Budget organic makeup. Does it exist?

Until recently, organic skincare of any sort was a no-go zone for all but A-list celebrities, Knightsbridge yummy-mummies and those so scared of obscure chemicals that they'd happily put their life savings into a tube of paraben-free face cream. Within a year this has all changed, with affordable ranges aimed at teenagers and normal people available in most chemists.

The same is happening with makeup, but slowly. You'll still have to pay a few pounds more for organic lipstick or blusher, but it's really not as bad as it used to be.

Over at Kiss and Makeup Anna, a reader, asked the question 'is it possible to get organic makeup for less then £20?' Follow the jump for my response.

Hi Anna

As you’ve noticed, organic makeup is more expensive than ordinary brands you’ll find on the high street. This reflects the cost of organic ingredients and the fact that they tend not to be mass produced in bulk.

However, the demand for makeup that is organic and free of dubious additives has become so great that prices are starting to come down. You can see this already in skincare products, with paraben-free ranges like Naked Bodycare and the new Amie facial products on sale at Boots and Superdrug, both of which are cheaper than many of their chemical-laden cousins.

I expect to see the same thing happen with cosmetics, but for the time being, I’ve found only a small number of products that fit into your price range. In particular, you might want to look at Santé Natural Cosmetics which contain ingredients that are certified organic and include such bargains as Mascara for £10 and asbestos-free blushers for £14 (yes, I was stunned when I found out it was used in makeup too!). Where the ingredients aren’t organic, they are derived from non-toxic natural sources, like beeswax. Another site worth keeping an eye on is Green People, where you’ll find British made, organic lipsticks for under a tenner. Not a huge range at present, but I’m keeping them in mind!

Another tip is to check out tried and tested organic skincare brands that are branching out into makeup: Burts’ Bees Lip Shimmer, which is as natural and safe as everything else you’ll find on their site, is worth a look. It comes in 11 different shades, including watermelon, champagne and guava – a must for the summer!