When I need makeup for work, for a fun night out, or for a business meeting, I want the stuff that will make me look my best! There are soooo many makeup options out there in the world, it’s almost enough to drive a woman crazy. The good news is that by having specific requirements for what kind of makeup (or any of your beauty products) you will use really narrows down the playing field, and can make finding the perfect makeup less overwhelming.
I feel that I have really done my research, living this way for so many years, and having so many make-up artist friends help me sort through the endless companies out there to find the ones that perform the best. I’ve been lucky enough to have Robert Steinken, a fabulous hair and make-up artist, and Kara Yoshimoto, another great make-up artist, help me out on my search.
Just beware, cause some natural companies have some seriously not cute, and sometimes downright scary looking metallic colored products. Some companies that I mention in my lists as my favorites might make other products that aren’t that great. Just because I love a certain brand’s concealer doesn’t mean that their eye shadows won’t be really scary and metallic¦ So just be careful! The best thing to do is go test out products at green stores or Whole Foods, to find the best ones for you.
Now remember, with great diet, most of the time I don’t wear any makeup, and still feel pretty and fresh. And you should feel that way too! But I know it’s fun to get all done up sometimes, so, here we go with my list. These are my favorites in makeup. What are yours? I’d love to hear about what you guys use and love.
Foundation
I usually just use Zuzu Luxe Concealer instead of foundation, and just do spot treatments, instead of covering my whole face. When I’m working I usually need the heavier stuff for the camera. But I haven’t found a foundation that I swear by, so I need your recommendations! I like Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer a lot, but when I read the ingredients it seems kind of unnatural to me, so I wonder why not just use the icky regular stuff? I think it’s better than the regular stuff, but not sure how much. These foundations seem like good options, and please let me know what you use!
Mascara
I love all of these, but remember, we are looking for better choices. I don’t think that any of these are perfect… But I do know that they are way better than Maybelline, and all of those other regular brands out there on the market. But just a warning; some of these mascaras contain beeswax, and some have parabens. It sucks, but it’s true. So you have a couple of options: You can opt to wear no mascara at all, or you can use one of these ones below and be thrilled that these companies are at least doing a better job than all of the other icky companies out there! That said, all of these work great!! And I love that they are, to my knowledge, the most natural ones out there.
La Bella Donna Mineral Mascara
Ingredients: Silk, Ceramide 2 and mineral pigments.
Yes, this is made with silk, it’s true. But I’m grateful that it appears to be a less nasty option than most mascaras on the market.
Gabriel Cosmetics Mascara
Ingredients: Deionized Water, Carnuba Wax, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Tocopherol Acetate, Iron Oxides, Ultramarines, Cellulose Gum, Grapeseed Extract.
Zuzu Luxe Mascara
Ingredients: Aqua (infusion of aloe barbadensis leaf juice), cellulose gum, sorbitol, stearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, lecithin, panthenol, sea fennel extract, tocopheryl acetate, eyebright extract, xanthan gum, iron oxides, hectorite, titanium dioxide, potassium sorbate
A note about cetearyl alcohol: watch out, because sometimes it can be made from animal ingredients. In this mascara, its made from vegetable sources, but if you can, try and check with the company to make sure it comes from a plant.
Ecco Bella FlowerColor Natural Mascara
Ingredients: Purified water, carnauba wax, palmitic acid (from palm oil), clay, methylparaben, propylparaben, iron oxides.
They use parabens, which is a bummer.
Josie Maran Mascara
Ingredients: White Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Polyisobutene, Isododecane, Propylene Carbonate, Quaternium-18, Hecorite, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Isoeicosane, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Simmondsia Chinenesis (Jojoba) Oil*, Linseed Oil*, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Black Iron Oxides, Mica
This one contains beeswax, and other not-so-natural stuff.
Aveda Mascara Plus Rose
Ingredients: Carnauba wax , Natural beeswax , Rose Carnauba, Copernicia cerifera
These are the ingredients that are most commonly found in non-vegan makeup products, so look out for these, and try and avoid them if you can:
- Carmine or cochineal – coloring made from ground insect
- Lanolin- sheep fat
- Beeswax/pollen/bee products
- Lard – pig fat
- Tallow – beef fat
- Parabens
- Lactose/ lactalbumin
- Milk/Whey products
- Propolis – a mixture that bees use to seal their beehives
- Elastin (from cows)
- Hyaluronic acid – animal connective tissue
Concealer
Ecco Bella FlowerColor Coverup: I use this under my eyes
Ingredients: Castor Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate (from palm oil), Candellia Wax, Beeswax , Organic Calendula Oil, Organic Chamomile Oil, Organic Jojoba oil, Vitamin E, Titanium Dioxide, Flower wax, iron oxides
This one has beeswax in it, which is a bummer, but true. However, this product is way better than the regular concealers out there and it works great.
Zuzu Luxe Concealer: I use this one as spot treatment on my face, instead of foundation.
Ingredients: Deionized water, Squalane, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Kaolin, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Esters, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Simenthicone, Grapeseed Extract.
Powder
I love both of these:
La Bella Donna Loose Mineral Foundation
Ingredients: Micronized Titanium Dioxide SPF 20 (non chemical sunblock), Bismuth Oxychloride (has anti inflammatory properties), Zinc Oxide (has anti inflammatory properties), Iron Oxides (the source of color)
Bare Minerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder
Ingredients: Corn Starch, Zinc Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Iron Oxides
Blush
I love these, they are all very pretty.
La Bella Donna Compressed Mineral Blush: I’m loving this one right now!!!
Ingredients: Micronized Titanium Dioxide SPF 20 (non chemical sunblock), Bismuth Oxychloride (has anti inflammatory properties), Zinc Oxide (has anti inflammatory properties), Iron Oxides (the source of color)
Bare Minerals Blush
Ingredients: Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine
Gabriel Cosmetics Blush
Ingredients: Mica, Cetyl Palmitate, Silica, Kaolin, Zinc Stearate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capril Triglyceride, Lecithin, Sea Fennel Extract, Tocopherol, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide
Dr. Hauschka Rouge Powders: I have used this blush for years, but now I am in love with my La Bella Donna blush, and I think that this is the least natural of the bunch
Ingredients: Talc, Kaolin (a white clay) , Diatomaceous Earth/Solum Diatomeae, Magnesium Stearate, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Rosa Gallica (Rose) Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Silk/Serica Powder, Mica, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Black Tea) Leaf Extract, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool (a chemical found in flowers and plants), Citral, Eugenol, Silica, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Dipalmitate, Carmine/CI 75470,Tin Oxide, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891, Ultramarines/CI 77007
Lip Liner
If anyone has an amazing lip liner, please let me know! I need one for work. Seeking vegan, natural, great looking lipliner. These ones on my list are great though, but if you have suggestions I’d love to hear.
Ecco Bella Lip Liner Pencils
Ingredients: Hydrogenated palm kernel glycerides, hydrogenated palm glycerides, hydrogenated coconut oil, microcrystalline wax, carmine, japan wax, carnauba wax, hydrogenated castor oil, titanium dioxide, sorbitan palmitate, stearalkonium hectorite, iron oxide
Hemp Organics Lip Liner in Spice
Ingredients: Organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, organic hemp seed oil, organic jojoba oil, carnauba wax, japan wax, natural vitamin E, vegetable stearic acid, iron oxide, titanium dioxide
Lip Gloss
La Bella Donna Lip Sheer
Ingredients: Micronized titanium Dioxide (non-chemical sun block (SPF 20)), Iron Oxides (the source of color), Bismuth Oxychloride (anti-inflammatory properties), Zinc Oxide (anti-inflammatory properties (soothing to the skin))
Jane Iredale PureGloss for Lips
Ingredients: Bis-Diglyceryl Polyaclydipate-2, Grape Seed Extract, Jojoba Esters, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Ginger Root Oil, Pomegranite Extract, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil, Flavor, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol
Perfect Organics Vegan Lip and Cheek Shimmer in Sydney
Ingredients: Organic Argan Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Macadamia Nut Oil, Organic Aloe Vera
Boscia Jujube Salve Stick
Ingredients: Jujube Fruit, Macadamia Nut Oil, Willoherb, Licorice, Jojoba Oil, Botanical Squalane, Jojoba leaf
Gabriel Cosmetics Lip Gloss
Ingredients: Castor Oil, Isopropyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Candelillia Wax, Glycine, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Wheat Gern Glycerides, Aloe Vera Extract, Chamomile Extract, Jojoba Esters, Grapeseed Extract, Bixane Herb, Iron Oxides, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, St. John’s Wort Extract
Lip Balm
I used to love Desert Essence Lip Rescue in Shea Butter, but I found out that it has beeswax in it! So my new favorite is Lisa Ann Skin Care Lip Therapy: Vegan. If your order some, just make sure to ask for the vegan one, because she has some lip balms that contain beeswax.
I also like Kiss My Face Strawberry Lip Balm but that one has beeswax in it too, which is a bummer- but Lisa Ann’s is amazing, so that wins for me. No more Kiss My Face or Desert Essence Lip Balm for me.
Eyeshadow
Zuzu Luxe Eye Shadow: Beware, cause some of their colors are scary- but some are great
Ingredients: Mica, Zinc, Stearate, Jojoba Oil, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultra Marines, Grapeseed Extract
Dr. Hauschka Eye Shadow
Ingredients: Talc (a mineral), Magnesium Stearate (magnesium salt), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Extract, Silk/Serica Powder, Diatomaceous Earth/Solum Diatomeae, Silica, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Black Tea) Leaf Extract, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool (a chemical found in flowers and plants), Citral, Eugenol, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Dipalmitate, Mica, Ferric Ferrocyanide (the inorganic of salt), Carmine/CI 75470 (red coloring), Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide (naturally occurring oxide of titanium), Ultramarines (pigments composed of sodium)
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Platonic: This is great for all-over-the-eye shimmer, and a cool vegan dude created this company
Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ferric Ferrocyanide, D&C, Red, D&C, Yellow, D&C, Blue #1
I’m not excited about the red, yellow, and blue ingredients’s- scary.
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