a quick makeup routine + a skin game changer.

My makeup routine hasn’t changed a whole lot, but I have officially switched everything over to clean products from Beautycounter. For a long time, I had some Anastasia brow duo that was lingering, and some Glossier highlighter left (and no, I haven’t actually thrown it all away!), but now I do have clean alternatives for every item from mascara to blush to eyebrow pencil and I really like it that way. I’ve mentioned this before but it’s worth repeating that there’s no way I would’ve been sold on these products unless they worked as well as the things I was using. They do (with one small exception; more below)!The above six products all come in a bundle for $150 which is a nice way to overhaul all of your everyday products in one purchase. You can customize all your colors, and if you don’t like anything or get a color wrong, Beautycounter’s return policy makes it really easy to send things back (they even include the free return label in the box; up to 60 days even with used product).

What I’m wearing above:

01. Tint skin: this is a lightweight foundation that is definitely not heavy, heavy coverage. Just enough to not feel like you’re wearing a major face of makeup (I can’t stand that feeling). It can be layered, or applied different ways to have more coverage. Most days I just use Dew Skin in No. 2 but some days I even mix the two with one pump of Dew Skin and a drop of Tint Skin.

02. Touch-Up Concealer Pen: I love this product so much. I use it between my brows, down my nose, around the creases of my nostrils, and my undereyes. I don’t think of it specifically as a concealer pen, but also as a highlighter. Sometimes, I forgo Tint Skin and Dew Skin entirely, and just do this, and a sweep of this highlighter/blush combo, + mascara and call it good.

03. Satin Powder Blush: I like a lot of Beautycounter’s colors right now, but I’m wearing Nectar here. A sort of peachy tone. I also use Guava a lot and love that one too. I’ve started applying it with this angled brush and I think it applies nicer than other brushes I’ve used, with the right amount of product.

04. Color Define Brow Pencil: I wasn’t sure that anything could lead me astray from Anastasia’s Brow Duo (a truly fabulous product), but I will say this brow pencil is so much quicker. I got it in dark and between the built in brush, and a few quick strokes of the pencil, brows are done, and my coffee is actually not cold from the too-long brow routine.

05. Volumizing Mascara: I’ve never had an issue with this flaking under my eyes, even by the end of the day. That’s huge, especially for a clean mascara. I’ll be honest though, it’s not quite up to where my old Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara used to be, but having read as much as I have about parabens and phthalates and their links to cancer and other issues, I decided to swap this one in. (The difference is minimal.) On EWG, some Too Faced mascaras actually rated a 7 (!!). But, should be noted, Beautycounter just reformulated the mascaras, so stay tuned.

06. Lip Gloss: I love, love Beautycounter’s lip glosses. I have Bare Shimmer on above (over Terra; you already know how much I love that!). Peony is another favorite. For a bit of a bolder lip, I really like Currant and 9 to 5.

In addition to the above, I love their bronzer in Dune for everyday along my hairline, and this highlighter in Halo. In these pictures, I’ve also used the Cameo shade all over my lid, and then just a thin line of Smolder along the lash line from this palette.

Beautycounter’s artistic director is a gal by the name of Christy Coleman, a celebrity makeup artist who, after losing her father to Lou Gehrig’s, decided to overhaul a ton of things–all the way down to her makeup bag. Her clients include Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosia, Connie Britton, and she’s on shoots like the cover of Vogue (that portfolio!) and is now a leader of the clean beauty movement. And the reason I’m bringing this up at all is because she’s behind all of Beautycounter’s makeup! So, it’s good stuff. Here’s a short piece on her. I love it when she pops up on Beautycounter’s stories applying makeup because I get a lot of good ideas from her.

And for the skin game changer! Okay, this has crept up to take a top THREE spot for Beautycounter items: THE OVERNIGHT RESURFACING PEEL. I’ve been using it consistently for a few months now, and I definitely think it gives my skin a healthier glow that is noticeable the next morning. My skin looks less dull, more even, brighter, softer. I feel pretty okay wearing no foundation on my face at all, and I think, in large part, I have this to thank (I don’t have major problem skin, so I have that to thank as well.). It’s good for so many things from blackheads to fine lines to melasma. I would call this an add-on to your routine, and would recommend it for almost anyone… even those with sensitive skin (I have sensitive skin that is on the dry side). I was a little intimidated by peels–the word alone! But this is made up of 15 plant based acids that resurface and smooth–there is no actual peeling. It does tingle a little bit when it goes on, but doesn’t dry out my skin (I was sure it would.). I also am here to say that I actually DO think it is reducing my sun spot on my right cheek (I’ve studied it so as not to claim it’s doing something it’s not!). I use it about 3x a week before I go to bed… and I maybe get a little bit excited every time. With this much use, it’s about half gone so I would say one bottle could last around six months depending on how many times per week.

And, as for what makes Beautycounter stand out, this is always worth checking out. Our health and that of our family’s is priceless. Limit the toxins everywhere you can. Even if it’s starting small and swapping out your moisturizer for coconut oil or your house cleanser to baking soda and vinegar (I clean almost my entire house with these two!). Don’t assume the products on the shelf are good for you or your family. If these products are outside of your budget, email me and I can help you find some alternatives! Also keep in mind that they’re highly concentrated so a little bit goes a long way. I’m always amazed by that–for example, I had one jar of cleansing balm last me a month short of a year. Check the EWG Skin Deep website for products that score well and don’t mess with your body. And as always, please feel free to always reach out with any questions from color-matching to what skincare might be for you.