Organic makeup that's effective and affordable? Does that exist?

After reading this guide, you will know:

• That organic isn't always synonymous with expensive
• That organic makeup can be effective and long-lasting
• Which brands to prioritize

Do you want to change your beauty routine and switch to organic and natural makeup but don't know which brand to choose? Do you see the many brands offering organic makeup and want to distinguish fact from fiction? Do you not want to be a victim of green-washing? Do you wonder how effective and quality products can be affordable? Time for a deep dive!

🔎 Do you want quality products to take care of your skin without breaking the bank? It's possible!

One of our main commitments is to make organic beauty accessible to everyone. No more small talk, we're going to tell you all about the secrets of organic, quality, and affordable makeup.

"Organic is necessarily expensive": a misconception

Advertisers and major brands have noticed that many people want to consume more sustainably: by turning to more sustainable consumption patterns such as organic, vegan, ... They have therefore taken the liberty of using terms to polish their image in terms of composition, production methods, and relationship with individuals.

Using the terms "artisan manufacturing" "made in" "authentic recipe" "eco-refill" when they are not certified by independent labels and certifications has no meaning. However, this has allowed many companies to inflate their prices by using these marketing arguments. So be wary of these products! Only independent certifications such as Ecocert, Cosmebio ensure a healthy composition from organic farming.

But don't worry, healthy products, made with natural and organic ingredients, certified and labeled, and affordable are possible. You just need to learn how to recognize them.

At Charlotte Bio, all our products (skincare and makeup) are Ecocert, Cosmebio, Cruelty-free and Vegan certified, with the exception of the primer made with beeswax. How is this possible? We'll explain everything!

The Charlotte team's tips

Complete mastery of the value chain

When we think about the composition of our formulas, we focus on the origin and quality of raw materials and do everything to obtain the best ingredients at the right price. Thanks to our expertise, we control our supply costs and are able to offer cosmetic products made from traceable ingredients. This allows us to ensure their quality, respect for workers and reduce our transport costs. In addition, we manufacture all our products in Italy and France. We have chosen our partners for their expertise in organic cosmetics but also for their location to ensure the quality of their work and working conditions. Thus, your BB cream or primer is produced as close to you as possible to reduce transport costs as well as our ecological footprint. Indeed, by producing locally and favoring short circuits as much as possible, this allows us to reduce our CO2 emissions. This also allows us better traceability of each ingredient composing our products.

Replace all harmful agents with natural components and reduce the ingredient list

Many agents present in conventional makeup come from petrochemicals. What does this term mean? Petrochemistry is the manufacturing of synthetic chemical processes. This requires a lot of Research and Development and many complex processes based on ingredients created or derived from rare and distant materials such as petroleum to create materials, synthetic odors created from scratch. In addition to being dangerous for the environment and surrounding people, being suspected of being endocrine disruptors and potentially causing cancer, these processes are very expensive.

Organic cosmetics content themselves with what nature offers to create ingredients (at least) as effective as organic makeup. Thus, formulation is less expensive because it is “simply” derived from natural ingredients and does not require complex processes: by favoring gentle processes. Moreover, vegetable oils replace silicones and parabens and have many benefits for the skin: hydration, slowed oxidation...

Reducing petrochemistry also allows the use of fewer ingredients, only those necessary, and to achieve economies of scale.

Packaging reduction

One of our main arguments is the drastic reduction of packaging. Our packaging is made of recycled plant-based PE from sugar cane or recycled cardboard. We also reduce over-packaging and ban plastic whenever possible. This has allowed us to reduce our waste by 5 tons since the company's creation.

We do not offer samples for the same reason. This allows us to reduce our environmental impact and achieve economies of scale, given that packaging and over-packaging can cost up to 20% of the final product's selling price.

Similarly, when shipping our orders, we use recycled and recyclable components as much as possible, such as cardboard, recycled kraft, or recycled PE. In addition to being good for our planet, these components are less expensive.

Certifications to ensure product quality

Before makeup can be called "organic", it must meet numerous conditions outlined in a strict set of specifications. One of these is Cosmebio, the benchmark organic and natural cosmetic label. This label was created in 2002 to address growing greenwashing. It allows one to quickly distinguish truly natural or organic cosmetics.

Here are its guarantees:

A composition of at least 95% ingredients of natural origin out of the total product, as well as a minimum of 95% organic ingredients from all plant-based components and a minimum of 10% organic ingredients out of the total product. In addition, the Cosmebio label also guarantees the absence of ingredients harmful to health or the environment by prohibiting the processes that allow their existence. These important requirements cover the entire life cycle of the product:

From the origin of raw materials, to encourage ethical and sustainable sourcing, through a gentle and non-polluting transformation process, numerous controls at the manufacturing level of the finished product (clean composition, packaging, storage): imposing a separation of different manufacturing processes, the establishment of separate storage areas to avoid any errors, the implementation of a strict quality control system as well as the absence of animal testing. The COSMOS specifications also encourage eco-design of packaging to minimize environmental impacts and preserve biodiversity. To do this, it provides for the reduction of the quantity of materials used, and in parallel the increase of the quantity of recycled and recyclable materials. Only a restricted list of authorized materials: wood, glass, aluminum, plastic (PE, PET, PP, PETG), cardboard, PLA and any 100% natural material. Many materials are prohibited: PVS, polystyrene, and all other chlorinated plastics and those containing styrene, as well as materials produced from GMOs.

And finally, transparent labeling and responsible communication: imposing the presence of certification mentions, the presence of percentages of natural and organic origin, and the indication in the INCI list of ingredients from Organic Farming.
The COSMOS specifications also provide for the implementation of a waste management plan to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, as well as a list of authorized cleaning and disinfection products.

Reduced margins and marketing costs

Our commitment is to offer the best for you, at an accessible price, all while respecting all stakeholders. By opting for local production, we are socially committed to trusted partners and guarantee them a fair wage. We also associate ourselves with causes dear to our hearts, such as supporting people with disabilities to help them integrate into professional life.

By making this choice, we have chosen to reduce our margins. We also do not incur excessive advertising and marketing costs thanks to our exceptional team, which is capable of achieving feats to reduce our costs. 💪

And our best spokespeople are you. By talking about our products to your loved ones, by sharing your looks on social networks, you support a young, local and ethical company.

All these small actions have big impacts and allow us to offer you quality, certified organic and natural cosmetics at an affordable price. Now that you know, you are able to distinguish truth from falsehood and give your skin what it deserves: healthy, pigmented, and good-smelling cosmetics. Go here to discover a wide selection of affordable organic makeup online!