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!

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! 

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! 

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

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Skincare with One Love Organics

Today's post is in partnership with One Love Organics. Thank you for supporting the brands who support Pine Barren Beauty! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. xoxo

One love organics

Hi babes! I'm so excited to share a review on the skincare products I have been using for the past 6 weeks! If you've been following along, you know that I am trying to make the switch to safer beauty products. You can read more about why I decide to make the switch in this blog post. 

When I began researching clean beauty brands, I came across One Love Organics. I loved their packaging and after reading more about the brand and their products, I knew I had to try them out! The first two products I tried were the vitamin c facial serum and vitamin c body oil. The serum became a quick favorite and it is definitely a must have product. I also fell in love with how nourishing the body oil is. These two products made me want to try the rest of line, and trust me, I was not disappointed! I've been using their line morning & night and my skin has never felt more fresh! Keep reading to see which products I'm loving, when is best to use them, and what they are good for! One Love Organics was also kind enough to give me a special discount code for you girls so keep an eye out for that at the end of this post! <3 

MORNING ROUTINE

Let's start with a fun fact. For years, I'm talking throughout high school & early college, I didn't really have a morning skincare routine. My skin was healthy and my routine consisted of me waking up & putting my make up on first thing. As long as I washed my makeup off at the end of the night, I was golden. And that was totally fine because it's what worked for me at the time. Over the years my skin has changed, and so has my daily routine. I now I have a morning skincare routine that I never skip.

EASY DOES IT FOAMING CLEANSER

One of my favorite parts of my morning skincare routine is cleansing. I love the feeling of clean skin after hitting the gym in the AM. It also feels good to apply my makeup to a fresh face. 

I'm pretty particular when it comes to cleansers. They have to be gentle but still work. Enter: the easy does it foaming cleanser by One Love Organics. I typically prefer a cream cleanser because foaming cleansers have been a little to harsh on my skin in the past. HOWEVER. The name of this one speaks for itself: easy does it. I have been loving this cleanser because it leaves my skin feeling clean and soft, NOT dry. 

VITAMIN E EYE BALM

If you've been following me for a while, you know that eye cream is the most inconsistent part of my skincare routine. I have tried SO many that just don't live up to my standards, until now! This vitamin e eye balm is different from the rest because it's a balm, not a cream. It has a waxy texture but absorbs into the skin so nicely, making it great for both day and night.

I love it the most because it wears well under makeup!! This has been the biggest problem for me and it's finally solved. My makeup does not crease or look cakey with this eye balm underneath - finally! Also, don't let small container fool you - a little bit goes a long way. I've been using it for over a month and haven't made the slightest dent in it. 

SKIN DEW COCONUT WATER CREAM

When it comes to morning moisturizers, I like them to be lightweight, quick absorbing, and wear well under makeup. The skin dew coconut water cream checks off all of those boxes. I was looking for a cream that was comparable to the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cream, just with safer ingredients, and I can say that I have found it! Although it's not as weightless as the PTR, it's still lightweight and just as hydrating, if not more. It has a creamy texture and is the perfect base for makeup. After applying this, I go right into my makeup routine with primer then foundation, or just tinted moisturizer if it's a no makeup makeup kind of day.

NIGHT TIME ROUTINE

VITAMIN B ENZYME CLEANSING OIL + MAKEUP REMOVER

I love an oil based cleanser for night time because they are SO good at removing makeup. Because this one is organic, I feel confident lathering it on my skin. I use two full pumps and put it on my skin dry then remove it with a warm wash cloth or this cleansing sponge. Trust me when I tell you, it removes every bit of makeup and dirt, even stubborn mascara! If you try any product from One Love Organics, let it be this!!

VITAMIN C MOISTURIZING FACIAL SERUM

This was the first product I tried from One Love Organics & I fell in love! I was looking for a vitamin c serum that brightened my skin and did not plateau after a couple weeks and I found a winner. My skin has had a consistent glow because of this serum! It has also reduced dark spots  from occasional breakouts within a week! Talk about a must have product - this is it. 

It does have a more oily consistency to it, which is why it's part of my night time routine. I was using it in the morning, but it did not wear well under makeup for me. I use one full pump and mix it with the love springs eternal serum below for a winning combination.

LOVE SPRINGS ETERNAL YOUTH PRESERVATION SERUM

This youth preservation serum is more of a preventive step in my routine. It claims to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, so I can only hope that it will do just that. It also claims to be hydrating, which I can assure you that it is! It's the perfect last step in a summer skincare routine because it's lightweight and adds just enough moisture without having to apply moisturizer on top. It is a perfect mix with the vitamin c serum I talked about above. One pump of each and you're good to go! 

SKIN SAVIOR MULTI-TASKING WONDER BALM

When I'm feeling like my skin needs a little extra night time love, I end with the skin savior wonder balm and it's amaaaazing! The citrus scent is so yummy. I've been loving it after days spent in the sun because it's super nourishing. It has a soft, waxy texture and goes on so smooth. It also doubles as a makeup remover and reminds me of the Damn Good Face Wash that you've heard me talk about in the past! 

MASK

LOVE & CHARCOAL MASQUE

When it comes to masks, I typically gravitate toward ones that are hydrating, brightening, or nourishing. I never go for the detox/exfoliating masks because of past experiences where my skin has gotten really dry, irritated, or broken out because the mask was too harsh on my skin.

Naturally, I was nervous about this mask since it has activated charcoal in it, but I was also intrigued because of the word love in it's name. When I asked Alannah about it (the PR coordinator for One Love Organics), she said that in addition to the charcoal, it has alpine rose, cupuacu butter and an amaranth protein to also nourish your skin while the charcoal is drawing out the dirt and debris!

After hearing that, I set my fears aside and gave this mask a try! To start, I only left it on for about five minutes. I did notice it pull out some underlying dirt & debris, but I knew my skin had to detox and get rid of it. I put tea tree essential oil on the couple spots that surfaced, and that cleared them right up, along with the help of the rest of my night time products. 

REWARDS

Needless to say, I have been seeing AMAZING results from using all of these products as a system. It's comforting to know that these products contain safe ingredients AND are effective. Not only has my skin been hydrated, nourished, and glowing, but I have not had as many breakouts as I was experiencing before. I'd say that's a definite win!

Another win when it comes to One Love Organics is their rewards program. They treat their customers SO well when purchasing directly from their site! There are so many different ways to earn points that can be used on future purchases. They have by far one of the best loyalty programs I've ever come across.  Read all about it here. 

You can also get 10% off of your one love organics purchase using my code: PINEBARRENBEAUTY10

As always, thanks for reading! If you have any questions at all, leave a comment! 

xo

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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

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