“If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.” –Kevin Trudeau

Make-up, to many women, has become a staple in daily rituals. I know I can’t leave the house without lip gloss, at least. Often, a dab of concealer under the eyes and cheek and lip stain. In Kevin Trudeau’s “More Natural ‘Cures’ Revealed” he discusses, in his famous chapter 6, the importance of using pure make-up. He lists a few things and I do use a couple, Bare Minerals and Suki. He doesn’t list these, but I am in-love with Vapour Organics–their make-up is amazing, the only problem is they are pricey– Josie Maran’s Argan Oil collection, Tarte and Organic Wear by Physicians Formula.

Depending on who you talk to, some may argue that there are still some ingredients that can be iffy, but they are a lot safer than your most common–well known–make-up brands. I may not be a make-up artist, but I do love make-up. Everyone seeks make-up for different reasons and different occasions. For example, if you are going to be filming or under heavy lights, you may want heavier make-up that will last. I am a mom of three that runs around all day and still wants to look good at the end of the day when the hubby comes home. I wear very light make-up, if any, for daily use and more buildable choices for special events. Also, I must include, due to nursing reasons, I want the cleanest form of make-up. I don’t want to transfer any toxins to my baby.

Primer: Tarte makes some awesome primers. I have used the Clean Slate Flawless and Poreless primers and they are awesome!

Concealer: My favorite is Tarte’s Marajuca Creaseless Concealer. I find it to be amazing for highlighting under the eyes and still great for coverage if I wan to add it for an all over the face concealer. It says, “creaseless,” but everything creases on me as I do have fine undereye wrinkles. What does help is adding a little bit of setting powder. It also lasts for a while as a little goes a long way. I love is so much, after a year and a half, I am almost out so you will notice mine is cut in half to get every last bit of it. Vapour’s concealer is also so awesome, but it is pricey. I haven’t purchased it in a couple of years; it glides on smooth and it feels like butter!

Tinted Moisturizer: This is what I use 99% of the time. Foundations are left for very special occasions. I have used a lot of them, from a few I found at Sprouts and Trader Joe’s to drug-store brands. I have concluded that I love Josie Maran’s tinted moisturizer, but others will argue that it is too heavy. I happen to like it. I also like Organic Wear by Physicians Formula, but it does have a medicine smell to it, it doesn’t bother me, but I’m sure it does to others. I almost forgot, Tarte’s BB tinted moisturizer is also so wonderful. It makes my skin feel so soft and it gives it a wonderful dewy look.

Foundations: Suki makes a great medium coverage foundation and Vapour, my favorite, makes a great foundation. Again, a little pricey, but I love how soft it leaves my skin. I also use Bare Minerals. I have dry skin and I find them to be a little drying, but when applied over a great moisturizer, I find it great. I have seen that they now make a liquid form, I can’t wait to try that. Most of my make-up collection is Bare Minerals, but I will say that I am a little skeptical as I have noticed that, during hot days, my face will be a bit itchy. I have found that some of the ingredients will cause that. Since then, I have stopped using it as often.

Blush: It depends on the occasion, but most of the time, I’m more of a creamy blush type of girl because I like that dewy look. For long days and special events, I may use powder blush as I find this lasts longer. I like Josie Maran’s Argan Color Stick. For powder, I use Bare Minerals.

Bronzer for Contouring: When I want the organic option, I use a darker concealer stick from Vapour or I just use Josie Maran’s Argan Brightening Bronzer Sun Spot Corrector. For special events I do use a darker concealer and layer Josie Maran’s powder bronzer.

Eyeshadows: I love Bare Mineral eyeshadows because I can use them wet, for a foil effect, or dry. They also sell the powder sticks that are great and last forever, seriously!

Brightening, Highlighting, and Dewy Finishes: I love Love LOVE Josie Maran’s Argan Brightening Face Balm. Oh my goodness, this stuff makes you look dewy and it makes your skin so soft! I love it. I also love Tarte’s Glowlight Amazonian Clay luminizing wand, which you can easily use to highlight on the arch of your eyebrow, inner corners of eyes, etc. For powder, Bare Minerals has some great highlighters as well. In fact, they have great eyeshadows that can be used as highlighters. Vapour Organics, Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector is out of this world amazing!

Mascara: I simply love Tarte’s Gifted and I feel like Organic Wear by Physicians Formula has the exact same look for a lot less. The only problem I have with Physicians Formula’s mascara is that it stings like crazy if your eyes get watery, which mine often do because I suffer from allergies.

Lip Glosses, Lip Sticks and ChapSticks: I like Josie Maran’s glosses and Bare Minerals lipsticks. I am more of a gloss girl, something I don’t have to worry about too much, but on special occasions I will use lipsticks. Lipsticks are the very thing that contains high levels of formaldehyde and lead, especially high end lipsticks and drugstore lipsticks. This is something one must be very careful with. When we–my kids and I–want moisturized lips–especially with me nursing, and with the harsh winds here in the Inland Empire, chapstick is a must. I only allow my kids to use EOS chapsticks, Coconut Oil, Josie Maran’s Argan Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil and Egyptian Magic all purpose cream. If you nurse, you may also experience what I have which is borderline dehydration. We only drink water at home, but nursing renders you dry and parched. With that dehydration and extreme thirst comes dry lips and, if you get nervous and play with your lips–as I do–lip moisturizers are a must as they prevent me from biting and pulling on my often dry lips. No matter how much I exfoliate my lips, because I nurse, I have dry lips, that is, until I apply some sort of moisturizer.

Eyebrows: I use a Bare Mineral eyeshadow called tempest. In fact, I use two colors, a darker color and a lighter one on the inside of my eyebrows to not make them look so harsh. I used to use Smashbox religiously and also still use Anastasia for special events. There are some great pencils out there I’ve used, but simply can’t remember the names. I’ve received an amazing one from the “Test Tube” collection where you receive a different set of products every month, but simply can’t remember the name of that pencil.

Eyeliner: For the inner rim, I love Bare Minerals–I believe it’s called–24 hour eyeliner. I have used this so much that I have sharpened it to the very last bit. I’m not sure what it is called anymore, but it has lasted me for more than 2 years and it glides on so creamy. You can also use this to create a cat eye effect, but I like liquid eyeliner better. In fact, I’ve found that I like to use this pencil and liquid to have long lasting eyeliner. I also love Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Action Inner Rim Brightening Liner for those days I don’t want dark eyeliner, but want to look well rested. With a 1 year old still waking up to eat and a four year old, that will wake-up when she can’t sleep, I never get a full nights rest. This helps me. It can also be placed on the eyebrow to give it a lift look, inside the inner corner of the eyes and above the lip.

This is a complete list of things that I use from an organic source or less terrifying–from the ingredients aspect–make-up. I try to live an organic lifestyle as much as possible, but you must always remember that simply because something is “organic” or “all natural” it doesn’t make it good for you. I have found countless products that state organic, but have parabens and other horrible preservatives that can render you with toxins, therefore, always read the ingredients. I didn’t include moisturizers and face washes because this was more of a make-up list. I do not claim I know how to apply great make-up nor do I claim to know everything about long wear, but I do know what works for me and what makes me feel a little less guilty when applying make-up. I do, however, know that organic products are not always possible, but I try my best. You, as well, can also live a life with a little less toxicity.

What are your favorite organic or “healthier” make-up products?

FYI: Tarte has a 30% off sale!