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.
What do you think?