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These Hypoallergenic Makeup Picks Are a Saving Grace for Sensitive Skin

Because your face deserves a little extra TLC.

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best hypoallergenic makeup 2020
Tower 28 Beauty

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Suffer from allergies but still love makeup? We have good news for you! Luckily, many beauty brands out there sympathize with sensitive skin. Enter: hypoallergenic makeup, a saving grace for all sensitive skin types.

According to Dr. Jennifer Chwalek, Union Square Laser Dermatology board-certified dermatologist, while there is no regulation by the FDA or any other third party for hypoallergenic makeup, there is a baseline gentler formula most brands follow.

"Hypoallergenic is a term that is used to refer to a product (usually cosmetics) that is unlikely to cause a reaction," she says. "In general, a product is labeled hypoallergenic when it does not contain any significant fragrances, dyes, or harsh chemicals like sulfates."

And don't think you're risking quality for a mild formula! Our favorite picks have all of the pigment you need, sans the irritation. Check out our list of the 13 best hypoallergenic makeup products.

1
Best Tinted Balm

Tower 28 BeachPlease Tinted Balm

Editor’s Choice
Tower 28 BeachPlease Tinted Balm
1
Best Tinted Balm

Tower 28 BeachPlease Tinted Balm

$20 at Sephora

In need of some color? Then grab this tinted balm, stat. It's a fan-favorite for a reason: Its clean formula is crafted for eczema-prone skin, making it extremely gentle. 

Each of this balm's three shades are extremely pigmented for rosier cheeks and lips. Expect this to last you a long time, because a little goes a long way.

More: These Tinted Lip Balms Are The Ultimate Pout Pick-Me-Up

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2
Best Lip Gloss

Jane Iredale PureGloss Lip Gloss

Jane Iredale PureGloss Lip Gloss
2
Best Lip Gloss

Jane Iredale PureGloss Lip Gloss

We all love a lip gloss. Well, that is until our lips start to get chapped and swollen from harsh irritants. 

While many lip glosses contain not-so-pleasant ingredients, Dr. Chwalek notes that Jane Iredale's reliable beauty products are formulated for sensitive skin types. This lip gloss is our go-to for giving our pouts a glossy, plump finish, without any harsh ingredients.

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3
Best Translucent Powder

ISDIN Mineral Brush Powder

ISDIN Mineral Brush Powder
3
Best Translucent Powder

ISDIN Mineral Brush Powder

Ok, so maybe this can be considered skincare, but you can put it over makeup, so we're considering it worthy of this list. 

This tinted powder not only provides your delicate skin with much-needed SPF 50, but it also has a light tint that blends in with all skin tones. So, say goodbye to white cast for good.

More: Our Favorite Powder Sunscreens for Your Face

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4
Best Liquid Eyeliner

Almay Oil-Free Liquid Eyeliner

Almay Oil-Free Liquid Eyeliner
4
Best Liquid Eyeliner

Almay Oil-Free Liquid Eyeliner

Now 27% Off

Eyeliners are always fun, but for some of us they can cause teary eyes and itchy eyelids. Well, that is until this Dr. Chwalek-approved pick rolled out. Its hypoallergenic formula is gentle on your eyes, while providing some high-impact color. Plus, it's under $10, making this a killer steal on a budget.

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5
Best Mascara

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara
5
Best Mascara

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

Tarte is usually known for their vegan formulas, and most of their products have a reputation for being extremely gentle on skin. This mascara may feel light on your lashes, but it will give you a dramatic camera-ready look in just a few swipes. 

The beauty of this mascara is its lengthening and volumizing formula, which curls and lengthens each and every lash without clumping or flaking.

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6
Best Liquid Foundation

Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Best Seller
Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15
6
Best Liquid Foundation

Clinique Even Better Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15

If you're looking for full coverage foundation without any irritation this is your tried and true answer. A favorite of Dr. Chwalek's, this liquid is a best-seller across the globe for its ultra sensitive formula that works to hydrate and smooth skin. 

Plus, it contains SPF 15, so your sensitive skin can have an added boost of sun protection.

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7
Best BB Cream

Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm Instant Solutions BB Cream SPF 35

Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm Instant Solutions BB Cream SPF 35
7
Best BB Cream

Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm Instant Solutions BB Cream SPF 35

If you're willing to shell out a few more bucks, then this BB cream is a must-have. Its noncomedogenic formula won’t cause breakouts
or irritation,  plus it's fragrance-free and paraben-free. It may be on the pricier side, but with its priming, brightening, and hydrating formula, we think it's worth every penny.

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8
Best Concealer

BareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer

BareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer
8
Best Concealer

BareMinerals bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer

"Mineral makeup, like bareMinerals' collection, tends to have less ingredients and be less reactive," says Dr. Chwalek.  

This mineral-based concealer is one of the brand's top sellers not just for its gentle formula, but for its full coverage that can't be beat. Take that, dark circles.

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9
Best Eyeliner Pencil

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner Pencil

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner Pencil
9
Best Eyeliner Pencil

Neutrogena Nourishing Eyeliner Pencil

So maybe you're on a budget at the moment, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your skin’s well-being. If you're looking for a drugstore pick that won't break the bank or your complexion, then Neutrogena has everything you need via its dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested formulas. 

While we're fans of many of the brand's makeup products, this eyeliner is our favorite for being the perfect pick for a neutral, subdued everyday look.

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10
Best Bronzer

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

Best Seller
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
10
Best Bronzer

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer

Now 18% Off

This buttery bronzer is a favorite in everyone's beauty bag for its ultra smooth texture. It has a light hint of shimmer to give your face a sun-kissed glow, while creating a subtle contour that lasts for hours on end. 

Plus, like most of the products from Physician's Formula, this bronzer is formulated specifically for sensitive-skin types.

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11
Best Eyeshadow

RMS Beauty Eye Polish

RMS Beauty Eye Polish
11
Best Eyeshadow

RMS Beauty Eye Polish

A mineral-based eyeshadow is exactly what easily irritable eyes need! This gentle shadow has a touch of shimmer for a glowing, radiant look all day long, and comes in five fun colors to play around with.

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12
Best Primer

Juice Beauty PHYTO-PIGMENTS Illuminating Primer

Juice Beauty PHYTO-PIGMENTS Illuminating Primer
12
Best Primer

Juice Beauty PHYTO-PIGMENTS Illuminating Primer

Consider your primer the step in your routine that bridges skincare and makeup together, which is why you need a primer that acts like both. 

Enter: this illuminating, organic primer. It's crafted with natural ingredients to nurture your skin, and it leaves a radiant glow that acts as a great base for the rest of your makeup routine.

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13
Best Makeup Applicator

Sonia Kashuk Latex-Free Makeup Blender Sponge (2-Pack)

Sonia Kashuk Latex-Free Makeup Blender Sponge (2-Pack)
13
Best Makeup Applicator

Sonia Kashuk Latex-Free Makeup Blender Sponge (2-Pack)

PSA: There's something hiding in your makeup sponges that's making you break out, and that's latex. 

Whether we know it or not, many of us have latex allergies, which is why it's so important to take note of the ingredients in your makeup and  your makeup applicators. For a latex-free alternative to your precious makeup blending sponges, try this cute marbled option. It's just as nifty as the originals, without the allergy-inducing latex.

Headshot of Jennifer Hussein
Jennifer Hussein
Beauty Editor

Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.

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