the clean skincare products I can’t live without

If you’ve been following my blog, you probably know a lot of the skincare products I use qualify as “clean beauty.” This can be kind of a confusing area in beauty, so just to clarify, “clean means that a beauty product should have considered human and environmental health, using a nontoxic element as a baseline and plant-based ingredients for active results.” These products are typically devoid of the potentially harmful ingredients found in many of the mainstream skincare and makeup products on the market today. And I’m not saying every product I use would qualify as “clean,” but I’ve been making a gradual transition over the years and I really do see an improvement in my skin.

But I won’t bore you with a lecture about what you should or shouldn’t be doing with your skin. The products I’m sharing here are just great products I use on a regular basis and it’s really just an added bonus they happen to be “clean.” So let’s get to it – here’s the list:

Face

• Skincando Miracle Cream. I start with this one because I’ve been using it the longest and it’s largely responsible for my foray into clean beauty in general. This magical cream is my nighttime workhorse and every time I think I’ve found a better night cream, I always come back to this one. It’s super moisturizing, specifically formulated for sensitive skin, and works great with any serum I want to layer underneath it. Tl;dr: if you purchase any product on this list, it should probably be this one.
• BeautyCounter Adaptive Moisturizer. I may have finally found the daytime moisturizer I’ve been searching for with this perfectly balanced cream. It has a lovely matte finish and plays well with suncreen, makeup, and serums without clogging pores.
• BeautyCounter Vitamin C Brightening Oil. My skin has gotten drier as I’ve gotten older and adding an oil (especially one with vitamin c) is key for balancing skin tone and texture. This one absorbs quickly and works well under both my day and nighttime moisturizers.
• Province Apothecary Oil Cleanser. I’ve been using this cleanser for a little over a year now and it’s my all-time favorite makeup remover. Gentle and moisturizing, it really gets everything off and my skin feels lovely and soft after using it. It includes raspberry seed oil, which encourages cell turnover so you get the anti-aging benefits, as well.
• Skincando Aloe Foam Cleanser. Aside from the oil cleanser I previously mentioned, this was the first cleanser I’ve found that I can legitimately use everyday without over-drying my skin. Previously, I’ve tried cream cleansers, milks, and balms and all of them would inevitably dry out my skin after three days of use. This one has a lovely foaming action that clears my pores without striping my skin of moisture.
• Skincando Pearl Mud. Whenever my skin’s breaking out, looking dull, or generally meh, this is the mask I turn to. The main ingredient is a superfine Alaskan-sourced mud that exfoliates and deep cleans pores without irritating or causing redness. My skin quite literally glows after using it.
• Virtue Skinfood Lucious Lips. Made with raw honey and cocoa butter, this lip conditioner has been been one of my nighttime bedside table staples for years. It’s a wonderful formula that gently exfoliates before melting into your lips.
• Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence. Not only does this stuff smell like wildflowers, it plumps fine lines and wrinkles, too. I love to use it in the evenings after doing a mask, but I’ve also seen it used as a mist on makeup blenders before applying foundation. Expensive, but it has a lot of uses and it’s very worth it.

Body

• Nécessaire Body Lotion. No fragrance, no nonsense, just a really good everyday moisturizer. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all want?
• Nécessaire Body Wash. Ok, right after touting the virtues of a fragrance-free product, I’m going to tell you why I love one that smells heavenly, but hear me out. This body wash is free of all the scary chemicals normally labeled ambiguously as “fragrance” on most beauty products. The eucalyptus or sandalwood scents come purely from natural ingredients and essential oils labeled clearly on the packaging. It’s specially formulated for sensitive skin, pH-balancing, non-drying and, not to sound cheesy, but I like to take a deep inhale in the shower because it smells like a spa. However, if you’re not a fragrance fan, this body wash comes in a scent-free version just like the moisturizer.
• Hempsure Muscle and Joint Balm. I know the jury’s still out on CBD products, but I’ve definitely seen the benefits of using this balm for pain and inflammation. Made with high quality ingredients and organically-grown hemp, I use this for neck and back pain and as a soothing foot cream before bed.

Are there any you would recommend? I’m always looking for new clean beauty products to try and would like to make the transition with my makeup, as well!