Since becoming pregnant, I’ve definitely prioritized using clean personal care and beauty products which has included an overhaul of my makeup collection! I have been interested in swapping out my makeup for cleaner products for a few years now (in an effort to avoid the “Toxic 20“), but when I first started researching clean beauty products they just didn’t seem advanced enough to give me the results I was looking for so I lost interest until about four months ago. I originally felt compelled to look into clean beauty when I heard about some of the ingredients used in cosmetics — can you believe that until very recently the FDA hadn’t regulated cosmetics since 1938!? WHAT!?!? (Read here and here about initiatives for more transparency and regulation within the cosmetics industry).
Thankfully, clean beauty has been BOOMING and there have been great strides in product quality so making the switch isn’t nearly as scary anymore! In recent years I have seen so many clean / natural / organic beauty brands crop up which means that not only are there a lot more options to choose from, but there’s also a lot more competition in the market so each brand is working really hard to formulate the very best products (that actually work).
I’m personally partial to Bobbi Brown’s new (clean!) makeup line because I have always been a “no makeup” makeup kind of girl and Bobbi Brown is the QUEEN of that look. Since she is already familiar with the realm of cosmetics from her first makeup line, in this second iteration she already knows what she expects from a product and the bar is set high! She would never release a product she wasn’t incredibly proud of so I know that the quality / efficacy of every item has to be top notch!
The majority of my makeup bag used to made up of products from Bobbi’s original makeup line and she’s actually the main reason why I signed up for a Masterclass account at the beginning of the pandemic — I wanted ALL of her makeup and beauty tips (highly recommend her course, by the way)! I am totally obsessed with her expertise and passion for beauty and wellness. (You can read more about Bobbi and her journey here).
I personally prefer to keep my makeup look super minimal because I like to look like myself, but just slightly enhanced (blemishes and discolorations neutralized, a bit of a flush to my cheeks, and darker / longer eyelashes). I understand that this natural look isn’t for everyone, but it works for me and my style. I want people to think that I just woke up looking naturally flawless. 😉
One major thing that Bobbi preaches is staying hydrated, both on the inside and the outside! Be sure that you are drinking enough water throughout the day and applying a daily moisturizer on your face (and body!). Staying hydrated is going to be the best “foundation” for your skin to receive makeup.
WHAT’S IN MY MAKEUP BAG:
Complexion Pencils
I love these for spot color correction to conceal blemishes and to even my skin tone. I only use this product in the areas where I need a little help and personally do not use it as an all-over foundation, but Bobbi says if you blend it with a little bit of your favorite moisturizer it could be used as a foundation. Bobbi also suggests getting a couple of shades: one to lighten / brighten (a shade lighter than the shade that matches your skin tone) and one to conceal (a shade that matches your skin tone). She suggests this for both your winter and your summer skin shades — we all get a little bit more color in the warmer months from being out in the sun! I love that the Jones Road website has a color matching feature so you can plug in the name of your current foundation to get a suggestion on what color pencil(s) to order!
Note: Pencil sharpener sold separately.
Miracle Balm
Bobbi has a great tutorial on how to use this product on the Jones Road IG account. It really is a miracle product that can be used in many ways. I have shade Dusty Rose that I like to use for a hint of color (like a bit of blush) and for a hit of moisture. Bobbi suggests a midday re-application for a little moisture refresh and to give yourself a dewy glow, especially if the climate is drying your skin out!
Cream Bronzer
This product packs a punch! A little goes a long way here (this tiny pot will last for a long time!) and just a little swipe provides sunkissed color anywhere you want to add a bit of bronze.
Eyeliner Pencil
I used to wear a ton of eyeliner as a teenager (you know, before we had beauty gurus making YouTube tutorials), but as a 30-something I’ve really pared back on my eyeliner usage. Nowadays, I really only use a little swipe on the outer edges of my upper lid to give some definition and to accentuate my eyes (in color Black).
Eye Shadow
I don’t wear eye shadow often, but this product is great for adding a bit of color, shimmer and dimension. I still can’t decide which shade I want to order. I’m torn between Linen, Golden Peach and Topaz; maybe I’ll just bite the bullet and buy all three! lol
Mascara
I feel blessed to have naturally long eyelashes, but the ends are quite blonde so I rely on mascara to darken and elongate them. I was honestly surprised that I liked this clean mascara so much (I was the most nervous about switching to clean mascara because it’s my favorite makeup product, meaning I’m pretty tough critic). I find that it doesn’t clump or flake and it glides onto my lashes really smoothly. I also love the shape of the brush — nice thick bristles with a slightly curved shape which makes coating each lash with product a piece of cake.
Note: I like to keep this foldable travel eyelash comb / eyebrow brush and this little set of tweezers in my makeup bag. They take up hardly any room and are honestly so helpful to have.
Lipstick
This is the only non-clean product in my lineup as Jones Road hasn’t launched lipsticks yet (glosses only at this point) so in the meantime I’m sticking with my old faithful Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Color in “Neutral Rose”. It’s my absolute favorite shade for my skin tone and for achieving the natural look that I want. I hope Bobbi will offer a similar color whenever she decides to launch lipsticks with Jones Road!
I toss all of my essentials in a little Truffle pouch to take with me for an on-the-go refresh. I used to carry my whole bag of makeup with me (complete with specialty eyeshadows and faux lashes / glue) and that just became a bit much, especially in a pandemic when most of your face is covered by a mask anyway. 🙃 This little clutch is so easy to toss into a crossbody or slide into my tote bag.
As you can tell by my list, I’m all-in on Jones Road! 😜 I’m not opposed to diversifying my makeup and mixing in products from different brands, but I’m so happy with my JR lineup that I don’t feel compelled to look elsewhere at the moment.
If a nude / natural makeup look isn’t really your thing, there are a BUNCH of other clean makeup brands that offer even more color options! Here’s a quick list of about ~20 clean cosmetics companies, but I’m sure I’m missing a few. I’ll update this list as I come across new brands, but I’m really excited and encouraged by how long the list is already!
Just look at all of these options!!!
Clean Makeup Brands:
(organized alphabetically)
– 100% Pure *+
– Alima Pure
– Au Naturale
– BeautyCounter + (become a Beauty Consultant!)
– Bite Beauty
– Cocokind *+
– Ilia
– Jones Road Beauty
– Juice Beauty
– Kjaer Weis
– Kosas
– Lawless
– Mented Cosmetics *
– Merit Beauty
– Naked Poppy *
– P/Y/T Beauty
– Range Beauty *
– Rituel de Fille
– RMS Beauty
– Saie
– Tower28 * (formulated with sensitive skin in mind!)
– Vapour Beauty +
– W3ll People +
– Westman Atelier
* = BIPOC owned brand!
+ = also sells skincare!
While there are a lot of clean beauty products now, I will caution that not all products are deemed safe to use while pregnant / breastfeeding. Believe it or not, a few natural ingredients can still cause issues (when it comes to babies) so please read each package carefully, research the ingredients, and talk with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
If you’re interested making the full switch to clean products, I recently tested and reviewed five clean deodorants — the full post with details can be found here.
I also shared my favorite clean hair and skincare products in this blog post.
I’d really like to hear about any clean beauty brands you’re loving and what your favorite products are in the Comments section!
Happy shopping, friends! Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
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