This post contains affiliate links. All products and links listed on TML are affiliates through 3rd parties such as Etsy and Amazon. Meaning, at no cost to you, by clicking and purchasing through those links I will earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more read TML Terms and Disclosure.
No, this post is NOT sponsored. I’m simply a 30-something gal who has given up on popular, conventional makeup. I want to share my now go-to natural makeup brands that are actually better for your skin.
I’ve used and tried it all, spent the money on top brands and followed the trends for whatever look was “in”. As a Millennial, I was fully submerged in the matte look with bright eyeshadows, thick and clumpy mascara, and sparkly lip gloss.
Then, when women were all of a sudden bending over backwards for the contouring, highlighting and “dewy” look. My inner adolescence cringes because back then shine was out and porcelain doll was in. My combo skin cries out over the fact I spent way too much time preventing my natural “glow” because it was considered too oily.
Nearing my 30s, I started having changes with my skin since coming off birth control. I suddenly erupted with unexplained hyperpigmentation (on my forehead, chin, inner cheeks and the bridge of my nose), which slowly transitioned to rosacea redness over the course of a year. Since then, I’ve been dealing with hormonal and rosacea-related acne, and my conventional make up would often make these things [look] worse.
As of late, I’ve departed the trends. All the trends. Moreover, I simply wanted makeup that was actually good to my skin without seeming like I was piling on product to cover up my imperfections. AKA, I didn’t want to look like a clown.
I know that may not resonate with everyone, because I was there once, when I wore makeup to cover up the things I didn’t like (or, for women my age now, to look younger and more youthful). But I find that when I layer on the conventional make up – concealer, primer, liquid foundation, foundation powder, contour, highlight, blush, setting powder, etc. etc. – I look older, and my imperfections are only accentuated. And that’s with using popular name brands like Tarte, Urban Decay and MAC.
So, if you’re here because you’re looking for more natural makeup brands, I’ve got a couple solutions that are currently in my makeup bag.
Again, not sponsored, just a genuine love and appreciation for these products.
Natural makeup solutions that are actually good for your skin
This post contains affiliate links. All products and links listed on TML are affiliates through 3rd parties such as Etsy and Amazon. Meaning, at no cost to you, by clicking and purchasing through those links I will earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more read TML Terms and Disclosure.
Jones Road
I honestly can’t tell you how I discovered Jones Road – probably an ad somewhere (maybe Tiktok) – though it was one of my QUICKEST purchases to date. Without hesitation, I was sold. That said, I didn’t find Jones Road, Jones Road found me.
The founder, Bobbi Brown (a makeup artist) created this line featuring makeup that actually works with your skin, nourishing it and embracing more natural beauty. There are no dry products but instead miracle balms. Her products contain No phthalates, sulfates, petrolatum, PEGs, cyclic silicones, EDTA, or BPA.
What do I like about it?
Since it’s not a powder, you have to break the seal of the balm. I like that I can apply it by either finger, sponge or brush. The miracle balm glides on smooth and really does give me that “dewy” look without making me seem like I’m dripping in sweat (nobody likes that look). Plus, there’s a natural sheen to eat balm, which makes my skin “glowy”.
When I was picking the right shade for me, I knew I was looking for something to help combat redness, so I went with the recommended bronze. For my skin tone, this didn’t seem to make sense because bronze was much darker than I’d opt for, but it really did work to naturally cancel out the redness from rosacea.
Most of all, I love how it feels on my face. I hated that dry, crackled and caked-on feeling from wearing layers of foundation, especially dry or powdery makeup. With Jones Road, my face genuinely feels moisturized but not heavy.
What’s not so great about it?
The reality is, this is NOT your typical medium or heavy coverage makeup. I wasn’t expecting or aiming for that, anyway. There are times, yes, when I feel my skin needs some extra help in the coverage department. I use the Jones Road concealer stick for that, or sometimes I’ll cheat and finish off areas with my MAC powder foundation. To say the least, Jones Road works well alongside compact powder!
So if you’re dead set on medium or heavy coverage, this is not the one-all, be-all product for that. In fact, honestly, I don’t see that being the guaranteed case with any “natural” or clean makeup brand.
Lastly, because this makeup is a balm, it has the tendency to move. One swipe to a white shirt and, well, you know. But this just wasn’t a deal breaker for me – I’m pretty trained to avoid touching, rubbing or wiping my face with makeup on.
Where can you get it?
You can find Jones Road Beauty on Ebay, Poshmark, Amazon, or the Jones Road website.
Bee-Och Organics
I am so excited about this one, I can hardly contain myself. I know I had just talked up a product, but what girl settles for just one?! And if you’re like me, I like to vary what I use, mix and max, or use different things from each brand. I don’t discriminate – there’s a reason I only list TWO products in this post.
At the time, I was really into the tinted moisturizers. I was desperate enough to try the viral Tarte BB blur everyone was dying over at the time, and I hated it. Again, it made my imperfections worse, and because it starts as a cream and dries to a matte powder…it felt caked on, and I was brought back to the Millennial porcelain doll era. I just wasn’t a fan.
Bee-och Organics popped up, again, as an ad on Instagram. I thought the name was just too cute, and it was refreshing to see an ad of the person actually putting on the makeup and giving a side-by-side coverage-wise.
There are only a handful of shades to choose from, so I went ahead and chose two I was between in the travel size. In addition to the tinted moisturizer, Bee-och Organics also has their own foundation stick as well as a loose powder foundation!
What do I like about it?
The tinted moisturizer is made up of only 5 organic ingredients – pumpkin seed oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E, non-nano zinc oxide and iron oxide. Therefore, I love that I can finally have a product with sun protection.
Since the tinted moisturizer is more like a serum, I was surprised by how little product I actually needed. And it feels amazing on my skin, after much required blending (this is key). My face looks dewy, radiant and supple.
But, does it cover, is the real question. IMO, I think it does. Maybe not completely, but it certainly works to mellow out any impurities and imperfections.
What’s not so great about it?
Again, because this product is a serum, it does easily rub off. While this isn’t ideal for many, this isn’t as big of a deal to me compared to how I feel wearing the product and knowing the benefits.
Then, as a lesson learned, if you don’t shake the bottle well the product separates and therefore the tint may not be as prevalent. So, it’s important to remember to shake the bottle before every use.
If the serum isn’t your thing, you might try the powder foundation and the foundation stick, instead.
Where can you get it?
Bee-och Organics has a website where you can accumulate “pollen points” if you buy direct, and they do have an Etsy shop (though it has been in vacation-mode for some time).
Are there other solutions out there? Yes, obviously! I wanted to highlight these two products since they’re ones I actually use and because I love them. If you’re familiar with any other natural makeup solutions, I’d love to hear about them! Leave a comment or reach out to me personally.