When I asked on Instagram what you guys wanted to see me write about, I was excited to see so many requests for clean beauty! I’m a product junkie – I love trying new things and my overflowing bathroom counter is proof. However, what I hate is spending money on a product only to be disappointed. I get that it happens, but I’m hoping that these reviews make it so that it doesn’t happen to you.
These reviews are going to be my super honest, no-BS opinions on all the clean beauty products I’ve tried. The good, the bad, and the worthless. I’ve got many more volumes to share so get ready!
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
My holy grail product!
With naturally oily, acne-prone skin, I was paranoid of oils for years – surely adding more oil to it would be a disaster, right? Wrong!
What I discovered is that often oily skin is a sign of dehydrated skin. Your skin is lacking moisture so your sebaceous glands, trying to be all helpful, overcompensate so instead you’re left with a face like a skating rink. Adding an oil to your beauty routine will actually help regulate that oil production, while leaving your skin super hydrated and plump!
I’m now all aboard the oil train and have tested out quite a few but always come back to this one. It is a reasonable price for the quality, lasts a really long time, is lightweight and soaks in nicely. Believe it or not, I think it is light-years better than the La Mer one I tried!
If there is any one product I could recommend, it is this Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate.
Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm
Have you been hearing all the talk the past few years about “double cleansing”? Essentially the idea is that we should be using a product to remove all our makeup and impurities *before* washing our face. Otherwise, we are rubbing that nastiness all over! Instead, start with a cleansing balm and then follow with your normal facewash.
As far as cleansing balms go, this is one of the best I’ve tried for the price. I first dipped my toes into this idea of double cleansing when I used my sister’s BeautyCounter one, and while I loved it, the price deterred me from hopping on board. Thankfully a few weeks later I stumbled upon this Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm. While the brand isn’t entirely clean, this product is! Plus, it’s far cheaper than its BeautyCounter counterpart and you get more product – score.
Use a nickel-sized amount on a dry face before washing your face and I promise you’ll feel such a difference in how your face looks and feels.
BeautyCounter Color Intense Lipstick in Sunset
Three main reasons I’m a fan of this BeautyCounter Color Intense Lipstick: great pigment payoff, a more substantial formulation than most I’ve tried (I want to say it feels thicker, but not sure if that makes sense), and a minty fresh scent thanks to the peppermint oil.
It’s a very wearable color great for everyday but it is buildable so can be layered up for a deeper nighttime event.
The only downside is that BeautyCounter doesn’t sell this shade on its own. As of right now, it is only available as part of this duo set. However, they do offer the Color Intense lipstick in various other shades – I’ve got my eye on the shade “First Date”.
Jane Iredale Bronzing Powder in So Bronze 2
The struggle of being naturally pale is twofold: we need some color, but it can quickly pass into unnatural clown territory. It’s so difficult to find a product that gives a lively (and believable) glow!
The Jane Iredale Bronzing Powder does just that. I use the shade So Bronze 2 and it gives me just enough color to wake up my face. It’s a buildable product so if you want it to be darker, just play around and apply more! Plus, the pressed gold powder adds a fantastic shimmer without appearing “glittery” in the slightest.
Jane Iredale products are all mineral-based, clean, and cruelty-free, so you can feel good about that face of makeup!
One thing to note: the product doesn’t come with a pan – you have to purchase the refillable compact separately. While it is a little annoying and makes the product more expensive, I appreciate that the brand is doing their part to reduce waste and providing consumers a way to “refill” rather than completely replace when they have used up the product.
