With (not so) great acne-prone skin comes great responsibility. That’s what we told ourselves anyway when we begrudgingly struck out some of our longstanding beauty favourites after giving their list of ingredients a quick glance. Each list was packed with a long list of chemicals we couldn’t pronounce – and you know what that means : trouble. Simply put, chemicals which trigger acne and breakouts such as silicones, petrochemicals (yikes!), parabens, and alcohol lurk within a number of our beauty products.
But by the grace of makeup gods, we were introduced to the au naturel world of green beauty products. Instead of slathering toxins and chemicals onto our faces, we now have the chance to maintain our beauty routine in a safer way — with organic and chemical-free products. Here are the most effective clean beauty products you can love and trust.
This cream bronzer is perfect for creating a natural sun-kissed glow. It’s sheer enough to pull off completely natural, yet packed with just the right amount of shimmery tan pigments to give you an envy-inducing glow.
RMS’s Buriti Bronzer contains wild crafted Buriti oil from the nuts of Brazil’s moriche palm tree which is said to be the oil highest in Vitamin A and Beta-carotene. In addition to luminising the skin, the Vitamin A content provides an anti-ageing benefit as well.
RMS Buriti Bronzer, $45
A mascara is our number one cosmetic of choice, so you can trust that we’ll be picky when it comes to these lash lengthening goodness. RMS’s cult favourite mascara is our current clean beauty obsession with its use of emollient ingredients; rich mineral pigments, certified organic essential oils, and beeswax. The mascara also promises to be flake-free and smudge-proof… what else can we ask for? The RMS mascara comes in two types of formulas, and depending on your preference for fuller or natural-looking lashes, you can opt for the Volumizing Formula or the Defining Formula respectively.
True Botanicals is a fan-favourite when it comes to clean beauty. Every product is packed with nutrient-laden ingredients and addresses different skin types and concerns by falling into 4 different collections: Basics (everyday skin protection), Renew (anti-aging), Calm (for rosacea prone skin), and Clear (for acne prone skin). We recommend the Clear Trio set if you struggle with acne. Most acne skin care remedies simply dry out the surface of your skin, but the True Botanicals Clear collection is said to address the root of the problem (or whitehead) by removing acne-inducing bacteria and balancing your skin without damaging it.
True Botanicals Set, US$185
As its name suggest, this tonic is supposedly meant to be a literal skin-saving miracle. It contains mint, rosemary, camphor oils and salicylic acid to calm inflammation and repair skin, hence attaining brighter skin.
Amanda Lacey Tonic, US$95
Going organic doesn’t give you a reason to skive off on UV protection. Susanne Kaufmann’s organic sun cream provides high, broad-spectrum coverage against UVA and UVB rays without irritating the skin. Packed with ingredients harvested and cultivated organically from the Bregenzer Forest in Austria, nourishing jojoba oil, and anti-inflammatory Balloon Vine Oil, this sunscreen will keep your skin hydrated and invulnerable against environmental pollutants. These active ingredients are supposed to help reduce your skin’s production of damaging free radicals, keeping your skin youthful and spot-free.
The Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask has seen many accolades in its day, having been included in Instyle’s list of ‘Best Beauty Buys’ and Elle’s ‘The Very Best Elle Essential Beauty Products’ both in 2015. This beta-hydroxy treatment works like a traditional peel to deliver a healthy glow to dull skin without causing irritation. Formulated with pomegranate enzymes and French pink clay, this face mask offers deep cleansing.
Free of soaps, alcohols, and detergents, Tata Harper’s gentle exfoliating cleansing treatment clarifies skin with fresh enzymes, clays and essential oils. This cleanser is a good one to have. ; It does quite a good job of cleansing. Owing to nutrient-packed ingredients such as apricot seed powder to gently polish the skin and fresh pomegranate enzymes to dissolve debris and blackheads, this exfoliant works to give you better-looking skin without stripping your skin off its natural oils.
Beauty Counter’s subtle tinted moisturiser is every makeup-minimalist’s dream. This sheer coverage foundation evens out skin tone while apparently reducing the appearance of age spots. Containing natural ingredients like blackcurrant, peony flower root extract, vitamin C and sodium hyaluronate, this SPF 20 moisturiser works to promote brighter, firmer and smoother-looking skin. Replace your run-of-the-mill cushion foundations with this, and soon you’ll be rocking dewy, fresh skin, according to reviews.
We like to call this the superfood skin fix-it. This mineral-rich skin booster, with its skin-saving supplements, is almost a vitamin fix for your skin. Water activated Vitamin C works to brighten your skin, while the Rhassoul and French pink clay absorbs impurities and decongest pores. It also comprises of colloidal oat which is supposed to help with redness. The potent powder is also packed with minerals such as Alaea Hawaiian sea salt and Rose Quartz gem powder, which is supposed to help buff away dead skin particles so you can improve uneven skintone. Simply take a teaspoon worth of this powder, put it onto your wet palms and add small drops of water to it before massaging it onto your face as you would with a normal mask.
ILIA is a stand-out in the clean beauty department. Between their sleek packaging, natural trendy shades, and non-toxic formulas, this green beauty brand offers a chock-full of multipurpose makeup created in the most ethical way possible.
This three-in-one beauty essential can be applied to the cheeks, lips, and eyes for a healthy sheer wash of blush. You’ll find nourishing cocoa seed butter, beeswax, castor seed oil and sunflower seed oil amongst the many natural ingredients (most of which are certified organic) in this creamy smooth bullet lipstick-like product.
For those of you who are picky when it comes to shades, ILIA has got you covered with its six different shades; from cool-toned berried to warm tangerines and sienna reds.
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