I’ll be completely honest with you: a die-hard chemical-eschewing natural-beauty maven I am not. After all, until recently, I was a full-time beauty editor, and trying out products (both natural and not) was in my job description. It simply wasn’t an option to decide to only sample chemical-free, paraben-free items. Plus, as a total beauty junkie, I genuinely loved trying out a diverse range of brands and products — and, until as recently as a year ago, “natural” beauty products just weren’t very compelling or as effective as their conventional counterparts.
Well, fast-forward to now: I’m no longer a full-time editor, and for the first time in awhile, I’ve been able to be more choosy as to the products that I actually buy, use and stock on my online store, Hoot. I no longer feel that I’m compromising to use natural cosmetics; on the contrary, I’m actually finding that I prefer natural formulas and essential-oil-based fragrances more than conventional products. It seems that new chemical-free, paraben-free, toxin-free brands and products are popping up on the beauty scene almost every day, making it almost a no-brainer to begin to replace less-than-pure products with their simpler, cleaner counterparts.
I really believe that chemical-free beauty is more than a trend; I think that it’s the future. There’s really no reason anymore for women to have to choose between boring, crunch-ola hippie products and potentially harmful chemicals. While I’m by no means suggesting that you toss your entire beauty regimen and and replace everything with organic picks, I would encourage you to branch out a bit and get educated about formulas and ingredients the next time you’re searching for a new face cream or mascara — you may find, like me, that you like your new, pure primpers even better than your old ones.
featured image via Fashion Me Now
S.W. Basics of Brooklyn
Full disclosure: this brand, and the next, are both brands that I stock at my store. But, I stock them because, well, they’re good. I discovered them when I was still an editor, and I’m extremely proud to now be a purveyor of them. S.W. Basics has always been fascinating to me: these products are all made in Brooklyn with five or fewer ingredients, all of which are organic, free trade, or both. Exhibit A: their face cream is a mix of olive oil, shea butter, and coconut oil —your skin simply drinks it up, with zero residue left behind.
New to the brand? Try these:
Vegan Lip Balm Set
Scotch Naturals
Honestly, I fell in love with Scotch Naturals as soon as I saw its minimalist-chic packaging — and I was thrilled when I found that the polish went on smoothly and lasted almost as long as a gel manicure would. The caveat: you have to use the brand’s base and topcoat to ensure that the polish goes on smoothly and lasts. But, if you’re a true toxin-phobe, it’s worth the investment; I’ve never seen nail products that are this pure.
New to the brand? Try these:
Soy Nail Polish Remover
RMS
Once a niche brand, RMS has now become a major cult favorite, with retailers such as J.Crew and Anthropologie picking up the chemical-free, easy-to-apply products. Stock your makeup bag with the brand’s Lip2Cheek color cream, “Un”-Cover Up (pictured at left), and gently highlighting Living Luminizer, and you can essentially do your whole face with only three super-pure products.
New to the brand? Try these:
Lip2Cheek Organic Mineral Lip and Cheek Color
Living Luminizer
Tarte
Tarte has always been one of my favorite makeup bands — and I fell in love even more a few years ago when founder Maureen Kelly reformulated her entire range to be nutrient-rich and paraben-free. Two of my all-time favorite products are the classic Cheek Stain and the Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara.
New to the brand? Try these:
Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara
Yes To
Sunscreen is sadly one of the most chemically rife category of products out there — but, until recently, all-natural sunscreens were thick, chalky, and generally unpleasant to use. Leave it to one of my favorite non-toxic brands, Yes To, to formula a paraben- and petroleum-free sunscreen that’s downright luxurious. In addition to the Yes To Cucumbers Sunscreen, this line is chock-full of super-effective products, like their gentle Yes To Cucumbers Facial Cleansing Wipes, Yes To Tomatoes Roller Ball Spot Stick (the best-ever pimple treatment), and divinely scented Yes To Blueberries Body Wash.
New to the brand? Try these:
Facial Towelettes
Physicians Formula Organic Wear
Genuinely pure products at your local drugstore? Believe it. Physicians Formula Organic Wear makes my favorite tinted moisturizer — despite it being super-lightweight, it covers imperfections like a dream, and it smells subtly of lavender essential oils. (Full disclosure: one of my favorite things about natural products is the lack of overpowering, irritating fake fragrances.) The line’s CC Curl + Care Mascara is another one of my favorites.
New to the brand? Try these:
Organic Wear CC Curl + Care Mascara
Alterna
When it comes to natural hair care, I applaud Alterna for marrying serious innovation with paraben- and sulfate-free formulas. I’m a girl that loves having a wardrobe of different styling products (never know what my fine, wavy hair is going to feel like doing on a certain day), so I love that Alterna has a full range of texturizing and smoothing picks — plus one of my favorite new discoveries, their rad Caviar Clinical Exfoliating Scalp Facial, which gently removes dead skin cells for a flake-free scalp and healthier hair.
New to the brand? Try these:
Caviar Clinical Exfoliating Scalp Facial
Bamboo Volume 2-in-1 Volumizer
Elemental Herbology
I admit: I was really skeptical that a natural self-tanner would actually work, but this amazing Elemental Herbology gradual-glow moisturizer totally changed my mind. The lotion smells like key lime pie (delicious), and uses a derivative of sugar beet extract (seriously) to impart a seriously natural glow. Obsessed.
New to the brand? Try this:
Love this product round up!! Another of my favorites is Healing Anthropologie http://www.healinganthropology.com/ like may European brands, some of these product should be refrigerated. My favs are the day cream with 30 SPF and the foamy facial cleanser. Another brand I love is Waxalene, an alternative to Vaseline.
Thanks for introducing some great natural products! I will definitely be giving the Scotch nail polish a try. I love painting my nails, but can’t stand the smell of nail polish. Alterna has been one of my favorites for years. They make great products!
http://www.livinginsteil.com
Hi Tara,
Loved the article! Loved it because I so agree that chemical-free is absolutely not a trend, but it is here to stay. Two years ago I launched my chemical-free skincare brand, Sans. It really is all chemical-free, I use no water in my formulations. I would be so happy if you would like to visit my site and look around.
http://www.SansSkinCare.com
My products are pure, simple, and formulated with wonderful, nourishing plant extracts. I hope you love what you see!
I insist that you all look for korres products. Korres is a Greek firm that uses natural ingredients and its products have multiply been awarded. I strongly recommend the pomegranate moisturizer.
love this so much!!
https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much for this insightful post. I swear by the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer. (Stock up whenever J. Crew has some massive (25-30%) sales on regular-priced items!)
Hi Tara,
This is simply the BEST article I’ve come across for natural makeup!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was just wondering if you knew if any of these companies tested on animals? I plan on doing my research, but I thought I’d ask anyway. Love this article though!
best natural beauty brands are easy to use and also cheapest by rate but have good effect.
Hey there! Do you happen to have the credit for the model, photographer, and makeup artist? Thanks