mindful makeup.

I got serious about my quest for natural makeup over the summer. I realized I wasn't willing to give up makeup, but that I needed to find replacements for some of my products that weren't really good for me. The thing that most consumers don't realize about makeup is that companies are only required to list intended ingredients, which means that all kinds of creepy stuff could be lurking in your products. There are also very few requirements for products to be considered 'natural' or 'organic.'

Here's a round-up of the products I'm currently using. Admittedly, I could find even better alternatives for my Tarte products. My advice is to take your clean-up slowly. Replace one product at a time and decide whether or not you like it. You might have to try several mascaras before finding the right one! Remember, many truly natural beauty products have a completely different consistency and feel to their drugstore counterparts. That's because they're not brimming with toxins and fillers. The payoff is that you'll be treating your skin with so much more care and you'll be keeping those dangerous ingredients away from your precious body.



1. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface || This was one of the easiest replacements I made in my collection. As a matter of fact, I wore this blush on my wedding day. It provides the most natural flush, applies like a dream, and has wonderful staying power.

* Free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

2. "Un" Powder by RMS Beauty || I use this as a setting powder on my T-zone. The smallest amount goes a long way, leaves skin feeling like silk, and helps keep everything at place while oil remains at bay.

* Free of talc, silicone, perfume, and parabens.

3. "Un" Cover-Up by RMS Beauty in 00 || My favorite aspect of this concealer is that I can use it to cover under eye circles, redness, and blemishes. It does all three things beautifully and looks surprisingly natural to boot!

4. Ilia Mascara in Nightfall || The first time I used this mascara, I was really surprised by the texture. It's unlike any drugstore mascara I've ever used. I was kind of disappointed, but the more I got to used it, the more I liked it. Now I actually like it better than any other mascara I've ever used.

5. Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer || I just recently added this bronzer to my collection. I do have a couple qualms with it: 1) It's too sparkly for my taste, and 2) I don't really like the fact that it's waterproof. Aside from those complaints, I actually do like it, and I'll let it run its course before I go hunting for a new one. This one from Bare Minerals is already on my radar.

* Free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.