When I first decided to make the switch to clean beauty products, I had no idea where to start. After doing some research, I began with the basics and got lucky finding some of the best clean products. I realized that even switching something small like a concealer with fewer toxins can spare the chemicals that our skin so readily absorbs. You don’t need to toss out your entire make-up bag, but you can try new items one at a time and see what works for you. Here are my favorites to get you started.
Foundation
My favorite clean powder foundation is by Jane Iredale. PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation offers even better coverage than my synthetic foundation and my skin feels like it can breathe underneath its lightweight. It’s GMO, paraben, talc and phalate free, which is definitely a good thing for your toxic load. The foundation is also vegan and cruelty free as well, meaning it’s as gentle on you as it is on other living beings. But, perhaps my favorite thing about this foundation is the fact that you buy the compact only once and purchase the refill with the foundation itself separately. Rather than getting a new compact every time you run out, you simply reload the compact with your foundation. Saving plastic, the environment and your skin, the PurePressed Foundation won’t let you down.
Concealer
Concealers can be tricky, particularly the clean varieties. I got lucky because, on my first try, I found RMS Beauty’s “Un” Cover Up. I was worried that it wouldn’t hold up as well throughout my day as my old concealer, but it actually provided better coverage of my blemishes and brightened my dark circles with ease. It’s a little thick, so use sparingly as you gently dab the concealer under your eyes and other areas of your face. It can be difficult to blend if you use too much, so make sure to pay close attention to your next step of foundation to make sure your skin tone is even. “Un” Cover up also moisturizes your skin during use, leaving your face looking dewy and fresh. I bought this foundation over a year ago and still haven’t ran out. Granted I wear less makeup during the week than I used to, but a little goes a long way!
Mascara
Since I’m quite particular about my lashes, switching mascaras made me a little uncomfortable. After all, can toxins affect your eyelashes anyway? Nonetheless, I decided to try Lilly Lolo’s Black Vegan Mascara. It worked just like my other mascaras had at first, darkening and thickening my lashes. I found that it would run later in the day and, after I had it for a month or so, it started to clump. I recently switched to Ilia’s Limitless Lash Mascara and I’m floored that it’s made without synthetics. My lashes look long, dark and moisturized when I wear this mascara; they’re light as a feather too. The Limitless Lash brush combs through individual lashes with its dual-sided head which you can use to increase volume and lengthen. And, it comes off pretty easily at the end of the day with a simple wash of your face. I sometimes use my old makeup remover to clear any lingering residue, but I don’t have to pull very hard. Overall, with this mascara, I can reduce the number of chemicals close to my skin while still feeling fresh and ready for the day.
