10 Best Natural Foundations With Non Toxic Ingredients

The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.

I’ve personally tested and researched the top clean beauty brands — these are my picks for the best natural, nontoxic foundations.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I don’t love foundation. I’ve found it can cause more problems than it conceals, making me too dry, or too oily, or emphasizing texture and flakes. But testing out some of the best clean foundations on the market might have made me a convert!

I have combination, acne-prone skin and, thanks to retinoids, a dry complexion except for my oily T-zone. I look for foundations that provide a natural-looking coverage, and, most importantly, don’t get cakey. (I shudder to remember the mid-2000s dry, matte foundation looks I grew up on. And not a single decent moisturizer in sight.) It’s always a plus when a formulation has beneficial ingredients like niacinamide or squalane — and many of the below clean formulations do.

Why wear nontoxic foundations with natural or organic ingredients?

Cosmetic products don’t need FDA approval to go on the market, and cosmetic companies aren’t required to share their safety information with the FDA. So while most cosmetic ingredients are perfectly safe, others have been linked to health issues. Certain preservatives contain formaldehyde, which can be carcinogenic, and phthalates are potential endocrine disruptors.

The following brands create makeup that puts your skin first, the way it should have always been. They emphasize ingredients you’ll find in your favorite skincare products for skin that looks better when you take off your makeup, not worse. Natural and organic ingredients, along with safe synthetics, reduce the risk of irritation and make these foundations ideal for anyone with sensitive skin or whose skin is prone to inflammation-based conditions like acne, rosacea, or eczema. And every brand prioritizes sustainability, with measures like minimal packaging, recycled plastic, and ethical sourcing.

What should you look for in a nontoxic foundation?

When shopping for a nontoxic foundation, the goal is to find a product that’s both safe for your skin and effective in performance. Start your search by looking for foundations with clean, transparent ingredient lists — bonus points if they’re certified by reputable third-party organizations. Certifications like EWG Verified, Made Safe, USDA Organic, or Ecocert can help you identify products that meet strict health and safety standards. These labels aren’t just marketing fluff — they indicate that a product has gone through extra scrutiny for ingredient safety and sourcing.

It’s also a good idea to check resources like INCIDecoder, which lets you upload a photo or paste in an ingredient list to break down what each component does and how safe it is. Another favorite is CosDNA, which analyzes product formulas to show their potential for clogging pores, causing irritation, or raising any safety concerns. If you’re looking for an official source, CosIng is a database from the European Commission that helps clarify which ingredients are commonly used in cosmetics and which are flagged as potentially harmful substances. And for those who love learning through conversation, The Beauty Brains podcast is a super informative (and entertaining) resource where cosmetic scientists dive into trending topics, myths, and ingredient deep-dives to help make sense of the beauty world.

At the end of the day, a truly nontoxic foundation balances safety, performance, and transparency. And remember — foundation is not one size fits all. Depending on your skin type, sensitivity, and product ingredient list, different foundations will suit different skin types. I’ve tried plenty of options below to help you figure out which natural foundation will likely work best for your skin needs!

Our methodology & criteria:

The Good Trade was sent these 10 foundations for review, and I personally tested them all. To test each foundation, I applied one pump (when applicable) all over with my fingers, then blended it in with a damp makeup sponge. I wore each foundation for two full days to see how it looked in different lighting and how it wore throughout the day. For reference, my skin is combo and acne-prone, with a slightly oily T-zone and dryness everywhere else. After personally testing, combing through customer reviews, and doing research including corresponding with brands, these are our top picks for the cleanest foundations. We regularly update this list when emerging products meet the following criteria.

NONTOXIC | Each brand below demonstrates a level of commitment to sourcing clean ingredients only. Many also use plastic-free packaging and/or have third-party sustainability certifications.
SHADE MATCHING | I used each website’s photos to determine my shade — you’ll see that some were easier to figure out than others! Also, the lighter the coverage, the easier the shade matching (because you have more wiggle room).
AFFORDABLE | You’ll find foundations at various price points on this list, so there’s something for every budget.

Read on for my honest thoughts and tips on the following clean foundations. And if you’re looking for more clean makeup reviews, check out our guides on lipsticks and mascaras.

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Table of Contents

• Best For Dewy, Hydrated Skin: ILIA ($54)
• Most Lightweight Coverage Foundation: Juice Beauty ($45)
• Best Skincare-First Foundation: Saie ($40)
• Best High-Coverage Foundation: RMS Beauty ($45+)
• Most Convenient For On-the-Go Touch-Ups: MERIT ($38)
• Best For Oily Skin & Sustainable Packaging: ATTITUDE ($35)
• Best For Sheer, Buildable Coverage: Jones Road ($46)
• Best Powder Foundation: Well People ($27)
• Best Medium Coverage Foundation: Kosas ($42)
• Most Travel-Friendly Packaging: 100% Pure ($48)

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1. ILIA

1% for the planet

Cruelty free

Eco friendly packaging

Plant trees

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Dewy, hydrated skin
Natural Ingredients | Aloe juice, niacinamide, squalane
Coverage Level | Light
Shades Available | 30
My Shade | Salina SF5
Price Range | $54

Ilia’s True Skin Serum Foundation is a step up from their Skin Tint in terms of coverage — it provides light coverage but can be built up to medium. The foundation blends in easily and leaves a dewy finish, so I might prefer it more in the winter when my skin is drier. Ilia’s added some skincare ingredients into the product, too — it has niacinamide, allantoin, and aloe, all at levels shown to benefit the skin. Ilia is committed to 1% for the Planet, and they back all of their makeup with skincare ingredients, creating clean products that prioritize the health of your skin and the planet.

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2. Juice Beauty

Cruelty free

FSC

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Lightweight coverage foundation
Natural Ingredients | Champagne grape seed oil, coconut alkanes, rose powder pigments
Coverage Level | Light/medium
Shades Available | 13
My Shade | Naked Beige
Price Range | $45

Juice Beauty’s Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation has my ideal light/medium coverage and a skin-like, not too dewy finish — this one might be my personal favorite. It’s full of skincare ingredients like antioxidant-rich grape seed oil and aloe juice, and it has a liquidy texture that substitutes silicones with coconut alkanes for a smooth finish. Plus, it looked exactly the same at the end of the day as it did at the beginning. Naked Beige was a perfect match for my summer tan, but I’d need something lighter in the winter — note that the shade matching was pretty difficult online, and the shade range isn’t phenomenal. Juice Beauty’s products are clean without sacrificing function, combining organic ingredients with clinically proven formulas for a foundation that works.

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3. Saie

1% for the planet

Climate neutral

Cruelty free

Eco friendly packaging

FSC

Subscriptions available

Woman owned

Best For | Skincare-first foundation
Natural Ingredients | Squalane, hyaluronic acid, marshmallow root extract, rice bran peptides
Coverage Level | Light/medium
Shades Available | 36
My Shade | 6
Price Range | $40

Saie is a buzzy, new-ish brand known for its skincare-first formulations. I’ve called them Glossier for adults in the past, reviewing some of their other products. Their Glowy Super Skin Tint Foundation fits their you-but-better model, giving you what is, in my opinion, a perfect amount of coverage — something between light and medium. It has a dewy but skin-like finish that also fits my preference, looking natural but still blurring imperfections really well. The brand calls the product 85% skincare and 15% weightless pigment, packing it with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which draw in moisture, and rice bran peptides, which reduce the appearance of fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Maybe I’ll see an improvement in skin texture if I start wearing it every day!

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6. ATTITUDE

Cruelty free

Plant trees

Plastic/Pfas free

Vegan

Best For | Oily skin & sustainable packaging
Natural Ingredients | Algae extract, sunflower seed oil, plankton extract
Coverage Level | Light/medium
Shades Available | 6
My Shade | Nude
Price Range | $35

ATTITUDE’s Light Coverage Foundation Stick has some great stuff going for it — it’s packaged completely in cardboard, it swipes directly onto the skin for easy application, and it’s only $35. While it glided smoothly over my skin on application, it had a drier finish than I was hoping for, taking a couple of extra spritzes of water on my sponge to fully blend out and emphasizing my flakiness a tiny bit. Once blended, it had a nice natural finish with a light to medium coverage, which I love, and it looked great an hour later. It’s just that I prefer something dewier. This one would be great for oily folks who don’t struggle with any dryness! I could also see the formula drying out over the course of a few months since it’s packaged in cardboard. Attitude does more than just makeup, making clean skincare, body care, and even home goods with some impressive sustainability practices like using minimal plastic.

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9. Kosas

Cruelty free

Gluten free

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Medium coverage foundation
Natural Ingredients | Caffeine, squalane, peptides, niacinamide, artemisia flower extract
Coverage Level | Medium
Shades Available | 36
My Shade | 190
Price Range | $42

While Kosas’ Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation had the most coverage of any foundation I tested, it still lets skin show through with a medium coverage. It’s packed with beneficial ingredients — niacinamide and caffeine for brightening, peptides and hyaluronic acid for plumping, and zinc oxide for SPF 25 sun protection. It had a nice skin-like finish that did dry down and become slightly cakey by the end of the day, so I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who’s super dry. I’d also recommend a setting spray, as it definitely isn’t transfer-proof! Kosas specializes in skin-first makeup, making products clinically proven to improve your complexion — so their foundation is a great open for someone who’s conscious about the health of their skin and the planet, but wants a boost in coverage.

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10. 100% Pure

Budget friendly

Cruelty free

Recycled materials

Vegan

Best For | Travel-friendly packaging
Natural Ingredients | Avocado oil, aloe, rice powder, pomegranate seed oil
Coverage Level | Medium
Shades Available | 7
My Shade | White Peach
Price Range | $48

100% Pure’s Fruit Pigmented Cream Foundation is the first foundation I’ve ever used that comes in a tin, meaning it’s super lightweight and easy to travel with — plus it’s easily recyclable, too. Pigmented naturally with fruit and cocoa beans, the solid-form foundation still has lots of slip — its number one ingredient is avocado oil. In fact, take a look at its ingredient list and you’ll see it’s made of nothing but different plant extracts, like pretty much everything else at the small company. It blended out easier that I thought it would with the damp sponge, giving a pretty medium coverage. Its finish is more satin than dewy and by the end of the day it was settling into my smile lines a tiny bit — so it’s probably unforgiving on super dry skin types. My shade, “white peach,” seemed a little orange at first (“creme” might have been a better shade match) but blended in well — note that the brand only has seven shades, so not a great shade range.

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What are the most common ingredients to avoid in foundation?

When it comes to picking the right foundation, it’s not just about finding your perfect shade or finish — it’s also about knowing what’s actually in the product. Foundation sits on your skin all day, so the ingredients matter, especially if you’re dealing with sensitive skin, acne, or conditions like rosacea or eczema. Some ingredients can be irritating, pore-clogging, or just unnecessary. Let’s break down the most common ones to watch out for, why they might be problematic, and how to navigate the sometimes murky world of product labels — especially when it comes to fragrance.

Fragrance

Let’s start with fragrance, since it’s one of the most talked-about (and confusing) ingredients in skincare and makeup. “Fragrance” or “parfum” often shows up in foundation ingredient lists, but here’s the issue: Brands aren’t required to disclose what goes into that single word. A product might list “fragrance,” but that could mean a mix of dozens of chemical compounds — and the specific blend is often considered a “trade secret.” That’s where the lack of transparency comes in.

Now, not all fragrances are inherently bad. Some are derived from natural sources and are perfectly safe for most people. Others are synthetic but created to be non-irritating. The problem is, unless a brand clearly discloses what’s used, it’s hard to know what you’re putting on your face. If you have sensitive skin, allergies, or react to certain scents, you might experience redness, breakouts, itching, or even dermatitis from fragranced products — without being able to pinpoint the cause.

So, should you avoid all fragrance in foundation? Not necessarily. If you don’t have sensitivities and enjoy the sensory experience of scented products, you’re probably fine. But if your skin is reactive or you’re trying to simplify your routine, it’s worth looking for fragrance-free formulas (ideally labeled “no added fragrance” or “unscented” — though even those terms can be misleading). Some brands will be fully transparent and list essential oils or botanical extracts used as fragrance alternatives, which is a good sign they’re being upfront.

Alcohol Denat (Denatured Alcohol)

This is a common one in foundations, especially long-wear or matte formulas. Alcohol denat is used to help the product dry quickly and feel lightweight, but it can be super drying and irritating, especially for sensitive or dry skin types. Over time, high concentrations can strip the skin’s natural barrier, leading to more oil production (ironic, right?), inflammation, and even breakouts. If alcohol denat is one of the first ingredients listed, and you’re struggling with dryness or sensitivity, you may want to skip that formula.

Parabens

Parabens are preservatives used to extend the shelf life of cosmetics by preventing the growth of bacteria and mold. You’ll often see them listed as methylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, or ethylparaben. They’ve been controversial due to concerns about their potential to mimic estrogen in the body and disrupt the endocrine system. While the scientific consensus is still evolving, many people prefer to err on the side of caution and go for paraben-free formulas. Luckily, more and more brands are phasing out parabens, so they’re easier to avoid now than ever before.

Silicones (like Dimethicone)

Silicones are used in foundation to give that silky, smooth glide and to help blur imperfections. Dimethicone is the most common one. For many people, silicones are totally fine and can even help lock in moisture and give a flawless finish. But some folks — especially those with acne-prone or congested skin — find that silicones can trap oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells, potentially worsening breakouts. If you’ve noticed more clogged pores or breakouts after switching to a certain foundation, and it contains dimethicone, that could be the culprit.

That said, not all silicones are bad, and they don’t “suffocate” your skin the way myths often suggest. It really depends on your skin type and how diligent you are with cleansing at the end of the day. If you like the texture silicones provide but want a lighter option, look for water-based or silicone-free foundations that still deliver a smooth finish.

Mineral Oil and Petroleum Derivatives

Mineral oil and other petroleum-based ingredients are often used in foundations to create a smooth, moisturizing feel. But they can also be comedogenic, especially for those with oily or acne-prone skin. These ingredients form a film on the skin, which can trap dirt and bacteria if your pores are already clogged. Petroleum-based ingredients also derived from fossil fuels which wreak havoc on our environment, making it ideal to avoid in your cosmetics.

What makes a foundation the right match for someone’s skin and lifestyle?

Some foundations just hit differently depending on your skin type, preferences, and lifestyle — and there’s a good reason for that. The truth is, no one-size-fits-all formula exists when it comes to makeup, especially with foundation. What works beautifully on one person might be a total disaster for someone else, and that usually comes down to a mix of skin chemistry, ingredients, application technique, and even what you’re doing that day. (Think: Lounging at home vs. dancing at a wedding.)

First, let’s talk about ingredients. Foundations made with more natural or plant-based ingredients tend to appeal to people with sensitive or reactive skin because they’re often gentler and free from common irritants. Ingredients like aloe vera, jojoba oil, green tea extract, or chamomile can actually soothe the skin while you wear them. But the tradeoff is that these formulas often don’t have the same shelf life as synthetic ones. Without strong preservatives, natural foundations can spoil faster or separate if not stored properly — especially if they’re clean, vegan, or “green beauty” focused. They might also wear off more quickly throughout the day, which can be frustrating if you’re looking for all-day coverage. However, for someone whose skin gets itchy or breaks out easily, this kind of formula might be totally worth the extra TLC it requires.

On the flip side, foundations with more lab-created, non-toxic synthetic ingredients often bring better performance to the table. These formulas tend to last longer on the skin, resist sweat and oil, and hold up better under heat or humidity. That’s why a lot of full-coverage, long-wear, or matte foundations lean into science-backed ingredients that help them stay put. Plus, these products often have a more consistent texture and longer shelf life. Just because something is “synthetic” doesn’t mean it’s bad — in fact, many synthetic ingredients have been developed specifically to be safer and more stable than some of their natural counterparts.

At the end of the day, a foundation that works “better” for someone comes down to a combo of what their skin needs and what kind of experience they want from the product. Some people prioritize clean ingredients and skin benefits, while others just want coverage that doesn’t budge. And there are plenty of formulas out there trying to meet both those goals — which is great news, but also why it can take a little trial and error to find your perfect match. Whether you’re chasing longevity, glow, comfort, or clean ingredients, the best foundation is the one that ultimately, makes you feel confident in your skin.

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Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!

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