Cleaning Up My Beauty Routine
At the start of the year I made a conscious effort to clean up my cleaning supplies. This was an easier process than I anticipated and a somewhat unexpected ripple effect occurred. I started to become increasingly aware of product ingredients. I knew I needed to address my beauty products, starting with makeup.
I think it’s important to know that I’m not a tinted moisturizer and chapstick type of gal. I’m not one to get ready quickly and run out the door. It’s never been my style. I’ve also never had the best skin, so full coverage makeup has always been a requirement. I say this because when I started to dive into the world of cleaner beauty I was constantly trying products that did absolutely nothing. If I buy a concealer, it damn well better cover my mom bags. If I spend money on a bronzer, it better make me look like I just got back from the beach.
Yes, I want my products to be clean, but I also want them to actually work. So, a few months ago I started my #cleanswap challenge. I didn’t initially toss every single beauty product I owned — too risky, too extreme, too wasteful. I simply tried one clean swap a week and if it wasn’t working out, I was honest about my experience and sent it right back.
It took me a couple of months to finally swap every single makeup item in my routine for a cleaner alternative — but, it was worth the wait. I’ve been using cleaner beauty products for several weeks now and can very truly say my skin is a reflection of that. I feel educated about the ingredients I’m putting on my skin and feel confident about the quality of each product in my new routine.
Here’s the combination of products that have been working well for me…
SKIN PREP
What I dropped: Benefit’s Porefessional
What I swapped…
FACE
What I dropped: IT Cosmetics matte foundation, Tarte Shape Tape, Laura Mercier setting powder, NARS summer blush trio, Bare Essentials & Hula bronzer
What I swapped…
EYES
What I dropped: Better Than Sex mascara, Elf liquid eye liner, Rimmell eye brow pencil & setting gel
What I swapped…
LIPS
What I dropped: NYX nude liner, Mac Snob gloss
What I swapped…
TAKE IT OFF
What I dropped: Pond’s makeup wipes
What I swapped…
My most recent clean find. Affordable, smells like a spa, takes off my makeup as fast as an oil but leaves my skin feeling fresh. Just reordered again.
For individual reviews about each product swap check out my #cleanswap highlight on instagram.
The cleaner brands I currently pull from are a combination of Honest Beauty, Juice Beauty, Tula and Beautycounter. I’ve also been researching RMS and ILIA — hope to incorporate these brands into my routine as well. However, I’ve been using Beautycounter the longest (by far) — I started with their skincare line years ago, then their baby line when my son was born, and only recently their makeup. I share this brand because I use this brand…and I’m picky.
I’m also incredibly transparent about which of their products are worth your time and money and which are just overly hyped. I’m never afraid to return or exchange products. Beautycounter always asks for honest feedback in regards to products and that’s important to me.
That being said, you’re always welcome to “shop with me” , but please never feel obligated. I just want this space to be a resource for anyone dipping their toes into cleaner beauty. Being that resource means being honest about products — good and bad.
Let’s talk “meh”
I find people are not forthcoming enough about so-so products. It’s easy to tell people when a product is garbage or incredible, but no one talks about the “meh” products that just aren’t worth the money. Here are a few Counter products that I feel didn’t live up to the hype (my personal experience only):
Tinted Moisturizer - 0 coverage, left me oily. I know people die for this — God bless you humans with perfect skin. I realize this works for many of you, just not someone with acne scaring, melasma and major dark circles (me). Instead I use (and love) their Skin Twin foundation in shade 420 tan (amazing coverage, buildable, light weight).
Mascara - The formulas of both their lengthening and volumizing were just way too dry for me. Instead I use Honest Beauty’s mascara (incredible).
Eye brow pencil - I actually didn’t mind the color pay off or the formula, but they didn’t have a warm brown that worked with skin tone. Hopefully they begin to grow their color ranges. Instead I use Honest Beauty’s eye brow pencil in warm brown.
SHOP THE POST
