Clean Makeup Products That Actually Work

Clean Makeup Products That Actually Work

Making the transition to clean beauty products can be intimidating. Leaving behind products you love & know isn’t the easiet, and neither is finding new products that will work with your skin and meet your expectations. It’s trial and error, but so far I have been lucky to find clean beauty products that actually work & exceed my expectations! It’s so rewarding to know that what I am putting on my skin contains safe ingredients and gives the results I want.

As far as skincare goes, I published a post last week featuring the One Love Organics skincare line. I have been using these products exclusively for the past 6-8 weeks and my skin has never looked better! You can read about all of their products here and use code PINEBARRENBEAUTY10 for 10% off your purchase! 

For makeup, I have been trying cleaner options for products as I run out of them. I haven’t switched everything yet, but all of my face products, except bronzer, are now clean products! I have been loving everything I am using, especially foundation which I was super nervous about! Keep reading to see which clean beauty products I'm obsessed with & why!

Clean Makeup Products That Actually Work | Pine Barren Beauty | Lawless Woke Up Like This Foundation

lawless I woke up like this flawless finish foundation

When I saw that Lawless came out with a foundation I had to get it! I had been considering the beauty counter foundation, but also wanted something that was full coverage and I knew Lawless would deliver. I was nervous about matching my color but as long as you go with the right undertone you'll be good! They also give the MAC equivalents which is convenient if you know your MAC shade. 

First, let's talk about their customer service. I placed my order on a Friday with the free standard shipping option. It shipped that day and was on my doorstep on Monday. I'm all about a company with quick & free shipping, so that definitely started us off on the right foot. Next, the packaging is super chic. The box has all the info you need about the ingredients and the bottle itself is v pretty. 

Now, let's talk about the foundation itself. I am completely in love. The texture is thick and a bit tacky when applied to the skin, but it does dry nicely and using a loose setting powder on top does help. It spreads smoothly and evenly (I apply my foundation with this brush). One pump gives pretty great coverage for daily wear. If I'm wearing it for a night out/wedding/event and want the best coverage I can get, I would probably go with two pumps but apply them in layers, letting the first layer dry before applying the second.

Overall, I am super impressed with this "clean AF" foundation and will definitely be repurchasing once I run out! I just love the entire vibe and branding behind this company, and I love that I can feel confident in using their products on my skin! You can read more about Lawless and their commitment to clean beauty here

Clean Makeup Products That Actually Work | Pine Barren Beauty | Savvy Minerals by Young Living

savvy minerals by young living matte setting powder

If you've been following along for a while, you will know that I started using Young Living back in February. I had always been intrigued with the concept of essential oils and finally decided it was time to see how they could benefit me! One of the many reasons I love Young Living is because they have SO much to offer beyond oils, including a completely non toxic, mineral based makeup line. I have been adding some of their makeup products to my monthly order for the past couple months and have been LOVING it. If you're not feeling the oils at first, you can sign up with the Savvy Minerals starter kit instead of the oils starter kit! Click here to read more about signing up or feel free to send me an email or DM with any questions!

The matte setting powder is brand new to the collection. A little bit goes a long way and I love the way it works with the Lawless foundation. I feel like it takes the tackiness away from the foundation and allows for a smooth application of the rest of my face products! It doesn't crease or cause my makeup to look cakey which is always a must for me when it comes to setting powder.

savvy minerals by young living blush

I've been using the Savvy Minerals blush in the shade "I Do Believe You're Blushin" and it's been so perfect for summer. It has just enough color & shimmer to create the perfect glow. There are so many shades to choose from and next on my list is the shade "Smashing." If you use the Savvy Minerals mist on your brush before tapping it in the blush, I will deepen the pigment and give more of a dewy look. It also gives a little more control when applying the blush. I use the blush either way (with or without the mist), depending on what my mood is and what type of look I'm going for!  

savvy minerals by young living highlight

The highlight I've been using by Savvy Minerals is actually their original setting powder called diamond dust. Because it's luminous, I did not prefer it as a setting powder, but as a highlight it is perfect! It's just the right amount of shimmer while also looking natural. A little bit goes a long way with this one as well! 

Clean Makeup Products That Actually Work | Pine Barren Beauty | Savvy Minerals by Young Living

As always, thanks for reading! 

If you have any questions at all, send me an email (megan@pinebarrenbeauty.com) or a DM on insta! 

xoxo


Thoughts on Switching to Safer Beauty Products

Let's talk clean beauty.

Hi babes! If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that I am in the process of making the switch to safer beauty products. There is SO much that goes along with this so I wanted to share all of my thoughts in one place instead of having a superrr long insta story! Let's jump in! 

WHY

So, first things first, why am I making the switch to safer beauty products? The cosmetic industry is not regulated by the FDA. Because of this, companies can put whatever they want in their products. I'm talking known carcinogens and toxic chemicals that have no reason being in the products we use on a daily basis. Is that crazy or what?! WHY would I ever willingly put products on my skin that are made with ingredients we KNOW are harmful? I guess because I never really knew that the ingredients in my products could be so toxic. But now that I'm more aware, you know I'm going to commit to making the switch. 

WORD CHOICE

Safe. Clean. Non toxic. Natural. Organic. The list is endless and the words cannot be used interchangeably (so I've learned). Just because a product may be considered safe, does not mean that it is all natural or organic. Be sure to know the difference and make a decision based on what you feel is right for you. 

RESEARCH

Making the switch requires a TON of research. Because there are no set guidelines for brands to follow, it's up to us as consumers to do the research ourselves. And believe it or not, it's kind of a double edged sword. Since brands can put whatever they want in their products, it's important to read the ingredients and find out if they are harmful. It's also important to look into the ingredients in products that brands claim to be clean, natural, organic, or nontoxic because they aren't held to a certain standard either. 

For example, I received products in the mail from a company that claims to be clean. When I looked at the ingredient list, I saw PEG-4 dilaurate listed. When you read about PEG's - they are an ingredient that more times than not, contain impurities that are harmful, but the impurities can be stripped if the brand is responsible and conscious of what goes into their products. AKA it comes down to making a judgement call. If you believe the brand is making the effort to remove the impurities in PEGs so they can still put them in their products and claim to be clean, then go for it. But if you don't feel too good about it, find another brand who is more reputable. 

RESOURCES

It can be overwhelming having to do all of your own research so I want to share the resources I have found to be helpful so far (in addition to google). 

Think Dirty App

The Think Dirty App is a great way to find out what's in your current products and if those ingredients are harmful or not. The app rates products on a scale of 0-10, 0 being not toxic at all and 10 being super toxic. You can then read further about each ingredient and find safer alternatives if some of your products are rated high on the scale.

The Detox Market

The Detox Market is a site where you can purchase clean beauty products from a variety of brands. TDM promises to learn about the brands they work with, test all products before committing to them, and select their products based on a strict ingredient standard. You can read more about TDM here

Organachs Farm to Skin

My friend Jen who writes Red White and Denim recommended this site to me! It's similar to TDM in the sense that you can purchase natural products from a variety of brands. Organachs Farm to Skin promises to deliver brands that have effective products and are made with clean, pure, toxin free ingredients. Read more here.

About pages & Blogs

As you come across brands you may want to try, make sure you read the about pages on their websites. After reading the about pages, you will have a pretty good sense of the brand and if you can trust that their products are what they claim to be. You will also be able to compare brands once you read a handful of about pages. Some may impress you more than others and some might be super basic, making you question their reliability. 

Another great resource to utilize when looking at a brand's website is their blog. I love One Love Organic's blog because I found SO much useful information in their posts as I was doing my research. If a brand's site has a blog, read it! 

One blogger I follow, Jenna who writes Visions of Vouge, is super into safe beauty. She has an entire section on her blog dedicated to safe beauty and a category called "ingredient of the week." I particularly love her "ingredient of the week" posts because she does a ton of research about specific ingredients that are harmful and shares everything we need to know! 

THE PROCESS

Switching over to a completely safe beauty routine is a PROCESS. It can be tempting to ditch and switch everything all at once, but that also means you need to be prepared to spend a lot of money. Taking it one step at a time may be your best bet. As you run out of current products, replacing them with safer options is a great way to comfortably transition your entire routine.

Personally, I am starting with skincare and base layers. I'm talking the products that I use every day and night, that are going right on top of my skin. If I can initially switch all of my skincare products, primers, and foundations to safer options, I will be content with that as a start. It's going to be a lot of trial and error, but I am determined to find clean products that give the same results, if not better than those that contain toxins. 

REAL TALK

As a BEAUTY LOVER (and even as a blogger), this transition is harder for me than it may seem. I've always been pretty conscious of the skincare product I use; but giving up my Laura Mercier foundation and Tom Ford bronzer is going to be a hard pill to swallow. And what about my Urban Decay Naked2 Basics palette?! UGHHHHH. Let's not even get started with hair care. So many amazing products, with not so amazing ingredients. Part of the reason I'm even obsessed with these products in the first place is because society tells us we need to use the newest products with the chicest packaging etc etc not even bothering to look at what's in them! Not cool. 

As I take you along on this process, I can't promise that I will do everything perfectly and not use my naked palette every now and then. But what I can promise is that I'm going to try my best. I'm only human and as long as I'm doing the best I can for me, that's all that matters. AND the same goes for you! If you are going to join me on this journey, just remember to take it at your own pace, do what you can, and know that even just a small change can make the biggest difference!

As always, thanks so much for reading!

Here's to safer beauty & living well!

xo