My Favorite Clean Beauty Products
Recently I have been focused on cleaning up the products in my beauty routine, and just like every new endeavor, it's more of a try it and see what works thing, than is it one and done.
In the event you're interested in dipping your toes into the clean beauty water, or maybe you're already waist deep, I thought I would throw out some of the products and brands I've tried and love!
The best thing I ever did was hardcore research clean beauty companies and retailers. I wanted to find companies that were focused on bringing products that have not only clean ingredients, but also sustainable ones. By purchasing from these companies I was cutting my work in half; I could purchase items knowing they fit the clean standards I was looking for without needing to look up every single ingredient.
Through my search I came across four companies I'm really into: Primally Pure, Follain, Credo, and Native.
Primally Pure is a company using fewer, natural ingredients in beauty products. They are probably best known for their deodorant, but I'm in love with their Cleansing Oil and Everything Spray (I'll talk about those more in a bit). I'm in love with their tagline, "Nature is Smarter than Science", and being able to pronounce every single one of their ingredients is such a great feeling.
Follain is another company I happened across, and I'm lucky enough to live in a city where they have a brick and mortar location. It's easier to find clean skincare than it is makeup, and that was something that was surprising to me. Luckily, companies like Follain are on a mission to bring both skincare and makeup that are good for our skin and bodies. They have locations in a few major cities, so if you get the chance, stop by, get a clean beauty consult, and pick up some new products to swap in for your old ones! If you're not close to a store they also have a chat feature that offers the same consult.
Credo is a company I was lucky to come across, and they also have a store here in Boston. Credo has a lot more make-up than they do skincare, but they have clean fragrances and beauty tools that come from sustainable resources. If Follain doesn't have what you're looking for Credo probably does!
Native is a company that actually reached out to me, and after doing some research I was very happy with their product ingredients, so I decided to partner with them. I use their natural deodorant, body wash, and bar soap. I love that if you find a scent you really like you can order a set with everything in the same scent. Plus, it's at a great price point at $30 for a deodorant, body wash, two bar soaps, and a mini deodorant.
Researching companies and specific brands is so important! Just because a product or its ingredients are vegan doesn't mean the ingredients aren't harmful, even worse it doesn't mean they don't test on animals. My favorite is a when a product advertises to be free of one chemical, like parabens, but is full of others that are just as harmful.
Moral of the story, read the labels! But, if you buy from a company listed above you can be sure that they have already vetted their products for you which is such a nice time saver!
I have purchased items from each of these companies, but I also have a few others that I really like as well. I have a few discount codes I'll share, and I'll do my best to link items.
Acure Morrocan Argon Oil - I'm basically obsessed with this oil for hydration. I use it after washing and toning my face at night, and I love how it hydrates without making my skin feel greasy. Also, there's one ingredient: Argon Oil. Doesn't get any better than that. Oh, and it’s $10 for a bottle that will literally last forever.
RMS Translucent "Un" Powder- This is the BEST product I've ever used, clean or otherwise. I have an extremely oily t-zone, and this powder not only sets my makeup, but it keeps me from becoming oily throughout the day. It literally sucks up the oil, and I am amazed. I used a very popular product that most beauty bloggers endorse as my setting powder, but the ingredients weren’t great. This RMS powder not only works better, but the ingredients are clean! WIN, WIN! Use code ref15_g2uez for 15% off your order at Follain.
Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara - I'm a mascara snob, and most girls I know are too. I don't know ANYONE that goes and just buys a random mascara off the shelf and says, "Ehhhh, it'll work." Yea, that doesn't happen. Needless to say if I'm recommending a mascara you know it's good. This lengthens, separates, and builds volume without flaking off during the day, or running down my face during the middle of my workout. Seriously, give it a shot. Use code ref15_g2uez for 15% off your order at Follain.
Native Cucumber Mint Deodorant - Seriously, the reviews speak for themselves. But, from someone who has been on a journey for an effective natural deodorant, I can honestly say this works. I'm a sweaty girl, so just take my word for it. Use my code 25 _LEG_KINK for 25% off your order!
Primally Pure Cleansing Oil- This is my holy grail, I can't believe I went 28 years of my life without this product. When I first heard of oil cleansing I was really confused, why would I put oil on my face that's already oily? Well, the concept, "like attracts like" comes into play here. If you want to learn more, check out a blog post all about it here. This product has changed the way I clean my face, and they have formulations for normal, oily, and dry skin. Oh, and it’s only $20. I can email you a coupon for $10 off, just shoot me a message or leave a comment with your email address.
Primally Pure Everything Spray - Again, another Primally Pure product I love. I have really tried to make my skincare routine simple, and this toner has really helped me with this. After oil cleansing I use a goat's milk baby bar (also available via Primally Pure, shocker), then finish with a spritz of this spray, and a swipe of Argon oil. Seriously simple, and seriously effective. My skin seems to be thanking me by not breaking out as often and my complexion also seems brighter! Again, if you want $10 let me know so I can email you a code!
W3LL PEOPLE Bio Correct Concealer- A concealer was a non-negotiable when it came to switching over my products. I have dark under-eye circles, and I struggle with the occasional blemish (okay maybe more than occasional), so a good concealer is something I use daily. Luckily I found one I like right out of the gate. W3LL PEOPLE is a great clean brand, and you can even find some of their products at Target!
Schmidt's Toothpaste - Toothpaste was a tough one for me. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on toothpaste, but I also had a hard time finding a good, clean ingredient toothpaste at any of my local stores. Remember, just because it seems like a clean product doesn't mean it is. This is where that Think Dirty app comes into play! Use it to scan barcodes at the store and get immediate feedback on the ingredients! I came across this one at Target, scanned the code, and for around $3 I grabbed an awesome toothpaste!
Phlur Fragrance - Fragrance is one of those things I never thought about being "clean", but it's also one of those things that has the most mysterious ingredients of them all. The beauty industry uses the word "fragrance" to cover up the fact their products are full of chemicals. Fragrance is considered a trade secret, so companies are not required by law to disclose the ingredients used to create their "signature scents". I am so happy to have found Phlur. All of their fragrances are made with clean, natural ingredients, and you can even try 3 different scents before committing to a whole bottle. I'm obsessed, and I smell good too! Use this link to get $5 off.
If you made it to the end of this, thank you. I know it's long, but hopefully it helps you get started with your clean beauty routine. It was a lot of work for me to find all of these resources when I first started, so hopefully this saves you some time.
I'm far from an expert, but if you have any questions I will do my best to get you an answer!
Love,
Lilly
