“Makeup should actually be good for your skin,” says Clint Dowdell, global brand ambassador for Nude by Nature, the cruelty-free Australian makeup line that uses 100-percent natural ingredients (no parabens, talc, silicones and the like).

We couldn’t agree more. But with tens of thousands of products on shelves (many with essay-length ingredient lists), knowing what “good” means can be a bit confusing. “For me, it’s about finding a brand that I can believe in ethically that will give me the performance I require,” says Dowdell, noting that “Nude by Nature is more than cosmetic, it’s good from the inside out.”

Here, we highlight some top all-natural makeup ingredients.

 

VITAMIN E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and if you’ve purchased a skincare product in the past five years, it’s a term that should sound pretty familiar. Quick recap: Antioxidants are wrinkle-fighting and collagen-boosting molecules. They work by combatting the formation of skin-damaging, aging free radicals caused by pollution and the sun. Nude by Nature products are full of antioxidants like vitamin E, as well as ingredients native to Australia, such as quandong and lilly pilly.

 

KAKADU PLUM

This green olive-shaped fruit, which is found in nearly every Nude by Nature product, is native to northern Australia. Because it grows in such a notoriously tough climate, it has learned to hold onto any nutrients and vitamins, so it’s a super source for the antioxidant vitamin C. Vitamin C is known for its brightening powers and skin-evening effects.

 

KAOLIN CLAY

Clay helps to draw out impurities in the skin, which is why it is so popular in detoxifying face masks. In makeup, however, kaolin clay is the ideal dupe for potentially skin-irritating talc and bismuth oxychloride.

 

SHEA BUTTER

The skin naturally loses about 500 millilitres of water every. single. day. Known as transepidermal water loss, it is affected by things like age, environment and what you drink. That’s why your skincare and makeup should always contain a type of humectant, like shea butter, to keep the skin’s barrier strong.

 

MINERAL PIGMENTS

Mineral pigments are derived from minerals; naturally occurring substances found in rocks and within the earth. Nude by Nature primarily uses highly pigmented iron oxides, so there’s no compromise on payoff.