Healthy Glow

In the world of makeup, bigger isn’t always better. Mainstream brands usually contain chemicals that can irritate and damage skin. Natural makeups, on the other hand, feature substances found in nature that nourish and protect.

Powder mineral makeup, for instance, is composed of antibacterial minerals, so it doesn’t require preservatives. It’s made of microscopic flat crystals that create
a filter that allows the skin to breathe, while protecting it from environmental pollutants. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide also provide sun protection, although you’ll still need sunscreen if you’re going to be outdoors for long.

Beeswax-based mascaras and lipsticks are naturally moisturizing, while drugstore varieties contain paraffin wax and plastic polymers. Mass-market lip gloss may rely on hydrogenated polyisobutene, a petroleum-based ingredient, for its shine, while natural lip gloss uses botanical oils. Minerals add gloss and shimmer to natural lipsticks, and the non-petrochemical-based waxes and oils add nutrients that feed your skin. The result is lipsticks and glosses that perform like healing lip balms.

And if that wasn’t reason enough to pay heed to what’s in your cosmetics, consider a recent study by the US Food and Drug Administration, which reported that nearly 400 bestselling conventional lipsticks have tested positive for lead, a neurotoxin that accumulates in the body over time.

To find makeup that’s actually good for you, read the ingredients carefully and choose natural over synthetic.

Smooth and hydrate lips with Dr. Hauschka Skin Care’s five new Inner Glow Lipstick shades formulated with organic castor seed oil, which moisturizes and provides a protective barrier against weather and pollution. Shea butter, rose hips, carrot extract, jojoba, and beeswax keep lips velvety soft with color that lasts.

Extend your lashes with Jane IredalePureLash Lengthening Mascara. Instead of lacquers or acrylate copolymers that adhere to your lashes, this mascara uses wheat protein and beeswax to curl, strengthen, and thicken lashes, and cellulose fiber to add temporary length and thickness.

Cover up imperfections and under-eye shadows with Annemarie BorlindNatural Beauty Concealer, which contains moisturizing jojoba and castor seed oils, vitamins C and E, and sun-protecting zinc oxide. The beige cream applies easily with a handy built-in brush, and is small enough to fit in your purse or makeup bag for quick touch-ups.

Remove every trace of eye makeup with LarénimMineral Cucumber Eye Makeup Remover, a natural blend of botanical cleansers and aloe, cucumber, chamomile, violet, parsley, and borage. It’s vegan, fragrance free, and gentle enough to use at the end of every day.

Multi-task with sukícolor Tinted Active Moisturizer, a makeup, sun protection, and moisturizer in one. It’s packed with natural pigments, cell-renewing retinol that reduces lines and wrinkles, anti-inflammatory white willow bark that helps prevent blemishes, antioxidant rose extract that softens and improves skin tone, and titanium dioxide that provides an SPF 15.