Category: Beauty

About a year ago I decided I wanted to find clean makeup products I could feel good about using everyday. I mean, I had already done this with my skincare products, and it was beginning to feel counterproductive to put on my usual makeup right after taking such care with what went on before. Personally, I like to wear makeup almost everyday. I find it therapeutic to get ready in the morning and I always feel better throughout the day if I put a little on. That made me even more motivated to find clean products that would work just as well (if not better) than what I had been using. If I’m putting it on my face everyday, don’t I want to make sure it’s clean? Absolutely. So, here are my top 5 current (clean) makeup favorites. They’re clean, cruelty free AND they really work:

1. TULA Face Filter Primer 

I recently had to replace my old primer from Coola (that I loved) because it’d been discontinued. I was super bummed at first, but then I found the TULA primer- so glad I was forced to make the switch. Although I loved that the old primer had SPF, this one provides skincare benefits with probiotic extracts and superfoods, and gives a nice glow as well. You can use it alone if you’re just trying to get a little color, or you can use it as the first step in your makeup routine.

2. Lawless The Little One Palette 

I am absolutely obsessed with this brand! Annie Lawless, the brains behind this operation, has done an incredible job of creating a product line that is clean, cruelty-free and can be used for every look. I feel like many beauty brands focus on products that can be used for natural looks (or at least that’s how they’ve marketed it). While I do love that, it’s nice to have products that I know will wear well for night-time looks too, and that I can also feel good about using. Annie’s Instagram is full of makeup tutorials of her doing her own makeup with her own products to provide inspo on all that her line is capable of. Definitely check her out! 

This eyeshadow palette is the perfect place to get started, if you’re looking to make the switch to cleaner makeup. It’s sulfate, paraben, talc and cruelty-free. 

3. Lawless Bronzer in Golden Hour 

You might be noticing a trend here, and it’s going to keep going lol pretty much any powder products I use now are from Lawless because they’re made without talc. Talc is an ingredient in most shadows, bronzers, etc., and it’s an important one to look out for. This mineral can form with asbestos, so any time you use a product with it inside, you may be exposing yourself to asbestos as well (read more about it here). Whether a direct link has technically been found between talc cosmetics and asbestos side effects or not, I think it’s a smart thing to stay away from. Information changes all the time and there’s enough damning evidence for me at this point to want to avoid it as much as possible. 

This bronzer has amazing pigment, looks natural and lasts all day. It’s also clean and cruelty-free. 

4. Lawless Blush in Indian Summer 

This blush adds the perfect color to the cheeks- also apply across the top of your nose for a perfect sun-kissed look. As the rest of the Lawless products are, this blush is made with clean ingredients, no-talc and is cruelty-free. 

5. Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara 

This mascara exceeded my every expectation- the more I use it the more I love it. It’s non-toxic and cruelty free but it also REALLY works. It’s buildable so you get length and thickness AND it doesn’t flake throughout the day. This formula is everything you need and more and if there’s one thing you get off this list I’d highly recommend it be this one. 

So there you have it- my top 5 current (clean) makeup favorites. Not only are they clean and cruelty-free; they really work too. Not sure where you’re at on your journey to find clean makeup products that work for you, but this is a great place to start. I do still use non-clean products here and there, but I think if majority of what you put on your face is clean, that’s a huge step in the right direction. For more details about how I use these products, you can check out my most recent makeup tutorial here. 

Would love to hear about any products you guys are using and loving, share them in the comments below! 

And if you’re looking to make the switch to cleaner products, you may also like My Daily (Clean) Skincare Routine.

It’s taken me a while, but I’ve finally managed to find a clean skincare routine that really works for me. Not only does it leave my skin feeling hydrated (I tend to be on the dry/flaky side), it’s also made up of products that are formulated with clean ingredients. 

Finding clean products and developing an actual skincare routine both became important to me around the same time. I was 24 and, having watched my Dad fall ill, I directed my focus toward a cleaner lifestyle. I became obsessed with “clean” everything: food, lotions, makeup, body wash, tupperware.. anything I could switch to a cleaner option, I was all for. 

Which leads me to my everyday, clean skincare routine:

Morning:

I begin my day by splashing my face with water. I don’t use a face cleanser here because it dries out my skin more and seems kind of unnecessary.. I haven’t been wearing makeup or going out at night, so water does the trick. I dry off and follow up with these products, in this order:

TONE

To tone my skin I use Thayer’s Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Facial Toner. This step helps to balance the PH of the skin and tightens the pores to control oil and breakouts. I love that it’s alcohol-free, so it’s more gentle than regular toners. This brand is also cruelty-free and uses all vegan ingredients. 

APPLY SERUM

This is a part of the routine that’s fun to mix up every now and then because there’s SO many serums out there to meet different needs for your skin. One of my favorite staples is a vitamin c serum, and I’ve been using the Doppeltree Vitamin C Serum for a couple years now. Not only does this serum have vitamin c, it’s also packed with 24k gold (for the antioxidants), hyaluronic acid and vitamin e to even skin tone and help with collagen production. It goes on smooth and absorbs quickly; plus it’s organic, cruelty-free and vegan. 

MOISTURIZE 

If you’ve got dry skin, this one is especially important. For day time, I use the DERMA-E Hydrating Day Cream with Hyaluronic Acid. This cream uses hyaluronic acid, vitamin e, green tea and jojoba oil to brighten and moisturize. It’s rich, but not too heavy, and won’t leave you super oily at the end of the day. It also wears super well under makeup and doesn’t pill at all when applying foundation/concealer. Not sure if you’ve ever experienced a moisturizer that does do this, but if not just know it’s REAL annoying and the fact that this one doesn’t is a huge plus. 

MOISTURIZE THE EYES

This step is essential to your routine and I’d argue you can never start too soon. Preventative care is so important, especially in the eye area. I use the DERMA-E Hydrating Eye Cream which uses hyaluronic acid, vitamin c and green tea to moisturize, protect against environment damage, reduce puffiness and keep signs of aging at bay. It’s made with clean ingredients and is vegan and cruelty-free. 

*FAKE* TAN

This step isn’t exactly necessary, but can really make a difference in your skin if it helps you wear makeup less often. I add this step to my routine sometimes every other day, sometimes once a week, just depending on how I’m feeling and what I have going on. I’ve been loving the Lux Unfiltered No. 12 Bronzing Face Drops. Before finding this product I had never used a face tanner before, so I can’t compare to others, but I can say that this one is amazing and that I don’t think I’ll ever stray from it. Not only is it buildable and applies easily, but it’s also made with clean ingredients, is fragrance- free AND cruelty-free and vegan. I can apply this without worrying about all the kinds of shit I might be putting in my body, like I normally would with a self-tanner, and that is the big selling point for me. Can’t say enough good things about this stuff!

So that’s it for daytime, here’s the nighttime skincare routine:

WASH FACE

At this point I do actually use a face cleanser because I’ve most likely been wearing makeup, running around, going outside, etc. and my skin needs some help getting all the gunk off. I use the DERMA-E Ultra-Hydrating Alkaline Cloud Cleanser (can you tell I love this brand yet?). This stuff really works when it comes to removing makeup, dirt and oil while being sure not to strip the skin of its natural oils. It uses hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom extract to further moisturize as well, which is huge for anyone with dry skin. My makeup washes off easily and my skin is never left feeling all dry and irritated. And, as I’m sure you can guess, it’s non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free. 

TONE

This step is the same as daytime.

APPLY SERUM

As of right now, this step is the same as daytime, but I am in the market for something else to use at night. Will keep you updated on what I find! 

MOISTURIZE 

This step is especially important at night, as it’s an opportunity to really nourish and hydrate the skin. I use the DERMA-E Vitamin C Intense Night Cream. It uses vitamin c and rooibos (for their antioxidants) and probiotics, to restore and refresh your skin from daily harm. It’s incredibly moisturizing but soaks in well, is made with clean ingredients, and is vegan and cruelty-free. 

MOISTURIZE THE EYES

This step is same as daytime.

OIL UP

So this step is mostly just for those of you reading who also suffer from dry skin. This is a little trick I learned a few years ago that really changed the game for me: I literally smother my skin in a facial oil before bed after my usual skincare routine. It soaks in overnight and leaves my skin feeling SO hydrated and soft in the morning. My favorite is the Trader Joe’s 100% Organic Argan Oil. Not only is this product incredibly moisturizing, it also provides anti-aging effects. AND, on top of that, it’s actually affordable. I know some facial oils are marketed at ridiculous prices, so it was nice to find something reasonably priced that’s so accessible. You can buy it through Amazon, but it’s actually cheaper at Trader Joe’s. 

Weekly extras: 

FACE MASK

At least once a week I’ll use a face mask to add a little TLC to my routine. The one I use really depends on how my skin is feeling. Usually I either use the Erno Laszlo Pore Cleansing Clay Mask or the Ordinary AHA/BHA Peeling Solution. Both of these are amazing, but if your skin is in major need of a cleansing exfoliation, I’d recommend going with the Ordinary Peeling Solution. Seriously this stuff is incredible and will leave your skin feeling softer than ever. 

DEEP CLEAN

After using the face mask, I’ll take my at home spa treatment a step further and use my Dermaflash Dermapore Pore Extractor. In extract mode, it uses ultrasonic waves and a stainless steel spatula to cleanse your pores. You can read my review/watch my tutorial for more details and instructions for use.

And that’s it! My daily (clean) skincare routine. I’ve been using this exact system (aside from the Dermapore) for almost a couple of years now and have seen noticeable improvement in my skins texture and appearance. And now that I’ve added my Dermpore to the mix, I’ve noticed my pores have shrunk significantly and I’ve had less and less breakouts. 

I’m really proud of how far my skin and my skincare routine have come, and I’m excited to be able to share it with you all! It’s affordable, realistic for daily use and CLEAN (aside from the Erno Laszlo face mask that does contain some dyes and fragrance). AND most importantly, these products are cruelty-free. 

I hope you get a chance to try some of these and that, if you do, you share your results with me. Would love to hear from you guys! Please share any other skincare tips, tricks and products you’re loving! 

To be honest, I never really had a set routine for my hair up until about a year or so ago. I remember one summer, back when I took no care of my hair at all, a friend of mine asked me if she could borrow my heat protectant spray and I looked at her as if she’d just asked me the square root of *38M6%42@. It pains me to think I ever didn’t take proper care of my hair (ha, that rhymes), but what can I say? We live and we learn. And, better yet, my hair is still here to tell the tale. Here is my full hair care run down, with my favorite products and tools, that have helped me revive my locks back to (or should I say to better than) their original form- before all of the coloring, heat styling, etc.: 

1. Everyone and their mother (and their grandmother) needs a good shampoo and conditioner. It’s important to pay attention to your hair because, believe it or not, it’s speaking to you. It’s constantly letting you know what its needs are, based on the reoccurring issues you’re experiencing with it. You can tune into this just by recognizing what your common complaints are and then remembering them long enough to do some research and see what’s recommended for you. Is your hair fine, medium or thick? Is it wavy, curly or straight? These will be some determining factors for your decision making process. For me, personally, I have fine stands and a lot of them. My hair gets weighed down pretty easily if I’m not careful, so I use a cleansing shampoo that I use twice each time, and then a heavy conditioning treatment that is designed to not weigh fine strands down. I do switch it up from time to time, with a purple conditioning treatment for my blonde, or whatever else I might be feeling that day (like a hair mask or something) but these are pretty much my usual go-to’s:

*Davines Oi Shampoo (use a small amount first on scalp, rinse, then normal amount all the way through to clean more thoroughly)

*Davines Melu Conditioner 

*Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel Purple Conditioner 

*Davines Miracle Conditioner  

2. Once out of the shower, hair still wet, I immediately apply a leave in conditioner and heat protectant. Make sure to check that whatever products you’re using provide both features, since some only provide one or the other and both are very important- if you plan on heat styling, that is. Otherwise you can just stick with a leave in conditioner. Here are my favorites as of late:

*In Common Magic Myst Spray (leave in conditioner + heat protectant) 

*Living Proof Nourishing Styling Cream (leave in conditioner) 

You’ll also want to make sure you’re using a wide-tooth comb to brush your wet hair, since this is when it’s in its most vulnerable state. Be super nice to it and brush from the bottom of your strands, up, to avoid damage (do this anytime you brush your hair, dry or wet). This is the one I’ve been using:

*Paul Mitchell Pro Tools Detangler Comb

3. From here, I let my hair air dry. If you don’t have time, no worries, just blow dry and move onto the next step. Either way, you’ll end up with the blow dryer and a round brush. I know there’s a super fancy way to do a blow-out, but I basically just run the ceramic-coated brush through my hair with the blow dryer on it all the way through to relax my curls and make it easier to style. Plus I feel like this gives some extra volume, which I NEED. Here’s the round brush and blow dryer I use and love:

*GHD Air Hair Dryer

*T3 Volume Round Hair Brush

4. Once my hair is dried and blown out, I take a straight iron and quickly run it over my roots and face framing pieces. These areas always keep a little curl, so I do what I can to smooth them to make the finishing look a little more polished. After this, I curl my hair. I use a regular curling iron with a 1.25 barrel. I work my way from back to front, curling small sections of hair in the direction away from my face. I begin in the middle of the strands and keep the ends out of each one. This gives it a more undone, lived in look- which I’m all about. My hair straightener and curling iron can be found here:

*BabylissPRO Nano Titanium 1″ Straightening Iron

*T3 SinglePass Curl 1.25 Inch Curling Iron 

5. Once I’m done curling I’ll usually finish off with a little texture spray throughout the middle of my strands and a hair oil on the ends. For upkeep, I do the same thing only I add dry shampoo as the first step. Dry shampoo the roots, texture the middle, oil at the ends. And voila! Perfect hair for days 1,2,3,4… whatever your preference lol. Here’s my favorites for each product:

*Prose Dry Shampoo (love this one because it’s clean and doesn’t use aerosol)

*IGK Beach Club Texture Spray 

*Oi Hair Oil (this will legitimately last you forever)

6. Some last tips I’ll share: 

-Try to wash your hair as little as possible. This keeps the heat styling to a minimum, plus you’ll save lots of $$ on product. I typically wash and heat style about twice a week.

-When you do wash, I’d recommend a scrubbing tool to aid in the shampooing/cleansing like this one.

-At the end of your shower, try blasting cold water on your hair (and body) for a few seconds. This has many benefits for the entire body, but for hair specifically, it helps lock in moisture and tightens hair follicles (resulting in less hair loss). It also helps your hair look shinier, which is always a plus. 

-For regular brushing I’d recommend a paddle brush. And for up-do’s I’d recommend sticking with a non-damaging hair tie when possible, like these. Also! A silk pillow case helps to keep frizz and breakage at bay.

And that’s it- my full hair care run down. I only cut my hair about 4 times a year and color about twice a year, so I try to get as much longevity out of each session as possible. I also just want my hair to be as healthy as it possibly can be at all times, which is great motivation to always try new things and see what works best. It’s become one of my favorite forms of self care, and I think my hair would say the same. 

What are you favorite hair care tips? Would love to hear from you!