makeup

Natural Beauty Brands & Products I Love To Use

a grouping of natural beauty products sitting on top of the dresser

Years ago, when I first started wearing makeup, my mom told me about trying makeup on at a friend’s house when she was a kid. Her friend’s aunt had given them her old makeup to play dress up with, and there was lead in the eyeshadow, which gave it a beautiful slippery texture and shiny finish. Of course, we now know that lead is a toxic ingredient best left out of makeup and other products we put on our skin, but it wasn’t until about 8 years ago when I read “Wear No Evil: How to Change the World with Your Wardrobe” by Greta Eagan that I learned that, even though there isn’t lead, there is still a lot of bad stuff in our makeup today!

In the book, she had a chart of ingredients to avoid, and I was shocked to discover that many of my products contained these harmful ingredients! (Here is a list of ingredients to steer clear of, if you’re interested in more  specifics). I now keep a list of these ingredients, arranged alphabetically, on my phone so when I’m looking at a product at the store, I can easily see whether it contains one of those substances. You can also get apps, such as EWG Healthy Living or Think Dirty, but my phone is too old for their OS. Some of these ingredients cause allergic reactions (I have sensitive skin and rosacea, so I definitely try to avoid those!), some can cause the very problems they are supposedly helping, and some are frank carcinogens that shouldn’t be in beauty products at all. But, while it’s great to know that you should avoid these ingredients, it’s a completely different thing to find products that don’t contain them! Some of them are such commonly used substances that, just like fast fashion, a higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean a product that’s better for you.

Wear No Evil book sitting on the top of the dresser with makeup brushes and bottles sitting around it

Over the past 8 years I have tried a lot of different natural beauty brands and have gone through plenty of trial and error in order to find products that are clean, healthy and natural, but still perform well. I have definitely had my share of natural makeup products that haven’t worked including funky smells, bad textures and poor performance, but I’ve also found plenty of good ones. They are a mix of high and low price points and drugstore brands and small companies. I haven’t been able to find good clean products for all of the products I need, unfortunately, but these are the ones that work for me.

When looking for natural beauty brands and products, one of your best bets is going to be finding small companies that make their own small batches. Not only do they often have great products, but it’s usually a more sustainable option as well. A lot of the “natural” lines from big companies like Covergirl, Maybelline or Rimmel are very limited in selection, might not perform as well as the rest of their product lines and can sometimes fall into “greenwashing”- so you still always need to check the ingredient lists. While I do have some products from large companies, finding a smaller company that is making small batch cosmetics, and has been doing so before it was “cool”, is a great place to start.

Skin

andalou naturals 1000 roses face cream in a pink jar and a bottle of pure anada face oil treatment

For moisturizer, I use the Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Day and Night creams. I love the rose scent! They don’t always have the rose one at the shop, so I sometimes use their Brightening renewal cream, which smells like citrus and is also quite refreshing.  

For the winter months, I’ve started using the Repair Luxury Treatment oil by Pure Anada. I get pretty dry skin in the winter, and a few drops of this oil really helps with that. It’s hydrating, but the oil absorbs well and you can even wear it under makeup, although I use it at night.

hand lotion and cream by Pure Anada and Lambs Soapworks sitting on top of a dresser

For body lotion I like Avalon Organics Refreshing Lemon lotion, and Lamb Soapworks Lemongrass lotion. Pure Anada also makes a nice hand cream, I have the Lavender scented one. Can you tell I really like fresh scents in my beauty products? I haven’t tried making my own lotion yet, but it’s something I’ve been thinking of trying.

homemade whipped body butter in an amber glass jar

For my feet, and dry patches in the winter, I use my homemade whipped body butter.

beauty from bees serum and pure anada lip balm sitting on top of the a dresser

And then, for after the shower where I need some extra hydration, I’ve started using the Beauty from Bees serum in Orange. For lip balm I use either homemade, Burt’s Bees or Pure Anada.

Pure Anada exfoliating cleanser and eye makeup remover sitting on top of the dresser

For cleansing, I use the Pure Anada Exfoliating Cleanser. I’m not sure the exfoliating works all that well, but it smells nice and if I need to exfoliate for dry skin I do a coffee or sugar scrub in the shower (it’s less messy that way!) In the past I have also used the Simply Bee charcoal face bar, but I gave it to my mom because it was a bit too squeaky clean for my sensitive skin.

When it comes time to take off my makeup at the end of the day I use a mix of Pure Anada Eye Makeup Remover and good old coconut oil on a reusable cloth face wipe I sewed out of cotton flannel.

jar of coconut oil with the lid off, sitting on top of the wooden dresser

I also use coconut oil when I do facial massage.

box of oatmeal soap bars by crate 61 sitting on the dresser

For body soap I like Crate 61 Organics. They are reasonably priced for a natural soap bar since I can usually find them at Winners and they have a lot of scents. I usually go for lemongrass, lavender or oatmeal.

beauty from bees magnesium spray and soul deo deodorant sitting on the dresser

Finally, for the last thing in the skincare category: deodorant. For the past few months I’ve started using a magnesium oil spray from Beauty from Bees (you can also make your own) each night. I first read about how magnesium works as a deodorant in two articles from Evie Magazine, here and here. And, it works incredibly well; it’s the best deodorant I have ever tried! I still use the SoulDeo Naturals baking soda free deodorant on hot days.

Hair

As far as hair care goes, I haven’t found a good shampoo or hair care product yet. Well, I used to use Nature’s Gate shampoo, but they stopped selling it in Canada, and I have been searching for a good replacement ever since. I’ve tried shampoo bars and several natural brands, but they don’t work well for my fine, oil prone straight hair and itchy scalp. My sister and mom use Oneka shampoo, but it’s too heavy for my hair, so I’m currently using a bottle of a salon product. I use an Aveda Heat Relief spray for when I heat style my hair, but it’s got a few questionable ingredients in it too, so I’m not sure I’d recommend it. It does work well, and is free from a lot of other bad ingredients though, so that’s why I use it instead of others. We do what we can, right?

Makeup

For makeup, though, I do have some favourite products to share!

zuii mint primer and covergirl concealer sitting on the dresser

After I’ve finished moisturizing, I put on the Zuii mint tinted primer. While I don’t notice it making a big difference in correcting the redness of my skin, it is still a great primer. This is my first time using a primer, so while I often used to have creased makeup by the end of the day, this keeps my foundation in place all day, which has been a pleasant surprise.  I bought it recently and have been really liking it, especially since it’s made of (and smells like) flowers!

On top of the primer, I use the Covergirl Clean Fresh concealer. I tried their powder foundation and it didn’t give any coverage at all on my skin, however, their concealer is pretty good. In conjunction with the Zuii primer it seems to stay put all day and it evens out fairly well. I don’t use it for under eye concealing, because it makes my eyes feel a bit sensitive, but for blemish concealing it works quite well.

zuii flora powder foundation

I’ve been using the Zuii Flora powder foundation for years, and I love it! I can’t find it in Canada any more, so I recently bought it direct from Australia because it’s the best foundation I’ve found for my skin. I used to use the Physicians Formula organic BB cream, but they discontinued it, so I’ve been using this foundation exclusively for several years. (Why do companies discontinue a product just after you find it, right?) Unfortunately Zuii just had a price increase right before I purchased, but at least I got free shipping on my order, and the product does last a long time.  I like that this foundation gives a light coverage, and isn’t too heavy, but evens out the blotchiness for a nice smooth finish. I tried using some other natural powder foundations from brands more readily available in Canada, but they were way too powdery with hardly any coverage, so I had to come back to this one.

palette with pure anada eyeshadows, brushes and pots of loose powders

For eyeshadow, I use the Pure Anada pressed shadows. I also have some of their loose eyeshadow powders, but I find them a bit too messy for my preference. My favourite shadow colour of theirs is Mirage (the one that’s almost empty!) It’s a nice shimmery light grey/brown with a green undertone, and I wear it almost every time I wear shadow. And for eyeliner and brows, I usually use a mix of the dark brown and grey shades on a small brush for a soft look, or I sometimes also use the Zuii eyeliner pencil when I don’t use powder. My days of wearing black winged liner are long gone…I don’t have the patience for it anymore!

Eyeliner pencil and mascara tube sitting on the top of the dresser

To finish off my eyes, I use Covergirl Clean Fresh mascara. I started using  it about a year ago, and it’s nice. I don’t get fallout and black shadows under my eyes, and I’ve tried several natural brands in the past that have caused itchiness, but this one is good so far. It’s also a great price point, especially considering there is no way to get through a tube of mascara before it expires.

For lipsticks, I don’t actually have a good natural one to recommend! And I know that’s crazy, because lip colour is the one item I should be most concerned about ingesting. I don’t wear lip colour very often so I’m currently using up my old lipstick, which they don’t make anymore, but the ingredients aren’t too bad. I have tried the Zuii satin lip colour and flora lipstick and have found them both to be very dry, so if you like a more moisturizing lipstick, I wouldn’t recommend those. I think once my old lipstick runs out, I would like to try a Tin Feather lipstick. I’ve also used a Pacifica lipstick in the past; I got rid of it because it wasn’t a good colour for me, but it was a lovely moisturizing formula!

And to finish off this list of my favourite natural beauty brands, here are some other brands that I haven’t personally used, but my sister has.

Three Ships for skincare 

Green Beaver for all kinds of natural products including face, body, hair, and oral care

Painted Earth Cosmetics for skincare, makeup, and hair 

Joyous Health for face, body and hair products

Well, I hope that this post is helpful if you’re looking for natural beauty brands and products. Whether you’re just getting started, or have been wearing natural makeup for a while, it’s always nice to find new brands and products. What natural beauty products do you love to use?

Everyday Makeup With a Hint of Vintage Style

woman holding makeup brushes up to her face showing an everyday makeup look

I am definitely a minimalist when it comes to makeup. Back when I started wearing vintage, I experimented with vintage makeup looks- black cat eyeliner and red lipstick etc. It was fun to try out different styles but, over time and through much trial and error, I have come to the conclusion that for an everyday makeup look, it’s just not for me.

With my Soft season colouring, high contrast makeup isn’t my best look. If I wear too bold of a colour of eyeliner and lipstick, I have discovered you see the makeup first, and the rest of my features kind of fade. My sister, with her higher contrast colouring can wear very bold makeup and it looks great- but when I wear the exact same amount, it looks like way too much.

However, that suits me just fine, because I am far too lazy to put in the time for precise eyeliner and lipstick everyday! I’ve realized that I like to wear just a hint of makeup, so I’ve settled into this routine. I change up the colours a bit from time to time, but keep mostly to this formula. It isn’t anything super special and makeup aficionados are probably shuddering to see it, but here is my quick 5 minute everyday makeup routine!

woman putting face lotion on

First, I always put on face lotion and lip balm. I like this one by Andalou Naturals because it smells like roses. I also like to use as many natural products as possible.

woman putting on concealer

Next up is concealer. I use a Maybelline green colour corrector stick to cover up my red spots and blemishes. Sometimes I’ll use a makeup sponge, but usually I blend it in with my fingers. I don’t have a regular concealer at the moment, since mine expired and I haven’t been wearing it enough to buy a new one. Come winter I will probably get a new concealer, but for summer I go pretty light on coverage anyway.

woman powdering her face

I like to let my summer freckles show through, so I use Zuii Organic pressed foundation. It mostly just evens my skin tone out, without completely full coverage. I love this pressed powder, but I cannot find it anywhere anymore- the shop I got it from last time has stopped carrying it! I just hate it when that happens, don’t you? I am going to be sad when this one runs out…

woman putting on eyeshadow

Next, after the foundation, is my eye makeup. I usually use a darker shade, either the plum, pink or cinnamon colour on my lid.

woman putting on eyeshadow

Once that is blended, I take a lighter shade, either this green/taupe colour, or a cream shade I have in a loose powder.

woman putting on eyeshadow for an everyday makeup look

My eyeshadows are from Pure Anada, and my palette is one that I made myself. I put a magnet on the bottom since their shadows are loose, so I can easily pop a new one in to replace the empties! Also, I noticed when I took these photos, that the gold has rubbed off the wallpaper that I used to cover the palette; that probably isn’t healthy…

woman putting on eyeliner

After the lighter shade is evenly blended, it’s time for eyeliner. I like to use a small wet brush and dip it in both the brown and charcoal coloured powders to make an eyeliner. I also will sometimes use a pencil, but usually I do this since I already have my palette out and it saves some time!

I alternate between doing a smudgy smoky line, or doing it a bit neater with a little wing. Since this is a “hint of vintage style” tutorial, today I will do a tiny flair for a soft cat eye look. I like to do this, since it doesn’t have to be as precise as black liquid liner has to be! But it still gives a subtle vintage style, and the powder actually lasts pretty well throughout the day.

woman filling in brows

Once I’ve finished the eyeliner, I will either use a pencil or the same dark powder to fill in my brows a bit. I never used to do my brows, as they are already so dark, but I’ve recently started and it gives them a nice look I think. I don’t draw outside my natural brow shape, I just fill in the centre a bit.

woman powdering her face

I really should do my eye makeup first and then my foundation, but I never remember to do that, so I need to do a quick brush over with the powder brush to pick up stray eyeshadow fallout!

woman putting on mascara

Next up is mascara. I use Maybelline Colossal because it’s not too bad on the “toxic” ingredients and it’s very affordable too. I’ve tried some other natural mascaras, but they either end up falling onto my cheeks over the course of the day, or give me itchy eyes! So, now I stick to this one.

woman putting on lipstick

Finally, time to finish up with lipstick; I usually use lighter shades of pinks, tawny and brick. Since they aren’t too bold, I don’t have to line them and if they rub off it’s not a big deal. This shade is Mary Kay’s Sweet Nectar… I just realized that I’ve had it for 10 years now so I really should probably chuck it…but I probably won’t. After blotting my lipstick, I’m done.

finished everyday makeup look

And there is my very quick everyday makeup look! I say this is “everyday”, but in reality I pretty much do this look for special occasions and evening too… The only thing I change is perhaps adding in some gold eyeshadow or a darker lipstick, but other than that this is pretty standard for me. While I do like to experiment every once in a while, this is pretty much what I wear, whenever I wear makeup.

When I was a teenager, I never cared about makeup, and went barefaced all the time. Then, like many others do, I went through a stage where I wore a lot of makeup (still minimalist by Beauty Influencer standards), but as I’ve gotten older I’ve settled into a routine that suits me. I don’t feel the need to cover up all of my blemishes, which is good, because I don’t have perfect skin. While I do like to add a bit of eyeliner and mascara, I don’t feel self conscious anymore if someone sees me without my “face”, which is a nice place to be I think.

How about you- do you have a specific everyday makeup routine? Or do you like to switch it up each time? What is favourite makeup look?

finished everyday makeup look

Are You a Flapper?

feature image the artyologist

I am not into Halloween. As in spooky, gory, creepy, dark and scary. However, I do love candy, and I do love costumes. I mean, I love to dress up any day of the year- so give me any excuse to dress up “officially” and I am there!

For the past few years, I have hosted costume parties, and this is the first year that I haven’t in three years. Even though I didn’t have a chance to dress up in a costume and go out this year, I didn’t want the opportunity to pass, without dressing up in some kind of costume. My sister and I have been wanting to do a 1920’s photo shoot for a while now, and since I recently got my hair shaped into a bob, it seemed the perfect time to dress up in these costumes and take some photos. We decided that a black and white faded palette, gloomy clouds, and some barren tree branches would be the perfect backdrop, and create the right mood. The “costumes” were pulled from our wardrobes, and dress up bin, of course. 🙂

flapper, the artyologist

I have also now decided that those flappers were right about so much- it is amazingly fun to wear strands of pearls, stacks of bracelets, sparkles, dark makeup and furs. Of course, not every person in the 1920’s dressed this way- but it is “iconic’ for a reason, right? Honestly, if I had lived in the 1920’s I am 99% sure that I would have been a Plain Jane, wearing prim and proper dresses, and I never would have dreamed of going to the speakeasy, in my knee length fringed dress, dancing the night away. Considering that I don’t do any of those things today. . .  But, I do love to dress up in the 1920’s flapper styles, even if they are not historically accurate, and more “inspired by” the era. Nora, of Nora Finds, recently said on her instagram, that in a few years it will be the 20’s again, so we should “bring back the beaded flapper dresses and finger waves”. I wholeheartedly agree!

What do you think? If you lived in the 1920’s would you have worn the knee length dresses and bling, and been a flapper? Or would you have been a prim and proper lady, who stayed at home and behaved herself?

Are You a Flapper, the artyologist

holding candle Are You a Flapper, the artyologist

old-doorknob, the artyologist

Are You a Flapper, Sarah, the artyologist

Are you a flapper, black and white, the artyologist

branches, are you a flapper costume, the artyologist

are you a flapper, holding candles, the artyologist

two flappers, the artyologist

On a side note, I am not one to spot family resemblances very easily, but when my Gramma saw these pictures, she said that I looked like her when she was young, and Sarah looked like her mother, our Great-Grandmother. I guess we do have a family resemblance- even if I can’t pick it out 🙂

How to Create a Modern 1920’s Makeup Look

Lipstick:  Mary Kay, True Dimensions (I was not happy with this product either, and have since returned the lipstick.)
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One other note: I was not sponsored in any way for the making of this post (although that would have been nice!) These are all products I have purchased myself, and use daily 🙂 Except for the ones that I didn’t like. 🙁 -Nicole