Over the last few years I’ve been gradually transitioning to using more natural beauty products. One day I hope to use only non-toxic natural products for everything, but it’s a process and it isn’t easy to get used to! But knowing how much harm conventional products can cause, I think it’s totally worth it. Our skin is our biggest organ, and when our products contain harmful chemicals, those chemicals get absorbed by our skin into our bloodstream and can cause all kinds of damage.
It would take an entire blog post to share all the information about these chemicals and what they do, but I’ll just list a few to get you thinking about it. Some of the biggest issues caused by chemicals in our skincare products are hormone disruption, increased risk of cancer, thyroid problems, reproductive harm, and respiratory issues, just to name a few. Some ingredients to look out for and avoid are phthalates, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), synthetic colors, lead, petrolatum, and fragrance. (Oh and FYI many of these chemicals are banned in Europe, but still somehow allowed to be used in products in the US…)
Concealer (face), Concealer (under-eye brightener) | Powder Foundation | Eluminating Powder quad | Mascara | Tinted lip balm | Brushes (newest version of my set)
I transitioned to natural shampoos and soaps a few years ago, and now I’m working on makeup – but it’s harder because it’s not easy to find natural makeup in stores. (Although it’s getting easier!) There are so many brands out there that pose as “natural” but are actually not at all, so beware of those! (Some drugstore brands for example include Neutrogena, Aveeno, etc.) Make sure to always read the ingredients.
I’ve discovered a few natural makeup brands at Sprouts, and I’ve been testing out some different products over the last year. Some are great, some have just been so-so… I need to do more research because I know there are a ton of great brands available online, I just don’t know what they are. (If you know of any truly natural makeup brands that you love and would recommend, please let me know!!!)
Today I’m sharing my everyday makeup routine, and the natural products I use! Not every single product I use is natural (yet), either because I’m just finishing an old product, or because I haven’t found a natural version of that product yet that I like. I hope this helps you in your own journey to a more natural and toxic-free life!
My everyday makeup routine
Brushes
First I want to mention the brushes I use every day. I’m a big fan of Real Techniques brushes, but I’ve recently started using EcoTools because they are made with more environmentally (and skin) friendly materials. I’ve loved them so far and use them for blending concealer, and applying foundation, blush, and brows. They are so soft and work great!
Start with concealer
For years I used to use liquid foundation, but now that I’m using a powder foundation, I like to put my concealer on first. (And this concealer for under my eyes.) I used to add it on top of my foundation only where I needed it, but I think it works much better under powder. I’m currently using the Pacifica concealer – it matches my skin great and has a good amount of coverage, but I will say that it’s not as long lasting as I wish it was.
After trying it the first time, I tried another brand available at Sprouts called Gabriel. But the color selection at Sprouts was so limited! They only had 2 colors – one was way too dark and the other too light. I bought the light one and ended up using it only to brighten up under my eyes. It did have a more concentrated coverage and was longer lasting than Pacifica, though.
Apply powder foundation
Like I mentioned before, I was ALWAYS a liquid foundation gal. I like a good amount of coverage and a natural look, which are two things I never thought I could get from a powder! But after no luck finding a good color match with any of the brands at Sprouts (yet again such a limited selection), I decided to try Mineral Fusion powder foundation because I found a great shade that matched me well. I’m actually amazed by how smooth and creamy it feels on my skin! I’ve been using it for about 6 months now and love it. (My color is Olive 2.)
A touch of blush & highlight
I’m not a huge contour person, especially not for everyday (mostly because I’m lazy and like to do my makeup in 5 minutes or less). But I do love a natural flush and a touch of shine for highlight. I love my foundation so much that I decided to try another Mineral Fusion product, the illuminating powder quad. I love these colors and how well they work together! It has a good amount of shimmer to it, but it’s actually very subtle on my skin. I like to just swirl all 4 colors together and put a little on the apples of my cheeks.
Brows (I need your help here!)
Okay, this is where I cheat and don’t use a natural product… yet. I’m not a huge fan of brow pencils and prefer a brow wax. My FAVE is actually Elf’s brow wax kit (Not necessarily recommending it, but hey if you like cheap and don’t care about ingredients then go for it!) because it works amazingly (I’ve finished 2 pans so far) and only costs 3 DOLLARS! Um hello I’m always down for a deal! And I love how it matches my brows perfectly, is subtle, looks natural, and lasts all day. But who the heck knows what that stuff is made of? I would love to find a natural alternative so somebody help me! Any recommendations?? If it’s an eyebrow pencil, you can recommend that too, and I’d be willing to try it!
Eyelashes
I think eyelashes are the key to a makeup look – whether it’s a full face and bold eyes, or just an everyday “no-makeup-makeup” look. I don’t use eyeliner on a regular basis, because 1. I’m lazy and 2. It has a bigger impact when I do actually wear it! But no matter what, I always do my lashes! And by that I don’t just mean mascara. I’m talking giving them a good curl! Nothing opens up your eyes and helps you look awake more, even without mascara. (I just use this curler – hello cheap! And works surprisingly well!)
For most days I’ll leave it at that, but if I have to work or I’m meeting up with friends, I’ll add some mascara to look more put-together. I’ve been using Pacifica’s mascara for awhile now and I think the quality’s great but I want to try the water resistant version next. And some days I’ll even go crazy and add some quick eyeshadow, just using my finger and the golden color on my eluminating powder quad.
Top it off with tinted lip balm
The last step of my everyday makeup routine is a coat of tinted lip balm. Right now I’m loving Burt’s Bees in the color Rose, because it’s soft, hydrating, and adds just the right amount of sheer red color to make my lips look alive and fresh. And just to clarify: I don’t think Burt’s Bees is one of the cleanest natural beauty brands out there. But they’re better than a lot of the completely fake “natural” brands, so I still use their products, because they’re much cleaner than say, Maybelline or another conventional drug store brand! Plus, I can find them at Target which makes my life a million times easier.
Switching to natural products can be hard
Yep, it’s true. For years I never wore much makeup or knew much about it. But in college I started watching those crazy makeup tutorials on YouTube, and it was like a whole new world! I loved learning about all the different brands and started experimenting with makeup more. But it was also right around the time that I started learning about all the harmful chemicals in most products. Before I could really get into makeup, I started switching to cleaner and more natural brands.
It’s still hard sometimes, because I had so much fun shopping for new makeup, but now that I know the negative effects the products can cause, I think the switch is worth it. And honestly, life feels simpler. It’s nice to not feel so controlled by a need to buy and try all the new products that are constantly being poured into the market. I spend a lot less because I only buy what I need and make sure it’s worthwhile to add to my life!
Maybe you’ve never thought about going natural or trying clean beauty products. Maybe this is like an introduction for you to something you’ve never thought about before! I just want you to know I that it’s totally okay to let the detoxifying process be slow and gradual, as you learn more and feel comfortable and confident in what you’re choosing to use and why.
Changing your lifestyle is impossible to do overnight, and if you attempt to do that, I doubt it would be sustainable. Like I said, I’ve gradually switched products one at a time over the last few years. And I still haven’t switched everything! It’s hard to let go of convenience and popularity and (if you’re like me) the cheapest prices. But I know if you take one small step at a time, you won’t regret it.
What about you?
Have you tried natural beauty products? What’s your experience so far? Does this resemble your everyday makeup routine or is yours totally different? Don’t forget to leave me your recommendations! Oh and let me know if you like this post! If yes I’ll do some more posts sharing the natural skin and hair products I’m using lately! 😊
Xo,
Becka
P.S. – A post about decluttering your life, and my first ever coffee chat with questions for YOU!