The Best Clean Makeup Brands

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Clean makeup sounds great in theory, but once you actually start shopping, it gets murky fast. “Clean” and “non-toxic” aren’t regulated terms (the way organic food is, for example), so brands define the terms differently. And, performance can definitely vary. I’ve tried a lot of clean makeup over the years – everything from luxury cosmetics to lower-priced options – and I have strong opinions on them.

This post breaks down the best clean makeup brands that actually perform, based on real testing, sensitive skin experience, ingredient standards, and how the formulas wear on aging skin.

My Clean Makeup Criteria

Before we get into individual brands, here’s how I evaluate clean makeup:

• Strict ingredient standards – no known endocrine disruptors, heavy metals, or common skin irritants
• EWG-aligned or transparent ingredient sourcing – even if not every product is verified by the Environmental Working Group

• Performance – coverage, blendability, finish, long-lasting wear

• Formula and packaging quality – how well the product applies and how functional the packaging is

If a brand is clean but the concealer doesn’t cover well, or their blush disappears by mid-morning, it doesn’t make this list.

The 6 Best Clean Makeup Brands

These are the brands I consistently recommend because they are some of the cleanest out there and because they work well on dry, aging skin.

1. Crunchi – 7/10

Crunchi is one of the most thoroughly vetted clean makeup brands out there. Their products are third-party tested and meet very strict safety standards. If safety is your #1 priority, Crunchi should be your first stop.

Best products:

• Concealer – excellent medium coverage that blends without creasing
• Tinted SPF – more coverage than most tinted moisturizers and very hydrating 
• Foundation – natural full-coverage finish that doesn’t emphasize texture
• Blush – gorgeous, long-lasting color

They lose points because I don’t love their packaging for concealer, blush, and lip gloss. It just feels clunky in my palm, and the size is a bit awkward to use. They also lose points because their eye pencils don’t glide easily, and their lip crayons smell funky.

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2. RMS Beauty – 8/10

RMS Beauty is known for its organic makeup formulas and minimalist aesthetic. The brand leans heavily into raw, food-grade, and organic ingredients. They’re also known for a natural, almost glowy look, and most of their powders are also illuminating (so this isn’t your brand if you’re a matte-loving girl).

Best products:

RMS loses points because their cream products aren’t as easy to blend as other brands on my list, and their concealer doesn’t cut it when my dark circles are raging. However, they get extra points because Nordstrom carries RMS.

3. Olive Rose – 7/10

If you want makeup that feels more like skincare with pigment, Olive Rose is unmatched. These formulas are deeply hydrating, loaded with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and ideal for dry skin or for those who want a no-makeup look. 

Best products

• Cream blush – incredibly creamy and soft, without any pulling when you apply. Blends the most easily of any cream blush I’ve tried. 
• Cream contour stick – This is the stick that got me to attempt contouring my nose, which I oddly love. 
• HT Serum Hydroxytyrosol Skin Tint – if you don’t like foundation but want to even your skin tone, you will love this. It’s hydrating, makes skin look amazing, but also looks and feels like you have nothing on.
• Setting Spray – I was convinced that I’d have to settle for less-than-safe setting sprays (and have loved Charlotte Tilbury’s setting spray for years). This made me break up with Charlotte. The Olive Rose one works just as well, doesn’t feel like plastic coating my skin, smells amazing, and has obviously better ingredients. 

It loses points since their packaging doesn’t feel quite as elevated as other brands, and because it has a small line-up, e.g. no brow products, lipstick, or liners.

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4. ILIA – 8/10

ILIA is one of the most recognizable names in clean beauty and probably the most accessible since many retailers carry it (like Nordstrom and Sephora). They offer the widest variety of products, shades, and finishes, including SPF foundations and concealers, and their goal is for their makeup to look like skin (which they definitely accomplish). 

They also balance safety with efficacy, even if that means using synthetic ingredients: “We learned early on that not every natural ingredient is good for the skin, nor is every synthetic bad.” 

Best Products 

• Concealer – great coverage, blends easily. I find it a little heavy under my eyes, but I use it around my nose and on my face when I need extra coverage. 
• Foundation stick – If you’re a foundation stick girl, this is the one you want. It blends easily, doesn’t settle on top of skin, or pull when applying. Yes, it’s better than Merit. 
• Clean gel liner – glides like a dream and stays all day, even when used to tightline (which is how I apply it daily).

It loses points because their serum skin tint smells truly awful, their lip products bleed, and their blushes don’t glide on easily. 

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5. Saie – 9/10

Saie makeup is the longest-wearing of any clean makeup brand I’ve tried.  The colors are very pigmented, so if you’re not comfortable with blending, it may be intimidating.

Best products:

• Dew blush – gives the most natural, lit-from-within flush and melts into my skin. Never cakey, always fresh.
• Dew bronzer – go-to for easy, glowy warmth that blends effortlessly
• Baked powder blush – the perfect soft-focus pop of color with just enough glow to elevate any makeup look without looking overdone
• Their brushes – so well-made and buttery soft (these make application foolproof)

Loses points because I didn’t like any of their foundations. They felt heavy on my skin. However, I appreciate the ease of grabbing Saie products at Sephora.

6. Chantecaille – 9/10

Chantecaille is definitely in the luxury clean beauty category. The price point is high, but so is the formula quality. Long before clean beauty was trendy, they focused on natural ingredients, complete ingredient transparency, and responsible sourcing. 

Best products: 

• Lip Chic – this was my gateway product. It applies like the balm, makes my lip look better and has the prettiest flush of color.
• Future Skin Gel Foundation – This is extremely natural-looking and contains ingredients to improve skin. It’s pricey at almost $100 per jar, but wow, it’s gorgeous and lasts forever.
• Luster Glide Eye Liner – this is the eyeliner that made me realize that I liked eyeliner. The colors are very pigmented, glide on easily, and have just the right amount of shimmer to brighten without looking juvenile. 

It loses points because it’s pricey, but that’s about it. It’s honestly so good. Chantecaille is sold at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus.

Honorable Mentions

FAQs

What is the cleanest makeup brand?

There’s no single answer because “clean” isn’t regulated in the beauty industry. That said, brands like Crunchi and Olive Rose consistently meet the strictest standards while still delivering performance.

Final Thoughts

If you’re building a cleaner routine and feeling overwhelmed, start with one or two swaps on something you use every single day, and go from there. Your skin (and your sanity) will thank you.