B is For…

If you missed last month’s post (you can read it here), I’m creating a comprehensive resource of the natural and organic make-up brands available on the market around the world. My alphabet round-up is now in it’s second month and so…

B is for… ( beware it’s fairly extensive!)

Who Are They? An english mineral make-up company.
Eco-Credentials: 100% naturally derived ingredients; Vegan friendly (except for the mascara) and approved by Cruelty Free international, PETA approval, Vegan Society approval and the Vegetarian Society!
The Products: A small collection of loose mineral powder products. They are formulated to be free from alcohol, synthetic ingredients, Parabens, dyes and fragrances and of course also from the dreaded Bismuth Oxychloride. 
Favourite Products: I’ve only tried the finishing powder so I have to go with this and it is quite lovely :)

Who Are They? Co-founded by Laura McComiskie (Love the Planet) and Kimberly Wyatt (ex Pussycat Doll), BM are a mineral make-up range available almost exclusively to Holland & Barrett.
Eco-Credentials: Approved by the BUAV
The Products:  I’ve only included mineral make-up brands who are free from bismuth oxychloride in this list but FYI, they are also free from parabens, nano particles and synthetic dyes and fragrances.
Favourite Products: I’ve only had a short pay with them in H&B and so can’t claim a favourite here I’m afraid

Who Are They? Established for over 30 years, British brand Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) was one of the first natural beauty brands on the market and a fixture in pretty much every health food store I went into when I was growing up.
Eco-Credentials: The entire range is suitable for vegans; completely cruelty free and have a fixed cut-off date compliant with BUAV requirements;
The Products: A comprehensive range of make-up which covers everything from foundations to nail polish (formulated with 85% bio-sourced ingredients). BWC got a bad rap for a while because it was so dated and the products were not the best however there has been some reformulation and the packaging brought up to date so things have much improved.
Favourite Products: I love their Waterproof mascara, it’s one of the cleanest on the market!

Who Are They? Established in Los Angeles in 2005, Bellapierre are a mineral make-up line.
Eco-Credentials: Approved by Cruelty free International
The Products: Despite the odd inclusion of Phenoxyethanol (an ingredient I prefer to avoid), on the whole Bellapierre are not a bad company. The make-up range is fairly extensive so there is plenty to choose from – they also have a range of vegan make-up brushes. They are on the upper end of the spectrum price wise for a mineral make-up line but I always see them in TKMAXX so if you are wanting to try them without spending a fortune then have a browse in there!
Favourite Products: The Shimmer Powders are pretty cool and have a great range of colours.

Who Are They? Benecos were created by a couple who wanted a natural cosmetics brand that was modern, offered great quality to meet the expectations of today´s ethical consumer.
Eco-Credentials: 100% natural with organic ingredients; certified by the BDIH; some Vegan and Gluten free products
The Products: A fabulous affordable line which I always recommend to people wanting suggestions for clean makeup for their daughters/nieces etc. A relatively small collection but it covers all the bases and has some pretty shades. There is also a small range of super-luxuriant feeling vegan brushes to accompany the range. 
Favourite Products: I utterly adore the eyeliner pencils, in my opinion they are by far and away the best products from the range. The liquid liner is worth a mention too.

Who Are They? Handmade in Toronto, Bite Beauty specialise in all things lip related (they even make lip wipes!) and their mission is to create lipstick that is high performance and healthy enough to eat.
Eco-Credentials: Bite lip products are handcrafted one at a time using natural and organic ingredients; 
The Products: One of my go-to brands, in my mind Bite are the clean version of MAC in terms of lipstick (albeit with a slightly smaller range of shades and finishes); If I’m looking for a lippy then they are always my first port of call.  For those not in the know, the Amuse Bouche collection consist of 34 creamy lipsticks in an amazing array of shades, 22 lip pencils, 18 multi-sticks (can be used on eyes and cheeks too), 18 lip crayons, 7 lip glosses, a balm, a scrub and a mask and a lip primer. I think I’ve got them all covered. I forgot the wipes…!
Favourite Products: Umm, the High Pigment Pencil, the Amuse Bouche lip collection, the Agave Lip care products… All of it essentially.

 

Who Are They? A (probably) little known French brand which launched in April 2012.
Eco-Credentials: Certified organic COSMEBIO; Approved by ONE VOICE (cruelty free); A member of 1% for the planet (donating 1% of their revenue to fund environment protection projects)
The Products: Boho offers a complete range of make-up at the affordable end of the market. The selection of products is great and there are a wide range of shade in a selection of finishes. The recyclable packaging is made of recycled plastic and paper. The only one drawback is that the shipping costs offset the product costs as they are shipped from mainland Europe to the UK.
Favourite Products: I have only briefly tried a couple to products from the range and I really liked them so am anxious to try more – will keep you posted!

 Who Are They? Established in Germany in 1959 by Annemarie Lindner and husband Hermann Börner. Sadly Annemarie died whilst on Holiday last year aged 95.
Eco-Credentials: Börlind GmbH is certified by CSE (Certified Sustainable Economics). These guidelines go well beyond the criteria of conventional natural cosmetics certifications because not only the products, but the entire company and its socio-ecological principles are checked and confirmed.
The Products: An elegantly packaged (although reasonably priced) capsule make-up collection which I imagine possibly has the more mature customer in mind given the range of shades avaialbe. Formulated using plant extracts from organic farming and water from the Buntsandstein layers of the North Black Forest, the make-up is free from animal extracts (except in the odd case Beeswax), parabens and silicones. 
Favourite Products: I have only tried the eyeliner pencil and one shadow but am now tempted to give a few other items a try.

Who Are They? Established in 1984 after a chance meeting between Artist Roxanne Quimby and Beekeeper Burt Shavitz (who sadly died in 2015).
Eco-Credentials: Members of  the Sustainable Packaging Coalition; In 2007, Burt’s Bees established The Greater Good Foundation, non-profit, charitable organization designed to further their mission of responsible environmental stewardship; they sponsor the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) Adopt a Beehive scheme
The Products: Probably best know for their lip balms, Burt’s Bees introduced a lip colour to their range in 2003 and most recently released a collection of 18 lipsticks (which look beautiful). There are also matte and gloss lip crayons, lip glosses and a selection of shimmers, shines and tinted balms. 
Favourite Products: Without a doubt it’s the lip balm.

Have I missed anyone? If you can think of any more natural or organic make-up brands I’ve missed (especially those further afield) then do let me know – I’d be happy to add them to the list.

 

Images: LJS OMUA; Barefaced Beauty; Beautiful Me; Benecos; Bellapierre; Börlind; BWC; Bite Beauty; Burt’s Bees; Boho Green