicely.
The Wild With Desire Lipstick ($28) is also great and comes in 15 beautiful shades. I was impressed with the high color from the rich pigments. For lips and cheeks, the Lip2Cheek ($36), which is available in nine shades ranging from Blush Nude to Deep Berry, is also very popular. I love the natural effect it produces.
In addition to be being highly rated by She Knows, Refinery29, and Allure, Sephora shoppers give the brand glowing reviews across the board.
Pros: Non-toxic, cruelty-free, gluten-free, no artificial preservatives, GMO, "Clean at Sephora" seal
Cons: Pricey, mascara might not be as voluminous as expected
The best cruelty-free makeup brand
Mineral Fusion combines pharmaceutical grade minerals, antioxidants, natural ingredients, and the latest technologies to provide makeup that is safe, protective, and effective. All the products are Leaping Bunny-certified, which means they're cruelty-free. They are also free from parabens, gluten, artificial colors, phthalates, and other harsh ingredients.
The highly-rated Pressed Powder Foundation ($22.21) comes in 15 shades and is amazing. You can build it up where you want more coverage, and it has a matte finish. I love the Concealer ($17.84), a creamy duo that comes in four color options and is great for blemishes and dark under-eye circles.
The Lengthening Mascara ($14.81) is a rich, gentle formula that made my lashes look longer and fuller. The Eye Liner ($14.06) was soft and easy to apply.
The Mineral Fusion Lip Stick ($14.54) is now my new favorite lipstick. It comes in 15 colors and contains vitamin E and fruit oils to moisturize. There is also a fabulous 3-in-1 Color Stick ($14.60) for cheeks, eyes, and lips that comes in four shades. My favorite shade is Terra Cotta.
Mineral Fusion is rated the top mineral makeup brand on Best Reviews and is featured on Project Grace as a great cruelty-free brand, though it does point out the brand's limited range of colors. Shades are wearable and pretty, but not the most exciting as there aren't any bold blues or bright purples to play with.
Pros: Certified cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, made with non-toxic ingredients, great for all skin types
Cons: Can be hard to find in stores
- Buy the Pressed Powder Foundation on Amazon for $22.21 (originally $20.29)
- Buy the Concealer on Amazon for $17.84 (originally $20.99)
- Buy the Lengthening Mascara on Amazon for $14.81 (originally $15.49)
- Buy the Eye Pencil on Amazon for $14.06 (originally $13.72)
- Buy the Lip Stick on Amazon for $14.54 (originally $17.09)
- Buy the 3-in-1 Color Stick from Amazon for $14.60 (originally $19.99)
The best organic makeup brand
LA-based Ilia Beauty escapes the conventions of organic and natural beauty, and is highly rated by beauty experts and buyers alike for combining natural beauty with bold pigments and products.
It was started in 2011 by Sasha Pavsic, and not only do the makeup products contain up to 85% organic ingredients, their effectiveness rivals many traditional brands. Note that this means products are made with organic and natural products, so you'll have to check ingredients accordingly; I was fine with the combination of the two.
The True Skin Serum Foundation ($54) comes in 18 shades, and nourished my skin with aloe leaf juice and jojoba oil while evening out my skin. The Mascara ($28) added volume and length, but still looked natural on my lashes.
The Pure Eyeliner ($24) is available in four colors and is buildable depending how dramatic or natural of look you like. However, it did smudge a little after wearing it for a few hours. Both are great for sensitive eyes.
The Tinted Lip Conditioner ($28) comes in 16 stunning colors and is basically a lipstick that feels like a balm or lip treatment instead. It's beautifully creamy with a semi-matte, natural finish and stayed on my lips for a long time, moisturizing them too with olive oil and vitamin E.
I also loved the Multi-Stick ($34) for lips, cheeks, and eyes. It comes in eight colors but I think it's more suited for lips and cheeks than eyes as the color families are orange, pink, and berry.
We're not the only ones who love Ilia Beauty. Publications like Allure, Huffington Post, and The Trendspotter all give rave reviews, and the brand gets good reviews in general Sephora.
Pros: Made with up to 85% organic ingredients, certified cruelty-free, vegan, great for sensitive skin
Cons: Expensive
The best affordable natural makeup brand
The choice is still pretty limited when it comes to affordable, natural makeup, however, we absolutely love Burt's Bees. This iconic brand may be famous for its lip balms, but it has developed a superb, affordable makeup range that's simple, natural, and socially responsible.
Ingredients are 98.9% natural and nourishing, like fruit oils, honey, and vitamin E. All the products are formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petrolatum, or synthetic fragrances, and they're Leaping Bunny certified to be cruelty-free by. Products do incorporate animal byproducts though, like honey and beeswax.
The Goodness Glows Liquid Foundation ($14.97) is a full-coverage mineral foundation that comes in 18 shades for a variety of skin tones and undertones. It lasted all day and I liked the dewy finish. Some customers did comment their bottle smelled really heavy, but I didn't notice or mind it.
Of all the products I've tried from Burt's Bees, I love the Nourishing Mascara ($9.43) the most. It gave me a natural look, didn't smudge, and stayed on all day. The Nourishing Eyeliner ($9.43) comes in three wearable colors, and is smooth and easy to apply.
The Lipstick (prices vary) is an Allure Best of Beauty Winner, and comes in 19 pigmented shades. The hexagon-shaped Natural Blush ($9.43) contains bamboo, honey, and vitamin E to nourish skin, and gave my cheeks a natural glow that didn't fade throughout the day.
Burt's Bees is rated highly by Allure and Byrdie, and the makeup line gets great reviews on Influenster.
Pros: 98.9% natural, Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free, affordable price tag
Cons: A more limited selection than some other more brands, not all products were as effective as other brands
Check out our other great skin-care and makeup guides
Yes, you really should be wearing sunscreen daily — even in the winter or when it's cloudy — to protect your skin from short- and long-term UV damage. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 is the best face sunscreen because it's a broad spectrum pick that's as comfortable to wear as it is good for your skin.
Here are the best face sunscreens you can buy in 2019:
- Best face sunscreen overall: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen
- Best tinted face sunscreen: ThinkSun Everyday Face Sunscreen, Naturally Tinted
- Best powder face sunscreen: ColorScience Sunforgettable Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Brush
- Best clear face sunscreen: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen
- Best solid sunscreen: Raw Elements Tinted Facial Moisturizer
Mineral sunscreens are highly effective, and far less toxic to small aquatic creatures that can metabolize chemical-based sunscreens, but they usually leave a streaky white mess.
We've tested several mineral sunscreens to find the best ones that are effective, look good, and won't hurt the environment.
Here are our top picks for the best mineral sunscreen you can buy:
- Best mineral sunscreen overall: Thinksport's SPF 50+ Sunscreen
- Best daily option: Goddess Garden Organics Everyday SPF 30
- Best spray-on sunscreen: Bare Republic Mineral Spray Vanilla-Coco SPF 50
- Best for the face: Raw Elements' Tinted Facial or Face & Body (both SPF 30)
- Best for the water: Manda's SPF 50 Organic Sun Paste with Thanaka
Using a serum as part of your skincare routine is essential to keep your skin looking youthful and to keep those darn wrinkles at bay. Considered the superheroes of skincare, serums are packed with powerful ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin.
Anti-aging serums deal primarily with fine lines, wrinkles, and dehydration, but also tone, texture, and dark spots. Some of the best anti-aging Ingredients to look out for are vitamin C, for brightening the skin, hyaluronic acid for plumping it up, and Retinol, a vitamin A derivative that treats a multitude of skin concerns from wrinkles to acne.
Here are our top picks for the best anti-aging serums you can buy:
- Best serum overall: Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum
- Best serum on a budget: Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Anti-aging Serum
- Best serum to splurge on: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum
- Best all-natural serum: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum
- Best serum for acne-prone skin: Instanatural Age-defying Skin Clearing Serum
It's good for your skin to remove makeup every night, but it can be a pain without the right makeup remover.
We've done our research and tested the best makeup removers on the market to come up our top recommendations. Whether you're a devout double cleanser or prefer removing makeup on the fly, there's something on this list for everyone.
Here are the best makeup removers you can buy:
- Best overall: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
- Best cleansing oil: Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
- Best cleansing oil solid: Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original
- Best foaming cleanser: Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
- Best cleansing wipes: Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloths
- Best milk cleanser: Avène Eau Thermale Gentle Milk Cleanser
When it comes to body-care products, scrubs are oftentimes overlooked in favor of lotions and body wash. But the exfoliating treatments should be included in your skin-care routines if you want to silky smooth skin. While you can also scrub away dull, dry skin by using loofahs or dry brushes, nothing will leave your skin feeling squeaky-clean quite like a good body scrub.
Here are the best body scrubs you can buy:
- Best body scrub overall: Herbivore Coco Rose Body Polish
- Best coffee body scrub: Frank Body Original Coffee Scrub
- Best salt body scrub: Ole Henriksen Rub n' Buff Transforming Salt Scrub
- Best sugar body scrub: Tree Hut Coconut Lime Shea Sugar Scrub
- Best gel body scrub: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub
If smooth, supple skin is what you're looking for, then the Fresh Life Body Oil is the bottle you want to reach for.
Here are the best body oils you can buy in 2019:
- Best body oil overall: Fresh Life Body Oil
- Best all-natural body oil: Jao Goe Oil
- Best body oil that's not oily: Herbivore Jasmine Glowing Hydrating Oil
- Best luxury body oil: Kypris Body Elixir Inflorescence
- Best budget body oil: Burt's Bees Body Oil
Whether you're new to the exfoliation game or a seasoned skin-care pro, Glossier's Solution is the exfoliator you should be reaching for. Its powerful mix of acids dissolves dead skin cells and improves your complexion, giving your face a gorgeous glow.
Here are the best makeup removers you can buy:
- Best overall: Glossier's Solution
- Best drugstore exfoliator: Simple Kind to Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub
- Best exfoliator for daily use: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
- Best exfoliator for sensitive skin: Juara Radiance Enzyme Scrub
- Best exfoliator for uneven skin tone: Ole Henriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub
