I have wanted to do something like this for such a long time and I am so happy that I finally did it! Welcome to the first post in my new ‘Debate’ series where I will be talking to you about various topics ranging from skincare and blogging all the way to life in general and first up is makeup.
Now, some of you may be wondering why I would want to talk about makeup since it has barely featured on my blog or Instagram this year (despite promising it would be) but the truth is, I miss it. Since switching to green beauty a few years ago I have steadily worn less and less makeup, to the point where I only use it about 2-3 times a month (shocking, I know) but all of a sudden I miss it like crazy! I don’t know what it is (the color correcting craze perhaps or the matte lips movement?) but more than ever I have been thinking about makeup and I feel like it’s time to reintroduce it in to my life and I am going to need your help.
Obviously, when I made the switch to green beauty I fully intended to also switch my makeup for products with more plant based/natural ingredients, but when it came to actually doing it, it wasn’t that easy. It was a chore to track down and swatch green makeup brands in person, then there wasn’t a wide color range (I’m Indian) and there certainly wasn’t the cute free mini testers that you get at Sephora. Because of all this, I ended up just not wearing makeup instead of switching it and for awhile I was ok with that. Thanks to the amazing skincare products I have my skin looks great and I am happy to go out makeup free 95% of the time but that’s not the point anymore. Makeup isn’t just about concealing and covering up – it’s for fun and after spending so much time with my gorgeous little sister (who loves makeup) I realized I had been missing out on that fun. As you can see from the pictures above I did previously post about makeup – I didn’t wear it that often even back then, but it was still a few times a week versus the current few times a month and I really miss all these products, especially the Chanel palette and YSL lipstick.
One of the most important reasons that I’m ready to get back in to wearing makeup is because a lot has changed over the past couple of years. You can now get brands like ILIA in Sephora and RMS Beauty recently expanded their “un” cover-up range to include some darker and lighter shades. Many online retailers now sell samples of makeup, which means you don’t have to always purchase “blind”. Not only that, mainstream makeup is being made with better ingredients and I find less cause for concern than I previously did. Of course, it’s still not “perfect” but now I’m looking to find a balance like I have with my skincare – a mix of natural and synthetic products that allow me to enjoy makeup without having to choose between ingredients, quality or color match. I used to just flat out say no when makeup brands contacted me but I get asked about what makeup I use (and recommend) so much now that it’s time I start exploring it again.
(Clockwise from top left: @fromthebullet, @poshifiedbeauty, @damselflavored, @kellilash.)
So, with that being said, I would love to know if any of you have faced the same dilemma when it comes to green makeup and how you deal with it. I would also love to hear which brands you love and what products you recommend and if you don’t use green makeup, which new releases or collections you are most excited about. I follow so many accounts like @fromthebullet (gorgeous makeup flatlays), @damselflavored (loves Tom Ford and Chanel like me), @poshifiedbeauty (palette queen) and @kellilash (Charlotte Tilbury enabler) as well as so. many. others, so my shopping list is pretty extensive already but I’m so excited to start wearing more makeup again that any and all suggestions and recommendations are very much welcomed.
Arly
DETAIL ORIENTED BEAUTY 
Loving Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue. It looks like nothing is on my skin. Yet corrects and makes me feel beautiful. So natural. Has SPF 30. I wear the shade suede. -Liz Alaska
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Yep! Thank you so much Liz! I used this last year and need to get it again, especially now they have more shades! 🙌🏽
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An excellent post! I have the same struggles. I tend to use natural and organic products on large parts of my body, like foundation and body cream and experiment more with eyeliner and eyeshadow. It is still a work in progress for me. 🙂
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Totally agree – I follow the “mainstream” beauty YouTubes/IGs/blogs and while it’s super fun to learn about what’s going on in the beauty world at large, I don’t often buy based on their recommendations because I think the ingredients are so icky! I find that it’s still such a challenge to find good coverage of what might be new and exciting in the green beauty space. My everyday makeup look consists mostly of RMS un-coverup (like you, I pay a lot of attention to skincare so there really isn’t much to coverup except for my genetic panda eyes…), RMS blush, and RMS highlighter (haha sense a theme?). However still on the lookout for good “green” brow and contour products… would love to hear your recommendations!
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I’m the same!!! I watch so many YT makeup gurus but never get the products because I don’t love the ingredients. 😩 I have got RMS at the top of my list and will definitely work on featuring new green makeup. I think you’re right – there’s not enough coverage which is part of the reason I have struggled to switch. Will definitely keep and eye out for brow and contour products and let you know. Thank you so much for your recommendations and response! ❤️❤️❤️
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Hi there Arly! Great post! I went through a phase a while ago where I tried to switch all my makeup to “green” and it was hard! I experimented a lot and whilst I did find some great products out there, it just wasn’t the same as a lot of the more readily available brands…so I slowly found myself switching back.
The hardest things for me to buy were actually eyeliner (which I cannot live without) that didn’t budge, a decent primer and just a good liquid foundation as I found it very hard to swatch and find the exact match for my skin tone.
Green makeup that I did discover that is now forever in my arsenal is the RMS Beauty Un-Powder (great for combo skin and sets your makeup beautifully), Ilia lipstick, Bite Beauty Lipsticks, W3llpeople Mineral foundation and whilst it’s not “green” but the ingredients are okay, the Beauty Counter Skin Tint (a sheer foundation).
With darker skin tones, I suggest to look into Aussie brand Inika who do a great selection of both powder and liquid foundation colours. I personally didn’t love it myself but definitely give it a go in terms of swatches etc
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Thank you so much again for this amazing response! Definitely looking in to RMS, especially the powder and love Bite lip products. I really wish green beauty had the same financing that they could expand as quickly as other brands but until they do, I will use a mix of products and just enjoy trying it all! 🙌🏽
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Congrats on going green! I miss makeup (I rarely wear more than tinted brow gel and a highlighter), but I have channeled that love into improving my skincare so I don’t have to invest in products I don’t enjoy, like foundations. I haven’t gone green, and don’t see it in my near future, but I certainly admire it!
What product type do you miss most?
To answer your post’s question: I am looking forward to trying more highlighters and nude lipsticks!
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Thank you! I did the same thing – focused on having great skin so I didn’t *have* to wear makeup and I’m so glad I did that but I still miss things like lip products (I need all the nude matte ones lol) and just fun things like palettes, oh and mascara! I’m also loving the whole colour correcting craze so I’ll definitely be trying that. 😆
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This might help! http://www.logicalharmony.net/cruelty-free-vegan-brand-list/#axzz4ANzJAJGk . Out is a list or vegan\cruelty free brands.
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Thank you so much! Will definitely check that out. ❤️
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I introduced myself to make up using bare minerals great for a Natural look doesn’t hide you skin and claims to be good for your skin too. Then u can go TF on lipstick play a little with CT even for the eyes and blush. Oh PS Estée Lauder are also doing amazing things with their makeup range Goodluck on your endeavour. 💄💄💄
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I’m the same! Bare Minerals was my first makeup brand and I used to love it. 😆 I love TF, especially the eyeshadow palettes and will definitely be getting some CT matte lipsticks. 🙌🏽 Thank you so much for the suggestions and well wishes lol – I’m going to need it! 😂
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Great post and thanks for the mention! I feel I should apologise for being your Charlotte Tilbury enabler of course … hahahah but you know you need it in your make-up life! You only have to look at my IG/blog to know what I recommend but make-up should indeed be fun, not a chore!
I love your passion for skincare (like myself) and you do all the right things to not depend on make-up but simply have fun with it – hence I love your attitude always! Hence you can be labelled as a skincare enabler too? LOL
Always on hand to enable … I mean help 😉
Kelly xxx
http://www.KELLiLASH.com
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Thank you so much Kelli! Haha – so happy to enable you with skincare like you do with makeup for me! I’m ready to have fun with makeup now and once I make my first CT purchase you will be the first to know! 😆 🙌🏽 🎉
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Can recommend Meow Cosmetics. Their powder foundations are gold.
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Interesting! Have never heard of them but since you recommend them so highly they are going straight on the list. Thank you! ❤
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I follow MUA Jill Dempsey on IG and I saw that she came out with a new range of lid tints. Apparently they are chock full of organic ingredients! Def check them out: http://www.jilliandempsey.com/shop/lid-tints
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Thank you so much for the recommendation – I will definitely check out the JD lid tints and her instagram too! 🙂
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Makeup should absolutely be about fun. I’ve used what we now term ‘green beauty’skincare for over 20 years but the makeup was dire, especially for darker skin tones. Things have improved a hell of a lot thankfully though still some way to go. There are lots of Etsyesque mineral brands though I tend to prefer those that sit happily alongside Tom Ford etc. Few faves include Kjaer Weis eyeshadows and cream blushes are fantastic, ILIA lipsticks, Vapour multiuse and foundation, rms blushes, Lilah B, Rituel de Fille eyeshadows, Studio 78. Nudus and Axiology too. Phew i won’t go on.
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Wow! Thank you so much for your incredible insight Lynda! I can’t imagine what green makeup was like 20 years ago and I’m right there with you. I am looking for brands that can being featured with Chanel, Tom Ford and Charlotte Tilbury and not look out of place. Will add every single brand you have mentioned and please, feel free to go on! We might have to have a proper chat, if you don’t mind, as I’d love to possibly interview you about your green makeup history and experience. ❤️
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You’re welcome and I’m always happy to chat. You don’t want to imagine – it was the stuff of beauty nightmares
haha. 😘
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Great post! I like the honesty! Do you follow Organic Bunny on Insta? She is so glam and like a makeup expert! I have had some great things and been dying to try Eco Brow. Also I have an off skin tone and the best shade selection I have found is from Pure Anada. You can get samples!!
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Thank you so much! So glad you liked it. ☺️ I do follow Amanda on IG and I love all her looks. I want to try Eco Brow too and really appreciate your Pure Ananda recommendation – I will add them to my list! ❤️
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There are so many green cosmetic brands that it would be almost a miss to use conventional/mainstream products. Like others, I highly recommend RMS, W3LL People, Kjaer Weis, Ilia, Jane Iredale and Vapour. Specifically in the following categories:
Foundation/base: Kjaer Weis- gorgeous
Concealer: Hynt beauty
Blush: Kjaer Weis, RMS, Tata Harper lip/cheek tints
Mascara: 100% Pure, W3ll
Eye shadow: Jane Iredale
Brows: Eco brow
Liner: Hynt
Lip liner: Jane Iredale
Good luck exploring, green beauty is fabulous these days.
A
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Thank you so very much for the amazing suggestions! I have definitely heard of many of these brands but haven’t tried any sadly and I know I am missing out! Will look into everything you recommended, so I really appreciate you taking the time to list what you love! ❤
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If you are looking for a liquid/creme foundation, sappho organics is amazing. It is light to medium coverage and feels cooling on the skin.
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Nice! Thank you so much for the suggestion – I haven’t heard of Sappho so I will definitely add them to the list. 🙂
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As much as I truly love skincare, makeup makes me really happy too! I don’t post as often about it and certainly not ‘looks’ cause I ain’t no makeup artist, not even close. I think I have way more makeup than skincare (and I have a lot of that lols) and foundations especially get me excited! I have very little experience with green beauty, unless something has spiked my interest (can’t think of anything off the top of my head right now) I just buy what I like look of.
The Beauty Bloss
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Thank you so, so much for you input! It’s so great to hear from another skincare junkie who also loves makeup lol! I am so surprised to hear that you have more makeup that skincare! I really thought it would be the other way around but I suppose it’s because we only see your skincare stash. You’ll have to share more of your favourites with me! 🙂
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There are a lot of replies already on here and I’m not sure if someone has already mentioned Tropic Skincare? They have a skincare and make-up range that is all natural. I use their mineral foundation and absolutely love it compared to bare minerals; more luminous and gives a smoother finish as well as being less reactive on my super-sensitive skin. I have rosacea so despite switching to a very green skincare regime I am still in dire need of make-up.
I have only recently discovered your blog but really like the 90/10 ethos, just rules out too much fun to go 100% clean and green!
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I recently started the green beauty transition and it can definitely be a challenge! A worthwhile one though. A few brands I’m loving are Root (rootpretty on IG) who have a great range of powder-to-liquid foundations (over 40 shades!) and beautiful pressed pigments, Hynt (fantastic pencil liner and mascara,) and 14e Cosmetics has the absolute best liquid foundation formula I’ve found in the green beauty world (and maybe even at all) though they’re color range is limited.
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This was really good, you should definitely do more! I would be so grateful for any feedback on my new blog Long Forgotten Gold
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I did exactly the same when I went cruelty free 10 years ago. I just stopped wearing makeup, because that was the easiest option. On special occasions I’d use my old conventional eyeshadows and lipsticks and put on some mascara and that was it.
A natural brand I really like is Silk Naturals. They have soo many good products and they are affordable!
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Cruelty free is another major issue that I want to consider too and yeah, it has just been easier not to wear makeup but I have missed it. Thank you for recommending Silk Naturals – I will definitely check them out! ❤
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Such a beautiful sharing! My favorite makeup brand is Shiseido 🙂 not ready to switch to green makeup yet! @estheryhc
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Thank you for sharing – will add Shiseido to the list and I so know what you mean about not being ready to switch, it’s not easy!
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