Struggle to find your perfect match when it comes to foundation? If your skin tone is more mocha than vanilla, then you’ll probably be nodding even more vigorously. Let us take away some of the leg-work with these impressive non-toxic foundations for dark skin.

The beauty industry is fair, but in all the wrong ways. It’s not surprising that cosmetics can be way more toxic for dark-skinned women, but there’s one essential piece of makeup kit which can make switching over to the clean side an utter nightmare: foundation.

We’re all familiar with the fifty shades of beige you see at conventional cosmetic counters – on this occasion, many eco makeup brands don’t buck the trend.

This isn’t necessarily because the green beauty formulators out there are colorblind. It turns out that the cornerstone ingredient for formulating everything from concealer to BB creams, titanium dioxide, doesn’t lend itself easily to darker shades. It’s basically as white as white can get!

There’s always someone working on the issue though, and we think we’ve found the brands that have the answer.

5 Naturally Beautiful Foundations for Dark Skin

1. Alima Pure Liquid Silk Foundation & Cream Concealer

This duo has us so excited that it would be a crime not to put both on the list. Coming in matching shades, this liquid foundation and concealer provide the perfect natural looking base. If ten colors to choose from isn’t enough, then take a peek at the powdered Satin Matte Foundation which comes in an even bigger variety.

2. Zao Compact Organic Cream Foundation

For those with the deepest skin tones, this medium-full coverage foundation will give you the most choice for a skin-perfect match. The inclusion of nourishing babassu oil also allows it to melt into the face beautifully, avoiding that heavy look you can get with many cream foundations.

3. 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer

After a lighter, fresher finish? Look no further than this cult tinted moisturizer. Coming in three shades that are ideal for darker skin tones, it blends in beautifully without a trace — the only clue is the glowing complexion it leaves behind!

4. Gressa Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation

Although there are only two colors suitable for women of color, this serum foundation is worth a look in. The unusual serum formula makes it look incredibly natural, allowing you to build it up from sheer to a higher coverage look, all while disappearing seamlessly into your own skin.

5. NU Evolution Complete Coverage Foundation

Matte finishes can be hard to come by in natural beauty, especially with foundation. NU Evolution offers that and so much more with this little number, providing a familiar, comforting texture of a high-end foundation. Who ever said green girls couldn’t have it all?

Related on EcoSalon

Cosmetics for Black Women are Way More Toxic than the Rest
Red Hot: How to Find the Right Red Lipstick Shade for Your Pout
6 Clean Beauty Instagram MUAs with All the Tricks and Tips

The post 5 Toxin-Free Natural Foundations for Dark Skin (Finally!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Clean beauty is becoming more mainstream, and convenient, by the day. But are some women particularly disadvantaged in the beauty department? It appears cosmetics marketed to Black women are coming up more toxic than the rest.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), the nonprofit organization working to uncover toxins in cosmetics, recently added more than 1,000 products marketed to Black women to its Skin Deep database, an online resource that ranks products on a low to high hazard scale. The report included an analysis of ingredients in 1,177 personal care products and cosmetics for Black women, around one in twelve of which received a “highly hazardous” rank.

According to the report, less than one-fourth of the products analyzed scored low in potentially hazardous ingredients. Compared to the nearly 40 percent of products listed in Skin Deep marketed to the general public, this suggests a major lack of healthy products available to Black women. And since Black women appear to use more cosmetic products, this significantly ups exposure to dangerous ingredients.

The most toxic products analyzed in this study are hair relaxers, hair color, and bleaching products, all ranked as high potential hazard. Since these types of products generally require multiple steps, exposure to hazardous chemicals goes up again. In categories of concealer, foundation, lipstick, and makeup with SPF, none received a rank of “low hazard”.

Main ingredients of concern showing up in these products are parabens, formaldehyde-releasing ingredients, and fragrance. Parabens are commonly used preservatives with links to hormonal disruption and fetal impairment. Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, like those used in hair relaxers, are shown to increase the risk of developing cancer. And synthetic fragrance ingredients have been associated with cancer, asthma, headaches, dizziness, eye and skin irritation, and hormonal disruption.

With an astounding 78 percent of beauty products designed for Black women scoring a moderate to high hazard rank, there is reason to opt for healthy alternatives to many of the products listed in the EWG report.

Yarok Feed Your Moisture Shampoo is super gentle and designed for curly hair. Use Feed Your Moisture Conditioner to tame curls and frizz.

St. Tropica Organic Coconut Oil Hair Mask is the best solution to treating dry, damaged, or unruly locks. It infuses hair with rich moisture and gives a lustrous shine.

Gressa Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation offers tone balancing coverage in a wide selection of hues. Like serum and foundation in one.

One Love Organics Easy Does It Cleanser is suited to all skin types. Gives a clean feel without stripping skin.

Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream with SPF 30 is a lightweight facial moisturizer with UV protection. Perfect for daytime use.

Acure Organics Ultra-Hydrating Body Wash contains argan oil to moisturize while it cleans. Follow up with Nourishing Body Lotion for smooth, soft skin.

Soapwalla Original Deodorant Cream is the best of the best in absorbing wetness and keeping you fresh all day. Completely natural and freshly scented.

RMS Beauty Lip & Skin Balm is a must in every girl’s beauty kit. It not only keeps your pucker healthy but can be used to treat dry, cracked skin too.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon
Dirty 13: Most Harmful Ingredients to Avoid in Cosmetics
The Best Organic Makeup Brands | Consumer Guide
How to Shop Green Beauty Online Like a Pro

The post Cosmetics for Black Women are Way More Toxic than the Rest appeared first on EcoSalon.