My Current Beauty Routine

Let’s chat skincare & makeup!

So excited to be sharing my current beauty routine with you babes! I shared a complete tutorial over on my Insta stories @pinebarrenliving and saved it to my highlights as well! You will find all products linked below. If you are interested in any of the YL products, send me a dm or email and I’d love to chat about getting them into your hands! xoxo <3

AM SKINCARE

INDIE LEE BRIGHTENING CLEANSER

I started using this cleanser a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love. I LOVE the scent; it’s very refreshing especially for morning. It’s super gentle and doesn’t really foam which I like. I would say I have noticed a difference in the overall glow of my skin with this cleanser compared to the one I was using previously. I typically apply one pump to my dry skin and then rinse with warm water.

ONE LOVE ORGANICS SKIN DEW COCONUT WATER CREAM

This face cream is perfect for spring and summer. It’s lightweight, wears well under makeup, and keeps my skin soft and hydrated. I used it all summer last year and I’m excited to bring it back into my routine this year!


EVERY DAY MAKEUP

LAWLESS WOKE UP LIKE THIS FOUNDATION

Between my blog and my Instagram, I have raved about this foundation for a while now! It’s made with clean ingredients but it’s such a great quality, super luxe liquid foundation that you would never even know! You can read my previous review on it here. My light shade is Kalahari and my medium shade is Mojave.

LAWLESS CLASSIC TRANSLUCENT SETTING POWDER

Pairing the above foundation with this setting powder is the dream team. This setting powder keeps your foundation in place all day long. I love the matte finish but definitely want to try the bronzing finish for summer!

SAVVY MINERALS BRONZER

Savvy Minerals by Young Living has been totally worth the try! The bronzer I shared in my tutorial on Instagram today is in the shade Crowned All Over which is the lighter of the two shades they make. I don’t notice a ton of shimmer with it which is nice. If you want an all over glow, use a big fluffy brush. If you want a more defined contour, use a contouring brush. Because it’s a loose powder you might have to put on a couple layers to get your desired amount of color.

SAVVY MINERALS BLUSH

The Savvy Minerals blush in the shade I Do Believe You’re Blushin’ has become my go to. It’s not too pink or too warm. It has a little shimmer to it and is buildable!

SAVVY MINERALS HIGHLIGHT

I use the veil powder in the shade Diamond Dust as my highlight. It comes in a bigger container than the blush and bronzer so it will last forever (literally). It gives such a pretty highlight that is still subtle.

ANASTASIA BROW DEFINER

This is my ride or die brow pencil. I love that the tip is angled because it makes it easier to go with the shape of your brow. I use the shade medium brown.

URBAN DECAY PERVERSION MASCARA

Another ride or die, this mascara has been a favorite of mine for years. It lengthens and adds volume without getting clumpy. Definitely my favorite! I also love the urban decay primer but currently can’t find mine!

YOUNG LIVING LAVENDER LIP BALM

This lip balm is amazing. it’s only $4 and keeps your lips smooth and hydrated. I keep one everywhere and apply throughout the day.

URBAN DECAY NAKED2 BASICS EYE PALETTE

This palette is my go to when I need to do a full eye look. I love that the colors are all matte and cool toned. I’ve probably gone through 4 of these palettes over the years! Always a repurchase.


PM SKINCARE

YOUNG LIVING MIRAH LUMINOUS CLEANSING OIL

If you’ve been following for a while, you know I love a good cleansing oil. There are so many benefits to using oil on your skin, which I will share about more in depth in another blog post. I decided to give the YL cleansing oil a try and I was not disappointed! It removes all of my makeup, even mascara. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and nourished. I highly recommend this one!! I apply it dry and wipe off with a warm washcloth.

INDIE LEE BRIGHTENING CLEANSER

If I feel like my skin needs a little extra love in the evening, I will follow up with this brightening cleanser, but more times than not I just use a cleansing oil.

INDIE LEE SQUALANE FACIAL OIL

Again, oils can do amazing things for your skin as long as you are using the correct oil for your skin type. For reference, my skin is pretty normal, sometimes dry in the winter and I get occasional breakouts that are hormone related (but this is rare). The squalane facial oil by Indie Lee is one that I have repurchased a few times. It’s lightweight, absorbs quick, and a little bit goes a long way. Most importantly, it’s non comedogenic meaning it will not clog your pores. It is great for all skin types because of it’s anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.

YOUNG LIVING SANDALWOOD MOISTURE CREAM

With the weather getting warmer, I find myself reaching for this cream less and less. It’s super thick and a little bit goes a long way. If you have dry skin, you will 100% fall in love with this cream. It’s very hydrating and really locks in moisture. I think it will be my go to for winter, and whenever my skin needs a little extra TLC during the warmer months. The scent is amazing and I love that the ingredients are clean!

YOUNG LIVING LAVENDER LIP BALM

Again, I apply my lavender lip balm every night and love it even more than the Laneige lip sleeping mask.

YOUNG LIVING ROSE OINTMENT

The YL rose ointment is one of my favorite products they make. I use it nightly on my hands. It keeps them soft and smooth and I love that it nourishes my cuticles so well. The consistency is a bit hard, but once you warm it up in your hands it absorbs so nice!

As always, thank you so much for reading!

If you are interested in any of the Young Living products and not yet a member, please reach out to me and I can help you get started! email: megan@pinebarrenbeauty.com / insta: @pinebarrenliving

xoxo


The Best Resources for Switching to Non Toxic Products

My Favorite Resources for Switching to Non Toxic Products

Hi ladies! Today I’m sharing my favorite resources to use when evaluating the ingredients in my current products and finding non toxic alternatives. It’s been almost a year since I shared this blog post about my initial thoughts on switching to safer beauty products.

Since then, I have successfully replaced the majority of my beauty products with non toxic options that work just as good, if not better than the products I was previously using. I have also switched over the cleaning products in our home to plant based, non toxic options and couldn’t be happier with the results!

If you are just starting your journey to natural living, it can be super intimidating. Considering the FDA only bans 11 ingredients from being used in cosmetic products (where as Europe bans 1,300+), it is up to us to do our own research and determine what ingredients are and are not safe. So, where do you start researching? Here’s a list of some great resources that I’ve found to be super helpful when ditching & switching from toxic to non toxic!

THINK DIRTY APP

You’ve probably heard of this one, but 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 very toxic. You can scan the barcode on your products or type in their names, and can then read further about each ingredient. If some of your current products are super harmful, the app does provide options that are clean which is nice!

EWG.ORG

The Environmental Working Group has an app called Healthy Living powered by Skin Deep and Food Scores. They also have a website. The concept with the app is similar to Think Dirty, where you can scan or search your products, see their rating, read about the ingredients, and find safer alternatives. I like EWG a little better than Think Dirty because it also includes info on food! Their website also has TONS of articles and guides to help you make informed decisions!

FOLLAIN.COM

Follain is a website as well as brick & mortar store where you can shop for clean beauty products. Every brand they sell has to go through their approval process. They also have a list of restricted ingredients which is nice. You can read about their standards here. They are a great resource because you are able to shop confidently, knowing that you can trust they are selling brands who use clean ingredients in all of their products. They take the guess work out for you just in case you don’t feel like doing the research on your own!

THE DETOX MARKET

The Detox Market is another online & brick and mortar store where you can shop for clean beauty products. They partner with brands who fit their standards and pass their approval process. They also have a list of restricted ingredients. Again, they take the guess work out and you know you can trust them! Read more about TDM 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. For example, I came across the brand Lawless on Instagram. When I read their about page, I was sold. I knew I could trust that their products are super luxe but also clean!

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

A few bloggers I follow are really into clean beauty which is AMAZING. It’s so hard to find genuine reviews of clean products from bloggers. I feel like most bloggers aren’t aware of what’s in their products, and if they are they just don’t care enough to make a change. Here are two bloggers who do a great job with clean beauty reviews: Jess Ann Kirby and  Jenna from Visions of Vouge.

One thing I have learned is that slow and steady wins the race. As you run out of current products, replace them with cleaner options. You DON’T have to ditch & switch everything at once. That can be super expensive and end up creating more waste than not. Another thing I have learned is that as long as you are doing the best you can for you, that’s all that matters. I have not fully transitioned all of my products over yet, and that’s okay! I’ve been on this journey for a year now and it’s definitely a work in progress. But, when we know better, we can do better. It all starts with research!

As always, thanks so much for reading! Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.

& if you’re not already, follow my new lifestyle Instagram account @pinebarrenliving <3

xoxo


Sephora Spring Bonus Event

Get ready to shop beauty!

Hey babes! Today I’m sharing my picks from the Sephora Spring Bonus Event! I’m sharing what I’m purchasing as well as products I’ve tried and loved, and other good options that are on my wish list. All of these products are made with clean ingredients, so you can trust that they are safe for your skin. I personally don’t think Sephora has the highest standards for their “clean at Sephora” badge, BUT these brands are ones that you can forsure trust 🙌🏻 The sale runs now through May 6, so don’t miss out!

Rouge: 20% off with code HEYROUGE

VIB: 15% off with code HEYVIB

Insider: 10% off with code HEYINSIDER

As always, thanks for stopping by!

xoxo


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