Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I’ve gotten quite a positive response on my this recent look I posted (pictured above), and I wanted to give the details of this look a permanent home here.

First, let’s talk about skin.

It is my personal belief that “good” makeup truly doesn’t matter half as much as taking care of your skin. Without a smooth canvas, your painting will run into complications…and that’s what I consider makeup. It is art. You (or if someone else is doing your makeup, they) are the artist. And any artist, makeup or any other medium, you need a clean slate to begin.

I always cleanse my skin with the SKINCANDO Wild Honey Cleanser. It doubles as a hydrating mask if left on for a longer period of time, but it is also the only cleanser I have found that works for my sensitive skin. Ever since I started using it, my skin has been miraculously acne-free (knocks on wood), and I do not believe in coincidences.

Next, I’ve been alternating between two different toners, depending on what I feel like my skin needs that day. The two that I alternate between are very special to me. First, the Earthwise Beauty Three Roses’ Face Mist. Potent with roses from Iran and Turkey, this magical mist is an olfactory delight and historic wonder.

The other toner I reach for just as often is the SKINCANDO Sage + Gold Toner. This powerful, luxurious mist is both anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, infused with real gold powder which offers both medicinal and aesthetic-pleasing benefits. Whenever I apply this lovely product to my skin, I always feel like my skin is extra clean (but never tight or stripped) and soothed.

The moisturizer that I used in this look is one I have been using regularly for over a year now. The Earthwise Beauty Ambrosia Do Cerrado Liquid Moisturizer is not only the product that converted me to Earthwise Beauty to begin with, it is also a product that I can say with absolute certainty that I use daily. If not in the morning, I will use it during the evening. I alternate between two morning moisturizers, the Ambrosia Do Cerrado and another by SKINCANDO, the Liquid Silver SPF 15. I will link both below.

However, back to the Ambrosia Do Cerrado, since this is the product I used in this particular look. I adore how this potent product provides my skin with all sorts of vitamins and nourishing ingredients. To name a couple, the hand-extracted pequi fruit oil from the Cerrado savanna in Brazil is high in vitamins C, B1, B2, and beta-carotene (which the body then converts into vitamin A), or the buriti oil, which is prized for its anti-aging capabilities and radiance-boosting vitamins.

Now, let’s get to makeup, shall we?

I rarely wear foundation anymore, unless my skin is going through a pretty gnarly hormonal breakout. Luckily, that’s been rare as of late. Instead of foundation, I’ve been using the ILIA Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 in shade ST3 Balos. This is one of my favorite SPFs and skin tints because it protects my skin from the sun while hydrating and soothing my skin with niacinamide, squalene, and hyaluronic acid. Plus, it’s fragrance-free, which is always something I look for with my sensitive skin.

Next, I applied a little ILIA Beauty True Skin Serum Concealer in shade Chicory. I love how creamy and easy to blend this concealer is – depending on the day, I don’t even need any powder to set it. It creates the perfect dewy coverage all by itself.

Onto one of my favorite products (and brands!): the blush. In particular, the Kjaer Weis Cream Blush. When I first saw the shade Sun Touched, I admit, I fell in love with the name but I was afraid it was too dark for me. Now, it is my go-to. It’s Certified Organic, which puts me at ease since I use it literally every single day, and I adore using it on my lips and eyes as well for a complete monochrome look. If you thought Kjaer Weis couldn’t possibly get any better – they can. Every single product of theirs is refillable in a metal, recyclable tin. Now that’s the kind of sustainability and consideration we like to see. It is the future.

Next, I take my Kjaer Weis Bronzer Brush and I lightly dust some of the Powder Bronzer in shade Bask on face to accentuate my features. This is my favorite bronzer that I also use as a contour, to carve out a fabulous jawline or some cheekbones so sharp they’d slice you just at a glance. For a lovely monochrome look (and huge time-saver), I use this in the crease on my eyelids too.

We’ve reached brows! We’ll be done in no time. Lately, I have been using the Kosas Air Brow. I use the shade Soft Brown at first to define and give a bit more volume to my brows, then I will go in with the Clear shade and lightly paint on a coat to hydrate and hold my brows all day.

An eye look this radiant and glowy could only come from my favorite sustainable beauty brand: Athr Beauty. This brand is another one that has revolutionized the sustainable and ethical beauty field, paying attention to every meticulous detail, from safe ingredients to truly recyclable packaging. In this look, I used the Athr Beauty Crystal Grid Gemstone Palette. First, I went in with the shade Energy, a lovely copper to bring out my blue eyes, in the crease. Next, I patted the shade Diamond on my lid to make them pop and add definition to my eyes. Unfortunately, this palette is no longer for sale on their site, but I will provide a link to their Eye Collection so you can see what other divine, gemstone-infused palettes Athr Beauty has available.

I’m not the best at eyeliner, and whoever knows me can attest that I will always be the first to admit it. I’m trying and learning, and I want to get better. However, when I want a more natural look such as this one, I tend to go light on my eyeliner. For this look, I used the Alima Pure Natural Definition Eye Pencil in the shade Ink. This is one of the few eye pencils that does not irritate the skin around my eyes, and I’m honestly thankful I found this product.

Before applying mascara, I always do this (in my opinion) crucial step. Yes, it is crucial. Mascara, especially waterproof mascara, dries out your lashes. This can result in lashes not reaching their full length, falling out easier, or even hindering lash growth. The Lashfood Conditioning Collagen Lash Primer works to prevent those negative effects. It has been a staple in my makeup bag for for about three years now, and I can say with certainty that it is responsible for my long, luscious lashes. You can see below in the photo.

Finally, the lashes. I’ve been alternating between two mascaras as of late, but in this look, I used the Ere Perez Cosmetics Avocado Waterproof Mascara. This mascara is the only waterproof mascara I have found that doesn’t irritate my eyes and make them water. I’ve been figure skating competitively since I was six years old – I’ve had lots of time to do loads of research.

My highlighter is something that I am truly infatuated by. Not only does it make me feel like my glowy goddess self, but it’s ingredients are also designed to act more like a serum than your regular highlighter. I use the Maya Chia Beauty Highlight of the Day Illuminating Face Serum in the shade Afternoon Delight. It is the perfect peachy-pink, golden glow which could only be described as the shade you turn when your crush tells you how beautiful you are. That absolute blissful, flushed, floating-on-a-cloud glow.

Last but certainly not least, the lips. I kept it very simple with my lip look this time since I wanted the attention to be drawn to my eyes. The Henné Organics Lip Tint in shade Bare provides that perfect flush of color to your pout while hydrating your lips with luxurious, nourishing, and 89% organic ingredients. I greatly appreciate this product’s efficiency and the company’s transparency with their ingredients.

There is one other product I wanted to highlight in this shoot, but it isn’t quite what you’d expect. I desire this to be a completely transparent space with you, and I want you to be able to try products that I love and trust.

I’m sure you see on my social media feed, I often don’t post photos of myself when I’m smiling. I actually was voted Best Smile in high school for Senior Superlatives, yet I rarely post any smiling photos – isn’t that funny? I think it stems from a bit of lack of confidence, to be honest. Now, numerous factors have affected this growth and newfound self-love and appreciation, but having a clean, white, bright smile definitely helps. I have been using the OJOOK Toothpaste with nHA and Bamboo Salt for over four months now and I have noticed a fresher, brighter, healthier smile. With my allergies and sensitive skin, finding a safe, effective toothpaste has been difficult. I’m really happy I’ve found OJOOK.

I hope you enjoyed me walking you through this look. Thank you for your time and for being here. I appreciate you so much.

All my love,

Miranda Renée 🧜‍♀️