Who says green beauty can’t perform as well as conventional makeup?! I beg to differ! The industry has come such a long way in the past couple of years. Gone are the days of lackluster and underperforming natural makeup. Whether you’re looking to glam up for a wedding, photoshoot, special event, or just want a look that lasts all day long…here are my top picks for budge-proof and smudge-proof clean beauty!
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It’s all about that BASE! Skincare first, Makeup second.
First of all, I would be remiss not to mention this ⚠️ You cannot expect your makeup to perform at its highest potential without properly prepping your skin first! Check out this blog for ALL of my tips so that your makeup applies flawlessly:
How to Effectively Prep Your Skin for Flawless Makeup Application (Naturally!)
The Best High-Performance Natural Beauty Products
Now, once you’ve taken care of your skin and it’s fully prepped, here are some of the best high-performing clean beauty options:
Primer
I’ve tried quite a few natural primers and I always come back to the Alima Pure Smooth + Prime! It’s silky, mattifying, dries quickly, and makes a lovely base for applying a foundation. A lot of primers can have heavy, pore-clogging ingredients but this one feels so light and doesn’t make my skin feel bogged down. I truly notice a difference with shine control and how my makeup applies when using this.
Liquid Foundation
Foundation is such an important step that can make or break your look. You don’t want something that looks cakey, yet it needs to have ample coverage. I really like the 100% Pure 2nd Skin Foundation because it has medium to full buildable coverage with a soft, satin finish. It’s even ideal for oily or acne-prone skin because it soaks up excess oil and blurs away shine. It applies seamlessly and velvety!
If you have drier skin, I would recommend 100% Pure’s Full Coverage Water Foundations instead.
Related post: “The 10 Absolute BEST Clean Beauty Foundations (According to My Readers!)”
Concealer
Listen, I am all for embracing imperfections and not always trying to hide my blemishes, but there are times that I want something full coverage to conceal them. Hands down, the Hynt Duet Perfecting Concealer is the fullest coverage natural concealer out there! It’s my top pick anytime I have a big zit or major redness.
Look how well the Hynt Concealer covers a tattoo!Or, if you’re simply looking to brighten under eyes and not necessarily completely hide a big blemish, the Erin’s Faces Radiant Firming Concealer is awesome too. It’s medium coverage and has a silky feel to it. You can use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount.
Related post: “The Top 5 Clean & Natural Concealers (For Dark Circles, Blemishes, and Redness!)”
Powder Foundation
Some foundations can look way too powdery or even settle onto skin weirdly (you know what I’m talking about). So I love powder foundations that look natural and bring the whole look together. My go-to is the Elate Organic Pressed Powder Foundation because it’s soft, moisturizing, masks redness, evens out skin tone, and provides buildable medium coverage. It looks sooooo natural and good on my skin! You can use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount on Elate products.
If you prefer a loose powder, the Alima Pure Satin Matte Powder Foundations have a similar effect and also look beautiful!
Bronzer
I always gravitate toward the Kosas Sun Show Moisturizing Baked Bronzer! It’s very cushy and nourishing, but also applies gently which I like. It’s really easy to overdo it when it comes to bronzers, so this one is perfect. It has a slight shimmer to it but isn’t sparkly. Bronzing (or contouring) is an easy way to elevate your look, appear sun-kissed, and create some subtle definition on your face! 🌞
Here are some tips for properly applying a bronzer!
Kosas Sun Show Baked Bronzer, Elate Pressed Powder Foundation, and Au Naturale Pure Powder BlushBlush
I personally prefer powdered blushes to creamy blushes because they seem to wear longer in my opinion! I usually grab the Au Naturale Pure Powder Blush. It’s a buttery loose powder. It has a wonderful payoff (a little goes a long way, trust me!) and has a slight radiance to it so you get a pretty glow (some of the shades are matte if you prefer). You can build it for a more dramatic pop of color, too. I love Gilded Sunset!
Eyelid Primer
Ilia Brightening Eyelid Primer: I *totally* notice a difference when I use this. It dries almost instantly on eyelids and also adds a slight shimmer and brightens. It creates a soft base for eyeshadow to apply easily and it definitely helps prevent creasing throughout the day. I have hooded, oily eyelids so this is a MUST for me!
Eyeshadow
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cream eyeshadow. But, with hooded or oily eyelids…they just don’t last that long without creasing after even an hour. So if you’re going for a foolproof eyeshadow look, I suggest either a powder or liquid!
- ATHR Beauty Gemstone Eye Shadow Palettes: These have a bunch of different palettes and colors. So gorgeous! I love the Rose Quartz palette. There is a mix of mattes and metallics. They blend easily, have a good amount of pigment, and last.
- Kosas 10-Second Liquid Eye Shadows: I am so impressed by these! They swipe on quickly, dry within seconds, and truly stay put on eyelids all day long. They are metallic and beautiful. You can use a little bit for a subtle look or build up for some drama!
Wearing the Kosas 10-Second Eyeshadow in shade GLOBERelated post: “Kosas 10-Second Eyeshadow vs. Ilia Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint: Which is Better?”
Eyeliner
A lot of liquid eyeliners contain carbon black which is a dark black powder pigment derived from coal tar. Thankfully, I’ve found safer alternatives that don’t contain this ingredient and still perform amazingly!
- Clove + Hallow Line + Define Liquid Eyeliner: Has a precision felt tip, quick flick, and won’t budge. I love the Mocha shade which is a dark brown, but you can also get Onyx (black). You can use code ORGANICALLYBECCA15 for a discount.
- Quick Flick Eyeliner Stamp: Another one that won’t fade throughout the day and is also sweat-resistant. I like this one because I don’t know about you, but I am horrible at doing a winged eyeliner look. This one has a stamp on one end and you can literally do a perfect wing in seconds. You can use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount. Also available on Amazon.
Clove + Hallow Liquid Eyeliner (Mocha) and Quick Flick Eyeliner StampLash Primer
To make sure mascara applies more effectively, using a lash primer can help! There really aren’t many natural ones on the market, but the FitGlow Plum Lash Primer is a great option. You apply it, wait a few seconds for it to dry, then apply your mascara. It really makes the mascara more defined, less prone to clumping, and you can achieve more volume and length! I also feel like it makes mascara smudge less. Highly recommend.
Mascara
So I hate to burst your bubble, but there really isn’t a truly waterproof mascara when it comes to clean beauty. In order to achieve waterproof, conventional mascaras might use ingredients like thimerosal (a mercury compound), coal tar dyes (may contain heavy metals like lead), paraffin wax, parabens, or aluminum powder. These are all ingredients I personally try to avoid in cosmetics.
The good news is that there ARE natural mascaras that do hold up pretty well and won’t give you raccoon eyes. Using a primer or layering multiple mascaras can also help (also using a setting powder under your eyes to absorb excess oil!). The one that I typically grab when I’m looking for a bold look that doesn’t budge is the Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Primer. It has a primer on one end, then the mascara wand on the other! You can build it for a more dramatic look and it won’t get overly clumpy. It’s the most smudge-resistant natural mascara I’ve come across 💪
Related post: “Best Clean & Non-Toxic Mascara Brands to Achieve Lashes for Days!”
Brows
According to Saoirse Ronan, “if you don’t have eyebrows, you don’t really have a face” 🤣 I mean, she’s kinda right! Bold and defined brows make a huge difference, especially if you’re getting your photo taken! Not to mention, I hate when my brows aren’t groomed and they get swept all over the place. I need something that defines, but also stays put.
First I use the Plume Nourish + Define Refillable Brow Pencil to fill in my brows and create fullness and shape. The pencil is small and precise, but very smooth. That does hold up pretty well on its own, but just to be extra sure, I then use the Tok Volumizing Clear Brow Gel on top. It helps freeze everything in place so hairs stay put all day long! You can use code ORGANICALLYBECCA for a discount on Plume brow products.
Setting Spray
This is another category where clean beauty just doesn’t have a lot of options yet. However, the Ilia Blue Light Filter Protect & Set Mist works nicely! You can spray it before makeup as a primer but it’s also a setting spray. I find that it works best after applying makeup and before a setting powder. I feel like the spray helps “lock” makeup and then setting powder sticks to skin better when using the spray. Another clean setting spray is the W3ll People Dew Your Makeup Mist. I think Ilia works better but if you prefer more of a dewy finish, you’d like this one.
W3ll People Dew Your Makeup Mist, Ilia Brightening Eyelid Primer, Jane Iredale PureLash PrimerSetting Powder
I have combination skin, so no matter what makeup I wear, I tend to get a little oily on my t-zone as the day goes on. Using a setting powder is non-negotiable for me. Especially if I’m going to be getting my photo taken; nobody wants to look greasy and reflective on camera! Ew, David.
After (left) and before (right) using the 100% Pure Bamboo Blur Setting PowderThe 100% Pure Bamboo Blur Mattifying Setting Powders are my holy grail! I either wear shade Light or the Translucent powder. I just tap some powder on my forehead, chin, under my eyes, and around my nose after applying the rest of my makeup. It literally blurs shine and prevents the rest of my makeup from wearing down or becoming greasy throughout the day. Sometimes I’ll use this powder again after a few hours (especially if it’s humid out) for a midday touch-up. Soooooo good!
Related post: “The Top 3 Clean & Natural Setting Powders (Talc Free!)“
Lip Stain
I have been a long-time fan of the Au Naturale suStain Matte Lip Stains. They are a liquid lipstick that lasts all day, but they don’t feel dry or crackly. They have a natural matte finish. Sometimes I even like to use a lip liner first to make a defined outline around my lips which makes them appear fuller. The FitGlow Vegan Lip Liners are the ideal amount of creamy yet still stay in place 💋
Au Naturale suStain Matte Lip StainsP.S. Don’t forget to exfoliate those lips before applying lipstick! I recommend the Alpyn Plumping Lip Mask. It’s a gentle sugar scrub that leaves lips feeling supple and soft. And it creates a slight plump. Buh bye, cracked lips!
What are your go-to natural products when you want a foolproof look? I’d love to hear in the comments!
I loved this Becca! So many amazing products, and the side by sides are awesome too. 🙂 Just love reading your posts!
Aw thanks Sammie! It means a lot that you checked out the post!