Clean Makeup Look: Relaxed Downtime
Don’t want to do a full face of makeup, but want to look presentable just in case? Or, maybe you are going to the gym and you don’t want to sweat makeup everywhere.
Get the items below for glowing, hydrated, color-corrected skin without much makeup.
Below, you can find each product’s safety scores according to the Environmental Working Group and the Think Dirty app, as well as links & downloads to each product’s safety report from EWG. I also triple check them with the Switch Natural app, as even some cosmetics that are EWG Verified contain potentially harmful ingredients…
I use this multi-step approach to ensure that the clean beauty products I use and recommend are actually clean. Why?
There are many makeup brands that claim to be “clean” or “non toxic,” but they still use toxic ingredients like fragrance, peg compounds, siloxanes, or other potentially toxic ingredients.
(commissions earned)
EWG Score
*I think this EWG score is misleading. The ingredients in question by EWG are Benzyl Alcohol, Lecithin, and Aloe Vera Gel (inside the leaf, not the skin). I am not concerned with these ingredients, especially since I am not putting the product on my eyes, lips, or inhaling a powder. Nevertheless, here is the EWG report. I used EWG’s Build Your Own Report feature.
Ingredients:
Zinc Oxide 14% (sunscreen, active ingredient) *Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera Gel) Juice, Aqua (Deionized Water), Astaxanthin, Benzyl Alcohol, Betula Alba (Birch) Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Citric Acid, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Dehydroacetic Acid, Dodecane, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Lecithin, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Butter, Prunus Domestica (Plum) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Stearic Acid, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tridecyl Salicylate, Propanediol.
Why I Love It
This is a true multi-tasking hero. It color corrects, provides SPF 30, hydrates, and preps your skin for makeup.
My shade for this look: Watermelon
EWG Score
Ingredients:
Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, Garcinia indica (kokum) seed butter, Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed wax, Cannabis sativa (hemp) seed oil*, Sambucus nigra fruit extract, Prunus domestica (plum) seed oil, Tocopherol**, Azadirachta indica seed oil*
May Contain: Mica (ci 77019), Titanium dioxide (ci 77891), Tin oxide (ci 77861), Iron oxide (ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Manganese violet (ci 77742), Synthetic fluorphlogopite, Silica
Why I Love It
These little balmies are so fun, versatile, and sustainable. They are around $18 each. You can use them anywhere on your face. I used it on my cheeks, lips, and eyes for this look.
EWG Score
Ingredients:
Aqua (Water), Coco-caprylate/caprate, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp (Lychee) Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Magnesium Sulfate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Salicylate. +/- Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491, Ci 77499, Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides)
Why I Love It
For me, the Dos shade almost doubles as a concealer. The consistency is a little thin, so it is nice for a more subtle look. With this, I only need a tiny bit of concealer over it for less-makeup days like this.
EWG Score
Ingredients:
Cocos Nucifera Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus Seed Wax*, Silica, Jojoba Esters, Copernicia Cerifera Wax, Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene, Tocopherol, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil*. May contain: CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77891
PFAS tested: undetected <10 ppm organic fluorine
*Certified organic (pesticide free) ingredient
EU Certified
Why I Love It
This is one of my new favorite concealers. It is brightening, buildable and a little goes a long way. I love that Sappho tests their products for PFAS (“forever” chemicals that most of us have been exposed to).
Tips
I try to use water-based moisturizers underneath makeup (oils can cause makeup to break up). To minimize creasing and set it without looking cakey, I apply the (M)anasi 7 Silk Finish Powder using the Jenny Patinkin On Pointe Puffs (they are a godsend for setting textured under eyes!). You could also use a regular small folded-up powder puff and use a soft brush to brush off the excess.
EWG Score
Ingredients:
Why I Love It
I love how precise I can get with this super thin brow pencil, especially as someone who is not a brow afficionado. Applying it in short strokes really makes it looks like hair. I like that it is not too creamy and doesn’t smudge or wear off during the day. I’ve found there are not many brow pencils that compare to this one.
Tips
Commissions earned on the following links:
This does have phenoxyethanol in it. Personally, I am ok with that, since I am not using it directly on my eye. However, if you prefer to avoid this ingredient altogether, try the Plume Nourish & Define Eyebrow Pencil (my shade is Chestnut Decadence) which is a more delicate formula and a few dollars more, but comes with a refill. Another option is the Roen VowBrow (my shade is Medium) which is not as creamy and you need to press a little harder, but I like it because it is kind of like a powder in pencil form, it stays on, and it’s very natural looking.
(commissions earned)
My shade: 02 French Chocolate (Matte Brown)
EWG Score*
*EWGs listing is outdated for this product. I used EWG’s Build Your Own Report feature.
Ingredients:
Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Synthetic Wax, Isododecane, Ci 77491/Iron Oxides, Ci 77499/Iron Oxides, Ci 77492/Iron Oxides, Polybutene, Mica, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Carnauba Wax/Cire De Carnauba, Silica Silylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.
Why I Love It
I use this to tightline my upper lash line. After the Marc Jacobs Highliner was discontinued, I needed a replacement liner for my waterline that doesn’t run. This one has worked well for me, and it’s much cleaner. Since I just use it to tight line (push & squiggle it into my lash line), I don’t worry about wasting product by sharpening it. It is soft and doesn’t irritate my eyes.
Tips
For this look, I tightlined my upper lash line, but I did not go all the way to the ends. Since I have slightly downturned eyes with hooded lids, I wanted my eyes to look bigger, and this technique seems to work for days that I wear less makeup. After applying, I blot any excess off with my fingertips.
(commissions earned)
My shade: Avignon (I have light skin with cool pink undertone)
EWG Score*
*I used EWG’s Build Your Own Report feature.
Ingredients:
Shades: Avignon, Geisha, Luminous, Supernatural, Malibu, Fiji & Montego.
Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Bambusa Arundinacea (Bamboo) Stem Extract, Lyceum Barbum (Goji) Fruit Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil. May contain: Iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
Ingredients:
Shades: Sultana & Sundance
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch*, Lycium Chinese (Goji) Berry*, Bambusa Arundinaceae (Bamboo) Powder, Silica, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil*, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride. May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499). *Certified organic ingredient
Why I Love It
This reminds me of the CoverGirl Clean Fresh Pressed Powder I used to use (I stopped using it when they snuck phenoxyethanol in it, which is only indicated on the packaging and not online). It is only a few dollars more and it provides excellent buildable coverage. It evens my skin tone while providing brightness to my complexion. It will last all day, but, as with most products, it breaks up in my t-zone a bit after a few hours. During my wear test, I needed to blot at the 6-hour mark. I think this is a fabulous clean powder that is just as effective as your conventional drugstore powders.
Tips
The directions say to use a puff or a kabuki brush. I usually use my EcoTools Powder Brush (commissions earned).