A cluttered house causes a cluttered mind. Nope, I did not coin this phrase but it is SO TRUE. Right?
I’ve been going through all of my things, section by section, in my house to clear out the clutter and it feels so damn good. But on that note, one of the most challenging spaces to organize is the makeup area. Can you relate?
If you looked into my makeup drawer(s) a couple weeks ago, you’d see a million products and most of them were OLD or had been barely used. Unless I’m going to a wedding or a special event, the makeup I use day to day is pretty much the same.
I shared some of this organization and makeup clean-out on Instagram Stories – if you saw those stories, you might have seen that I had makeup products that were up to 19 years old. YIKES. For the record, I DID keep the one 19-year-old product…it’s a glitter from Stila that I bought with my allowance at Macy’s. NO, I will not put it on my face.
Here’s how I cleared out the makeup clutter:
Throw away what you don’t use: This is so painful but so necessary. I had a green eyeshadow hanging out in my drawer for 6 years because it’s a pretty color but I never wore it. Not once.
Pay attention to shelf life. Ok, this is a BIG one. And ohhh boy was I breaking all of the rules here. I’m happy to say that now most of my makeup falls in line with how long you should be keeping your items. Here’s a quick guide for you to use.
Go through your makeup tools, too. There were so many tools I wasn’t using, like old beauty blenders, duplicate lash curlers, pencil sharpeners, etc. I tossed the duplicates and the items I didn’t need.
My makeup drawers are now super organized and I only have what I really love and use. BTW, do you have a vanity, or do you do your makeup in the bathroom? I have a vanity in my bedroom and it feels just a little juvenile…
I’m starting a new tradition here and now: a beauty masterlist recapping my top 10 beauty products from the year before. You know how Oprah does her favorite things of the year? Well, this is mine.
I love doing the work and finding the BEST products for you, so you don’t have to go out and spend money and a lot of time trying and testing. I am pretty picky — my products need to be amazing, they need to work well, and they need to be cruelty free.
None of the items I’m sharing with you today are sponsored, just so you know. So, let’s get into my favorite beauty products of 2019:
Gua Sha: Nothing, and I really do mean nothing, relaxes me like my Gua Shatool. This stone is rose quartz and man does it do wonders. It relieves tension and pressure (I can actually FEEL it when I do this, especially over my eyelids), and it drains inflammation from the face. Using this tool is a must every single morning, and especially for special events.
Acure Marula Oil: If I had to choose just one oil as my favorite for the year, it’d be Marula Oil. Acure’s Marula oil is rich in proteins and omega fatty acids and is amazing for treating dry skin, healing wounds & scars and reducing redness. “Marula oil packs a huge anti-oxidant power punch to help with anti-aging along with essential fatty acids and proteins to help with firming, anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling support.” Marula is naturally lightweight, meaning it will absorb readily into the skin, leaving it feeling hydrated and smooth. What’s also cool? Acure’s Marula oil is 100% pure and wildcrafted without pesticides by South African Women as part of an economic empowerment program. I buy mine at Whole Foods (BTW – the Whole Foods Beauty department is pretty amazing if you haven’t checked it out).
Obagi Hydrate Luxe: This moisturizer is my HOLY GRAIL night time moisturizer. So many medical grade products are unfortunately not cruelty free, but this one is and I am so grateful for that because it works wonders. I only use this product at night because it is RICH and luxe, like the name says. The moisturizer works with the circadian rhythm of your skin. Yep, there’s such a thing. The two below ingredients make this moisturizer extra special:
Biomimetic peptides. A technology that complements your skin’s nightly renewal and metabolic functions to support the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in mature skin.
Hydromanil. A key ingredient in the Hydrate Facial Moisturizer, this technologically advanced ingredient provides not only immediate moisturization, but gradual moisture delivery by retaining water in the layers of your skin and continuously releasing them for 8-hour moisture protection!
Elta MD Sunscreen: Am I telling you to wear sunscreen again? Yep! It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, cloudy, or sunny and hot, you MUST wear sunscreen everywhere, everyday. My absolute favorite is Elta MD’s line. I use the UV Facial Broad Spectrum Sunscreen on my face and the UV Shield Broad Spectrum Sunscreen on my body. I love Elta MD’s sunscreens because they are not chemical sunscreens – meaning shitty chemicals are not going to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Instead, Zinc Oxide sits on the skin to protect it from harmful rays.
Lawless Woke Up Like This Foundation: I’ll start with the description, because it perfectly describes the product:
“This SPF-free, non-comedogenic, skin-nourishing formula won’t clog pores, and wears comfortably throughout the day with a weightless feel that won’t fade or disappear. Lightweight, antioxidant-rich, skin-balancing oils, including abyssinica, camellia, kukui, grape seed, and jojoba oils, help plump and replenish the skin’s moisture barrier for a supple, youthful appearance. Soothing, anti-inflammatory shea butter helps soften and repair skin, while promoting collagen production and protecting against free radicals. With this formula, you can achieve medium to full coverage with a natural, skin-like finish that never looks cakey or dry on the skin.” – LAWLESS
There is so much that I love about this foundation, but most of all, I love the consistency as it is not matte yet it’s not shiny, it’s just a ‘your skin but better look’. I love it so much that I wore it on my wedding day.
Sara Happ Dream Lip Slip: The cool thing Lip Slip is that when you put it on before bed, and then when you wake up, it’s still on. And I mean it REALLY stays on. I also use this as a lip gloss during the day.
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brow Gel: No one wants super thin, tadpole or sperm brows. You know what I’m talking about. Natural, big brows are IN and I think they’re here to stay. Charlotte Tillbury’s brow gel is a game-changer because it makes your brows look super full and NATURAL& best of all, it doesn’t flake or get crusty. It actually looks best when you brush over and over about 5 times (always brush up).
Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk Lipstick: BUT like are you ready for the best lipstick you will ever own? You need this one. Absolutely need it. I own more Chralotte Tilbury lipsticks than any other brand, and it’s because her lippies are just the best. Not sticky, they don’t make your lips look dry and crusty. Just the best consistency.
But this color, guys. It looks good on everyone. Yeah, different skin tones can rock this color.
Fenty Beauty Lavender Loose Powder: I first hear about this loose powder via Jaclyn Hill. She just has the best makeup tips. I was watching one of her favorites videos in late 2018/early 2019, and she mentioned that she’d been using this powder to set her under-eye concealer and that it didn’t cake up. Two seconds later, I was ordering it from Sephora. And she was right. This powder is so cool because it has a lavender tint, so it really brightens under the eyes. It’s so bright that I probably wouldn’t recommend using it anywhere else on your face. I have used this powder every single day that I’ve worn makeup in 2019.
Unite 7 Seconds Detangler: This isn’t only a 2019 fave, I have been using this detangler for over 5 years consecutively. I’ve never met a leave-in detangler SO MUCH. From the time I was a little girl, I always have a rat’s nest when I get out of the shower. No matter what. This stuff saves me from having to harshly comb out my hair after I wash it. It literally works in seconds, like the name says. Even for the most Jew-y fro’s (mine).
Okay, this is going to get kind of gross but stay with me because this is just so important. TONGUE SCRAPING. You need to be doing it because it’s just as important as brushing your teeth.
I first heard about tongue scraping a couple of years ago from Sahara Rose – LOVE her podcast. It’s a must listen if you haven’t tuned in yet.
Anyway, if you’ve experienced bad breath or have seen a white cast on your tongue, it’s from toxins that are sitting in your mouth. Yes, you can (and should) brush your teeth, but scraping those toxins off of your tongue is so important for your health (and for the sake of whoever you’re in close quarters with). And not with a toothbrush – I’m saying this because I used to brush my tongue with a toothbrush. Not gonna cut it, sorry.
If we let the toxins sit in our mouths without removing them, they get reabsorbed by the body and can cause digestive issues, a weak immune system and a host of other imbalances. {source}.
♡ Benefits of tongue scraping:
♡ Enhanced taste buds
♡ Improved digestion
♡ Increased immunity
♡ Improved dental health
♡ Less gum infections and recessions
♡ Enhanced salvia production to break down foods
Now that we have the why and the benefits covered, let’s talk about what kind of tongue scraper to use. Backing up for a sec: I used to use a stainless steel scraper, but switched to copper simply because it’s an Ayurvedic classic. Copper has been used for medicinal practices back to the 5th and 6th millennia B.C. The Egyptians used copper for their water pipes because water stored in copper gave health benefits for those who drank the water. Copper is also antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal, making it used for everything from IUD’s to tongue scrapers. HERE is the one that I use and love.
How to use a tongue scraper:
Use it first thing in the morning – I try to use mine before I even have a sip of water or coffee in the AM because I don’t want to be downing toxins.
Take the scraper as far back on your tongue as possible, without gagging and use gentle pressure to scrape the surface of your tongue.
Rinse the scraper with warm water – you will see white stuff on it. Keep repeating the process until your tongue is clean. At first, you might need to repeat 5-10 times.
Double cleansing is such a THING right now, and before I knew what it meant, I thought…okay? Big deal. Not really. It honestly sounded like a big waste of products.
What it actually means is that you’re using two different types of cleansers to properly remove impurities and cleanse your skin. The term is a Korean skincare term – not at all surprised by this – and it means that you’re using an oil based cleanser and a water based cleanser.
Ok, so why the f would you double cleanse your face? And why use an oil if you already have oily or acne prone skin? Because oil is a lot more effective than any water based product to lift away sebum, sunscreen, and makeup. So cleansing with oil actually helps to PREVENT you from breaking out.
I always use an oil based cleanser first, and then follow it up with a water based cleanser.
Following the oil cleanse with a water based cleanser allows the surfactants (cleansing agents) to more penetrate the layers of skin a lot easier had you not used oil. This is because you have cleared away the oil barrier that otherwise would prevent this from happening. Water based cleansers get rid of water based impurities such as sweat and environmental pollutants.
I’ve tried and tested what feels like a 8 million cleansers, oils, and balms by now, but these are my top 4…
OIL BASED CLEANSERS
1.} Farmacy Green Clean: Omggg this stuff is seriously the best makeup remover of all time. You need it now, regardless of your skin type. And yes, it can absolutely be used if you did not wear makeup today. If you wore sunscreen and other oils on your face, please use this before using a water based cleanser. The consistency is so luxe and it makes removing makeup and other impurities on your face just SO easy. I use a damp white washcloth and there is no pulling involved at all.
2.} BOSCIA Makeup Breakup Cleanser: I used this stuff for a good 6 years and I can’t really remember why I stopped, but it is damn good at removing your makeup. If you’re looking for something that comes in a pump bottle (vs. the Green Clean that comes in a tub), this is your product. It’s really just effortless to use and you’ll have zero excuses to be lazy when it comes to makeup removal.
WATER BASED CLEANSERS
1.} Acure Brightening Cleansing Gel: Acure is KILLING IT with their skincare products. Pretty soon I think my entire skincare routine will be filled with Acure products. This cleanser is fabulous for keeping your skin feeling fresh. Plus it’s so inexpensive…yet it WORKS, as do all of the other Acure products I have used.
2.} Saturday Skin Rise + Shine Purifying Cleanser: Not only is the packaging so fun and Instagrammy (you know I live for some beautiful packaging), but the product is just as good. Saturday Skin’s cleanser contains apple and peach extracts whisk away impurities without stripping the skin for a fresh, revitalized complexion.
It doesn’t matter how old you are or what skin type you have….you NEED to be using a Vitamin C product on your skin because it has so many amazing benefits.
I am your trusty guinea pig, and I have tried 6 Vitamin C products over the last 2 years, and can confidently say that Kakadu Vitamin C is my favorite. Reason being: I can SEE and FEEL the difference in my skin when using this product every morning. The benefits of using a Vitamin C on your skin are numerous, beginning with the most popular – it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
You might be wondering what Kakadu is? I did, too.
Wild harvested in the remote Australian Kimberley and NW Territory, Kakadu Plum puts the SUPER in super fruit.
Ounce per ounce, Kakadu plums contain on average 55 times the vitamin C of Florida oranges.*
Vitamin C helps protect against pollutants, oxidative stress and free radical damage, and may help improve skin elasticity, firmness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The Kakadu Plum grows in the remote bush of the Australian Kimberley and Northwest Territory. It is here that the Kakadu Plum is sustainably wild harvested during the monsoonal season of the hot, inhospitable Australian summer. Hand picked by the Aboriginal people, each tiny fruit is gathered from trees found at random.
The Kakadu Plum is considered a gift of the Dreamtime, the sacred Aboriginal era during which ancestral spirit beings created the world. Aboriginal legend teaches generation after generation the secrets of this extraordinary fruit.
The Kakadu Plum grows in the remote bush of the Australian Kimberley and Northwest Territory. It is here that the Kakadu Plum is sustainably wild harvested during the monsoonal season of the hot, inhospitable Australian summer. Hand picked by the Aboriginal people, each tiny fruit is gathered from trees found at random.
The Kakadu Plum is considered a gift of the Dreamtime, the sacred Aboriginal era during which ancestral spirit beings created the world. Aboriginal legend teaches generation after generation the secrets of this extraordinary fruit. {Source}.
What initially drew me to Kakadu C was its high potency (it is 20% stabilized vitamin C), it’s cruelty-free, dermatologist tested and approved, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic. It is also formulated without dye, fragrance, and gluten.
Now for the full list of benefits of using a Vitamin C on your skin:
♡ Promotes Collagen Production
Vitamin C boosts collagen production, which fills in lines and wrinkles. With a concentrated product like Kakadu C, MAJOR prevention takes place as far as aging goes. Can you say saving money on botox?!
♡ Protects skin from the sun
Since Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it naturally strengthens your skin and repels damage. It shouldn’t be an alternative for sunscreen, but it does protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
♡ Speeds up healing
Studies have also found that high levels of Vitamin C can help to speed up the body’s natural healing processes. It can help to heal small cuts, acne scars, and other blemishes more quickly and effectively.
♡ Helps with discoloration
If you suffer from skin redness or other discoloration of the skin, then a a vitamin C serum may also be able to help you achieve a more uniform skin tone and better complexion. Specifically, vitamin C is great for reducing embarrassing redness. This has been very true for me, as I deal with rosacea and have dealt with it since I was 10 years old. Vitamin C reduces my redness by about 30%. This also goes for reducing the appearance of under-eye circles! This stuff is seriously magic when it comes to discoloration.
♡ Reduces inflammation
Vitamin C is known to reduce inflammation, which is incredible for reducing puffiness in the face. I’m all about facial massage to reduce puffiness, and the combination with the use of a vitamin C serum is life-changing. I feel like I lost 5 pounds after massaging my face with Kakadu C!
How I use Vitamin C
I like to apply vitamin C serum once per day, in the morning, to my face and neck (massaging for a few minutes) after using toner. After the massage is done, I apply the rest of my skincare and makeup.
