Your Makeup Bag

What's lurking at the bottom of your makeup bag? An eye shadow compact that's so old you can see the bottom of the pan? Time to toss those cosmetic relics and replace them with eco options. Each day, women layer product on top of product, each of which may contain toxic ingredients that accumulate in our bodies. And all of the recent reports about lead in lipstick and mercury in mascara make natural makeup an even more obvious choice. But it's not just what's in your bag that counts — how you care for it and what you store it in are just as important, which is why we've pulled together expert advice for cleaning and greening your whole makeup bag.

The Bare Essentials

The less makeup you buy, the less waste you create, so we asked the experts — Los Angeles-based makeup artist Joanna Schlip and green makeup guru Rose-Marie Swift — to pair down our cosmetics collection to five key pieces.

1. Foundation: Everyone wants even, flawless skin and foundation is the quickest way to get it. It helps to reapply in the afternoon, though, as your skin's natural oils can break down your makeup throughout the day. Mist your face with a light toner or spring water spray (like Avene Thermal Spring Water) to rehydrate your skin, blot it dry with a towel (a hand towel from the bathroom will do), then reapply your base. Liquid foundations provide moisture and usually look more natural as they allow your own skin to radiate through, though mineral powder formulas reduce shine on oilier complexions. A few of our foundation favorites: Nvey Eco Organic Moisturizing Liquid Foundation, Korres Ginger & Vitamins Lightweight Foundation SPF 10 and Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15.

2. Concealer: Few women get their recommended eight hours of sleep each night, making under eye circles commonplace. And now that adult acne abounds, some of us have blemishes to cover up, too. Whatever you want to hide, dot on some concealer and blend. We prefer stick concealers. They can be applied directly to the skin, so you don't risk contaminating the product by touching it with your fingers and they contain less water than creamier concealers, so they require fewer (potentially toxic) preservatives. Our picks: Josie Maran Concealer and Physicians Formula Organic Wear Concealer Stick. 

3. Mascara: Make your eyes pop and look instantly more awake by coating your lashes with mascara. Full, long lashes also make your features look more feminine and youthful. Eco-mascaras we like: Ecco Bella FlowerColor Natural Mascara and Aveda Mascara Plus Rose.

4. Blush: A bit of blush makes even the palest skin look healthy and fresh. As a bonus, most pale shades (like pink, peach and even terracotta) can double as eye shadow. Two flush-inducing favorites: Tarte Full Blossom Cheek Stain and Pur Minerals Pressed Mineral Blush.

5. Lip Gloss: Some days, all you need is a pair of sunglasses and a great shade of lip gloss to look glamorous – a quick coating on the lips completes any look in seconds. Be sure to use a sun-protective balm (like Kiss My Face Lip Balm SPF 15) beneath your gloss, as the lips are very delicate and prone to burning. Our green gloss picks: Suki Pure Cream Stain and Dr. Hauschka Novum LipGloss.

When It's Time to Breakup With Your Makeup

Makeup isn't made to last forever, especially preservative-free products. Thankfully, a lot of companies, especially those that are natural and organic, are now adding expiration dates to their labels (though none are required by law to do so). Look for the symbol that resembles a jar with an open lid: The number in the center is the number of months it should last after you open it.

What should you do if the brand you buy doesn't have an expiration date? Give it a sniff. "With natural products, you can usually tell by their smell if they've gone bad," says Swift, adding that a rancid or just plain unbearable scent should be your first clue. "The problem with products that contain preservatives is that they can go bad and you just can't smell them," says Swift, pointing out yet another flaw with non-natural products. As a general rule, most powder products (like eye shadow, powder blush and bronzer) are okay for up to two years and anything with water (like liquid foundation or concealer) is good for up to one year. But mascara is another story – you should replace it every three months. "You don't want to mess around with anything that you're putting that close to your eyes," says Schlip.