Stick Foundations
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September 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
Although I used to wear foundation and concealer to work back when I was in my 20’s and 30’s, I spent the subsequent 15 years almost never putting anything like that on my face at all.
When I recently started experimenting again with some popular liquid foundations and tinted moisturizers, I was surprised to find that most of them made me look quite a bit worse than usual, as a result of their settling into and emphasizing my wrinkles.
While some of the complexion sticks mentioned on this page also have been somewhat aging for me, they seem to be less likely in general to make me look worse in the way that many liquid foundations have.
Even better, a number of the foundation or concealer sticks that I have tried provide good coverage while making it seem that I am not wearing any makeup at all.
All of the products on this page are appropriate for use as spot coverage on the face, and some may be used for general coverage over the whole face as well.
Since I have pretty good skin, I typically use only a little bit of foundation or concealer stick in spots where it really seems to be needed.
Usually I just dab the product on problem spots with my fingers and then use a small stiff brush – such as the RMS Skin2Skin Foundation Brush – to buff it in so that it is indistinguishable from the skin around it.
TOP PICKS
♣ Living Clean Superstars:
Salt New York Sneaky Balm ($16 + Case)
+Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick ($89)
+Vapour Luminous Foundation Stick ($46)
+Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick ($68)
♦ Additional Possibilities:
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Foundation Stick SPF25 ($33)
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick ($50)
Lancôme Teinte Idole Ultra Wear Foundation Stick ($44)
+Milani Conceal + Perfect Foundation Stick ($10)
Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick ($36)
+Ulta Moisturizing Foundation Stick ($14)
W3LL People Biostick Foundation ($25)
Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Stick Foundation ($7)
♦ Not Yet Tried:
+Fashion Fair SkinFlex Stick Foundation ($37)
Pur 4-in-1 Foundation Stick ($34)
♥ Lisa’s Choice:
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick ($50)
√ Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick ($68)
Notes:
1) Living Clean Superstars – Products with high scores on both Performance Rating (5) as well as Ingredients Rating (4/5). + Clean Pick (Ingredients Rating = 5).
2) Lisa’s Choice – Products that I would purchase for my own personal use. √ Lisa’s Favorite
Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick SPF25 – $33
Overall Rating: 
(3 / 5)
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (3 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: Very Mild
Silicone Level: Moderate
This is a silicone-containing foundation stick that incoporates a substantial amount of titanium dioxide as a sunscreen. Several preservatives (BHT, sodium benzoate and phenoxyethanol) also are included.
The presence of trehalose in the product is a source of mild concern to me since this has been cited as being associated with the spread of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria C. difficile, but perhaps that is being alarmist.
Also noteworthy on the ingredients list is squalane, which contributes to the “hydrating” aspect.
I have found this product to be much softer and creamier than most other foundation sticks that I have tried. I usually use my fingers to apply it, rather than wiping the stick over my face.
Compared to my favorite foundation sticks (which disappear totally into my skin), this product seems to sit more on the surface of my skin and to draw some attention to my skin’s texture (including my wrinkles).
In addition, this product seems to have been a little irritating to my face on the few occasions that I have tried wearing it all day. This may just be due to the high level of titanium dioxide, though.
The product is available in 20 shades.
The Buttercream (03) shade is a pretty good match for my skin, especially during the summer months. Vanilla (02) was a little too pink for me.
Size: 0.35 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.4 Stars (3136 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Product Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Ingredients Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone (3), Dimethicone (3), PEG-3 dimethicone (3), BHT (3), Sodium benzoate (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Trehalose.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Moringa oleifera seed extract, Camellia Japonica flower extract, Salicornia herbacea extract, Cocoa seed extract
All Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 4.15%; Sea Water, Water, Coconut Alkanes, Squalane, Paraffin, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Bis-Butyldimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Jojoba Esters, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Saccharomyces/Xylinum/Black Tea Ferment, Isostearic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Trifluoropropyldimethyl/Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Trehalose, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract , Camellia Japonica Flower Extract , Salicornia Herbacea Extract , Cocoa Seed Extract , Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate , Sea Salt , Biosaccharide Gum-4 , Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 , Peg-12 Dimethicone , Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride , Lauroyl Lysine , Coco-Caprylate/Caprate , Butylene Glycol , Ethylhexylglycerin , Tocopherol , Silica , Aluminum Hydroxide , Disteardimonium Hectorite , Microcrystalline Wax , Propanediol , Sodium Chloride , Sodium Carrageenan , Stearic Acid , Trisodium Edta , Aluminum Dimyristate , Triethoxycaprylylsilane , 1,2-Hexanediol , Boron Nitride , Disodium Phosphate , Citric Acid , BHT, Potassium Sorbate , Sodium Benzoate , Phenoxyethanol, Iron oxides.
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick – $50
♥ Lisa’s Choice
Overall Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Performance Rating: 
(5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (3 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: Moderate
This Bobbi Brown foundation is one of my favorite makeup products in general.
I really like the way that this product disappears into my skin, giving the appearance that I am wearing no makeup at all.
I also like the flexibility of this formula since it can be used easily either for spot coverage or on my whole face.
I think it looks really pretty and that it does a good job of not accentuating my wrinkles (or perhaps even making them look a little less noticeable).
It is an expensive product but the tube that I purchased seems to have lasted for a really long time considering how often I have used it.
I’ve found that the product holds up well over the course of the day and that it does not irritate my skin at all.
Although it does contain some silicones, the amount seems to be moderate since it does not have the slick feeling that I associate with the presence of higher amounts of silicones. My skin also feels able to sweat normally when I am wearing this product.
It is available in an impressive 43 shades, including some for olive skin tones. I have been using the shade Warm Ivory (W-026) and feel that it has been a good match for me during the winter months.
(I also have experimented with using a darker version of the Bobbi Brown stick – Warm Honey/W-066 – as a bronzer and have found that it works pretty well for me.)
Although many of the other products in the Bobbi Brown line contain a variety of problematic ingredients, this foundation stick seems to me to be pretty clean.
Other than the silicones, the only potentially problematic ingredient that I see here is a small amount of talc.
While talc has become a source of concern in the beauty industry in recent years, this is primarily due to the fact talcum powder is sometimes contaminated with asbestos and thus may cause health problems if it is breathed into the lungs. EWG rates the use of talc as a 5 (yellow) in products where it cannot be inhaled, as would be the case with this foundation stick.
Personally, I think that this product is clean enough in general and contains a small enough amount of talc that I feel okay about using it, but others may feel differently.
One other positive is that the Bobbi Brown makeup artists available via online chat have consistently been extremely helpful in terms of recommending products to me, including suggesting the right shade of this foundation based on my sharing a photograph of myself.
Foundation products purchased from the Bobbi Brown website also come with a pre-paid return shipping label in case they need to be exchanged or returned.
Ellen’s Comments: “I really like this Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick. No smell, good coverage, spreads nicely.”
Size: 0.31 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.2 Stars (1200 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
Think Dirty Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Talc (5), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Cetyl dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Beeswax, Ozokerite, Candelilla Wax, Shea Butter, Talc, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride, Silica, Propylene Glycol Laurate , Tocopherol , Squalane , Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. May Contain: Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide
Fashion Fair SkinFlex Stick Foundation – $37
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Silicone Level: None
Fashion Fair is an older brand that recently went out of business, but a few reformulated versions of their more popular products were introduced in late 2021.
This foundation stick is available only for darker skin tones than mine (16 shades total), and so I have not tried it except to swatch it on my hand at a Sephora store.
It seems to have a quite clean list of ingredients.
I would like to hear some reports about it from those who have tried it.
Size: 0.32 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.6 Stars (28 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe vera (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mica, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Candelilla Wax, Tribehenin, C12-15 Alkyl Ethylhexanoate, Silica, Rice Bran Wax, Boron Nitride, Cetyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Soybean Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Lancôme Teint Idole Foundation Stick – $44
Overall Rating: (4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: High
This foundation stick from Lancôme seems to consist primarily of three different kinds of silicone, with just a few other ingredients added.
Two of these – cyclohexasiloxane and cyclopentasiloxane – are cyclic silicones that are on Credo’s “Dirty List.”
According to Credo, “Data indicates that some of these chemicals may have reproductive, developmental toxicity and/or endocrine disruption concerns. They are also persistent in the environment, and may build up in the food chain.”
EWG seems less concerned, giving these silicones a 2 (green) and 3 (yellow), respectively.
The silicone in this formula is much more obvious to me than it is with any of the other foundation sticks discussed on this page.
This product gives my skin a distinctly slick feeling and also makes it feel a bit like it has been tightly encased in Saran wrap.
For instance, if I go for a walk in warm weather when wearing this foundation, it feels uncomfortable since the sweat on my face is not easily able to evaporate.
However, I will say that this is a lovely product in terms of the appearance that it gives me, since it provides some very good coverage without looking like I am wearing any foundation at all.
The product is available in 22 shades, with all except for a few appropriate only for fair to medium skin tones.
I have the shade 250 Bisque Warm (“light/medium skin with warm undertone”) and it seems to be about right for me.
Although I can’t say for sure since I usually wear this foundation for just a few hours before taking it off, I don’t feel that it has irritated my skin at all.
It gets mostly very good online reviews from users, some of whom state that they are getting full coverage from it.
Apart from the silicone, the EWG assessment makes it seem like this is a quite clean product.
That makes it different than other Lancôme products that I have read about or tried, since all the others contain a variety of toxic ingredients that make my skin react negatively as soon as I put them on.
Ellen’s Comments: “This one has a slight smell, not bad. I put it on over a primer that contains plenty of silicone. It was moderately easy to apply with my fingers. It looked pretty good when I first put it on, but it did not hold up well. My skin may even have have looked worse by the end of the day than if I had not worn makeup. Not great at blurring wrinkles or pore coverage.”
Size: 0.33 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.5 Stars (1100 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Sephora Clean: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane (3), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyl trimethicone.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Isohexadecane, Polyethylene, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Arachidyl Propionate, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Perlite, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Lauroyl Lysine, [+/- Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Mica].
Milani Conceal + Perfect Foundation Stick – $10
Overall Rating: (3 / 5)
Performance Rating: (3 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: Very Low
The ingredients list for the Milani foundation stick makes it seem that it is a really clean product, and it also is sold at a very reasonable price.
However, compared to the other foundation sticks that I have tried, this one seems to emphasize my wrinkles a lot.
Despite the presence of squalane in the formula, it also feels rather dry on my face and does not go on as smoothly as many other foundation sticks have.
On the plus side, the product has felt okay to me in terms of not being irritating. and it seems not to have any sort of scent that I can detect.
Perhaps it would work better for someone who does not have skin that is quite as dry as mine.
A total of 11 shades are available.
The shade Creamy Nude seems to be about perfect for me in terms of the color.
Size: 0.46 oz.
Amazon Rating: 3.8 Stars (157 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Alcohol, Methicone.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Lilium candidum bulb extract
All Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Squalane, Dicalcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Wax, Polyethylene, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Silica, Synthetic Wax, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Nylon-12, Alcohol, Water, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Methicone, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Mica. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Milk Makeup Flex Foundation Stick – $36
Overall Rating: (4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: None
This foundation stick from Milk Makeup goes on fairly nicely, but it seems to be less creamy and to provide a little thicker coverage compared to my favorite foundation sticks (Westman Atelier and Bobbi Brown).
It also has the tendency to look patchy in areas such as the creases around my nose, which is where I need coverage the most.
In looking at the Milk Makeup website, it seems that the company is primarily targeting younger people (men as well as women) with this product.
That might explain why it feels on the dry side to me and also why it provides coverage that is on the heavier side (since a primary use may be to cover up acne).
While I think that this foundation stick looks okay on me if I wear it over a good bit of moisturizer, I don’t think that it disappears into my skin nearly as well as some foundations sticks do.
It also emphasizes my wrinkles quite a bit.
Although the product contains phenoxyethanol (a preservative that some people cannot tolerate), it feels reasonably clean to me.
The lavender oil included in the formula provides a mild but noticeable scent that I personally have found appealing.
A total of 36 shades are available.
I have the shade Shell (“fair with golden undertones”). It turned out to slightly darker than I anticipated based on the description and is more appropriate for my face during the summer months.
Ellen’s Comments: “There is a slight smell, not bad. I put it on as foundation over a silicone-containing primer. It was a good bit of work to apply with my fingers–pretty stiff. Decent pore coverage (better than Lancome stick foundation). Not great at ‘blurring’ wrinkles but better than Lancome. It worked okay as a concealer on my red nose or cheeks. I think this product would be great for younger skin.”
Size: 0.35 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.1 Stars (1067 ratings)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
Think Dirty Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), Tocopheryl acetate (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Lavender oil, Red clover flower extract, Althaea officinalis root extract, Matricaria flower extract, Nymphaea caerulea flower extract
All Ingredients: Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Octyldodecanol, Polyethylene, Silica, Microcrystalline Wax, Pentaerythrityl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Mica, Carnauba Wax, Candelilla Wax, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Isopentyldiol, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Propylene Carbonate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Lavender Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sunflower Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Water, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Red Clover Flower Extract, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Matricaria Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Nymphaea Caerulea Flower Extract, [+/- Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide]
Pur 4-in-1 Foundation Stick – $34
Performance Rating: Not Rated
Ingredients Rating: (3 / 5)
I have not tried this foundation stick because it contains retinol, which thus far I have been making an effort to avoid.
Although retinol is said to be helpful with reducing wrinkles and increasing skin clarity, it also is often reported as have a negative effect on the barrier function of the skin and can lead to irritation and sunsensitivity.
I thus have not tried these kinds of products myself yet (though I am not totally ruling out doing so at some point in the future).
For those who have found retinol to be helpful, the Pur foundation sticks look otherwise pretty clean and could be worth a try, though.
Size: 0.3 oz.
Ulta Rating: 3.8 Stars (127 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Retinol (9), Lactic acid (4), Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium dioxide (3)
All Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Octyldodecanol, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Methyl Ricinoleate, Mica, Tribehenin, Pentaerythrityl Adipate/Caprate/Caprylate Heptanoate, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Triethoxycaprylysilane, Nylon-12, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ceramide AP, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Retinol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Squalane, Sorbitan Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Mica (CI 77019), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).
Salt New York Sneaky Balm – $16 + Case
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: None
The description of this product reads, “The sneakiest skin tint. A soft, dewy finish. Long lasting for a hydrating skin tint type of formula, not long lasting compared to a matte finish liquid foundation, so let’s say medium lasting? Medium lasting! They’re chock full of nourishing, hydrating, credit score raising ingredients like pomegranate, jojoba, & grape seed oils, and contain absolutely zero nonsense ingredients like talc, fragrance, or mineral oil. Vegan + cruelty free. Non-comedogenic. Hand poured in New York City.”
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Size: 0.15 oz.
Coverage Level: Light/Medium
Salt New York Rating: 4.9 Stars (42 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Candelilla Wax, Kaolin Clay, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides
Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick – $89
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Rating: (5 / 5)
Living Clean Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: None
Although this foundation stick from Tom Ford seems really expensive, it does include nearly twice as much product in the container as most of the other foundation sticks discussed here.
I think it looks nice on my skin and goes on relatively easily.
Compared to my favorite foundation sticks (Bobbi Brown and Westman Atelier), this one seems a little less creamy and a little more glossy/oily on the skin.
It provides somewhat heavier coverage and may have more staying power than those other foundation sticks.
I don’t feel that it makes my wrinkles look worse, but it does give my skin a sheen that makes it clear that makeup has been used.
I tend to turn to this product more when I am having issues with my skin that need to be concealed (something that has happened increasingly infrequently as I have focused more on trying out and using high-quality skincare products).
A total of 35 shades are available.
Linen (2.5) has been a pretty good shade for me in summer. Warm Sand (1.1) was much too light for me even during the winter months.
Size: 0.5 oz.
Sephora Rating: 4.4 Stars (276 reviews)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: No
Drunk Elephant Clean: Unclear
Think Dirty Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Tocopheryl acetate (3), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Citrifolla fruit extract
All Ingredients: Glyceryl triacetyl ricinoleate, octyldodecanol, bis-disglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, polyethylene, kaolin, ozokerite, calcium aluminum borosilicate, barium sulfate, polygonum cuspidatum root extract, morinda citrifolla fruit extract, caffeine, bisabolol, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, tocopheryl acetate, butylene glycol, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica.
Ulta Moisturizing Foundation Stick – $14
Overall Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Rating: (4 / 5)
Living Clean Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: High
This foundation stick from Ulta has worked pretty well for me considering the reasonable price.
It is a soft and creamy product that goes on easily if I just take a little bit of the product on my finger and then apply it to the areas of my face where I want some coverage.
It feels quite hydrating, apparently at least in part as a result of the sodium hyaluronate in the formula.
The product does sometimes look a little patchy in spots (such as the area around my nose), but the issue has not been as bad as with some of the other sticks that I have tried.
I wouldn’t say that it makes my wrinkles look better, but at least it does not make them look a lot worse.
This foundation stick contains dimethicone, but unlike – say – the Lancôme formula it doesn’t have any sort of slick silicone feeling to it.
It instead feels pretty similar to the Bare Minerals foundation stick, except that it has a cleaner ingredients list and has not irritated my skin.
The main problem with the Ulta foundation stick seems to be that it is difficult to figure out from looking at the Ulta website which shade (if any) might be a good match, due to apparent problems with both the shade descriptions and the product photos.
A total of 24 shades are available.
I tried the shade Light Neutral and it was definitely too light for me. (It’s a testament to how easygoing the formula is that with a bit of blending I was able to make it look okay despite its being so far off from my actual skin tone.)
I’d like to try a different shade, but the photos on the website make the ones that might be right for me based on the descriptions all look much too dark. So I am feeling pretty confused at this point.
Some Ulta stores have this product in stock and so it may be possible for people living near one of those stores to swatch the colors in person before making a purchase
Size: 0.3 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.2 Stars (368 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Dimethicone (3), Zinc oxide (3), Tocopheryl acetate (3), Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Diethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilesquioxane)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Lauroyl Lysine, Polyethylene, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Candelilla Wax, Aluminum Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Sucrose Tetrastearate Triacetate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Mica, Hydrated Silica, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide.
Vapour Luminous Foundation Stick – $46
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: None
This is an unusually clean foundation stick consisting only of natural ingredients, many of them organic.
I’ve found that it looks very nice on my skin, providing smooth coverage without noticeable patchiness and without calling any extra attention to my wrinkles.
Apparently as a result of both mica and skincare ingredients, the Vapour stick does give my face a glowy sort of sheen that, while very pretty, makes it fairly obvious that I am wearing some kind of makeup.
This makes it quite different than the Bobbi Brown and Westman Atelier sticks, which disappear into my skin to the point that it looks like I am wearing no makeup at all.
The “luminous” finish of the Vapour stick does look rather current since many makeup products that are designed to provide that exact kind of glowy look are very popular at the moment.
For those who would prefer a more matte finish, a little dusting of powder seems effective at reducing the sheen to the point that it is not as obvious.
According to the Vapour website, this foundation stick provides light to medium coverage. as well as calming and hydrating skincare benefits.
A few natural ingredients – including fig flavor oil and frankincense oil – that seem designed to provide a fragrance are included. Personally, I have found the vaguely fruity scent to be light and pleasant.
A total of 19 shades are available.
Those who are unsure of which shades might work for them may order three generously sized samples for $8 from the Vapour website (and also will receive a discount code for $10 off a future Vapour purchase).
I tried 112L (“very light, yellow undertones”), 115L (“light, neutral undertones”) and 117L (“light, yellow undertones”).
While all three of these shades seem that they would be acceptable for me, the latter seems to have been the best match for me, especially in summer.
Size: 0.29 oz.
Vapour Rating: 4.5 Stars (239 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EWG Ingredient Rating: 1 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: None
Fragrance Ingredients: Fig flavor oil, Frankincense gum, Tulsi leaf extract
All Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Beeswax*, Castor Seed Oil†, Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate†, Silica‡, Tocopherol†, Fig Flavor Oil*, Frankincense Gum†, Tulsi Leaf Extract*, Lotus Leaf Extract*, May Contain: Mica‡; Titanium Dioxide; Iron Oxide. *Organic, †Plant-Derived. ‡Mineral-Derived.
W3LL People Biostick Foundation – $25
Overall Rating: (4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: None
This is a pretty clean product containing a number of organic ingredients and is available at a fairly reasonable price.
It goes on smoothly and blends in easily and evenly.
Unfortunately, I have found that it emphasizes the wrinkles on my face (even ones that I never previously noticed I had), to the point that I look quite a bit worse when I am wearing it.
It might work out a lot better for someone younger though.
A total of 14 shades are available.
The shade Fair Golden (No 2) seems like a pretty good match in terms of the color for me.
This foundation stick previously was called the “Narcissist Foundation,” though the company seems to have stopped using that name.
Ellen’s Comments: “This foundation stick covers well and is a bit thicker than other foundation sticks I have used. There is a slight odor that I do not care for.”
Size: 0.40 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.2 Stars (521 reviews)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
Think Dirty Rating: 0 (green)
EWG Product Rating: EWG Verified
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Aloe vera (3), Sodium benzoate (3), Titanium dioxide (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: Calendula officinalis flower extract
All Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Castor Seed Oil*, Safflower Seed Oil*, Carnauba Wax*, Synthetic Beeswax, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Mica, Tocopherol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Isostearic acid, Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Green Tea Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate. [+/-]: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides. *Organic Ingredients
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick – $68
♥ Lisa’s Choice
♣ Living Clean Superstar
Overall Rating: (5 / 5)
Performance Rating: (5 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (5 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Silicone Level: None
Although this product contains no silicones at all, it seems to me very similar in terms of performance to the Bobbi Brown foundation stick.
It goes on very easily and disappears into my skin to the point that it looks like I am wearing no foundation at all, while still providing nice coverage and a polished look.
Compared to the Bobbi Brown foundation stick, this one has the main benefit of having a somewhat cleaner ingredients list, without the presence of talc or silicones.
On the downside, the Westman Atelier stick has fewer shades available (21 shades) compared to the Bobbi Brown stick (43 shades).
This means that some people (especially those with olive or dark skin) may get a better match from the Bobbi Brown line.
The Westman Atelier stick is also more expensive than the Bobbi Brown stick (with the price differential being even greater than it seems on the surface considering that Bobbi Brown often holds sitewide sales of up to 25% off and that Westman Atelier virtually never holds any sales at all).
I have the shade Atelier III (“light medium, golden undertone”) in the Westman Atelier stick and it has worked reasonably well with my summer skin.
All in all, I think the Westman Atelier foundation stick is a very good product that may be worth considering for those who can afford it and can find a good shade match.
Size: 0.31 oz.
Awards: Allure Best of Beauty 2022
Credo Rating: 4.7 Stars (272 reviews)
Credo Clean: Yes
Clean at Sephora: Yes
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EWG Product Rating: 1 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Titanium dioxide (3). (Also contains Hydrogenated coconut oil, Alcohol)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
Contains Silicone: No
All Ingredients: Caprylic/capric triglyceride, isononyl isononanoate, isodecyl neopentanoate, dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline wax, squalane, polyethylene, vp/hexadecene copolymer, synthetic wax, disteardimonium hectorite, hydrogenated polyisobutene, silica, nylon-12, camellia oleifera seed oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, phytosphingosine, butyl stearate, isostearyl alcohol, alcohol, water, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer, mica, dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, rubus idaeus leaf cell culture, tin oxide. May Contain: titanium dioxide, iron oxides
Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Stick Foundation – $7
Overall Rating: (4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredients Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Contains Silicone: Yes
Especially for the price (only $7!), this product from Wet n Wild seems to be a pretty clean and overall nice foundation stick.
Although it includes quite a few ingredients with long chemical names, only the phenoxyethanol (a preservative) is considered to be a problem by EWG.
A small amount of silicone is listed as being included.
I feel like this foundation goes on pretty smoothly and looks nice on my skin, without prompting any irritation.
It does feel somewhat drier than some of my favorite foundation sticks (such as Westman Atelier, Bobbi Brown, Vapour or Tom Ford), however.
Compared to those other foundation sticks, this product does not disappear into my skin as readily and also emphasizes my wrinkles a bit more.
All of these problems have been less of an issue with the Wet n Wild stick than they have with many of the other reasonably priced foundation sticks discussed on this page, though.
It’s my understanding that this brand is targeted mostly at younger women, and so perhaps that is why the product formula is on the dry side.
I have the color Soft Ivory and it has been a pretty good match for me.
In general, if I had a very limited amount of money to spend on makeup, I think that this stick might be a good choice for me.
Size: 0.42 oz.
Ulta Rating: 4.2 Stars (1656 reviews)
Credo Clean: Unclear
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
Think Dirty Rating: 5 (yellow)
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4). (Also contains Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Coconut Oil, Soybean Oil.)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Isononyl Isononanoate, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-10 Decaisostearate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Synthetic Wax, Hydrogenated Microcrystalline Wax, Carnauba Wax, Microcrystalline Wax, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Candelilla Wax, Hydrogenated Styrene/Methyl Styrene/Indene Copolymer, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Phytosteryl Macadamiate, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sunflower Seed Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernel Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Coconut Oil, Soybean Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Iron Oxides
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
Au Naturale Zero Gravity C2P Foundation – $42
Kjaer Weis Refillable Cream Foundation – $46 + Case
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the “Beginner’s Guide” book).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
A Note From Lisa
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies: Amazon, Au Naturale, Bare Minerals, Bobbi Brown, Credo, Fashion Fair, Goop, Kjaer Weis, Lancôme, Milani, Milk Makeup, Nordstrom, Pur, Salt New York, Sephora, Target, Tarte, Tom Ford, Ulta, Vapour, W3LL People, Westman Atelier, and Wet n Wild.
Reader comments about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
Individuals who are seeking out less-toxic products or who are interested in pursuing a cleaner and healthier lifestyle may want to sign up to receive occasional email newsletters from Living Clean in a Dirty World.
Those signing up will receive a free PDF copy of the book Back From The Edge (describing the extraordinary life of mold avoidance pioneer Erik Johnson) and also will be automatically entered in sweepstakes giving away a variety of cleaner products.
Thanks very much for visiting the Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping site!
Links on this page are in orange (no underlining).
