As the beauty industry increasingly embraces "clean" makeup, it's hard to know who's actually making safe makeup and who's just using the buzzwords. Bite Beauty, founded in 2012, falls in the former category, with products that transform clean ingredients into uncompromisingly high-performance formulas. For example, if you're looking for a primer that grips your makeup without leaving you feeling coated in silicone, Bite Beauty's Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer is a great choice.

Bite Beauty’s makeup is formulated with skin-loving natural ingredients including superfood-derived antioxidants, botanical oils and organic fair-trade sugar. Bite also omits a long list of potentially irritating or harmful ingredients and ingredients difficult to source ethically or sustainably, such as sulfates, parabens, talc, aluminum and mineral oil. Plus, all their formulas are reviewed by third-party clinical tests to ensure they’re safe and effective.

As the name suggests, Bite Beauty used to specialize in clean lip products, mainly lipsticks and lip pencils. Now, along with those best-selling lipsticks, there are blushes, mascara, liquid and pressed powder foundation, and more.

In contrast with some natural-focused beauty brands, Bite Beauty doesn’t shy away from bold colors. Bite made its mark on the beauty industry with vibrant, long-lasting lipsticks and lip crayons. Today, Bite offers lip stains, crayons, glosses and lipsticks in hot pinks such as Radicchio, soft beiges including Tamarind, and fire-engine reds like Cayenne. Plus, all of Bite Beauty’s products are pigmented without the use of animal byproducts such as carmine.

Bite Beauty’s name is derived from a tongue-in-cheek claim that its products are good enough to eat. They’re formulated with superfood ingredients and botanical waxes and extracts for skin-loving doses of antioxidants, vitamins and more benefits. All these good-for-you ingredients are ethically sourced from direct product suppliers that adhere to Bite’s code of conduct, which prohibits involuntary labor, child labor and harassment. All Bite products are made in its factory in Toronto.

Bite Beauty’s new line of foundations does a good job of offering an inclusive shade range, formulating its 32 colors for a broader selection of skin tones and undertones than some competitors. Bite’s lipsticks also offer a selection of nudes and neutrals that suit fair tones, deep tones and everyone in between.

The last thing anyone wants to experience after applying makeup is looking in the mirror an hour later to see it fading, slipping or flaking. This can be especially prevalent in clean or natural beauty brands, which can lack the staying power provided by synthetic ingredients. However, Bite Beauty’s makeup is formulated to last, so you don’t have to take time out of your day to touch up or reapply.

Bite Beauty products cost $20-$44, with foundation its most expensive offering. Bite lipsticks cost $24-$28. Products such as mascara and lipstick are frequently available as kits or minis to let you experience the brand for less.

A. Bite Beauty does not perform any animal testing, nor does it use animal-derived ingredients. And Bite does not sell its products in countries where animal testing is required by law. This means Bite Beauty is cruelty-free and vegan.

A. Bite uses naturally derived fragrances in most products, but some, like its foundation, include synthetic fragrance. If you're sensitive to added fragrance, check the ingredients list before purchasing.

Bite Beauty Changemaker Skin-Optimizing Primer: available at Sephora

Our take: No matter your skin type, the lotion-like texture of this primer absorbs quickly and provides a lightweight yet grippy base for your makeup.

What we like: It's available in two formulations, one for normal to dry skin and one for normal to oily skin. The formula for dry skin includes hydrating olive oil and antioxidant-rich maqui berry, while the oily skin formula includes mattifying willowbark. Both versions resist pilling and give skin a blurred, velvety finish.

What we dislike: Users with oily skin sometimes felt that the primer's oil control could be better.

Bite Beauty Power Move Hydrating Soft Matte Lipstick: available at Sephora

Our take: The brand's breakout Amuse Bouche lipstick was hard to beat, but this vegan reformulation, an Allure Best of Beauty award winner, is popular thanks to its long-wearing, comfortable color.

What we like: Enrobe lips in velvety color that lasts without drying out lips, thanks to conditioning cocoa butter. The lightweight, vegan lipstick leaves a feather-resistant matte finish courtesy of blurring tapioca pearls. It comes in 20 highly pigmented shades ranging from rich neutrals to vibrant corals and pinks.

What we dislike: The formula may not feel comfortable enough for long-term wear if your lips tend to feel dried out under matte lipsticks. Fans of the original Amuse Bouche formula sometimes have trouble finding a shade that matches their old favorites.

Bite Beauty Upswing Full Volume Mascara: available at Sephora

Our take: Featuring a large hourglass-shaped brush and a botanical-based formula, this mascara easily gives lashes dramatic volume and curl.

What we like: The formula is buildable but doesn't feel heavy, making it a good choice for fuller, more dramatic looks. It's available in both full-size and mini options, both housed in trendy gold-tone tubes.

What we dislike: Some users found it difficult to apply without clumping. The mascara isn't waterproof.

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Laura Duerr is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.

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