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Clean Makeup Brands Your Face Will Love

I made the switch to non-toxic makeup a long time ago and I am thankful for several brands that helped me through my clean beauty journey. If you aren't already aware, many makeup brands produce products that contain synthetic chemicals such as parabens, which are believed to disrupt the endocrine system and mess with your hormones. And if you think about it, many of us start experimenting with makeup in our early teen years when the endocrine system is really kicking into high gear.

In a previous blog post, I discussed some of the alarming things that are hanging out in our makeup bags. My rule of thumb is that if I can't pronounce something on the ingredients list, I won't put it on my body. After a lot of tried-and-true testing, I'm sharing some of my favourite non-toxic makeup products and brands.

Sunscreen

Let's kick this off with the most important one - sunscreen. Its purpose is to help prevent cancer but so many sunscreens out there on the market have ingredients that are directly linked to cancer. I am focusing on mineral sunscreens which are deemed safer than the chemical options. Make sure that your sunscreen contains only zinc and/or titanium dioxide. Some will say "mineral-based," which often means that those ingredients have been mixed with chemical sunscreens.

Mascara

When reaching for a mascara, stay away from an ingredient called Carbon Black, also known as Black 2 - it's made of coal tar (WTF, RIGHT?!) The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a Group 2B carcinogen, which means it is “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” No thank you.

I used the Think Dirty app to search thousands of items to get their "clean" rating and detailed information about ingredients. My favourite picks so far have been:

Blush

Ahh, I had such a favourite when it came to blush. Turns out it didn't rate so well on the ol' Think Dirty scale and I had to ditch it. I still haven't found one that I absolutely love, but I've been liking the 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Blush which gives a nice natural glow. W3LL PEOPLE Nudist Multi-Use Cream Stick is also a great option and has a nice consistency.

Lipstick

This one was easy for me as I've been a long-time fan of ILIA's Tinted Lip Conditioner. There are a ton of colour options (I love Arabian Nights and New Nude). 100 Percent Pure has also their Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze that is super long-lasting and lightweight. It conditions like a balm but has the colour like a lipstick or lip stain.

Eyebrows

When it comes to brow gels there aren't a ton of options out there yet. I love The Green Kiss, so I use their 100 Percent Pure Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder. It's super lightweight and easy to use - just brush through your brows and go.

Concealer

Like my beloved blush, I was a diehard fan of the concealer that I had used for years. It ranked WAY too high on the Think Dirty app as it contained Butylated Hydroxytoluene (DHT), a possible carcinogen as well as fragrance. Ugh.

I replaced my concealer with two clean options and alternate between the two, depending on what I'm looking for that day. W3LL PEOPLE Bio Correct Multi-Action Concealer and Vapour’s Illusionist Concealer have been doing the trick. I've been really impressed with Vapour's concealer to brighten under my eyes and conceal dark circles and really like the mousse texture of W3LL PEOPLE's concealer. It's also quite thick, so you only need a tiny bit.

There is no better time than now to start adopting a more natural beauty routine! The market for clean products that are also effective and innovative is growing and there are so many to choose from. Depending on where you're located, you likely have a green beauty store near you. Victoria people - The Green Kiss is located at Uptown Shopping Centre and is amazing!

Make the switch today.

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