Over the last several years as I’ve gotten more knowledgeable about the kind of foods I’m putting in my body, I’ve also started researching the products I put on my body. Makeup for most women is a part of our daily routine. But do we really know what we’re slathering on our faces/bodies each day? Chances are, we don’t. And unlike a lot of the food we eat, with the exception of color additives, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA premarket approval. There is some oversight which you can read more about here, but generally speaking getting educated and being mindful of the products you’re using certainly can’t hurt.
I’ve been slowly trying to phase out all of my “bad” products, yes they’re not bad per se, but I’d prefer my makeup and beauty routine to include more natural ingredients and less synthetic combos. The biggest downside to leading a more natural/organic focused beauty routine is the cost. These products are hands down more expensive than their drugstore counterparts, but the older I get the more I prefer to invest in products that I feel good about using. I certainly am not perfect and don’t use 100% natural or organic products all the time, but I’m hoping that every little bit counts.
Here’s what I’ve bought and continue to use:
Kjaer Weis Foundation
This foundation is free of parabens, artificial coloring and fragrance, petroleum and more and is CCPB Certified Organic. I love the sleek metal compact and the best part is that you simply buy refills when you run out. So instead of tossing the entire container and adding more waste, you simply pop in a new refill and you’re good to go. All of Kjaer Weis products are refillable so you can feel good that you’re doing good for your face and the planet. A double win! I use this as a concealer, not a foundation, so I can’t speak to full face use, but I’m very pleased with it so far. This company has a wide variety of beauty products, I’ve only tried the foundation but I’m definitely looking into buying a couple other items.
Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer
I read about this brand a few years ago and when I looked up the company I was even more impressed. All the products are 100% natural and non-toxic and they manufacture all their own products, including sourcing ingredients from their onsite farm. (Doesn’t get more natural than that!) When I used this moisturizer I really could tell a difference and it just felt so incredibly pure. The smell was incredible and I loved how light it was on my skin. One caveat is that it wasn’t super heavy so if you’re looking for some heavy duty moisturizer then this probably isn’t for you. But there is a companion serum that used together could provide additional moisture.
ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner
I think of all makeup to try to switch to a more natural or organic form, lipstick is definitely one of them because let’s face it, we eat the stuff. I’m not much of a lipstick person, but there are those special occasions when it’s nice to get a little fancier than normal. I bought this tinted lip conditioner from ILIA and gave it a whirl. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, this lipstick glides on easily and lives up to its name, providing smooth, conditioning color. I have blossom lady, a soft pink that leaves just a touch of color but I’d be curious to try a darker shade and see how it holds up.
ILIA Illuminator
Being a new mom, my current makeup routine is very quick and easy. So anything that helps me accomplish that is a win in my book. I love using the ILIA highlighter on my eyelids and cheeks, a quick swipe leaves a nice glow with minimum effort. I have the cosmic dancer color but the bronze color could easily be used to contour if that’s more up your alley. I love ILIA’s whole mantra when it comes to natural beauty, “basically, we do the research so you don’t have to.” So much YES to this.
RMS Beauty Uncoverup
This is a very new addition to my natural beauty arsenal but so far I am in love. It’s got a light and dewy finish and covers up without looking cakey. You can also build up the coverage as needed, but I find for me a couple light taps leaves a nice, fresh natural looking finish.
Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant
I’ve been using this deodorant for several years now and still going strong. It smells great, works great and it’s 100 percent natural. Though there isn’t a clear consensus about whether or not using antiperspirants and deodorants with ingredients such as aluminum can conclusively link to the development of breast cancer, I’d rather not take my chances. I figure if this natural option works just as well, I might as well use that.
Honorable Mention:
Tarte BB Tinted Treatment Primer
Described as “eco-chic beauty, offering cruelty-free cosmetics infused with ingredients like superfruit and plant extracts, vitamins, minerals, essential oils and more,” Tarte has a wide variety of products all which are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates and synthetic fragrances among others. I looked up this particular product on EWG’s Skin Database and was relieved to find it scored a 2 (a low score is a good thing in this case!) But beware, I’ve read a couple articles like this one, that claim Tarte is a brand that participates in “greenwashing” essentially masquerading as a green brand to look better when really, it’s not as natural as they’d like you to believe. My advice is to do your research, this particular product got a good rating on EWG so I wanted to give it a mention but I certainly can’t speak for the plethora of other products this company offers. Unfortunately, since the green beauty industry is still fairly new sometimes it’s hard to determine was is authentically good for you and what isn’t.
So there you have it, my favorite natural beauty buys. I’m still exploring the natural beauty market and reading and learning as I go, but these products have been tried and tested by me and I can recommend them wholeheartedly. Other brands I’ve heard great things about (and plan on purchasing from soon) include Rituelle de Fille, Beautycounter and W3LL People. I also found this great guide from green beauty blogger Whoorl which gives a comprehensive overview of a lot of awesome green brands! A great resource I’d highly recommend if you’re interested in cleaning up your makeup is EWG’s Skin Deep database, where you can search products and learn more about the products and ingredients and make an informed decision about which items to purchase.
Top photo via Unsplash
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