I love experimenting with skincare and makeup, but in the last several years, I’ve really made an effort to simplify my beauty stash and reduce/eliminate chemicals and toxins from the products I use every day. For more information about cosmetic safety and what scary ingredients may be lurking in your favorite products, check out the EWG Skin Deep database.
While I switch products through the seasons and can’t resist the occasional Sephora spree to try new brands and formulations, there’s a [growing] list of beauty products I use all year and always restock when they run low.
Keep reading for 10 products I can’t live without!
SKIN CARE:
Alba Botanica Good & Clean Toxin Release Scrub – this natural drugstore scrub is gentle enough to use on sensitive every day. I keep it in the shower, and use it to exfoliate once or twice a week.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré – one of my girlfriends is a professional makeup artist, and she got me hooked on this stuff. It’s a simple French-pharmacy moisturizer — there are no bells, whistles, or anti-aging tricks — but my skin drinks it up and never feels greasy. It’s also a multi-tasker: use it as a makeup remover, primer, lip moisturizer, and even hair texturizer. I love the light clean scent, too.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk – SPF is a year-round, everyday necessity for this Floridian. This one goes on thick but absorbs well, and provides UVA/UVB protection with antioxidants. It’s paraben-free and fragrance-free, making it perfect for everyday when you want sun protection without smelling like a pina colada.
COSMETICS:
Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara – I’ve been using this tubing mascara almost exclusively for the last three years. I just can’t say enough good things about it: it lengthens and defines lashes; it doesn’t clump, smudge, transfer to your eyelids, or flake (which is awesome if you wear contacts); and it lasts until you wash the tubes off your lashes with warm water.
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rosé – I’m addicted to this tinted lip balm. I panic when I don’t have it with me. That’s all.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel – Anastasia is the queen of good eyebrows. I use this clear gel every day to brush my brows up and set them in place. It doesn’t flake and keeps my crazy brows in check all day. I also love the brow powder duo for defining and filling in sparse spots.
Essie Good to Go Quick Dry Top Coat – this top coat is a DIY mani/pedi game changer. It dries to chip/smudge/knick-free glassy shine in about 30 seconds and keeps polish looking fresh for almost a week.
BATH & BODY:
LAVANILA The Healthy Deodorant – I’ve tried almost every aluminum-free deodorant out there, and this is my favorite; it’s moisturizing and smells so good. While it’s not an antiperspirant and probably won’t hold up in a marathon, it’s effective for every day protection.
Dr. Teal’s Soothe & Sleep Epsom Salt Soaking Solution with Lavender – I don’t know if this is necessarily a beauty product, but it’s definitely a must-have in the Lennox house. It soothes sore muscles, relieves tension and stress, and detoxes skin. It’s the best thing ever in a hot bath at the end of a long day.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil – This. stuff. smells. so. good. I really believe in beauty oils, and this one is great for skin and hair. It moisturizes and protects with a mix of natural oils and vitamin E, and the fragrance lasts and lasts.
The Comments
Why There’s Lip Balm In My Eyebrows – Keira Lennox
[…] this clear brow gel for the better part of a decade; it’s a holy grail product for me that I always repurchase. It invisibly holds my brows in place until I wash it off and never flakes or looks crispy. So […]
My ‘I Woke Up Like This’ Makeup Routine | A Pretty Penny
[…] Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara: One of my all-time favorites that I always restock. […]
stylesteph
Absolutely love this post! I’m just like you in the sense that I try to limit over-spending on beauty products and consistently add what could be harmful and toxic chemicals on my face ^_^ sending lots of love from Australia <3
jordanshea5
Thanks for the link to EWG! I am always looking for ways to avoid of eliminate chemicals and toxins from products I use. Great post!
theculturedsass
Reblogged this on theculturedsass.
Wish U.S Were Here
Love it! Looks like you are a fellow bargain Hunter like myself. Oh, how I wish it were cold here right now!
paperstoparfum
The Essie Dry Top Coat is perfection!
frombowstoblazers
Reblogged this on MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL and commented:
Check out these products from A Pretty Penny! Great beauty products to try.
girlxinxthexforest
hi i just made a new account and i would love some feedback if possible :)
https://girlxinxthexforest.wordpress.com/
View From Above and Below
I recently started using the essie quick dry top coat and it is amazing! Never had to worry about chips ever again! Love your list!
viewfromaboveandbelow.wordpress.com
Danika Maia
K gonna head to Sephora today and restock!
http://www.danikamaia.com
Cathy Ficek
I love this post! I’ve been updating my beauty routine and this gives a great list of products.
Mandy
I love this post and I would love to try these products! but I am on a tight budget. do you know any good dupes of the products you mentioned?
Carolina E.
Well you did it again ,I have all these products written down and plan to try
them .They all sound good and thanks so much for the info.
Mel
Awesome products!
http://girlandthepolkadot.blogspot.com/
girlxinxthexforest
i’ve just started have a look
https://girlxinxthexforest.wordpress.com/
rhiannon
so many great products!
http://www.amoderngypsy.blogspot.com
Amy Fashion Blog
never have try any of these products before. So going to have to keep them in mind. when I want to try something new.
izzygracefashion
Love this blog! Please check out my blog – izzygracefashion.wordpress.com I would love to have some feedback from a pro :) Izzy
pastedreams
I love this post! Got addicted to Anthelios about ten years ago and now my whole family uses it. I’ll have to check out that French moisturizer….lotions are my downfall!
Erin E.
Thank you for this post! I just moved from DC to Denver and the cold combined with the high altitude is destroying my skin. I went straight to Amazon and ordered the Embryolisse (btw, they have it for cheaper than Sephora and it’s eligible for Amazon Prime). I adore European beauty products – the EU just does a better job of protecting its consumers from harmful toxins/chemicals – and I can’t wait to give this a try!
Mariecrz
I try to check the EWG Skin Deep database also, I think the website is great. I loved reading your post!
luckylifebeauty
I absolutely LOVE Emryolisse… I thought I was the only makeup artist that used that sweet secret… The Flower Tonic from the same line is also amazing… Loved this post!