@thisorganicgirl

What prompted you to make the switch to using cleaner beauty products?

Which beauty product did you swap first?

Good question. Hmm. I really just went cold turkey when I realized my products were potentially compromising my health. Then I took my time discovering, trying, and finding new faves. I love wearing makeup but I also love not wearing makeup- so I had fun researching, learning, and enjoying the journey. I remember one of the first green beauty products I tried was W3LL PEOPLE'S Bio Brightener - my sister actually gave it to me as a gift and I still love it to this day! 

"Being responsible for two little lives put a fire in my belly and a purpose in my soul."

Was beauty the first thing you switched when moving to a cleaner lifestyle? 

What are some of your clean beauty staples?

What does your skincare routine look like?

What are you most excited to see in the future from clean beauty?

We are seeing a lot of brands mixing cutting-edge science and technology with naturals and getting results. I'm excited to see what comes next. I mean, we have come a long way from mixing beetroot powder with cacao butter and calling it a lipstick. Just this year, I've witnessed a plant-based retinol change my skin overnight. Or what about Hairprint that colors gray hair with just 8 food-grade ingredients? Or True Botanicals Clear line - a MADE SAFE certified skincare line that outperformed Proactiv in third-party clinical trials? I'm just excited in general to see what science will do next. It's truly exciting!

What advice would you give to someone wanting to transition to cleaner beauty products?

Baby steps. It's impossible to expect a full transition to cleaner products in a week, a month, or even longer. Honestly, I am years into this process and even to this day, I am still constantly looking for better swaps. For example, it took me forever to find a clean shampoo that worked for me. I would suggest starting with swapping out the products that stay on your skin all day like lotion, moisturizer, deodorant, foundation, sunscreen, lipstick, and lip balm. These have the potential to make the biggest health impact.

"It's impossible to expect a full transition to cleaner products in a week, a month, or even longer."

 

Photos by Monkey & Squirrel Photography, 2018

Join our CEO and Founder, Sarah, as she walks through a mini-tutorial of our brand new cheek collection. See how to apply and get a fresh look with our Hydratint, Hydraglow, and Bronzing Powder.

Fall is here and winter is just around the corner. Where did the time go!? With harsh winds and the chilling temperature, our skin can take a beating during the cold months. Luckily, we’ve come up with some tips on how to protect your skin for the changing seasons. Ready to armor up?

1. Stay Moisturized The Right Way

When it feels like the entirety of your skin is cracking, your first reaction may be to moisturize with oil-based products to combat the dryness. In cold weather, oil-based skincare products can actually contribute to clogged pores. Opt for a lighter, water-based moisturizer that allows your skin to breathe during the winter season. Only wear a thicker moisturizer to bed, so your skin can soak in that hydration overnight.

2.Take Shorter, Warm Showers

We know how tempting it is to take a long, hot shower– especially in colder weather. Unfortunately, this can do serious damage to your skin and hair follicles. Hot water strips away your body’s natural oils, causing your skin to dry up. Taking 10-minute showers with lukewarm water will help your skin retain its moisture.

3. Don’t Forget About Sunscreen!

Even if you’re not spending any time at the beach, you shouldn’t pack up your sunscreen with your bathing suits. The temperature doesn’t affect the UV rays beating down on your face. Pick a moisturizing sunscreen so it can perform double duty.

4. Be Makeup Conscious

For all the makeup junkies out there, now’s the time to be more selective about what products you use. If you’re wearing a powder foundation, layer with a illuminating primer or moisturizer. Instead of a powder blush, opt for a hydrating liquid blush like our Hydratint. For lips, choose one of our Lip Glazes - nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil and castor oil will keep dryness at bay.

Of course, like any other season, make sure to stay hydrated and eat right. Don’t skimp on your veggies and drink at least half of your body weight (in ounces) of water each day. A good diet is key for keeping skin glowing and healthy. We hope this helps to keep your skin protected as we move into the colder season!

Have you ever wondered if the food you’re eating is impacting your skin? Whether you’re breaking out more than usual or experiencing seriously glowing skin, your diet is likely playing a bigger role than you think. To put your best face forward, consider incorporating these five superfoods into your diet.

We all have our makeup routine that we feel we’ll never stray away from. But what if your everyday routine is actually full of beauty blunders? Have no fear: we’re here to help! We took some time to write down the biggest makeup mistakes we’ve discovered over the years and explain why they may be throwing a wrench in your routine.

Here are our top 5 common makeup mistakes, and of course, how to avoid them.

1. Applying Before Moisturizing

Dry skin is makeup’s worst enemy. Applying makeup directly to dry skin can cause flakiness, which makes it difficult to blend the product into the skin. Before applying any makeup, make sure your face is freshly cleansed and moisturized. A moisturizer that can double down as a primer is the best choice. To remedy your dry skin long term, make sure to exfoliate weekly!

2. Too Much Concealer/Not Setting

We love concealer as much as the next gal, but be wary of using too much. You should not apply concealer on your entire face. Instead, tackle the areas that need correction, such as blemishes and dark spots, with a light layer and build up as needed to avoid accentuating fine lines and wrinkles. Opt for more lightweight concealers that still offer good coverage for a more natural and luminous finish.

3. Applying Blush Wrong

Blush is supposed to add a youthful, rosy touch to our face. If you apply blush wrong - such as too low or too high - you risk aging yourself. Smile and apply color to the apples of your cheeks, then blend color back along your cheekbones. This technique creates a glow that doesn’t look clownish. For advice on blush placement for specific face shapes, check out this Allure article featuring our Founder, Sarah.

4. Wrong Shade of Foundation

It’s a makeup mistake everyone has made at some point. Wearing the wrong shade of foundation will automatically give away that you are wearing makeup because your face won’t match the rest of your skin. When choosing a foundation, make sure to shade match by testing on your face rather than your arm for the most accurate results. It doesn’t hurt to buy two colors that seem close to your skin tone, and either choose the shade that looks best in natural daylight or keep both to mix-and-match as your skin-tone fluctuates throughout the seasons.

5. Filling in Eyebrows Too Dark

Lastly, we need to talk about ‘brows. Filling in eyebrows too heavily is perhaps the biggest makeup blunder of all. For blondes, filling in your eyebrows with a shade that matches your hair color or even one shade darker looks best. If you have darker hair, we wary of going darker on your brows to avoid brows that look harsh. We recommend that you apply your brow product with feathery upward strokes concentrating on sparse or uneven areas,  rather than uniformly filling in the entire brow, for the most realistic finish. Lastly, lightly comb through your eyebrows with a brow brush to smooth out the lines and even out the look. Voila! Great looking brows.

Makeup Melt is CLOVE + HALLOW’s clean, cruelty-free and vegan makeup remover. The balm-to-oil cleanser truly “melts” away stubborn makeup.. And the best part about it? A little goes a long way! Only a nickel-sized amount of Makeup Melt will dissolve the toughest waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Natural, cruelty-free and vegan as always, it also performs double duty as a skincare staple. Or should we say quadruple duty? Over time, we’ve learned that the ingredients used in Makeup Melt allow the product to be multipurpose. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the 4 ways makeup melt will make your life easier.

If you suffer from dry skin, don’t worry, we hear ya loud and clear. All of CLOVE + HALLOW’s products are formulated to combat dryness, but the Makeup Melt really wins the trophy for hydration. It’s jam-packed with coconut oil, which is particularly renowned for treating wrinkles and decreasing dryness. Just apply a thin mask of Makeup Melt to your face and wash away after 10-20 minutes (or whenever you feel like it). For a deep treatment, we suggest sleeping with Makeup Melt on overnight so it can do its work while you dream.

We’re going to be transparent here: you probably don’t want to use up your precious Makeup Melt on the entirety of your locks. However, it can be great for spot treating your hair or in a pinch with limited products available. The properties of the fractionated coconut oil are ideal for restoring moisture to your tresses, while the sweet almond oil helps repair damaged ends. We recommended using Makeup Melt either liberally to treat your ends specifically as a conditioning mask or lightly as a frizz-eliminator on dry hair.

After getting fresh ink, it’s important to take care of your tattoo. Keep the tattoo as clean as possible by washing with a non-fragrant cleanser. For added hydration, Makeup Melt acts as a great lotion. Like we said, a little Makeup Melt can really go a long way so remember to use only a tiny amount and spread evenly across the tattoo. Your skin should still be able to breathe while being treated. The fractionated coconut oil will act as a disinfectant while the sweet almond oil will keep your new piece hydrated and vibrant!

Ran out of aloe but spent too much time in the sun? Got cracked skin from doing yard work, or suffer from eczema? Makeup Melt can act as an antibacterial ointment and burn relief salve due to the anti-fungal and antibacterial properties of coconut oil, the main ingredient of Makeup Melt. It can treat minor burns, such as sunburns, because of its properties that regenerate cells. The antibacterial power of coconut oil, combined with the healing nutrients of sunflower oil, make this product perfect for treating broken or chapped skin. You can even put a dab on your lips if you need it!

With all its purposes, Makeup Melt is a clear winner and a great product to transition into clean beauty with. As always, you can rest easy knowing that our Clean15™ formulation strategy ensures each ingredient is safe for the skin. We hope you found these 4 ways makeup melt will make your life easier helpful. What is your favorite way to use Makeup Melt?