Over the last few years, I’ve been transitioning to a more natural skincare and makeup routine. I’ve been passionate about eating local and organic food for awhile now and realized that what I put on my body is just as important as what I put in it. Switching to a completely green beauty routine has been a gradual transition for me, because it can be expensive to do a complete overhaul of all your self care products at once.  It has also taken me some time to find products I really love, that work as well or better than the less natural ones I was using for so long.

As mamas, we have way too much to worry about to be dealing with beauty products that we can’t trust. Also, I don’t know about you, but my self care routine these days has to be quick and easy, because I usually only have about five minutes before my son finds me in the bathroom and starts pulling on my legs or unraveling the entire roll of toilet paper. If you’re interested in natural beauty, but not sure where to start, hopefully this will give you some guidance on how to clean up your beauty routine. 

Credo is a fantastic store where you can buy almost all of these products locally. It’s so much more fun to browse in a beautiful shop, try products out for yourself and buy things in person. All of the salespeople I’ve interacted with at Credo have been so knowledgeable and sweet. They’ve listened closely to what I’m looking for and helped me find the products that are right for me, which makes the whole shopping experience feel stress-free and special.

If you’ve already “gone green,” I’d love to hear some of your favorite products!

Skincare

Let’s start with the most important thing – skincare. Skin is our body’s largest organ, so we better treat it right! At night I wash my face with Pai Camellia and Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser and moisturize with Osea Advanced Protection Cream. The Pai cleanser is creamy and gentle, which is perfect for my sensitive and dry skin. This is the only skincare product that worked for me through all the hormonal changes my skin went through before, during, and after pregnancy. The Osea cream is hydrating, anti-aging and super rich, so a little goes a long way. When I first started using this cream it felt like my skin was noticeably more plump and dewy overnight. Once a week or so I use the Aesop Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste to clear away any dry skin or build up. This scrub makes my skin feel like a blank canvas again, totally refreshed and clean, but not stripped or over-exfoliated.

In the morning, I splash my face with cold water and then use a bit more of the Osea cream before applying any makeup. I prefer a minimal look when it comes to everyday makeup, and have pared down my makeup bag to four key products. The first is Suntegrity “5 in 1” Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen- Tinted. I truly believe the best anti-aging strategy out there is prevention in the form of sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen!  This tinted moisturizer never leaves my face looking chalky or white, like many mineral based sunscreens, and also hydrates the skin while providing light coverage.

Daily Makeup

To add a little additional coverage under my eyes (as the mama of a toddler, I am guaranteed to always have dark circle under my eyes!) and in any areas of redness, I use RMS “Un”coverup. The coconut oil in this product makes application under my eyes so dreamy, because it allows the coverup to melt into my skin.

To finish up, I focus on my eyes. I started filling in my brows a few years ago and will never go back! After years of ruthless teenage over-plucking, my brows are pretty thin and slightly uneven. I use an angled brush to fill them in with Ecobrow in Penelope, which is highly pigmented and builds quickly, so I only need to use a small amount for a bold brow that frames my face.

Mascara is like the caffeine of makeup – it instantly brightens up my eyes and makes me look more awake. I tried many natural mascaras and went back to my favorite drugstore brands time and time again because most natural mascaras, even the cult favorites of the natural beauty world, just do not work. Then, I found Lily Lolo Black Mascara and the search was finally over! I never thought I’d find a mascara that actually stays put, that doesn’t flake or end up under my eyes by the end of the day, but this one does the trick.

I enjoy sampling new skincare products and playing with more dramatic makeup for date nights, but these are the seven products that I use day in and day out. When I first became interested in green beauty, I loved reading other women’s product reviews. There are so many amazing products out there, but it can be daunting to know where to start, so I hope this short list is helpful and inspiring for you!