Elsie’s Clean Makeup Routine
It’s been a while since I shared my clean makeup routine here, and I have changed things up quite a bit. I LOVE trying new products, and the clean beauty space has been exploding with great products for the past several years.
With this update, I finally am using both a clean foundation and concealer (which in the past was an area I had trouble making clean swaps).
I also found some really amazing brow products recently that have made a big difference!
I am a true fan of using clean beauty whenever possible, and I think this is the cleanest my routine has been so far!
OK, ready to jump in? I tried to minimize this as much as possible, so what I am showing here is my favorite (or most used) product from every category. I could definitely do it twice as big, but these are my absolute favorites!!!
I am going to note the exact colors I use in case you are curious or you happen to be in the market for something similar.
Primer: I am loving Vapour Essential Daily Primer. I can tell a big difference when I use it (and when I don’t) for how smooth my makeup goes on, so I never skip it anymore.
Foundation: This past year I tried SO many foundations. I became obsessed. I really wanted one that makes my skin feel glowy and had SPF built in, since I tend to be lazy on SPF.
I used to say I wore sunscreen, but after having two children with albinism I now realize I BARELY wore sunscreen. It’s like when you say you drink green juice, but really you have one glass a month.
Anyway, Super Serum Skin Tint by ILIA has nice coverage and blends so well with my skin. I use shade ST5.
Concealer: Kosas Revealer Concealer. I have under eye circles, and this does the trick without being too heavy or fake looking.
Over time, I have been embracing the less is more makeup mentality. I am leaning more on products that create a more natural effect. I use shade 03.
Side note: Kosas has my other favorite foundation, as well. It’s very oily so I usually mix it with another brand. But I like the moisture.
Concealer brushes: I wanted to try these oval makeup brushes for a long time and I LOVE THEM. To me, they are even better than beauty blenders. I feel like my makeup is the most blended it’s ever been!
Here’s a swatch so you can see the texture of the three products. I use these every day.
Brows: For my brows, I am loving KUSH Fiber Brow. I use it to create a bit more volume. My brows are pretty small, so the products that add fake little brow hairs (like this teeny little wand does) are great for me! It looks real. I use the color Herb.
Next, I use Anastasia Brow Wiz to fill in my brows “bald spots” and darken them overall.
I have been using the method of adding lots of little lines and it does create a more realistic effect, especially since my brows need to be lengthened on the ends. I use the color Auburn.
Mascara: I haven’t had eyelash extensions since last March. However, I have had time to try out every single clean mascara, and I have to say—ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara is IT for me. You can see the wand in the photo above.
For whatever reason, this helps my lashes not get clumpy like the fuller wands can. I do a LOT of layers of mascara (3-4, drying between each layer) to get my lashes as dark and full as I can.
Eyeshadow: I don’t use eyeshadow every day, but when I do I prefer warm colors and a light shimmery color, and ILIA’s Necessary Eyeshadow Palette does the job for me! I use the Warm Nude palette.
Eyeliner: For the first time in my ENTIRE adult life, I am not wearing much eyeliner. And when I do wear eyeliner, I have not been doing gigantic cat eyes (which used to be my thing).
I’m sure I will go back to that look eventually, but for now I’m enjoying a natural look. Anyway, Clean Line Gel Liner from ILIA is really nice for a natural look! I use the color Twilight.
Bronzer: This is just a good, classic bronzer for doing a teeny bit of contouring or trying to get your neck to match your face. I don’t use bronzer every day—just on a need-to basis. I use the color Golden Hour.
Liquid Blush: I am obsessed with liquid blush—it’s definitely my go-to. I love how it blends. If I had to cut it down to only blush, I would keep Cloud Paint from Glossier. I really like the shade Dusk, as it works well for my skin tone.
Peachy Blush: This blush by Beautycounter makes me feel like I look “more awake,” so I use a ton of it, especially when I’m sleep deprived. With certain outfits, I think it’s really pretty. I use the color Nectar.
Lip Crayon: I use Bite’s Creamy Matte Lip Crayon to line my lips. Sometimes I put on lipstick after, or I just gloss. It make my lips look more defined and bigger. I don’t do heavy or dark lipstick, so this is the darkest color I wear. I use the color Hard Cider.
Lipstick: Color Block Lipstick by ILIA is my favorite—I wear it often. It’s really pretty and natural. I use the color Amberlight.
Lip Gloss: I love Bite Plumping Lip Gloss. It’s a bit shimmery, but doesn’t look like full ’90s glitter (don’t be scared). It says it’s plumping, but I don’t notice anything in that department.
The color is really nice and it looks pretty as it wears off. I use the color Cider Donut.
