Over the past decade or so, the once-niche natural beauty market has gone fully mainstream. Thanks to the rise of the informed consumer and the general wellness trend, there's never been more of a demand for clean, non-toxic beauty products than there is now. However, though there are plenty of "natural" hair and skin care offerings, the makeup industry is still lagging behind. But for most health-conscious shoppers, finding safer alternatives to products that go near our mouths and eyes is at the top of the priority list. Ahead, a breakdown of the best natural and organic eyeliners, because the ingredients that you're putting in your eyes should be a top concern. Then, check out these natural mascaras and natural lip balms to complete your collection of clean beauty basics.
It's important to point out that this article isn't about fear-mongering, as many of the eyeliners and other eye-focused beauty products out there are completely safe to use, even if they're not "natural." But for people with sensitive eyes or skin, some of the common chemical ingredients found in regular eyeliners and mascaras can cause irritation, which is where natural alternatives come in.
However, it's also important to note that there is no government-regulated definition of the term "natural" or even "organic" when it comes to beauty and personal care products. For example, a product that contains one plant-based ingredient can still be labelled as "natural," and the term "organic" is just as vague, unless an ingredient is noted as certified-organic by an organization like the USDA. If you're trying to make the switch to a cleaner beauty routine, your best bet is to read up on ingredients, familiarize yourself with the types of organic and natural certifications out there, and, if you think your makeup or skin care products might be behind any irritation you've been experiencing, go see a dermatologist to find out if you're allergic to a specific ingredient.
That said, if you're simply interested in finding a cleaner eyeliner alternative without going down the whole, confusing, "natural beauty" rabbit hole, here are five great chemical-free picks.