When I originally sat down to write about using oil on your face, I was writing it as an Instagram caption. Well, it was getting to be a pretty long caption, so I decided to write a dedicated blog post instead! I’ve been super passionate about skincare for years now. I love sharing what I learn along the way, so let’s talk oil!
Read moreTop 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Every Day Products
When it comes to reading the ingredient labels of our every day products, it’s important to know which ingredients to avoid. So many of our personal care products contain harmful ingredients that are known carcinogens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins, etc. This is because the cosmetic industry is not strictly regulated by the FDA.
Read moreMy 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