Not all cosmetic brands are created equal, at least not if you have sensitive skin. When other women choose makeup, they might just have to worry about how it sits on their face or looks with their skin. We with sensitive skin have to worry more about what horrible things it might do to our face. It is a big problem and the primary reason for this site’s existence!
However, some brands are better for sensitive skin than others. Yet, I want to stress how important it is that just because a brand is sensitive skin friendly and uses awareness for our unique problems in their products doesn’t mean it is perfect. Sensitivities, very sadly, change and we can develop new ones over time.
All that being said, if you aren’t looking so much for products, but rather trust-worthy brands that are less likely to be packed with preservatives, chemicals, synthetic dyes, and fragrances, here are some of our favorites – many of which have found favorable reviews on our site already.
Clinique
The name itself inspires a fair bit of confidence, being so close to “clinical” and all. However, this cosmetics company has risen to stunning popularity because of not only its quality but because of its diligence. They test their products 7,200 times. That is PER product, too. This means that there are 7,200 different things that could irritate your skin tested for in each of their great cosmetics. That is a lot of bases covered.
Check Out These Clinique Products:
- Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder
- Clinique Soft Matte Lipstick
- Clinique Surge Moisturizing Soothing Face Cream
Almay
Almay is one of those huge names in the cosmetics world that has enough marketing to stand side by side with brands like Revlon and Maybelline. However, unlike both of those, Almay was one of the very first to jump on the hypoallergenic train, and while not all their products are perfect, they have some products that have been a personal favorite for me for some time.
Almay was one of the first makeup brands to start producing fragrance-free products as well as one of the first to allergy test their products. The fact that they had a huge influx of customers probably played no small part in others hopping on the bandwagon. Of course, like other big brands, they still have products with some irritants in it, but if there is any major cosmetics brand name for women with sensitive skin to put a little faith in, it is Almay.
Check Out These Almay Products:
- Almay Truly Lasting Liquid Foundation
- Almay Multi-Benefit Mascara
- Almay HydraColor Lipstick <- My very favorite thing ever.
Colorescience
For those in the know, Colorescience is a definite go-to if they want SPF protection and some great foundation to boot. Sadly their cosmetics line, while really great for skin, is still lacking the options of larger brands. However, what you do get from Colorescience is something close to a promise that all their products are safe to use. They have a whole team of dermatologists and medical professionals that test and consult on their products because a large part of their business model is SPF protection without all the chemicals that usually come with SPF protection and end up irritating sensitive skin.
Check Out These Colorescience Products:
- Colorescience Sunforgettable SPF 50 Foundation
- Colorescience SPF 20 Bronzing Primer
- Colorescience Sunforgettable Lip Shine
LORAC
This is a growing brand still, but one that women with sensitive skin are likely already familiar with. This is a product that isn’t really targeted at normal skin, but ours instead. The whole reason this brand exists is actually that the makeup artist and creator of LORAC kept hearing how so many products irritated her client’s skin, so she went and made her own. Instead of cosmetics that strip away our essential oils and feature ingredients that irritate, LORAC uses plant extracts that nourish skin.
Check Out These LORAC Products:
- LORAC Pro Eye Shadow Palatte
- LORAC Natural Performance Liquid Foundation
- LORAC Alter Ego Lipstick
bareMinerals
When most people think of makeup for sensitive skin, they usually go right to bareMinerals, and for good reason. BareMinerals was built on the premise of no dyes, fragrances, oils, or even preservatives – they just wanted minerals that could nourish skin and also make it look beautiful and matte. Of course, now ten tons of other companies have jumped on the mineral makeup bandwagon, to varying success for the customers with sensitive skin, but Bare will always be the original and still remains the best at making mineral makeup.
Check Out These bareMinerals Products:
- bareMinerals 7-Piece Starter Complexion Kit
- bareMinerals Hydrating Complexion Rescue Gel
- bareMinerals Original Foundation
SHANY
As a brand, SHANY generally flies a little under the radar, but I love that their whole model is that you can be natural, but can also put out an absolutely striking and gorgeous product. Their cosmetics are the kind of things that you would see runway models wearing for that very dramatic look. It might not be right for everyday style, but if you want to make an impact with makeup that looks super heavy, but actually sits quite light on the face, SHANY is definitely a brand to check out.
Check Out These SHANY Products:
- SHANY Duchess Liquid Eyeliner
- SHANY 88-Color Eye Shadow Palatte
- SHANY Slick & Shine 12-Color Lipstick Set
This Isn’t The End
I only have so much cash to check out new cosmetic brands thoroughly, so don’t think this is the end of our list. If I find myself quite enamored with a brand, rest assured it might end up here someday.