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As far back as ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations, people have been applying pigment to the top and bottom of their eyelids – proving that even Cleopatra knew the value of a great eyeshadow. Today, our eyeshadow routine involves primer, base color, crease color, highlighter, and glitter. It also involves way more questionable ingredients than what the pioneers of the smoky eye were using to color their lids.
One of the more controversial ingredients commonly used in eye shadow is talc. Considered the softest mineral in the world, it’s used in eyeshadow for its ability to absorb moisture and improve the finish and texture of a product. But, perhaps most importantly to manufacturers, it’s an inexpensive bulking agent that works as a great filler to dilute pigment at a very low cost. While that fact in and of itself isn’t a problem, the fact that this ingredient is mined in close proximity to asbestos, is.
Whether you struggle with sensitive skin that can be irritated by talc products or you’re just one of many consumers who errs on the side of caution, there are brands that support your needs with talc free eyeshadow. They provide all the same effects with less risk of irritation (or worse). Keep reading to find out what our top choices for eyeshadow without talc are and what makes them the best.
16+ BEST TALC FREE EYESHADOWS
100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Pressed Eyeshadow $20
100% Pure’s talc-free pressed eyeshadows (over 900 5 star ratings) are extremely popular with good reason. Colored with vitamin-rich fruit pigments, the 20+ long-lasting individual eyeshadows come in matte, metallic and soft shimmer shades. Key ingredients in the buildable formula include the likes of Resvatol from Red Grapes known for its rejuvenating properties, antioxidant-rich Black Tea, soothing Rice Starch and nourishing plant-based butter from Avacodo and Cocoa.
If you’re looking for more of a palette option look no further check out 100% Pure’s talc-free eyeshadow palettes ($55) ($55).
Kosas 10-Second Eye Gel Watercolor Eyeshadow $15
Introducing Kosas’s lightweight, water-based cooling gel in 6+ dimensional neutrals that providing a soft, diffused color and a subtle sheen (sans any glitter), effortlessly enhancing all looks. No special skills, time, or tools are needed. The color lasts without creasing and is enriched with active skincare ingredients for smoothing and brightening effects. Safe for sensitive eyes, this cruelty-free gel offers a fuss-free, long-lasting solution for effortless eyeshadow. Finally, the formula comes packed with skin-beneficial ingredients like rejuvenating Galactoarabinan for fine lines and wrinkles as well as nourishing Shea butter.
Jane Iredale Single Pressed Powder Eye Shadows $25
Rarely do you find such a high degree of pigmentation in a talc-free pressed powder as you do with this line of Jane Iredale. Even less common is the ability to glide across the lid flawlessly, regardless of whether you’re using the brush wet or dry. Safe and gentle enough for use on sensitive skin, it’s formulated with pine bark extract to deliver calming to your eyes, brows, cheeks, and even lips. If you’re looking for something with a little more options check out the brand’s extremely popular Eye Shadow Triples ($30), that have 3 different shades.
And when you need an expertly selected combination of shades that take you from Daytime to Purple Rain, Jane Iredale’s perfectly curated talc-free eye shadow palette ($59) offers all the same benefits as their single shadows – but in 5 colors each.
MOB Beauty Cream Clay Eyeshadow $16
MOB Beauty fan-favorite vegan cream clay eyeshadows redefine color intensity and versatility (with over 14+ shades that range from bright teals, dusty pinks to muted nudes) as well as rich pigmentation that delivers. Infused with clay, they offer a semi-powder dry down texture, ensuring seamless application.
Whether you opt for a single shade or experiment with multiple hues, the options are endless. Layering powder eyeshadows adds depth, creating captivating looks while providing skincare benefits for nourished lids. Chamomile extract soothes your skin while natural antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E fortify and heal your skin’s barrier.
Emphasizing sustainability, MOB Beauty uses 90% post-consumer recycled fiber for their eyeshadow pans, reducing environmental impact. The compact is both recyclable or biodegradable.
Looking for other talc-free options explore Mob Beauty’s Matte Eyeshadow range ($16) in 24+ shades or their Shimmer eyeshadow range ($16) for some sparkle.
Pacifica Beauty 10 Well Eye Shadow $14
Each shade of mineral-based shadow in this talc-free eyeshadow palette is infused with the hydrating and nourishing benefits of coconut water – for the benefit of your lids as well as your application process. With 10 highly sought-after colors in every palette, Pacifica is a vegan and cruelty-free brand that makes our top talc-free eyeshadow list for designing a health- and eco-conscious product at an affordable price point.
Gen See Mixed Media Liquid Eyeshadow $25
Gen See’s alcohol-free liquid eyeshadow that comes in 8+ shades offers versatility, delivers a metallic finish (think Molten metal) without any feeling of heaviness. Crafted with 72% post-consumer recycled materials, it champions sustainable packaging and is safe for use on cheeks and lips as a highlighter, offering endless possibilities for makeup experimentation. Particularly suitable for the delicate eye area, it boasts maracuja extract known for its calming properties and high antioxidant content, promoting skin regeneration and repair. Truly a multitasking gem in any makeup collection.
Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Eye Shadow Palette $12.99
Burt’s always has sensitive skin in mind – which is why they formulated these eyeshadow kits without talc, SLS, fragrance, petrolatum, parabens, or phthalates. Instead, they’ve enriched each lightly pigmented and shimmery talc free eyeshadow palette with ingredients that the skin will love more than you love how complementary these hues are. Made with herbs and essences such as honey, bamboo, and essential vitamins, even those who wear contact lenses will find these shadows comfortable.
Alima Pure Satin Matte Eyeshadow $14
Nothing quite gives you the same effect as a loose powder when you want a shadow that sits lightly and featherweight on the surface of your skin. Easy to sift, dispense and apply, Alima’s line of mineral shadows in Pure Satin is available in 19 richly pigmented but muted matte shades. For an option that lasts just as long but gives you more depth and coverage, Alima offers their Pure Luminous line ($14) in 15 shimmering and highly-pigmented shades.
But when bolder is better, opt for 14-shade the Pure Pearl Luster eyeshadows ($14). Apply these dry when you want a subtle glow and damp for a dramatic metallic finish. And for those who love the gluten, paraben, sulfate, talc, and animal-free formula Alima offers but require a pressed powder, don’t fret. They’ve created a 12-shade line, of pressed eyeshadows ($26) to serve all your pigment needs in a refillable compact.
Ilia Beauty The Necessary Eyeshadow (Warm Nude) $38
Looking for a range of eyeshadows look no further than Ilia Beauty’s popular 6 pans talc-free eyeshadow palette available in Warm Nudes ($38) and Cool Nudes ($38) that contain an assortment of matte, shimmer, and satin finishes. Not only are they easy to blend but they are also highly pigmented. Key ingredients include Jojoba oil that helps nourish the skin, honeysuckle extract to calm, and the antioxidant Vitamin E that helps reduce free radical damage.
If you’re a fan of Ilia the brand also offers a popular Powder Tint eyeshadow ($28) that comes in a range of matte and metallic shades.
Lily Lolo Eye Shadow $14
There aren’t many award-winning brands that can boast such a fair price point, but Lily Lolo manages to do just that with these weightless shadows. Lightweight but blendable and buildable, you can customize your coverage according to just how intense and dramatic your needs are. Plus, you can do that without any fear of the formula: it’s full of wholesome items like jojoba, sea holly extract, pomegranate oil, and the very exclusive manuka oil.
Alternatively consider Lily Lolo’s extremely popular chemical-free neutral Laid Bare Eyeshadow Palette ($34) that has a collection of 8 wearable shades.
W3ll Nudist Eyeshadow Palette $19
Available in violet or taupe, these talc free eyeshadow palettes capture the essence of New Mexican landscapes in 5 matte and shimmer shades each. The neutral hues are expertly matched to create a variety of day-to-night looks. More importantly, though, these plant-based shadows are formulated with a proprietary blend of botanicals – including jojoba, grapeseed, and rosemary – that ensure you can maintain rich pigment from day-to-night without ever requiring a reapplication.
RMS Creaseless Eyelets $26
If you’re looking for a long-wearing creaseless eyeshadow – we’ve got you covered! RMS’s vegan formula made sans talc is in 6 shades and is formulated with skin beneficial natural peptides and antioxidant-rich green tea to nourish the skin. The brand notes that none of their products are held together by glue or chemicals, meaning that your health is protected while you wear it (but you also have to protect the compact when traveling).
Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad $88
Tom Ford’s fashion is synonymous with luxury and quality and the brand’s makeup is no different. The cult-favorite talc-free eyeshadow quad palette that can be worn wet or dry comes in 19 styles that covers it all from sheer sparkle, satin, shimmer, to matte – all carefully curated to give Tom Ford’s signature high-fashion look. The silicone-free eyeshadow in its stunning statement packageing is also formulated without parabens, mineral oil, and petroleum.
Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint $28
You’ve heard of lip tint but what about lid tint? It follows the same concept as the lip product we all know and love: just a hint of sheer color in a wide range of 10 shades. This cruelty-free eye eyeshadow from luxury makeup line Jillian Dempsey is basically fool-proof… not just for the easy application but also for its fantastic organic ingredients, including sunflower, castor, cocoa, and sesame seed oils as well as extracts of sage, rosemary, and rosehip.
Ritual De Fille Ash & Ember Eye Soot $35
Indulge Rituel de Fille’s extremely popular Ash & Ember Eye Soot, a fragrance-free eyeshadow boasting rich pigmentation and a velvety texture. With 11 mesmerizing shades to choose from, each offering intense, smoldering color, this eye soot blurs the line between powder and cream for a truly unique application experience.
Crafted with pure pigments and natural oils, this eyeshadow is free of waxes to prevent melting upon contact with the warmth of your skin, ensuring long-lasting wear and vibrant color payoff.
Westmant Atelier Eye Pods $85
Last but not least is Westman Atelier’s luminous Eye Pods that elevates clean beauty to the luxury realm with their luminous cream-powder formula. With 3 color ranges to choose from, each containing three versatile shades, these pods provide endless possibilities for creating stunning eye looks. The blendable texture, infused with coconut oil and rice starch, ensures smooth application and a velvety finish.. Whether you opt for the earthy tones of Rendez Vous, the rich hues of Les Jours, or the sultry shades of Les Nuits, you’ll experience a boost of rich naturally derived color that’s both intuitive and easy to work with.
If you’re looking for other talc-free formulas – consider our run-downs on the best of talc-free setting powder, talc-free bronzer and talc-free blush. Alternatively consider our overview of the best talc-free makeup brands!
WHY GO TALC FREE?
The problem with talc isn’t the talc in and of itself. The problem is that, where talc is mined, there’s often asbestos. Asbestos is dangerous to human health and, because they’re mined in such close proximity, asbestos has the potential to contaminate the mineral so widely used in the cosmetics industry.
According to some experts, the grade of talc that’s used in cosmetics is of extremely high quality. Comparable to the talc used in pharmaceutical applications, high-grade talc for cosmetics is supposedly mined from only select deposits in certified locations. Despite that position, since the 1970s researchers have raised concerns about the possible links between asbestos contamination of talc and different types of cancer.
While none of these links have been proven and the FDA has made no decisive ruling either way, talc remains a controversial and iffy substance that you should think about minimizing your exposure to. At the very least, inhaling talc can lead to breathing difficulties, and applying a talc product to broken skin can cause inflammation or even infection.
And why chance any of these potential side effects when talc-free products offer all the same softness, staying powder, and pigment? Plus, in many cases, brands that are aware of the dangers of talc are aware of other potentially harmful ingredients, too. So you’re not just getting talc-free, you’re usually getting toxic-free.
THE COST OF TALC-FREE MAKEUP
We’re all about honesty here at The Youthist. This is why we like to share the drawbacks as well as the positives of going talc-free with your eyeshadow (or any type of makeup, for that matter). So, listen up, because here’s the open and honest low down on the cost of your talc-free makeup.
Talc is the softest mineral on earth, which is why it’s often used in powder compacts, finishing powders, eye shadows, blushes, foundations, and creams. It creates a soft and silky texture that allows the product to be applied easily and smoothly, without any creasing or caking. It also has the ability to absorb moisture and oil, so it’s great for creating a matte finish, reducing shine, and counteracting sweat.
Fortunately, there are other ingredients that can give those benefits, too. Many makeup companies have started to use silica, kaolin, arrowroot, rice powder, and zinc oxide to achieve the same benefits as talc. Some of these, like silica for example, do come with their own issues, but things like arrowroot are pretty safe in comparison to the toxic potential of talc.
One big issue is that ingredients with higher safety profiles tend to be a bit more expensive than conventional alternatives, which is reflected in the cost of talc-free makeup. When it comes to paying more for cleaner products, though, you have to ask yourself how much your health and wellness are worth to you. While we rather pay more to reduce negative health consequences, that choice is completely up to you.
If you’re someone with sensitive skin, though, we especially think it’s worth it to pay a bit more for talc-free alternatives. When you make the switch to talc-free, you’re going to notice less irritation, redness, rashes, inflammation, and other reactions in your skin. And, in the end, that means needing less makeup and skincare to cover up and counteract those reactions.
At the very least, everybody should know that the greatest risks associated with talc come from inhalation of the product. This means that finishing powder, compact foundations, and any loose powder product are the real no-nos here. If you’re trying to protect your wallet at the same time as your health, start here.
Reducing how much you use products with talc can also have a huge benefit since the potential health consequences of talc only take effect after long periods of use. The less you use, and the less often you use them, is one positive step toward better health.
If you’re considering some other makeup options that don’t include talc, make sure to check out our in-depth guides on the best talc-free makeup brands, talc-free setting powders, talc-free blush, talc-free foundation, and talc-free bronzers.
A NOTE ON NATURAL PRODUCTS
Something to be very aware of is that “natural” and “organic” does not mean talc-free. Technically, talc is a natural, organic ingredient, because it’s a mineral, so don’t assume that your natural or organic makeup or skincare don’t have talc in them.
If you don’t want to use talc, you need to look for a talc-free label. Or, you can check out brands that test their products for asbestos. These are the only surefire ways to know that you’re not getting a contaminated product.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The official research is inconclusive and the FDA is indecisive on the subject of talc, but when it comes to your health and wellbeing, any item that carries a risk of illness as serious as cancer should be considered carefully. That’s doubly true for products that you use directly on the most sensitive areas of your skin – namely, your face and eyes. For that, there are talc-free options, and we’ve already picked out some of the best options for eyeshadow without talc.
