Welcome back! In part 1 of this article, we examined healthy foundations, concealers, and a setting spray. With our trusted Yuka advisor still guiding us, let’s now explore a few more makeup products that skillfully blend health and quality.
For Contour:
I have another amazing French organic label to recommend:
Zao essence of nature – This entire brand is dedicated to offering products that are 100% organic and vegan. In my opinion, their two standout products are the foundation stick, which I use as a contour stick, and their blush. Both of these products come in a wonderfully creamy stick that makes application easy, similar to popular contour sticks like those from Fenty or Rare Beauty.
When it comes to their blush selection, they offer three lovely shades. My personal favorite is ‘Rose Coquelicot’ in shade 842, a beautiful purple red which smells delicious. It’s important to note that due to their creamy texture, these products may not be the ideal choice for individuals with oily skin, as they might wear off more quickly. However, they are highly pigmented and can last an entire day without the need for touch-ups!
Do you want to give it a shot? It can be purchased here.
In a similar fashion, we have the Essence: Baby Got Bronze
This is by far my top pick when it comes to the best financial value and overall health considerations. This budget-friendly bronzer, priced at just $4.99, has received a perfect 100/100 rating from Yuka, making it a remarkable discovery. Essence has long been known for its affordable prices, but I recently found out that they’re also revamping their formulas to prioritize health. While they offer only three shades of bronzer and a few blush options, all of them have received excellent ratings from Yuka.
Their creamy and perfumed product is incredibly easy to apply and leaves a barely-there finish. This product would be better suited to people who prefer a natural look because even though it is shockingly pigmented, it absorbs rapidly into the skin. Personally, it still works for me because at $4.99 I’m fine with re-application during the day!
For Powder:
I’ve got two fantastic options that can both serve as setting powders but for two distinct results.
Let’s start with the first one, perfect for achieving a beautifully matte contour. I swear by the Essence Sun Club Matt Bronzing Powder for lighter skin. Rated an excellent 93/ 100 on Yuka, this powder has a delightful coconut scent, and it truly excels at mattifying, which is especially beneficial for those with oily skin. On days when I don’t feel like wearing foundation or contour, this powder may be worn alone, providing a sun-kissed tone. Therefore, you can also use it as a setting powder to make your contour stand out more because it’s quite pigmented! Furthermore, the product will not budge and is really affordable.
Then we have the Pro Filt’ R Instant Retouch Setting Powder from Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. For those who don’t mind investing a bit more, there’s a high-quality setting powder perfect for a more professional finish. It’s been rated as ‘Excellent’ with a score of 83/100 by Yuka. This powder offers a range of eight different shades and feels really lightweight. It leaves your skin looking smooth and keeps your makeup in place for a long time. If your goal is to simply touch up and get that matte finish without feeling heavy, this is the one for you. Just remember, it’s best used in conjunction with other makeup because unlike the Essence Powder, it is not intended to be worn on its own.
For Blush:
Here are a few options that decrease in rating yet remain great options:
The Dew Blush by Saie (Shade: Rosy): Yuka rates this beautiful warm rose an impressive ‘Excellent’ with a score of 83/100. The brand offers a total of 6 shades in its lineup. What’s noteworthy is that it’s fragrance-free and delivers a natural finish, despite its impressive pigmentation. Being that it’s a creamy liquid formula, it’s gentle on the skin and doesn’t cause irritation.
The Crème Cheek + Lip Color by Honest (Shade: Peony Pink). Honest offers 6 shades and has recently launched 3 new ones, among them Cotton Candy, a baby pink that I cannot wait to try. The brand is cruelty-free, dermatologist-tested, and vegan. It uses fruit extracts for pigmentation, and it pays off! This creamy blush is easy to manipulate, especially with one’s fingers. While it rates a ‘Good’ at 69/100 on Yuka, it’s worth noting that some of Honest’s other products score even higher, especially products like mascaras and lipsticks, which is more reassuring as they are closer to our body’s entry points where ingestion is more likely.
The only downside of the product? It doesn’t really dry down.
The Soft Pinch blush liquid by Rare Beauty (Shade: Joy) is rated 62/100 on Yuka, which is considered ‘Good.’ You’ve probably heard a lot of positive reviews about these liquid, highly-pigmented blushes, where just a tiny drop is all you need. They certainly do not disappoint! They are an excellent investment as they will last you a long time. They come in a variety of shades. Nine have a radiant finish, which leaves a subtle glow, while four have a matte finish. While I can’t speak for all the shades’ health ratings, this one is a safe choice, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
Now that we’ve covered almost everything about complexion, let’s move on to the final part of this article. In this part, we’ll delve into brows, eyes, lips, and highlights, adding those last touches to obtain a perfect and natural makeup look in every way.
