Why a Clean Beauty Capsule?
I don’t want a complicated beauty routine anymore. Now, more than ever before, I crave simplicity. I don’t want twelve steps or five options for every category or products I have to “make work.” I want to open a drawer and know exactly what I’m using without having to think about it or convince myself that a product is good for me. Without guilt for the products tucked away in the back of my drawer.
Yes, I do purchase new products from time to time to try them for you ladies, but that doesn’t mean they all earn a spot in my rotation.
These are the ten products I keep reaching for. Not because they’re perfect or because they work wonders. But they work with the kind of effortless performance I want in a product. My skin is picky, sensitive, oily, and acne prone, so keep that in mind when reading this list of products that work for my skin.
UpCircle Peptide Serum
I start with skincare because if my skin feels off, so does my makeup. This peptide serum goes on first after my shower. It supports my skin with plumping peptides and helps create a smooth base for everything else. Results aren’t immediate, but I’ve noticed that my skin feels a bit bouncier over time. It’s just the kind of underrated product that I keep reaching for day after day.
Earth Harbor Calypso
I love facial oils, and I’ve tried a few within the last year or so. Right now, this one is my favorite. I would not call this one a dry oil, but it’s not super greasy, either. I apply it after my peptide serum and before makeup if I want a little hydration boost. This one has vitamin C and CoQ10, which is an added bonus.
Biossance Omega Squalane Cream
When my favorite moisturizer was discontinued, I thought I was going to be frantically looking for a replacement for a long time. After all, my skin is pretty picky. What I didn’t know is that I would soon find an amazing moisturizer that has been there for me through so many seasons. This is one product I buy on repeat, no matter the time of year. I use it at night after any and all skincare I’m currently using, but I also use it under makeup from time to time and it works perfectly for that, as well. It has been a no-fuss staple for me that shows up and does the job, and I love it for that.
Lauren Brooke Luminous Tinted Moisturizer
The verdict is still out on whether or not my skin loves this as I do, but my skin is super picky, and I love this. I have been hooked on Saie’s Slip Tint for years, never really able to find a suitable replacement that is cleaner. Until this. I almost hate to say it, but I think this Lauren Brooke tinted SPF is even better than the Saie Slip Tint. It has a similar finish but offers just a little more coverage. Plus, it kind of smells like being at the beach.
Lauren Brooke Setting Powder
I am not a fan of powder, and I typically only use it sparingly to cut down on oil around my eyes. But if I do use one, this one is at the top of my list as a clean setting powder that also gets the job done. And without making me look too matte.
Piper Blue Organic Makeup Lip and Cheek Colors
I have so many of these I’ve lost count. This Piper Blue cream color is amazing. It’s such a pretty, creamy formula that blends beautifully for that perfect flush of color. It’s buildable, and it works virtually anywhere on the face.
Fitglow Beauty Ceramide Hydra-Balm
I love a good gloss. A glossy wash of color is the thing that makes me feel put together, and it’s my go-to for just about anything from running errands to sitting in church. Fitglow Beauty’s Ceramide Hydra-Balm is BEAUTIFUL. My lips feels smooth and moisturized while looking plump and glossy, and this formula comes in enough colors that anyone should be able to find something that suits them.
Merit Solo Shadow
This might be one of those clean-ish products, but it’s such an easy formula to use, it’s hard to choose anything else. There are so many colors to choose from and they just dropped shimmery finishes (I can’t wait to get my hands on one). I love the color Social as an every day neutral, and I just pat it on with my finger or apply it with a brush. It’s hard to mess this one up.
Ilia Liquid Eyeliner
This is one product that sits at the top of my list of all-time favorites. No matter how hard I try, I can’t find something that looks quite like this. It’s a pretty typical liquid eyeliner, but it’s not quite jet black, so it looks less harsh on the eyes. Plus, it stays on all day and it’s a clean formula. It’s such an easy choice to keep this on hand as a go-to.
Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara
I have tried so many mascaras, and I can never find one I like as much as I like this one. Even when I have a drawer full of other mascaras, I reach for this one. It’s clean, it’s lengthening, it lasts all day, and it’s not clumpy. I will keep trying other mascaras (because why not?). But I have a feeling I’ll keep coming back to this one for years.
Final Thoughts
Having a good beauty routine isn’t about doing bare minimum, but it doesn’t have to be complicated, either. It’s mostly about doing what feels sustainable to you. If I had nothing but these 10 products in my clean beauty capsule, I’d still feel put together and polished, and that’s what matters.
Choose products that support you instead of overwhelm you. Products that fit into your life as is, rather than the life you think you’re supposed to have.
A clean beauty capsule might not fix everything, but it can make your routine less chaotic and your decisions fewer. And that can go a really long way.
