Anyone that knows me knows that I love makeup and beauty. I am a beauty junkie. A complete and total addict! At a very young age I started collecting makeup and playing with it and pretty soon my drawers were not enough for all the stuff. Got new storage, kept accumulating. Got tired of some products? Gave them away to friends.
Similar to what happens with fashion and our wardrobes, makeup and beauty products accumulate in our bathrooms and vanities with no control. It’s as if they reproduced overnight!
For me it’s a bit exhausting, really. I have managed to declutter my collection (although for some may still look like a lot of stuff!) and have started to learn more about the ingredients contained in those products that I put on my face everyday and that my skin absorbs.
WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE CLEANER PRODUCTS?
Nowadays I’m not 100% happy with the products I use in terms of ingredients, but let’s say I’m 80% there. Which I think is great. There is always room for improvement but I’ve managed to achieve a pretty clean makeup routine so far.
I am no expert, but for me it is obvious. The cleaner the products are, the better for my health and for the environment. However, I find that going full on organic is not that easy. Cleaner ingredients are obviously a win, but sometimes they don’t last or don’t work for my skin type. On organic makeup products there is usually coconut oil, and for someone with combination skin like myself, that’s gonna be a no no.
The only organic makeup brand I have tried is RMS Beauty. And while I am in love with some of their products, others just don’t work for me. This is a pricey brand but their products last years. Literally. The ones I have are over a year old and still going strong after using them everyday. And they are fantastic performing products for my skin (I’m looking at you RMS bronzer and Living Luminizer!)
I usually start the day washing my face with warm water and applying moisturizer. The one I’m using now is by Glossier, a very light moisturizer that does its job and is parabens, fragrance and cruelty free.
Then I’m ready to put a face on!
THE BASE
I’ve been loving the Hangover primer by Too Faced. I purchased it in June and have been using it on weekdays since then. I really really see a difference on how my make up last whenever I use this stuff. And I have come to the conclusion that there is no lasting makeup, it is the primer the one that does the trick! This one is very refreshing and hydrating, quite pleasant to put on. It is parabens, sulfates, phthalates and silicone free. Also cruelty free and vegan. A winner.
After priming I go on with foundation. I like to mix half pump of the Becca Backlight Priming filter with half pump of the It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better CC Cream. Love this stuff. The Becca Backlight Priming filter adds an overall glow to the skin that makes you look fresh, awake and with healthy skin. It is parabens, sulfates and phthalates free.
The It Cosmetics CC cream has broad spectrum SPF (you need that everyday in sunny Singapore!) gives a dewy finish and just the right amount of coverage for your everyday life. This one is also parabens and cruelty free but the list of ingredients is huge, which tells me it it could be cleaner but it really does a great job.
When the base is done I like to apply a bit of bronzer to warm up my pale complexion. And I’m so happy I found the perfect one. The RMS Burity Bronzer. It comes in cream version, which works great for Singapore weather and although it is a cream product I find that it doesn’t get oily. It blends beautifully on the skin and has a sheer coverage that is definitely buildable if you are really into getting that bronzy glow. I just dab my finger on the pot and draw a line on each cheek, down my nose and my temples. Then blend it with a buffing brush. The brush I use is the Full Coverage Face by Bobby Brown that I’ve had for so many years.
If I’m in a hurry I will leave my base there but if I have more time I would apply a bit of highlighter and blush. The highlighter I use the most is the Living Luminizer from RMS. Great stuff! It is organic and comes in a recycled glass pot, like all RMS products and it gives just a subtle highlight to my cheeks that is perfect for everyday and going to office.
For blush I dab my finger on some Bobby Brown pot rouge in the shade Raspberry and blend it on the apples of my cheeks with the same brush or my finger. I’ve had this product for I don’t know how many years. Maybe 3 or 4? I’ve hit pan, that is the proof of how good it is. I don’t know what the expiration date is, but it smells fine and it does its job so it is still with me!
THE EYES
Ahh concealer. My favorite product to try and sooo important for me and my dark circles! Have recently discovered the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer in the shade Creme Brulée and I LOVE IT! A small amount is enough and just blend it with my finger on the dark areas under my eyes downwards. I also use it to cover some extra redness around my nose. It is hands down one of the best concealers I’ve come across. And trust me, I have tested a few…
Is it clean? Nope. It is oil free and fragrance free, but it is not clean
For my eye shadow I use the MAC Paint Pot in the shade Ground Work. You wouldn’t believe how amazing this stuff is. You don’t even need a primer. Just apply it with my finger and it stays with me all freaking day. No creasing, no melting, just eyeshadow perfection all day long. I’ve tried the RMS Eye Polishes which are organic and awesome but that stuff creases so much and gets all over the place. I can’t stand it.
So no clean eyeshadow for these brown eyes yet. If you have any good recommendation let me know in the comments!
To finish it up I will apply some mascara. The one I’m using at the moment is by Tarte and is cruelty free and waterproof. It does a good job with lash length and volume but it takes a bit to dry and if you have hooded eyes like me you might end up with mascara everywhere… Oops!
THE LIPS
This is the quickest step in my daily routine. I just dab on some Glossier Balm Dotcom and a bit of the same Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge and blend it with my finger. I love the subtle tint it gives to both lips and cheeks.
Glossier is unfortunately not available in Singapore but they do ship to the US, Canada and the UK, in case you go there or know someone that can bring you some goodies! That’s how I got mine!
I finish spraying my favorite perfume (obsessed with Clinique Happy, it just makes me happy, really! go and smell it and you’ll know what I mean) and I’m ready to walk out the door and start the day with a fresh face!
Let me know if you have some organic or clean makeup recommendations for mascara, lips and foundation that last well under hot and humid weather, I’m in the market for some good stuff!
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