My Clean(er) Makeup Journey
Since I can remember, I have enjoyed wearing makeup. Every morning, I dedicate about 10 to 15 minutes to getting ready, sticking to my go-to products and colors that make me feel confident and ready for the day.
However, a couple of years ago, I became increasingly aware of what I was putting on my skin. After all, our skin absorbs everything! When I discovered just how toxic some of my favorite makeup products were—thanks to the Yuka app, which provides unbiased health and environmental ratings—I knew it was time for a change. I began a journey to gradually clean up my makeup products.
What I didn’t anticipate was how challenging it would be to find clean makeup that performs as well as its conventional counterparts. That said, I’m still on the lookout for several items that not only meet my clean beauty standards but also deliver the performance I love.
Makeup Essentials
At first glance, my makeup bag may seem like a lot, but these are my tried-and-true essentials, and I wholeheartedly recommend each product! I've added the Yuka app rating to each product.
- Primer: Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Face Primer
- Foundation: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Powder Foundation in shade 210
- Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape Full-Coverage Concealer in 22B Light Beige
- Blush: Well People Supernatural Stick in Berry
- Lip Liner: Ilia Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon in Gala
- Lipstick: Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm in Runaway
- Eyeliner (bottom lid): Ilia Clean Line Gel Liner in Twilight
- Eyeliner (top lid): Physicians Formula Eye Booster Super Slim Liquid Eyeliner in Ultra Black
- Eyeshadow Palette: Ilia "The Necessary" Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Nude
- Mascara: CoverGirl Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascara
- Eyebrows: Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil in Blonde
- Finishing Powder: Ilia Soft Focus Finishing Powder
Hair Care
I have thick, coarse hair that I wash about once a week. By day four or five, I usually reach for dry shampoo to feel refreshed. Here’s what I currently use:
- Shampoo: Biolage Hydra Source Shampoo
- Conditioning Balm: Biolage Hydra Source Conditioning Balm
- Dry Shampoo: Klorane Dry Shampoo Powder with Oat Milk
- Natural Hairspray: Andalou Naturals Brilliant Shine Hair Spray
Moving Forward
While the search for even cleaner beauty products continues, I’m excited about the progress I’ve made! I'll be sure to share my favorite products along the way.
