If you’re looking to hop on the clean beauty train, take a look at these thoughtfully-formulated foundations that you can find at Target and meet the Allure clean standard.
With over 13 years of formulating clean beauty products under its belt, W3ll People was one of the first beauty brands people turned to for non-toxic products (and steadily remains a fan-favorite). The Bio Stick Foundation is perfect for those with dehydrated skin, thanks to its satin, filter-like finish that won’t grip onto dry patches or feel heavy on the skin. With ingredients like castor seed oil, safflower seed oil, and vitamin E, you may find that your skin feels nourished enough to skip the moisturizer. Pro tip: snag one in your foundation shade and another in your bronzer shade (usually one shade darker).
Prone to midday oiliness? Hart is a fan of this powder formula from Burt’s Bees, which relies on a blend of bamboo and minerals (rather than talc) to even out skin tone and control oil. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores), reduces shine, absorbs excess oil, and comes with a sponge applicator and mirror that makes it seamless to apply on the go. Go ahead and hit pan on that honeycomb imprint — it’s worth holding onto.
If you’re looking for options, you’ll have plenty with this Alight Clean formula from Pacifica. First up: there are a whopping 30 shades, which range from neutral to cool to warm, to help take the guesswork out of color matching. The foundation is also impressively customizable — you can build it up from medium to full coverage, making it a perfect choice for special events and light makeup days alike. Finally, while the pore-filling formula looks good on its own, you can layer on a setting powder for a smoother finish. Either way, you won’t find any parabens or drying alcohols in this formula — just hydrating coconut water, plumping hyaluronic acid, and skin-tightening seaweed extract. It’s chef’s kiss for all skin types.
New to the foundation stick game? Thread’s vegan Face It Complexion Stick makes it easy to join the club. With a soft-matte feel and long-wear finish, the coconut oil-infused formula comes in 24 shades to match every skin tone. Unlike other stick foundations that only blend well with a dense brush, this formula is so forgiving, giving you full control when it comes to choosing your application method — a brush, sponge, or your fingers will all yield different (but still beautiful) levels of coverage.
Looking for the liquid version of the two-time Best of Beauty-winning loose mineral foundation from BareMinerals? Here it is. Like its powder counterpart, the Original Liquid Foundation smoothes out the look of pores and gives skin a naturally radiant finish that just plain looks healthy. That could be due to the plant-derived squalane or prickly pear extract in the formula — or because it’s made without non-irritating fragrances or silicones that won’t spark a breakout. One more reason to love this? The clean, simple packaging looks sleek sitting atop your vanity.
The dropper applicator on the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Silk Foundation Elixir is giving us major serum vibes — and with a nourishing formula that consists of organic jojoba oil, aloe vera, and coconut oil, it’s easy to confuse it for one. This lightweight formula provides sheer to medium coverage — great for those no-makeup makeup days where time is of the essence — along with a healthy, dewy finish that never oxidizes. What’s more, the luxe glass bottle feels so substantial in your hand, you’d never guess it comes with an under-$20 price tag.
If you’re the type who needs stats to back up your purchases, know that Pür’s 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation has sold over 10 million units (and counting). This comes as no surprise, as the do-it-all formula is a workhorse for your skin, providing unmatched skin-care benefits and coverage you’d be pressed to find elsewhere. The secret sauce lies in the brand’s proprietary Ceretin Complex, a unique mix of retinol, lactic acid, shea butter, and ceramides to even out skin tone, fill in fine lines and wrinkles, and decrease the look of redness and dark circles.