21 Best Organic & Natural Foundations of 2021 for Every Skin Type

PUBLISHED: 02/18/2020

WRITTEN BY: DIANE ELIZABETH K.

RESEARCH & REVIEW BY: Tamryn Burgess. Licensed Aesthetician and Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN).

This article may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy for more details. To learn more about how we selected the products featured on this list, check out our product review & research standards.

Looking to make the switch to a clean, organic, and natural foundation? Well, don’t be fooled by other lists of so-called natural foundations & makeup brands. Unfortunately, “greenwashing” is rampant in the clean beauty industry. Greenwashing is a deceptive marketing tactic in which brands claim that their products are “natural” and “organic” while still filling their products with cheap synthetics, silicones, petrochemicals, and artificial dyes. This is possible because terms like “organic” and “natural” aren’t regulated in the cosmetics industry in the way that they are for the food and agriculture industries (2).

That’s why our mission at Skin Care Ox is to identify, research, and review REAL natural products—and natural foundations were no exception. Instead of just reading the marketing statements of these brands, we researched each and every product, ingredient, and clean claim made. The result? A comprehensive list of the cleanest foundations you’ll find anywhere.

All of the natural foundations on this list are free from questionable ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, BHA, dimethicone & silicones, coal tars, lake dyes & artificial dyes, aluminum, triclosan, talc, polyethylene/PEGS, steareths, bismuth oxychloride, TEA/DEA (triethanolamine/diethanolamne), and many more(1,3,4,5). In addition to our own ingredient standards, we also checked each ingredient against the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database for safety. Many organic makeup products on our list contain natural mineral ingredients like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, mica powder, and iron oxides. These are natural + non-toxic minerals that have been deemed safe for cosmetic use; however, many of them aren’t without controversy. If you are curious to learn more about these minerals and why they are so common in organic makeup, then check out our guide on Common Mineral Ingredients in Natural Foundations at the bottom of this page for more information on these ingredients, their safety, and how they work.

Who cares if a product is “clean” if doesn’t work effectively? In addition to our own trials of these natural foundations, we also take into account hundreds of real customer reviews from across the internet. We trialed many super-clean natural foundations that were poorly designed and, frankly, didn’t work.

All in all, we narrowed down a starting list of over 80 foundation products to bring you this list of the best of the best you’ll find anywhere. Enjoy!

How to Use This List: The list below includes our highest scoring organic and all-natural foundations from our research process.The best way to find the perfect foundation for you is to use our “Filter By” feature below to sort the list by tag to quickly narrow down your choices.

1. *GRESSA – MINIMALIST CORRECTIVE ORGANIC SERUM FOUNDATION

*GRESSA – MINIMALIST CORRECTIVE ORGANIC SERUM FOUNDATION | $62 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $62

An amazing full-coverage organic foundation that is, frankly, one of our all-time favorites that we've tested. This product is truly an amazing combination between a serum and a foundation. It provides medium-to-full-coverage with a natural finish, glides on like butter, comes in 11 blendable shades, and a little goes a long way. The formula is quite unique and offers antioxidants, acne-fighters, and skin soothers for all skin types. Some note worthy ingredients include broccoli seed, neem, horsetail, lemon balm, barberry, sea buckthorn, elder flower, and licorice root.

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2. *100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED ALL NATURAL WATER FOUNDATION

*100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED ALL NATURAL WATER FOUNDATION | $41 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $41

This full-coverage foundation from 100% Pure is very similar to their Healthy Foundation. While the Healthy Foundation is a matte option for oilier skin types, this Water Foundation is a better choice for dry and mature skin types. That's because this natural foundation is packed with hydrating & anti-aging ingredients (like aloe, alpha-lipoic acid, green tea, resveratrol, turmeric, and acai). It's also long-lasting, blends well, and leaves a glowy finish. The shades and staying power of this foundation come from fruit-pigments, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, plant waxes, and rice starch.

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3. *RMS BEAUTY – “UN” COVER UP ORGANIC FOUNDATION

*RMS BEAUTY – “UN” COVER UP ORGANIC FOUNDATION | $36 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $36

This organic foundation is made with the RMS's signature certified organic coconut oil which allows the product to melt seamlessly into skin and provide a natural sheer finish. As an oil-based foundation, it is not matte (a little powder can help) and will leave a dewy finish. Available in 16 beautiful shades from alabaster (lightest) to deep espresso chocolate (deepest). This natural foundation also doubles as a concealer. Great for dry skin types and a little goes a long way. Other certified organic ingredients include castor seed oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and rosemary extract.

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4. *JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO-PIGMENTS YOUTH CREAM COMPACT

*JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO-PIGMENTS YOUTH CREAM COMPACT | $45 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $45

We absolutely love this easy-to-use, compact organic foundation from Juice Beauty. It has just the right texture to provide a strong medium coverage while also being very lightweight. We were pleasantly surprised at how well we were able to find shade matches--the foundation blends quite nicely. This organic foundation is made with skin-loving ingredients like aloe, castor oil, safflower oil, resveratrol-rich grape fruit stem cells and antioxidant rich apple stem cells, vitamin C, and Vitamin E. The formula is non-greasy and should be a good option for those who struggle with frequent breakouts.

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5. *HUSH + DOTTI – ORGANIC LIQUID FOUNDATION

*HUSH + DOTTI – ORGANIC LIQUID FOUNDATION | $48 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $48

An organic foundation that’s packed with high quality botanicals to support a healthy complexion and provide a flawless finish. Use your favorite makeup brush or sponge to apply this lightweight formula that won’t clog your pores. This organic foundation is made with shea butter to moisturize and condition the skin, chamomile for its anti-inflammatory properties and other clean ingredients to prevent breakouts and boost radiance for healthy glowing skin. Available in 8 beautifully blendable shades, this foundation is lightweight enough to be buildable without the end-result looking cakey.

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6. *14E – ALOE NOURISH ORGANIC FOUNDATION

*14E – ALOE NOURISH ORGANIC FOUNDATION | $38 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $38

A luxurious and creamy organic foundation created to nourish and improve skin in the areas of breakouts, early signs of aging and aid in moisture retention. This organic formula provides medium, buildable coverage while feeling totally weightless and giving a satin semi-matte finish. It’s completely natural, vegan and uses aloe vera as a base instead of water like many other brands. Best of all, it's jam packed with amazing ingredients like argan, jojoba, vitamin C and lavender to soothe and nourish skin. We love that this foundation is available in 7 really blendable shades.

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7. *SAPPHO NEW PARADIGM – ESSENTIAL ORGANIC FOUNDATION

*SAPPHO NEW PARADIGM – ESSENTIAL ORGANIC FOUNDATION | $54 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $54

A luxurious organic foundation that provides light to medium coverage and leaves skin looking fresh and dewy. Drier skin types may find this foundation to be a little cakey. Although this foundation is moisturizing, it's much better suited for oily and combination skin types. In fact, this liquid foundation is made with a variety of natural and organic ingredients that are perfectly suited for oilier and acne-prone skin types (such as neem, jojoba, aloe, rooibos, tea tree oil, zinc, frankincense, and carrot seed oil).

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8. *CARLUCCE – CACHE ORGANIC CREAM FOUNDATION

*CARLUCCE – CACHE ORGANIC CREAM FOUNDATION | $24 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $24

Our biggest complaint about this organic foundation is that it doesn't come in more shades! Available in less than 5 shades, this stunning organic cream foundation is the perfect full-coverage solution. With just a few layers, this foundation perfectly builds into a flawless canvas. It is made with mica, so it has a light shimmer, as well as as organic castor oil, coconut oil, vegan candelilla wax, jojoba, rice powder, rosemary, shea butter, and vitamin E (as well as minerals like titanium dioxide and iron oxides). Not suitable for those with large pores or oily skin.

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9. *FITGLOW BEAUTY- VITA ACTIVE ORGANIC FOUNDATION

*FITGLOW BEAUTY- VITA ACTIVE ORGANIC FOUNDATION | $55 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $55

An organic foundation that provides light to medium coverage while improving your skin's overall brightness with clinically proven super-foods and essential vitamins. It's made with a plant-based, skin-loving blend of vitamin C, botanical hyaluronic acid, seaweed brighteners, and beta-carotene. All of these yummy ingredients were chosen to leave skin looking clear, smooth and radiant. Has a gel-like consistency which makes it easy to blend for all skin types. This foundation dries fast, so it's best to apply with a moistened beauty blender. Not ideal for super dry skin or visible lines.

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10. *100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED ALL-NATURAL HEALTHY FOUNDATION

*100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED ALL-NATURAL HEALTHY FOUNDATION | $48 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $48

This all-natural foundation truly offers "full-coverage" while still looking natural. It's long-lasting, blends beautifully, and leaves a naturally matte finish. The rich shades are derived from real fruit-pigments (like peaches, apricots, and berries), and its long-lasting staying power comes a blend of minerals (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), plant waxes (candelilla wax), and rice starch. Unlike many natural foundations (which can be almost entirely made of minerals), this foundation is packed with skin-nourishing powerhouses like acai, pomegranate, vitamin C, white tea, and goji berries.

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11. ELATE COSMETICS – REFRESH LIGHT TINT NATURAL FOUNDATIONS

ELATE COSMETICS – REFRESH LIGHT TINT NATURAL FOUNDATIONS | $32 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $32

Available in 8 gorgeous shades, this all natural foundation is actually better suited to be worn as a lightweight tinted moisturizer. The combination of uber-hydrating ingredients like grape seed oil, hyaluronic acid, aloe, sunflower oil, and bamboo stem cells give this foundation a "second skin" like feel. This foundation uses minerals (like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) as well as silica, argan shell powder, and bentonite clay for texture and hold.

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12. *VAPOUR BEAUTY – SOFT FOCUS ORGANIC FOUNDATION

*VAPOUR BEAUTY – SOFT FOCUS ORGANIC FOUNDATION | $54 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $54

A very breathable, lightweight, and easily blendable organic foundation ideal for those looking for a more natural finish. If you want, this foundation can be built up for heavier coverage; however, coverage may not be enough for heavy blemishes and imperfections. This foundation, thankfully, didn't settle into fine lines, wrinkles, and dry skin patches. We also didn't experience any pore clogging. Best of all, this foundation is packed with 70% organic and wildcrafted ingredients like sunflower oil, beeswax,vitamin E, holy basil, castor oil, myrrh, frankincense, and lotus flower.

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13. *JUICE BEAUTY – ANTI-AGING SPF 30 ORGANIC CC CREAM

*JUICE BEAUTY – ANTI-AGING SPF 30 ORGANIC CC CREAM | $39 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $39

This organic CC cream foundation offers color-correcting, anti-aging, hydrating, and SPF 30 sun-protecting properties. This super lightweight (and quite sheer) CC cream is crafted with potent antioxidant ingredients (like resveratrol and Juice Beauty's proprietary fruit stem cell blend), provides intense hydration (from jojoba oil, aloe, and sunflower oil), and comes in five easily blendable shades. While this CC cream can be layered for more coverage, it's really meant to be worn as a tinted moisturizer. A great daily CC cream for those who also want a little anti-aging boost in their organic makeup routine.

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14. *100% PURE – LUMINOUS ORGANIC BB CREAM SPF

*100% PURE – LUMINOUS ORGANIC BB CREAM SPF | $42 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $42

A lovely organic BB cream made with all-natural ingredients that look more like skin care ingredients than makeup. Some star ingredients worth noting are antioxidant rich berry oils, shea butter, pomegranate fruit extract, jojoba oil, lavender oil, bilberry seed oil, and many more. Also made with Zinc Oxide for SPF 15 sun protection. Available in three easily blendable shades. It provides light to medium coverage, while still maintaining a natural glow. Works great as a daily tinted moisturizer (especially with the SPF protection) or layered on top of your traditional moisturizer.

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15. *AU NATURALE – ZERO GRAVITY C2P NATURAL FOUNDATION

*AU NATURALE – ZERO GRAVITY C2P NATURAL FOUNDATION | $42 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $42

A fantastic daily natural foundation without all the chemicals. This foundation is filled with non-irritating organic and all-natural ingredients like jojoba oil, lavender oil, castor oil (great for acne-prone skin), and meadowfoam seed oil. It has a smooth consistency which is easy to blend, offers medium coverage that lasts all day, and has a very natural finishing look. Additionally, it's non-greasy, has a lightweight feel, and doesn't clump or feel cakey on the skin. Available in 9 gorgeous shades from porcelain (lightest) to java (deepest tone).

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16. *100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED 2ND SKIN ALL NATURAL FOUNDATION

*100% PURE – FRUIT PIGMENTED 2ND SKIN ALL NATURAL FOUNDATION | $47 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $47

They call this the "2nd Skin" foundation because it has a serum-like texture that absorbs into the skin like skin care. It's very lightweight (not a full-coverage foundation by any means) and has a serum/oil-like consistency. It is not recommended for those with super dry skin or flaky patches because of it's light consistency. What we love about this foundation most are the ingredients---turmeric, calendula, olive squalane, black tea, vitamin E, and coffee beans, and pigments from real fruit like peaches, raspberries, cherries, apricots and pomegranates.

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17. *ALIMA PURE – SATIN MATTE NATURAL FOUNDATION

*ALIMA PURE – SATIN MATTE NATURAL FOUNDATION | $28 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $28

A simple and all natural foundation with a satiny finish. This hypoallergenic, silicone, and fragrance free foundation goes on easy and feels like nothing at all. Made with mica (for shimmer), titanium dioxide, zinc dioxide, and iron oxides for pigment. It evens out your skin tone, enhances your complexion and reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores using pure mineral pigments. Available in an incredible 45 shades---so you'll definitely be able to find your match. They also offer an Alima Pure’s foundation sample set so you can find your perfect shade.

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18. *JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO-PIGMENTS FLAWLESS ORGANIC SERUM FOUNDATION

*JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO-PIGMENTS FLAWLESS ORGANIC SERUM FOUNDATION | $44 |
Ethics : 100% Natural, GMO-Free, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan
Price : $44

This lightweight organic foundation is part anti-aging serum and part foundation. On the serum side, this product is packed with skin-nourishing ingredients like aloe, resveratrol-rich grapeseed oil, vitamin C, vitamin E, argan powder, and rose powder. As a foundation, it comes in 10 beautiful shades, doesn't cake or dry out, blends easily, offers medium-ish coverage, and glides on easily. If you have deep lines and wrinkles, this foundation's coverage and texture may be too lightweight (may settle into deep set lines).

Shop *JUICE BEAUTY – PHYTO-PIGMENTS FLAWLESS ORGANIC SERUM FOUNDATION

FILTER BY TYPE

*Gressa – Minimalist Corrective Organic Serum Foundation ($62)

An amazing full-coverage organic foundation that is, frankly, one of our all-time favorites that we've tested. This product is truly an amazing combination between a serum and a foundation. It provides medium-to-full-coverage with a natural finish, glides on like butter, comes in 11 blendable shades, and a little goes a long way. The formula is quite unique and offers antioxidants, acne-fighters, and skin soothers for all skin types. Some note worthy ingredients include broccoli seed, neem, horsetail, lemon balm, barberry, sea buckthorn, elder flower, and licorice root.

GET MATCHED! TAKE THE NATURAL FOUNDATIONS QUIZ

Need help finding the perfect natural foundation for you? Take our Natural Foundations Quiz & get matched with the best organic and all natural foundation for you! We've created a custom quiz to help you quickly find the top products from our list. Takes just a few seconds to complete---click to get started.

*100% Pure – Fruit Pigmented All Natural Water Foundation ($41)

This full-coverage foundation from 100% Pure is very similar to their Healthy Foundation. While the Healthy Foundation is a matte option for oilier skin types, this Water Foundation is a better choice for dry and mature skin types. That's because this natural foundation is packed with hydrating & anti-aging ingredients (like aloe, alpha-lipoic acid, green tea, resveratrol, turmeric, and acai). It's also long-lasting, blends well, and leaves a glowy finish. The shades and staying power of this foundation come from fruit-pigments, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, plant waxes, and rice starch.

*Juice Beauty – Phyto-Pigments Youth Cream Compact ($45)

We absolutely love this easy-to-use, compact organic foundation from Juice Beauty. It has just the right texture to provide a strong medium coverage while also being very lightweight. We were pleasantly surprised at how well we were able to find shade matches--the foundation blends quite nicely. This organic foundation is made with skin-loving ingredients like aloe, castor oil, safflower oil, resveratrol-rich grape fruit stem cells and antioxidant rich apple stem cells, vitamin C, and Vitamin E. The formula is non-greasy and should be a good option for those who struggle with frequent breakouts.

*RMS Beauty – “Un” Cover Up Organic Foundation ($36)

This organic foundation is made with the RMS's signature certified organic coconut oil which allows the product to melt seamlessly into skin and provide a natural sheer finish. As an oil-based foundation, it is not matte (a little powder can help) and will leave a dewy finish. Available in 16 beautiful shades from alabaster (lightest) to deep espresso chocolate (deepest). This natural foundation also doubles as a concealer. Great for dry skin types and a little goes a long way. Other certified organic ingredients include castor seed oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and rosemary extract.

*14E – Aloe Nourish Organic Foundation ($38)

A luxurious and creamy organic foundation created to nourish and improve skin in the areas of breakouts, early signs of aging and aid in moisture retention. This organic formula provides medium, buildable coverage while feeling totally weightless and giving a satin semi-matte finish. It’s completely natural, vegan and uses aloe vera as a base instead of water like many other brands. Best of all, it's jam packed with amazing ingredients like argan, jojoba, vitamin C and lavender to soothe and nourish skin. We love that this foundation is available in 7 really blendable shades.

*Carlucce – Cache Organic Cream Foundation

Our biggest complaint about this organic foundation is that it doesn't come in more shades! Available in less than 5 shades, this stunning organic cream foundation is the perfect full-coverage solution. With just a few layers, this foundation perfectly builds into a flawless canvas. It is made with mica, so it has a light shimmer, as well as as organic castor oil, coconut oil, vegan candelilla wax, jojoba, rice powder, rosemary, shea butter, and vitamin E (as well as minerals like titanium dioxide and iron oxides). Not suitable for those with large pores or oily skin.

Elate Cosmetics – Refresh Light Tint Natural Foundations ($32)

Available in 8 gorgeous shades, this all natural foundation is actually better suited to be worn as a lightweight tinted moisturizer. The combination of uber-hydrating ingredients like grape seed oil, hyaluronic acid, aloe, sunflower oil, and bamboo stem cells give this foundation a "second skin" like feel. This foundation uses minerals (like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) as well as silica, argan shell powder, and bentonite clay for texture and hold.

*100% Pure – Luminous Organic BB Cream SPF ($42)

A lovely organic BB cream made with all-natural ingredients that look more like skin care ingredients than makeup. Some star ingredients worth noting are antioxidant rich berry oils, shea butter, pomegranate fruit extract, jojoba oil, lavender oil, bilberry seed oil, and many more. Also made with Zinc Oxide for SPF 15 sun protection. Available in three easily blendable shades. It provides light to medium coverage, while still maintaining a natural glow. Works great as a daily tinted moisturizer (especially with the SPF protection) or layered on top of your traditional moisturizer.

*Juice Beauty – Anti-Aging SPF 30 Organic CC Cream ($39)

This organic CC cream foundation offers color-correcting, anti-aging, hydrating, and SPF 30 sun-protecting properties. This super lightweight (and quite sheer) CC cream is crafted with potent antioxidant ingredients (like resveratrol and Juice Beauty's proprietary fruit stem cell blend), provides intense hydration (from jojoba oil, aloe, and sunflower oil), and comes in five easily blendable shades. While this CC cream can be layered for more coverage, it's really meant to be worn as a tinted moisturizer. A great daily CC cream for those who also want a little anti-aging boost in their organic makeup routine.

*Au Naturale – Zero Gravity C2P Natural Foundation ($42)

A fantastic daily natural foundation without all the chemicals. This foundation is filled with non-irritating organic and all-natural ingredients like jojoba oil, lavender oil, castor oil (great for acne-prone skin), and meadowfoam seed oil. It has a smooth consistency which is easy to blend, offers medium coverage that lasts all day, and has a very natural finishing look. Additionally, it's non-greasy, has a lightweight feel, and doesn't clump or feel cakey on the skin. Available in 9 gorgeous shades from porcelain (lightest) to java (deepest tone).

TAKE THE QUIZ & FIND YOUR PERFECT FOUNDATION

Make sure that the next natural foundation that you buy is the right one for your skin! Get matched to your perfect natural and organic foundation in seconds with our Natural Foundations Quiz. Click now to get started.

Common Mineral Ingredients in Organic & Natural Foundations

As you begin your research into natural and organic foundations, you’ll start notice a few ingredients popping up over and over again. These ingredients are titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica, silica, zinc oxide, and ultramarines. All of these ingredients are natural minerals which serve very specific purposes in cosmetics. Although they may have non-natural sounding names, these minerals are indeed natural and generally considered safe by many organizations for cosmetic usage. However, some of them aren’t without their share of controversy. As always, we’ve done our research and compiled the best information that we could find on the safety and effectiveness of these minerals so that you can make an informed decision.

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Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)

There is a ton of misinformation floating around about the safety of titanium dioxide. Despite all of the scary things that you might read on blogs about titanium dioxide (TiO2), the mineral may actually be safer than you think. Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring, non-toxic, unreactive white pigmented powder mineral used primarily in cosmetics because it has a brilliant white pigment, reduces the opacity of product formulas (helps to provide “full coverage”), and protects the skin from UVA/UVA radiation. Much of the fuss about titanium dioxide stems from this study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (source) where rats were exposed to high doses of airborne TiO2 (250mg/m) for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for two years. At the end of the study, the rats were found to have an increased rate of lung cancer due to this inhalation. Many people look at that study and determine that TiO2 = bad. There are several problems with this. First, rats are not fair indicators of human performance (rats have thinner skin and are more susceptible to lung stimulants than humans). Second, this is an excessive amount of TiO2 exposure! There is limited evidence of TiO2 carcinogenetic in humans outside of heavy inhalation exposure in industrial and manufacturing settings. In actuality, there are no known adverse effects of TiO2 in human cosmetic use (cosmetic grade titanium dioxide is also known as TD 77891). Even the Environmental Working Group (EWG) rates TiO2 from 1-3 depending on aerosolized (airborne) usage and quantity due to this lack of evidence. There is some concern, however, over titanium dioxide nano-particles because these particles are theoretically small enough to penetrate the upper layers of the dermis. However, a recent EPA study in 2010 (source) showed that “uptake of nano-TiO2 through healthy skin was not observed.” Meaning, there is no evidence that nano-TiO2 was absorbed by the skin into the bloodstream nor was any irritation due to the usage of nano-TiO2 was observed. With all of this said, some people have reported anecdotally that their skin reacts poorly to products with TiO2. Since there is very little evidence of human irritation, it is impossible to tell at the moment whether the irritation was caused by TiO2, nano-TiO2, or something else within their products. As with all ingredients, it is important to do your research, understand the facts, and make decisions that you feel are right for your health.

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Iron Oxides

Iron oxides have been used since the 1900s as natural pigments in cosmetics and other everyday items. These are naturally occurring mineral deposits (think red rock canyons) that won’t irritate the skin, are resistant to moisture, and deliver vibrant color. Iron oxides are some of the few “natural” ingredients where you’ll be better off using the synthetic lab-created versions. Why? Iron oxides that occur naturally are often riddled with heavy metals and impurities like mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. The levels of heavy metals in iron oxides are heavily regulated by the FDA for safety. As a result, iron oxides that are used in cosmetics are typically synthetically produced in a laboratory setting so that they can be purified and free from irritants. Lab-created iron oxides are considered exceptionally safe, hypoallergenic, and free from impurities. Iron oxides received a score of 2 from the Environmental Working Group for safety.

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Mica

Mica is a silicate mineral used in many natural mineral makeup lines because of their beautiful shimmering appearance. The word mica actually based on the Latin word for “to glitter.” While there are no studies that have shown mica to have negative health effects in cosmetics, the Cosmetics Database lists mica as “moderately hazardous” because lung inflammation has been noted due to excessive exposure industrial settings. It is important to separate the hazards of industrial use from that of cosmetics. In fact, the only known population of people to experience any negative effects from mica are workers in manufacturing factories, mines, mills, and construction work—not cosmetic usage. Mica powder receives a score of 2 from the Environmental Working Group for safety. While rare, mica particles do have slightly sharp edges and some people have experienced eye sensitivity or general irritation when using products with mica. If you’d like to avoid mica, then look for products that are matte (no shimmer) and avoid nano-sized mica particles (which can exacerbate irritation). Note: most mineral and all-natural makeup contains mica powder in varying quantities.

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Silica

As one of the most common minerals on earth, silica is an extremely versatile cosmetic ingredient. It is used to absorb sweat, helps product spread easily onto the skin’s surface, and it is used as thickening agent in many creams.  There are two types of silica (one good and one not good for health): crystalline silica (not good) and hydrated silica (good). Hydrated silica (also known as silicone dioxide or amorphous silica) is considered safe for general use by the FDA, has no known links to cancer in cosmetic usage (source), has received a safety score of 2 from the Environmental Working group, and does not cause lung inflammation like crystalline silica. One issue with silica is that it is comedogenic and can clog pores for some. If you’re nervous about clogged pores, then it is best to avoid products with silica or use these products sparingly.

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Zinc Oxide

Zinc Oxide is an inorganic white powder mineral that is used in a wide range of personal care products. While its most popular function is as a sunscreen, zinc oxide is also used as a thickening, lubricating, and bulking agent. It is also used to reduce skin inflammation (think diaper rashes, allergic reactions, and irritations from friction). It is inhert and has shown virtually no risk of skin irritation from cosmetic use. The problem isn’t with zinc oxide, which is fantastic, but with nano-zinc particles which are made smaller to ease absorption. Remember old school white sunscreens? Well, non-nano zinc oxide tends to leave a white residue, so nano-zinc was created to eliminate this. The problem is that these nano-particles may penetrate the skin and may be absorbed into the blood stream. For this reason, it is best to avoid products that use nano-zinc oxide particles. Zinc oxide receives a safety score of 2-3 from the environmental working group depending on its particle size and usage.

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Ultramarines

Natural ultramarine pigments occur within lapiz lazuli (a blue stone), but can also be made from mineral sources such as sodium carbonate and certain clays. Like iron oxide pigments, natural ultramarines can contain unsafe amounts of heavy metals which are regulated by the FDA. As a result, most ultramarines are lab synthesized for purity. You will frequently see the phrase “may contain ultramarines” in many natural makeup ingredient lists. This is because ultramarines are typically only used in darker shades of foundations or in blue/green shades of other cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group gives ultramarine a score of 1-4 depending on their purity (lab created or natural) and usage. Outside of the potential for heavy metal presence in natural ultramarines, there are no known health hazards associated with the cosmetic usage of these minerals.

SOURCES & REFERENCES

1. (2019) EWG: The Toxic Chemicals and Contaminants In Cosmetics | https://www.ewg.org/californiacosmetics/toxic20

2. Cosmetics Labeling Guide: FDA | https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-regulations/cosmetics-labeling-guide

3. Talcum Powder and Cancer | https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/talcum-powder-and-cancer.html

4. (2018) Ingredient Watch List: Dimethicone, The Smoothing Silicone That Exacerbates Acne | https://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-watch-list-dimethicone-the-smoothing-silicone-that-exacerbates-acne/

5. (2010) CSPI Says Food Dyes Pose Rainbow of Risks | https://cspinet.org/new/201006291.html

PRODUCT BADGES LEGEND
100% NATURAL

100% NATURAL

The product contains only natural ingredients (non-synthetic or lab created). It does not contain anything artificial or synthetic.

100% ORGANIC

100% ORGANIC

The product has been formulated with 100% organically sourced and/or certified organic ingredients.

GMO FREE

GMO FREE

This product does not contain ingredients which have been genetically modified.

GLUTEN FREE

GLUTEN FREE

All of the ingredients contained in the product are free from gluten, wheat, and ingredients which are commonly contaminated with gluten.

VEGAN

VEGAN

The product is made without animal products or byproducts such as beeswax, honey, milk, eggs, etc.

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

The product has received an official organic certification from a third party organization such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA Certified Organic), ECOCERT, Australian Certified Organic, and others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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This Article Was Written By…

Diane Elizabeth K., Founder at SkinCareOx.com

Diane Elizabeth founded Skin Care Ox in 2016 after her personal struggle to find truly clean, natural, and organic products. Leveraging her background in biomedical engineering, scientific research + analytics, and entrepreneurship, she created Skin Care Ox to be an easy-to-use resource to find real clean beauty options. Since then, her articles have been read by over 3 Million people and have helped millions choose cleaner alternatives. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband and growing family.

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Finally, every product we review undergoes our Research and Review Process. This includes faithfully trialing the products for a minimum of two weeks, rigorously researching each ingredient, and consolidating real user reviews from across the web.

One Response

  1. Mayra Castaneda December 27, 2021

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