K guys… I have to admit, I was super stressed about writing this blog post.
After my super downer posts about all the crap that’s in typical makeup, I wanted to be the knight in shining armour to come along and be like ‘But don’t you worry! Here are hundreds of PERFECT makeup options for you!”
Except I’ve been looking and looking and looking and I haven’t been able to find anything that I would consider 100% “perfect” options. Everything that would otherwise be perfect seem to contain just one or two iffy ingredients.
But it’s not the end of the world. In the end, nothing can be perfect anyway since we all have different skin and react so differently to ingredients.
Just remember that these suggestions are all MILES ahead of typical makeup products! So eliminating that stuff is going to make a big difference to your skin.
The best thing you can do is try out one of these “pretty good” options and watch for the following reactions:
- Irritation – if your skin feels sensitive, red, irritated after use… maybe keep looking
- Dehydration – if your skin feels like it’s lacking hydration after use, or your skin gets more and more oily throughout the day (indicating the product is drying you out and you’re overproducing oil) … then maybe keep looking
- Significantly more acne – obviously if it’s significantly breaking you out more than you were before using it, it may not be the best choice. Give it a chance though to see if any breakouts after initial use could be a coincidence (ie. due to something else)
Keep an eye out for the above reactions over time too… sometimes products will feel ok initially but dehydrate or make your skin more sensitive over time.
These Are Not Personal Reviews
The other reason I’ve been stressing about this blog post is because it’s also hard to strongly recommend anything when you haven’t tried them yourself.
The following ones are simply those that seem like okay options based on me looking at the ingredients lists. It’s nothing about how they actually work or look or feel. It will probably lead to me ordering and trying some of them out for actual reviews.
Mind you… the other issue is that I’m not really a makeup person. I like a thick creamy concealer to dab on spots and cover under eye redness, and that’s it.
So I know what I like and am looking for, but I know other people use more things, and have very specific preferences about what they like, so it’s ….. well…… it’s tough, but I’m trying my best here….
So enough blabbing, let’s look at my “looks like a pretty good option, I hope” list:
Minerals Multi-Purpose Foundation
So in my search, I came across Ann Marie Gianni’s natural makeup line called Minerals Multi-Purpose Foundation.
How it works is that it’s a powder that contains only four natural mineral ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, and mica
So you can use it as a loose powder makeup, OR you can mix in a few drops of your oil of choice (which is awesome because you can choose one that you already know works for you, like jojoba or argan or hemp for example), and make it into a liquid foundation. Use more powder for heavier coverage, less for light coverage.
I love that it’s only four ingredients…
The only iffy thing is the mica, which sometimes people can find irritating, although it’s not one of the worst ingredients. Be careful if your skin is really sensitive… just watch for any irritation.
Also, the fact that this is only four simple ingredients also made me realize that it’s really not that difficult to just make your own makeup (for a lot less money and without the mica). I have been messing around with this with some success; will post a blog post on DIY makeup when I’ve perfected it!
Anyway – Minerals by Annmarie… not a bad choice, and “the people out there on the internet” seem to have good things to say. Here’s someone with acne prone skin’s youtube review on it.
Oh also… bonus: zinc oxide (and usually titanium disoxide too) is the main ingredient in natural sunscreens, so this foundation, and most other mineral makeups double as sun protection
Lily Lolo
Lily Lolo (click here for Lily Lolo UK) is another powder mineral makeup; their foundation has the same four ingredients as Annmarie’s at about half the cost (mica, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxides).
Again, the ingredients have natural sun protection, and I imagine you can probably make it into a liquid foundation if you prefer that.
Claims not to clog your pores, and helps you minimize breakouts.
They also have a powder concealer with just four ingredients: kaolin clay, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides
Update: I’ve been alerted that Alima Pure also has a foundation with the same four ingredients as Lily Lolo & Annmarie, so I’m just tacking that on here.
100% Pure
So, the makeup company 100% Pure has an outstanding ingredients list. Super great, nourishing ingredients, and nothing bad. Apparently it’s so natural you can eat the stuff!
This is the list for their Fruit Pigmented Healthy Foundation (liquid):
Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Pigmented Extracts of: Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Bean) and Lycium Chinese (Goji Berry) Fruit, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai Berry) Fruit Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Extracts of: Cerifera Cera (Candelilla Wax), Organic Camellia Sinensis (Ferment White Tea) Leaf*, Coffea Arabica (Coffee Cherry) Seed, Aristotelia Chilensis (Maqui Berry), Vitis Vinifera (Muscadine Grape) Skin, Garcinia Mangostana (Mangosteen) Peel, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit, Sambucus Canadensis (Elderberry), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed, Lonicera Caprifolium (Japanese Honeysuckle) Active Ingredients: 15% Titanium Dioxide, 10% Zinc Oxide * Certified Organic”
The only issue is that they use a lot of fruit extracts. These are super helpful and healing ingredients, but they are best used not every day, especially if your skin is already sensitive. They could potentially thin the skin and make it more sensitive over time if overused.
However, someone commented on my last article and said that she had sensitive skin and 100% Pure was feeling amazing, not irritating, and very soothing.
So.. I don’t know. This would absolutely be my recommendation if you’re a casual foundation wearer…like only wearing a full face a couple times a week.
And I don’t think it’s a bad choice if you’re an every day wearer… but just keep an eye on your skin. If it’s starting to get more sensitive over time, this could be why.
Zuii
I actually really like the looks of this liquid foundation formula from Zuii…
Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond oil), aqua, calendula officinalis (calendula oil), glycerine, aloe barbadensis (aloe vera juice), mica, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle flower extract), citrus aurantium dulcis (orange peel oil), rosa damascena (rose flower oil), pelargonium graveolens (geranium flower oil), daucus carota (carrot sativa seed oil), chamomilla recutita (chamomile flower extract), equisetum arvense (horsetail extract), urtica dioica (nettle leaf extract), glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol, tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate
It’s got all kinds of soothing, healing, anti-inflammatory ingredients like aloe, calendula, chamomile, geranium, and rose.
It does have the mica… but… whatcha gonna do…
And some cetearyl alcohol, but it’s so low down the list, it’s probably not the end of the world.
Overall, this one looks super. Their other products (concealer crayon, loose powder, blush, etc) look alright too.
Bella Mari
I was alerted to this one by someone in my Naturally Clear Skin Academy… I am pretty impressed with Bella Mari’s minimal and natural ingredient lists. I’ve even ordered and tried out the blemish stick concealer!
Ingredients for their blemish stick concealer:
Natural Mineral Zinc Oxide (77947) 33% (large particle size). Other Ingredients: Organic Olive Oil, Wild Crafted Candelilla Wax (Plant Based), Organic Shea Butter, Organic Sweet Orange Oil, Organic Thyme Oil, Organic Tea Tree Oil. May Contain: Iron Oxide (77491, 77492, 77489)
Ingredients for their matte liquid foundation:
Water (Distilled), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis), Whole Leaf Juice (Organic), Vegetable Glycerin, Shea Butter (Butyrodspermum Parkii), Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus amygdalus dulcis) Emulsifying Wax, Palm Stearic Acid, Rosehip Seed Oil (Rosa Rubginosa), Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate), Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide, Ultramarine Blue, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Silver Citrate, Citric Acid and 100% Pure Essential Oils of Calendula, Carrot Seed, Frankinsense, Lemon, Clary Sage and Tea Tree
I am very pleased they don’t use coconut oil like all the other natural brands seem to.
The oils they do use (olive oil, sweet almond, and shea butter) all have very low comedogenic ratings, but they can still be a little heavy for some people’s acne prone skin. This brand might be better for people skin that’s more on the dry side.
But then again, the very moisturizing properties of these oils might be just the right thing to balance the drying effect of the zinc oxide. Hard to say. I think it’s probably fine to use for a concealer!
I do really like the foundation has aloe, a variety of healing essential oils, and hyaluronic acid which is a super skin hydrator.
I can give an actual review of the blemish stick concealer… it’s thick, covers well, and seems to stay put for a while. Overall, I’m quite happy with it.
Rawskinceuticals
Just because this is at the bottom of the list doesn’t mean it’s my lowest recommendation (I just happened to find this one after finishing the rest of the blog post!)
In fact, this brand looks really fantastic. And is reasonably priced.
All of their complexion products… the powder foundation, concealer, BB liquid foundation, etc all seem to share the same basic ingredient format (which includes SPF 20). I imagine the only difference is the amount of oil that’s in each one (which changes the consistency).
Here are the ingredients for the concealer:
active SPF Ingredients: 8-12% Blend of Non-Nano Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxidecertified organic aloe leaf juicecertified organic cold pressed unrefined rosehip seed oilcertified organic cold pressed unrefined mango buttercertified organic cold pressed unrefined hemp seed oilcertified organic cold pressed unrefined tamanu oilcertified organic cold pressed unrefined pumpkin seed oilcertified organic cold pressed partially refined evening primrose oilcertified organic cold pressed unrefined avocado oil
cetyl-stearyl alcohol (coconut and palm derived)proprietary vitamin C herb complex blend: certified organic chrysanthemum, certified organic helichrysum flowers, certified organic orange peel, certified organic rosehips, certified organic eyebright, certified organic acerola cherry, certified organic cleavers, l-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) preservative blend: potassium sorbate usp, citric acid mineral oxides for color
No mica, no silica, no talc, no bismuth oxychloride, or any other nasty ingredient. No coconut oil…. all their oils seem to be acne friendly. And their fun Vitamin C blend looks very nourishing.
The concealer and liquid BB foundation do have a little cetearyl alcohol in them for preservative, but again… it’s so low down the list, it’s probably not an issue.
Looks like a winner to me.
DIY Kitchen Makeup
As an aside, there are a ton of recipes on the internet for super easy face powders that you can make from ingredients in your kitchen. Things like common spices and arrowroot powder.
And arrowroot powder apparently works great on it’s own as a setting powder.
So There You Go…
Choose one of these options and your skin is going to be a lot better off!
Tune in next week for more of my thoughts on “to wear makeup or not to wear makeup… that is the question”.
Oh yeah, PS – I’d LOVE to hear from anyone who has used the above makeup products. How did they work? Did you like them? Do they agree with your skin? Tell us in the comments!
96 Responses
Alima Pure also has the same four ingredients as the first few powder foundations you mentioned, and it’s really great! They have a ton of shades, like 60 or something, with a bunch of different undertones so seems pretty likely that you’ll find something for your skin tone 🙂 it’s also decently priced and I think you can order multiple samples of different colors to try them out
Ah so they do! I didn’t have a look at them before, I do like it that they have a lot of colours to choose from! Thanks for suggesting this 🙂
No problem 🙂 thanks for your awesome blog!!
Thanks Tracy, will definitely look into these options!
I use Lily Lolo mineral dry foundation but yes I have to moisturize my skin well and exfoliate it because it dries my skin a bit. However it’s realy healthy for my acne prone skin because my skin can breath and I don’t feel like I have a mask on my face ?
I have been reading your website faithfully for one month. I am so done with store products and prescriptions. I’ve wasted half my life battling with acne and trying to find the best way to cover it. Now at 38, scars and hyperpigmentation- I have bought supplements, vitamins, Manuka honey, oils, etc.
Only thing to change was makeup.
I narrowed it down to 2 of your suggestions and just wanted to let you know that right now the ClearSkin Minerals is leaving Etsy and is all 1/2 price. I crossed my fingers and ordered a bunch of products at fantastic prices! The next one I will try is Lily Lolo.
Thank you.m for what you do. I am so looking forward to having clearer skin!
I know, I saw about the Clear Skin Minerals! Such bad timing… she put that notice up the day I published this :/ I emailed her to see if she was just moving to a different platform or if it was definitely the end, but I haven’t heard back yet. Anyway – glad to have helped some anyway, hope one of the options works out for you!
Thanks for the info! I completely cleared my acne by changing my diet and lifestyle…after suffering for over 30 years and being on Accutane THREE times. I have totally cleaned up my skin care as well. I’ve been using Bare Minerals for years, but have been wanting to switch to something even better. I’m planning on trying 100% Pure…I’ll let you know what I think!
I talk a lot about everything I went through with my skin on my happy, healthy and hot blog, including what I removed from my diet, what I eat to make my skin even better, and my skin care. I’m anxious to try a new foundation!
Very happy for you Elizabeth! Must be such a relief after 30 years 🙂 Let us know how the 100% Pure goes if you try it
I find that all mineral makeup breaks me out. I recently tried Tarte mineral foundation powder and my skin went crazy. Bare Minerals did the same thing. It seems liquid is the only thing that works for me. I know it’s not the best option, but it keeps my skin clear.
Liquid is good; there are a few liquid ones on the list.. like I said, mineral make up can be too dehydrating for some people so liquid foundation is better for them! Or maybe it was the mica or other junk in it that was irritating your skin (I don’t think Tarte or Bare Minerals have the best ingredients). But other people have much better success with mineral makeup over liquid, so it’s pretty individual. Glad you found something that works for you!
Hey there!
If you look at Tarte’s line on the comedogenic listing (COSDNA.com is helpful), almost every single one of their items on the ingredient list has something that is a 4 or 5 on the comedogenic listing. Bad, Bad Bad! They market themselves as a “natural” line. Just goes to show, false advertising happens everyday in this country and no rules or regulations to change it. Trust nothing- make sure you look at the ingredients before putting on your face. Heck! Even I have and something that isn’t listed as “acne causing” will still break me out! Just gots to listen to what your body is telling you! 🙂
Oh and thanks Tracy for all you do!
Would you recommend Clinic’s “Even better” concealer?
I couldn’t easily find an ingredient list for it, but I doubt it.. I don’t think Clinique has good ingredients
I have bareminerals original foundation powder:
Medium Beige
– Titanium Dioxide 12.6%
– Zinc Oxide 21%
Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Iron Oxides, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide.
and their faux tan all over face color :
Faux Tan
Mica (CI 77019), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Kaolin, Carmine (CI 75470).
I also use their correcting concealer:
Light 1
-Copper: This mineral ingredient helps to disguise skin imperfections for a natural-looking, even-toned complexion.
-Lemon Peel Extract: This botanical brightener works to visibly brighten skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots and discolorations over time.
what’s the difference between these ingredients and the mineral foundations listed above? Would you recommend bare minerals face powder too ? I only use the bronzer regularly and the concealer when I have spots, but i’d prefer the most natural option
thanks!
Hi Michelle, the big one is the bismuth oxychloride, it’s apparently a big no no! A lot of people have major problems with Bare Minerals because of that ingredient
Great post… I’ve been using Jane Iredale pressed powder and been looking for a change so Thank you!!
Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation
Titanium Dioxide 14%, Zinc Oxide 3%. Ingredients: Mica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Plankton Extract, Algae Extract, Pinus Strobus (Pine) Bark Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract. [+/- (May Contain) Iron Oxides (Ci 77489, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Ultramarines (Ci 77007)]
I found another Brand of makeup that sounds promising. Its mineral makeup too.
http://www.faerieorganic.com/
Oh I’ve heard of that one.. I want to check out the ingredients but… is their website blank when you click on it? I’ll try again later, it doesn’t seem to be working for me right now
Thank you, Tracy! This is a super helpful post. I work in a professional environment, so I kinda feel like I have to wear foundation and concealer on a daily basis to cover up any active spots and scars. Currently, I’m using 100% Pure BB Cream, but I’m going to switch and try one or two of your other suggestions. I like the 100% Pure BB Cream pretty well, but I can’t seem to find a shade that matches my skin well. I’m naturally fair skinned, but in the summer I get color from being outdoors. I’ve also found that I’m dry in patches right now, and I’m not sure if it’s the BB Cream or something else. Anyway, thank you so much for doing all of this research!
You’re welcome Jan, I feel great to have got this subject sorted out! If you try any of the above brands, please leave your review of how you like it 🙂
I’m intrigued with making my own makeup!
Any opinions on bentonite clay vs arrowroot powder for the base?
Hi Miki!
I don’t know what’s better per se.. but I’ve been playing around and have successfully made a powder concealer that I like… it has zinc oxide, pearl powder, white clay, and arrowroot powder, and then a little iron oxides for colour. Oh and then quite a few drops of argan oil and a couple drops of essential oils (like lavender or whatever you prefer). Just enough to make it a bit sticky, but not turn it liquid.
I like it a lot! It’s too drying for under my eyes, but great for red marks and small spots if applied with a very small paint or makeup brush and then gently patted in. Also should go over moisturized skin, doesn’t look great on dry skin. I mixed it with a pestle and mortar to make it
I love Meow Cosmetics mineral makeup. No extra ingredients. I have found the prices to be pretty good and coverage to ne good as well.
Hi Ann, just had a look at them.. looks like a great choice!
I use Inika Mineral Foundation and I really like it! My skin is super sensitive since I took accutane and most oils and ingredients make me breakout but this foundation works really well
https://crunchi.com/product-category/face/
Found this company. Thought I’d share. They look like good products. Bit pricey, but sound ingredients. I like that they have a huge blacklist of ingredients!
Any feedback on W3ll People make-up?
I decided to give RawSkinCeuticals a try, and FINALLY found something that works for me that I don’t feel bad about wearing. I’ve tried the powder as well as the BB cream, and absolutely love both. I’ve always been a fan of liquid foundation, but typically find BB and CC creams to be too cakey, so first I tried adding just a drop or two of jojoba oil to the powder foundation (LOVE IT). Then I ordered the BB cream just to give it a try, and I love it even more. I definitely recommend this brand. We shouldn’t feel ashamed of the ingredients we put on our face!
Awesome, thank you for the review Caitlin!
I tried the Raw Skin Ceuticals, I love the coverage and finish-it’s amazing! However, when I get hot or start to sweat outside I can feel my face start to itch. It’s so annoying I feel like I want to wash it off. This reaction is only when I’m outside and it’s warm.. Do you have any insight on why this would be happening? My face doesn’t turn red and I don’t seem to be breaking out more than usual but it’s very itchy when I’m hot…could any specific ingredients cause that or do I just have the most sensitive skin ever??
Hi Amy, hmm I really don’t know! I can’t think of any particular ingredient that’s been known to do that.. people do react differently to different things. You say your skin is sensitive?
Well now that I’ve tried 100% pure and raw skin ceuticals for a few months.. I think I need to try some others. and the end of the day, when I wash off my makeup my skin looks so scaly like a snake. It’s really like scales that will peel off. I have to take a cloth and wipe the dry skin off and it’s just the same thing everyday. I use rosehip oil or 100% pure rose water moisturizer under my makeup and it still feels dry throughout the day, yet oily as the day goes on. I do wear makeup daily, it seems when I try my old Jane iredale or Clinique I don’t have the scaly skin at the end of the day? Maybe too much fruit enzymes in these clean brands? I’ll look at the other comments and see if there are others I could try next.
Hi! I tried OCM for about a month my skin looked and felt great. I was seeing clogs come out like crazy. I did everything right and kept all my washcloths clean. I used pumpkin seed oil. I saw myself in natural light one day and I was covered in skin colored clogged pores. At the same time I had started using Alima Pure mineral foundation. So I panicked and switched back to acne washes and my skin got worse and worse and worse. I went to the seem after almost two months. He said it was inflammatory acne. I have big clusters of red spots on my jaw and temples and my cheeks and filed with skin colored clogs. I’ve been using Onexton prescription cream for five months and I swear I feel like nothing is working and I’m starting to be suspicious of my mineral makeup although the oil seems like the more obvious culprit. I don’t know what to do. I want my skin back. It’s been three months of this. My skin looks and feels terrible. Any advice?
Five weeks on onexton not five months *** typo
Hi Megan, does the makeup make your skin feel dry and dehydrated?
At first yes and maybe a little itchy. But then my skin oils mix more with it and it doesn’t feel that way anymore.
Hi I was just wondering how your skin is doing now, and did you go back to Alima Pure? Sounds like I went thru something similar to you, it was after I began using a BB cream from Jane Iredale….everyone swears by that line but I just really think something in that makeup gives me the worst cheek & forehead acne! Ugh. So frustrating, I’m back on the hunt for a better makeup brand. I do have some of 100% Pure products, love their BB cream and thinking of trying the cream foundation. I have Alima Pure eyeshadows, that is all I use on my eyes now and no irritation whatsoever. Best of luck to you, I hope you can post an update to your situation. You are not alone!!
Tracy, thank you very much for making this list. It helped me to find an amazing makeup brand – 100% Pure, and now I’m its biggest fan.
My first product was the Fruit Pigmented Healthy Foundation and it’s the best foundation I’ve ever used in my life. I’ll explain why: it doesn’t seem to penetrate into your pores and clog them. It looks like it just lays on the surface of your skin like any powder would do (although it’s not a powder , it’s a very nice creamy foundation which makes your skin look smooth and matte).
Even though there are no comedogenic ingredients in it, I was still a little afraid because I suffer from big whiteheads all around my face and I’m 1000% sure that some of the makeup I had used before I discovered 100% Pure line definitely “helped” this nasty acne to appear on my face.
Now I started to discover other products of this brand and found out that they have an awesome tinted moisturizer (which has SPF 20 as well as the foundation). I also ordered a primer and a highlighter. Looking forward to trying those out 🙂
Hi Anya – that’s great!! Really appreciate the review, I definitely like hearing how this list of makeups pan out in the real world, and I think it’s very helpful to others. Very glad you found one you like 🙂
Hi Tracy, thank you for all you do to help those of us with acne. I’m 47 and still get acne. I recently found Mineral Hygienics powder mineral foundation. It has 4 ingredients, mica is one of them I believe. Also. I’ve recently started on some Environ skin care products for face care. Could you tell me what you think of it? I use tha AVST face cream level 1 and Sebuwash. Thank you! Ps: signed up for your tips on getting clear skin
Hi Tanis 🙂 Can you post the ingredients here?
I recently found Oxygenetix. It’s supposed to be good for acne prone skin… but what do you think of the silicones in it?
Hi Jen, I just checked out the ingredients and unfortunately it’s total junk!
What in the ingredients is bad?
Almost all of them, but yes mostly that it has about 7 different kinds of silicones in it, which are the worst ingredients for clogging pores and leading to skin issues
I’ve been using W3ll People make-up for quite some time and like it very much thus far!
What do you guys think about BareMinerals Complexion Rescue? It’s basically a tinted moisturizer. I like that it matches my skin tone perfectly, doesn’t dry me out, and looks very natural, but I’m afraid it might be contributing to whiteheads around ovulation time. The only moisturizers I use are jojoba oil and MSM cream. Any advice?
Hi Tracy! What are your thoughts on everyday minerals?
http://www.everydaymineral.com
Sorry wrong link:
https://www.everydayminerals.com/store/
Looks pretty good actually! It would be a good bet
Tracy,
How do you feel about BareMinerals and Beauty Counter Tint Skin Foundation. That’s currently what I’m using because I thought they were better than drugstore brands, but after reading your post, I’m thinking they a no go.
http://www.beautycounter.com/cosmetics/face/tint-skin-complexion-coverage.html
Thanks!
Hi Rachel! Can you post the ingredients of the one(s) you’re using? it’s a lot easier for me to have a look then and I’ll let you know my thoughts
Hello Tracy!
Are you aware of the brand “Omiana”? I just recently came across it. From quick glance their products look pretty fantastic 🙂 They offer an affordable natural Mineral foundation as well as a liquid foundation that is mica and titanium dioxide free! So far it looks like the only not so great thing about the foundations is that they offer a limited amount of shades..but…no mica! Haha.
I just thought I would share my findings…maybe it could be helpful to someone 🙂
I love your blog and your program Tracy. Thank you for sharing your experiences and wisdom and encouraging other ladies to have beautiful skin with your story and learned methods! I’m super jazzed you have several articles about makeup too! You’r blog has been a blessing to my skin and my life.
– Shianna
I forgot to include links…silly me.
Mineral foundation – https://www.omiana.com/collections/mica-free/products/loose-powder-bronzer?variant=11752175431
Liquid foundation – https://www.omiana.com/collections/mica-free/products/intense-coverage-matte-liquid-foundation?variant=13575227015
Hi Shianna – both look really good!! Nothing that stands out to me as a big negative. Have you tried both of them?? If you are planning to, comment back here and let us know how they “perform”
And thanks so much for your kind words about me and TLV! Appreciate that! 🙂
You’re welcome Tracy!!
Awesome! I am seriously considering trying it out…if I do, I will be sure to comment back here 🙂
What are your thoughts on PHYTO-PIGMENTS Flawless Serum Foundation? These are the ingredients
Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe juice)*, carthamnus tinctorius (organic safflower oil)*, organic glycerin*, potassium cetyl phosphate, sorbitan sesquioleate, coconut alkanes, coco-caprylate/caprate (plant derived), gluconolactone (plant derived), cetearyl olivate (plant derived), sorbitan olivate (plant derived), sodium benzoate, decyl glucoside (plant derived), silica, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium bicarbonate, citrus limonum leaf cell extract, helianthus annuus (sunflower seed oil), vitis vinifera (organic grape seed oil)*, tocopherol (Vitamin E), tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (Vitamin C), argania spinosa (argan shell powder), rosa gallica (rose flower powder). May contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499). – See more at: https://www.juicebeauty.com/makeup/shop-by-category/complexion/phyto-pigments-flawless-serum-foundation#sthash.NeOcBNxh.dpuf
Juice Beauty is definitely not bad and use a lot of great ingredients.. a lot of people with acne prone skin have great success with them!
Hi Tracy,
I am curious if you would recommend MG Naturals ‘Airbrush Miracle Liquid Foundation’. It is a vegan, organic brand and the ingredient list is fairly minimal. The concealer also looks intriguing. The foundation claims to have SPF but doesn’t list how much.
Foundation Ingredients: Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Apricot Kernel Seed oil, Organic Macadamia Nut oil, Organic E wax, Organic Vegetable Glycerine, Leucidal, Organic Carrot Seed oil, Organic Cucumber Extract, Organic Marshmallow Extract, Vitamin E, Zinc Oxide, Pearl Mica, Organic Essential oils of Rose, Geranium & Vanilla, Iron Oxides +/-
Concealer Ingredients: Organic Aloe Vera juice, Organic Rose hip oil, Organic Macadamia nut oil, Organic E wax, Organic Rose oil, Organic Green Tea extract, Organic Cucumber extract, Leucidal, Organic Carrot Seed oil, Kaolin clay, Silk mica, +/- Iron oxides, Mica.
Thank you so much!!
Wow, looks great Kayla! Sounds like a winner if you ask me; only wish they had more colours. Have you tried it? If you try it, come back and give a review of how it worked for you!
MG NATURALS FOUNDATION REVIEW:
Shipping: It took about twenty days to receive the package because it is based out of Australia. It was shipped to the Midwest, USA.
Price: Foundation ($29.50) Concealer ($17.67) Shipping ($6.00)
Color: I am a 4.0 in Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation so I chose the Warm Honey color. The Warm Honey is a bit dark for my skin, more orangey/brown than Urban Decay’s foundation.
Consistency: I am used to very liquidy foundations, but this one is more like a mouse at first. It blends in nicely, but it is more thick than a regular foundation. I used a small kabuki brush or a flat foundation brush.
Finish: I do not wear powder because my face breaks out if you look at it wrong, so my face was sticky after the foundation was applied. I went outside and the foundation looked good in daylight. I’d say the finish does not work for my skin but if you wear a powder it could look really nice.
Concealers: I ordered two concealers in Luminous Light and Medium Glow. I tried to use the concealer to cover blemishes and hyper-pigmentation, but that didn’t work too much. I used the light concealer for my under eyes and that seemed really tacky too, even when I set it with an under eye powder.
Packaging: The packaging is really nice because it’s an airless container with a pump so you can get every last drop out. The expiration date on the bottom said 07/2017 so it has a shorter lifespan than most foundations since I purchased the foundation in February 2017.
Overall, would I recommend it? The ingredients are really good for your face so it could be worth buying. If you are looking for a flawless face, I’d say try something else or stick with regular makeup. If you are looking to give your face a day off from real makeup once in awhile it might be worth picking up. If you want a bb cream coverage with SPF protection it wouldn’t hurt to try it. The SPF comes from the Zinc Oxide.
Thanks for your review, Kayla!
Hi! What do you think of the BeautyCounter products? Curious as i’ve heard them touted to be the best on the market. Thoughts?
Hi Tracey,
I found your blog about a month ago and am obsessed with freeing myself from the chemicals. I recently started using Manuka honey to wash my face (about a week now) and have definitely noticed the condition of my skin tone/coloring has improved. It used to be very dull and was in recovery mode from a horrible hormonal/over exfoliating and cleansing break out. I also switched to an aloe Vera gel to moisturizer. The jury is still out for that one. I can’t tell if it’s enough moisture for me or not. I’m tempted to try jojoba oil with it.
My next step is to work on wearing make up with the simplest ingredients list. I’ve been wearing Laura Mercier oil free tinted moisturizer with SPF 20. It definitely has more than a few ingredients but ultimately I’m scared to make the switch because I’m fearful of another break out. Can you tell your thoughts on the ingredients listed below?
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate. Water (Aqua), Disiloxane, PEG -30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Jojoba Esters, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Squalane, Laryl PCA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetradibutyl Pentaerithrityl Hydroxyhydrocinnammate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearrate, Disodium Edta, PPG-15, Stearyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben. (May Contain) +/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxide (CI 77492), Iron Oxide (CI 77491), Iron Oxide (CI 77499).
Thanks so much for sharing your wealth of knowledge!
Hi Anh 🙂 Good luck on the switch – just remember that your skin takes times to adjust and may need time to heal and purge and do some weird things while you’re switching away from the chemical stuff that your skin is addicted to. It’s worth it in the end! Keep an open mind and be open to the process. So with that as a preface – I have to say that the makeup you’re using is unfortunately full of junk! I would definitely consider switching
Thanks, Tracy, I looked it up on the Think Dirty app and yep, it’s horrible!
What about the brand Mineral Fusion? I buy it at Whole Foods.
Does it check out okay?
It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty decent overall!
I appreciate this review, and looked into the brands and can’t afford those prices…it sucks. To top it off, I feel like I’m stuck wearing conventional brands because those are the only ones that provide anywhere near the coverage I need for melasma. If I don’t wear foundation and concealer to over it, people have a tendency to stare and point it out to me…aaaand I am dark-skinned, not so great for the confidence! I’ve tried a few things to remedy it, including changing my diet (husband went nuts), using natural techniques, etc…the only thing that’s reduced it to this point (it’s much better, but still noticeable) are dermatologist treatments.
(sighs)
Hmm, I don’t know what the answer is, but I’m sending you a big hug!
Hi Milly,
I know cost may be an issue but from the size, ingredients and coverage it may be worth it. I use 100% Pure blurred tinted moisturizer in toffee. It covers my freckles, acne scars and red marks and is buildable.
https://www.100percentpure.com/collections/foundation-makeup/products/bamboo-blur-tinted-moisturizer-toffee
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice*, Rose Hydrosol, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado Seed) Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Extracts of Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit, Camellia Sinensis (Organic White Tea) Leaf*, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Bean), Lycium Chinense (Goji Berry) Fruit and Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Extracts of Euphorbia Cerifera Cera (Candelilla Wax), Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), Turmeric Root Extract, Bamboo Silica, May contain Iron Oxides , *Certified Organic
Also forgot to mention that if you are dissatisfied with the product, the company will refund you the money.
Just stumbled upon your blogs as I’ve changed over to Drunk Elephant skincare and it’s making me take a closer look at all the ingredients in my skincare and makeup. Just wanted to mention that I’ve read cetearyl alcohol, which is in a couple of the products you list in this article, is a fatty alcohol (vs. a drying alcohol). It is not sensitizing. Here is a helpful article: http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skin-care-basics/_/alcohol-in-skin-care-the-facts
Thanks for posting all of this helpful information about mineral make up! I changed back to BE a few months ago (used it years ago) and I’m wondering if it’s making my chin flare up! Going to try a different brand.
Hi Tracy!
Recently I’ve been “careless” with make-up, because my skin had no acne and I thought I can wear “whatever”. But now my skin feels “dirty”, clogged and bumpy. I looked at my make-up powder, the main ingredients are talc and silica. Uff, aren’t those just the most pore blocking ingredients? 🙁
It easily becomes very vicious circle, I think I need more make-up to cover the skin…and soon I have ever more flawed skin to cover! I think my skin would benefit from being a period of time, being with zero make-up, but this “transition phase” seems to be difficult, nearly impossible. I don’t like people seeing my skin without a “cover” 🙁
But I discovred this brand: PHB Ethical Beauty.
Do you know it? They have mineral powders and bb creams, no talc, mineral oils, fillers etc…seem to be good, natural products.
I just ordered the bb cream, I hope it works for me and I look forward to ditch my old make-up! 🙂
Hi TT, no I don’t know it, if you post the ingredients I can look, but you already ordered it so maybe you don’t want to know 😉
Hi Tracy,
They are:
Aqua, *Helianthus Annuus (Organic Sunflower Oil), *Vitis Vinifera (Organic Grape Seed Oil), *Ricinus Communis (Organic Castorbean Oil), *Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe Vera), *Rosa Canina (Organic Rosehip Oil), Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Silica, Boron Nitride, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI77491, CI77492, CI77499), Ultramarines (CI77007), Zinc Oxide, Sorbitol, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate.
Amazing how they can manufacture a “lightweight cream” from this many “oily” ingredients! But this looks good to me! Much better than my old make-up, which main ingredients are talc, silica, silicone…
Looks very decent! Definitely a good choice!
I have been struggling with hormonal acne and rosacea for as long as I can remember. I first started using mineral powder makeup from L’oreal when my skin wasn’t at it’s worst and liked the ease of use and decent coverage. I then found PUR minerals when my skin got really bad and it’s buildable coverage was better for me. But neither of these products were actually very good as far as nasty ingredients. I went on a search for more natural mineral powder makeup. Then I found the already mentioned Annemarie Gianni mineral makeup which with the exchange rate and shipping(I’m in Canada) made me continue my search. Although I was very tempted.
I managed to find a local company that has a line of makeup that uses the exact same 4 ingredients. I was super excited to try it out and also support local (I live in Kamloops B.C. Canada). The company is based out of Vernon B.C. Canada. Just a hop skip and a jump from me. Cheeky cosmetics is the name. They also do mineral based blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, bronzer, lip gloss and lipstick. The packaging is nice and the prices are very reasonable. I find it doesn’t irritate my already sensitive inflamed skin and covers very well. I also like that you can order samples and you always get little samples and a discount code for future purchases with every order. I am in no way affiliated with this company and am not gaining anything by saying this. I just really want to support my super local awesome find! Cheeky Cosmetics
If anybody is interested in checking it out
http://www.cheekycosmetics.ca
Thanks for sharing! I might order from them. I live in northern BC and would love to support someone local to our province.
Wondering if you have now tried it and what you think of it and how your skin is doing?
Has anyone tried Root makeup? I just ordered their Pearl Powder Mineral Foundation. $18 for 9 grams of foundation and $5 shipping.
https://www.rootpretty.com/products/n1-pearl-powder-mineral-foundation
INGREDIENTS • 9 grams
Titanium Dioxide*, Mica, Zinc Oxide*, Iron Oxides (yellow & brown) *natural spf
Ingredients look pretty good Erica! 🙂
Hi Tracy. Thank you so much for this information. I am revamping my entire makeup collection thanks to you 🙂 I am wondering if you could comment a bit more about makeup that uses pigmented fruit extracts. I haven’t been able to find too much info online. Any more insight you have would be wonderful 🙂
Hi Tracy! I just found your post. I’m one of those who cannot use minerals. I just bought a boatload of makeup and now I have a huge blind pimple on my chin. I need to find the culprit (I believe its the minerals) and look to some of your suggestions. I also have to find out how to handle this pimple. Yuk. I’m 64 and just moved to Fl. – and going into summer. I don’t wear a lot of makeup and I just had microdermabrasion. So my skin looks lovely except for this pimple.
Thank you for your work and suggestions and sharing. I will be following you now
Jean
Hi Jean — what kind of makeup did you buy?
What do you think of Jane Iredale BB cream & loose mineral foundation?
BB cream:
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 17.5%
Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Coconut Alkanes, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Polysilicone 11, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Fruit Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Pectin, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Sodium Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Raphanus Sativus (Radish) Root Extract, Lecithin, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Alumina, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract (and) Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Tamarindus Indica (Tamarind) Extract, Cymbopogon Citratus (Lemon Grass) Extract, Xanthan Gum
May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499),Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288)
Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 14%, Zinc Oxide 6%. Ingredients: Mica, Boron Nitride, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Plankton Extract, Algae Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract. [+/- (May Contain) Iron Oxides (Ci 77489, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Chromium Oxide Greens (Ci 77288)]
Hi Meng-Ling, a lot of it looks good, but it’s got a bunch of silicones right at the top so it wouldn’t be my pick
Hi Tracy
I find that the concealers I’m using tend to make my spots more noticeable cos they don’t address the redness.
What are your thoughs on green concealers and can you recommend some good ones?
Good call Chloe! I have never tried green concealer but it’s been on my mind to try it.. I think it’s a great idea! I don’t have any recommendations at the moment though.
Hi Tracy,
I have dry and sensitive clean because I have a bit of eczema. However I wear foundation everyday and use Estee Lauder’s Double Wear foundation. I’ve been recently reading all your articles and realized that a lot of the bad ingredients were in that foundation. I’ve read the list of recommended brands above but was wondering which foundation you personal would recommend to someone like me.
Hello, Tracy:
I recently went through the list above and ordered samples of all the foundations that came in a liquid formulation, as I don’t like powders. My favorites are the Lily Lolo and Zuii Organic, and ordered full sizes of those. I also ordered a concealer from Zuii Organic, but it’s a pencil, and just looks cakey. In addition, I’m still having problems with both foundations’ staying power, so I’m continuing to look for better options. To be fair, none of my previous non-organic foundations did very well in that department. I’m 61, and they just settle into the lines on my face. Even though I use primer and a setting spray, usually the makeup looks hours old within a few minutes after application. I just stumbled on a website that may be very helpful to those of us out there looking for better quality organic and natural makeup: safeandchic.com. They offer a customized foundation sample kit for $15 that contains eight foundations from seven different brands and one concealer, and may contain an additional cream foundation if they have the color you want in stock. All eight foundations are a liquid formulation. You get to select the color you want for each brand, but it has to be those particular brands. They do have many other brands for which they don’t offer samples. When I ordered samples from the individual companies, they were $2-$9 each, so I spent a little over $35 for 5 samples. So this is a really good deal. Safe and Chic has skin care, hair care, cosmetics and vegan brushes, and carries over 120 brands. Prices are all over the map, so they will fit every budget. U.S. shipping is free on orders over $75, and your first order is 10% off.
Hi! Quick review of things I have used thus far: 100% Pure Healthy Skin Foundation, Lily Lolo, Omiana, Rejuva Minerals, and The All Natural Face.
– 100% Pure is amazing—I am SUPER sensitive and the fruit pigments don’t bother me. Doesn’t make me break out. Looks flawless on my skin and everyone thinks I’m not wearing makeup and that my skin is glowing.
-Lily Lolo (mica, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxides) and The All Natural Face (Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc oxide, Boron Nitride) are both too drying for me, and I think maybe Mica makes me break out a bit. These are similar to Alima Pure etc. The All Natural Face is the cheapest option if those ingredients are ok for you!
-Omiana (zinc oxide, rice powder, kaolin, iron oxides) is pretty amazing ingredient-wise. They have titanium dioxide-free and mica-free if those ingredients cause problems for you. Not drying. Did not make me break out! Coverage is pretty light and airy, so you have to build it a bit for more coverage.
-Rejuva Minerals Loose Foundation (Boron Nitride, kaolin clay, carnauba powder, raspberry, grape, blueberry, iron oxides). This is the BEST for me. Something about the powder blends into the skin perfectly and is not dry like the other powders. The color melts into your skin in a beautiful way. Again, if you aren’t into fruit pigments this may not be good for you! Omiana might be a better choice if that’s the case. Rejuva had better coverage and no titanium dioxide or mica!
In summary, all of these are great options, and have fewer ingredients than typical makeup brands. Generally I found that the powders with the common 4 ingredients (mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, zinc oxide) were a bit drying for my face. If you have oily skin, this might be golden for you!! I think Mica might be an issue for me 🙁
I think Rejuva Minerals and Omiana have the least drying ingredients and are super awesome for sensitive, dry, acne prone skin. 100% Pure is the only foundation I have used that doesn’t make me break out!
Good luck and good tidings!
Hi Claire! Thanks for taking the time to share this —- this is super useful!
Another great brand I discovered is Au Naturale Cosmetics. It’s an American brand and appears to have the same ingredients as Lilly Lolo for the foundation. Link: https://www.aunaturalecosmetics.com/
I have used raw skin sceuticals for years! Use the code LOVE50 for half off! That’s an amazing price and the code has worked for me for over a year. If I’ve ever had a question, the owner had personally responded to my emails. It’s an amazing product. My skin is acne prone when I’m breastfeeding and this brand doesn’t irritate my skin. Highly recommend!