fave products // merit beauty makeup

Y’all know I’m a huge fan of clean beauty brands. I’ve sung their praises many a time on this ol’ blog. No surprise I was super pumped to learn about new clean makeup brand from Katherine Power, Merit Beauty, which has created formulas that are not only safe for our skin and bodies, but for the planet is well! Merit is all about minimalist beauty, and they take a “less is more” approach, which I’m all about these days. 2020 was a reset of sorts for most everyone, and I think it made us realize that we don’t need too much, especially when it comes to makeup products. As a mom of a toddler, finding ways to simplify my morning rituals is super important. Cheers to brands that bring us more, for less!

I’ve been trying out some products, and I love that I can achieve my ideal “no-makeup, makeup” look with just a few of Merit’s goodies, and usually only need one hand to do it! Plus, that cute, but sophisticated packaging is pretty easy on the eyes! If your complexion needs a bit of smoothing or evening out, The Minimalist is going to be your new BFF. It’s not technically a concealer or a foundation, but essentially does the job of both, in one compact, elegant stick. Only apply it where you need it, and blend it with their Brush No. 1 (omg so soft!) for that perfectly smooth finish. Flush Balm is a cream tint that melts into your skin, depositing a translucent veil of color without hiding your skin’s texture. It lasts all day, and gives you that subtle, but beautiful, natural flush. When you want a dewy glow without the overkill of sparkle, Day Glow is the highlighting balm for you. It’s also super moisturizing thanks to its vitamin-rich base.

Defined brows and lashes are an essential part of any well-put-together look in my opinion, and Merit’s Brow 1980 gives you volume and fluffiness in a nod to the classic brows of the ‘80s. Love that! It’s also flexible and doesn’t flake, because no one wants crusty brows… Clean Lash is my new go-to daily mascara, because it does everything from lifting to tinting to lengthening your lashes. It helps give you that wide-awake look (so necessary sometimes!) and doesn’t smudge or clump in the least. If you want to finish with a pop of color on your lips, definitely try out any of the fun hues of Shade Slick. It goes on sheer, and is basically a hybrid of an oil and a lip stain. Plus, it’s infused with rosehip oil and shea butter, so your lips will feel nourished all day! Merit is totally clean, vegan, and cruelty-free, but all these products are also EU-Compliant, meaning they are free from 1400 potentially unsafe ingredients. Woot woot!

Don’t miss snagging the super chic Merit bag (comes free with all first orders on meritbeauty.com!). I’m sort of obsessed- it’s the perfect makeup bag, but can also be used as a cute lil tote! Plus, it’s washable, so don’t worry if you have a makeup spillage ;) As if all this isn’t enough, Merit volunteers, donates and supports Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization that provides children in poverty across the United States with diapers, clothing and other basic necessities. At checkout, you can directly donate to Baby2Baby alongside your order. Amazing!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // iS clinical youth serum

I may sound like a broken record at this point, but iS Clinical is legit and I love them. Too much? I’ve raved about their serums, moisturizers & cleansers, but this Youth Serum deserves a post unto itself. It’s that good. The whole youth line is pretty epic to be honest, but the Youth Serum is the cream of the crop, in my opinion. This baby is both acne and wrinkle reducing, has no harsh fragrance, and feels weightless on the skin. The oil-based serum is packed with antioxidants like vitamin A, C & E, making it key for promoting cellular turnover. It not only helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles that you may already have, but also fights off free radicals that may cause signs of premature aging as well. Yes please! My skin feels tighter after applying the serum, yet somehow also rehydrated and nourished. Let’s just say your smooth, glowing complexion will thank you for treating it so well!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // clé de peau beauté the foundation

I don’t typically wear makeup on a daily basis. Or rather- I should say I don’t typically wear makeup in my non-working life. I like to give my skin a break, since it can get a pretty heavy dose of makeup when I’m on set. But every so often, you need a little sprucing, and a natural, lightweight base is a great place to start! I hate anything heavy or a product that looks or feels caked onto my face. No, thank you! My go-to products are usually a simple tinted SPF, but if I’m looking for a little more coverage, I’ve been grabbing Clé de Peau Beauté The Foundation. It still has SPF as well, which is clutch, but this baby is literally the smoothest, most velvety base coat my skin has ever felt! Now this stuff ain’t cheap, but a little goes a long way. I like that it’s totally buildable, so you can get a super light, sheer base, or create a bit more coverage. Pro tip- start with a layer of their Correcting Cream Veil to create a smooth, primed surface before applying foundation. I honestly can’t get over how luxurious this feels on my skin- think of your favorite cashmere knit all cuddled up soft. Totally luminous and radiant skin is calling your name! Now, y’all know I love good skincare, and so what makes The Foundation even better is the fact that it contains the Illuminating Complex EX. This added skincare perk helps moisturize, rejuvenate, retexturize, and visibly repair environmental damage. Love me a multitasker! Clé de Peau honestly makes so many great products- if you need a little extra coverage for redness, blemishes, or dark circles, I highly recommend their concealers as well. Truly the full package!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // ilia beauty super serum skin tint spf 40

I’m pretty minimal when it comes to my makeup routine. I tend to focus more on skincare, so makeup sometimes gets the short end of the stick. Not to mention there’s not always time, with a busy toddler pulling at you in every direction. That’s why multipurpose products and crossover skincare/makeup hybrids are so appealing to me- two birds with one stone? Sign me up!

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 is just that- a clean, light-coverage, tinted mineral SPF 40 serum that boosts skincare benefits. Give it a good shake before using (nature separation can occur due to the super clean ingredients list), and then apply like you would a typical serum. It looks great on clean skin, but I really love it on top of my ILIA True Skin Radiant Priming Serum. And not to worry- although it may look a bit light at first, it’ll adjust to its true color within a minute! I love that the weightless serum leaves my skin looking like actual skin, because there’s nothing worse than a caked-on foundation look, am I right?

Hyaluronic acids, plant-based squalane, and niacinamide work their magic to help even tone, soften fine lines and imperfections, leaving you with glowing, dewy skin. For a little bonus, Skin Tint also creates a natural barrier for your skincare by sealing in hydration, plumping skin, and boosting any antioxidant effectiveness by 200%. Impressive!

A huge part of why I love ILIA products is because they are free of silicones, fragrances, and many other irritating ingredients, making them great for sensitive skin. No pore clogging nasties here. Plus they’re totally vegan and cruelty-free as well. It’s no wonder Skin Tint has won numerous beauty awards, including the famed Allure Best of Beauty Award! I highly recommend trying it out for yourself- it’s worth the hype.

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // osmia organics naked body mousse & oil

If you have dry, sensitive skin, or even if you don’t, I cannot recommend Osmia organics naked collection enough. I’ve been using both the naked body oil and naked body mousse over the last few months, and my skin has felt smooth and hydrated all throughout the dry LA winter.

These Osmia products contain no harsh fragrances, even essential oils, since those can be irritating for those with sensitive skin. The only thing you’ll smell is the scent of the natural base oil blend, which is made of 11 incredibly nourishing oils (nine are certified organic!), including organic jojoba oil, velvety kukui oil, organic rosehip seed oil, and soothing organic hemp seed oil.

I recommend applying the oil on clean, wet skin just after you get out of the bath or shower- it absorbs better this way, and leaves you with silky, smooth skin! The mousse is rich, yet fluffy, and often times combine the two for ah extra dose of nourishing hydration.

Because these are free of irritants, the naked body oil and mousse are safe for use on excema, psoriasis, newborns, and nursing mothers! My toddler gets a nice slathering as I get him out of the bath or shower as well. Baby soft skin for everyone- yes please!

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 


fave products // babor calming rx microsilver concentrate & soothing cream

As someone with sensitive skin, I’m always on the lookout for gentle, yet effective skincare products that have soothing, calming effects. Germany’s leading professional skincare brand Babor’s Calming RX range, designed for dehydrated, irritated and reactive skin types, checks all those boxes and more! I have to say, I’ve been really pleased with the results I’ve gotten after incorporating some of the products into my routine. First up, the Babor Calming RX Microsilver Concentrate is a facial serum (housed in small glass ampoules!) that provides relief and soothing hydrating to sensitive skin. Microsilver powers this intensive formula, which also helps reduce redness and irritation, leaving you with a more calm and balanced complexion. I like to keep a couple ampoules with me in my handbag for whenever my skin needs a little extra love (aka an influx of hydration!). After allowing the serum to be absorbed into the skin, I follow it up with the Babor Calming RX Soothing Cream (or Soothing Cream Rich!). This nourishing moisturizer is enriched with ingredients like plant-based Neuroxyl, antimicrobial Microsilver and fatty acid-packed Evening Primrose Oil that deeply hydrate your skin. It also helps keep your skin’s natural moisture barrier in tact, which is so important for overall skin health! My skin feels velvety smooth and supple after applying, but not greasy in the least. No surprise that Babor products are free from fragrances, synthetic colourants and preservatives, and are cruelty-free as well. Thinking I should add the Babor Calming RX Soothing Cleanser to my routine as well?? I bet I’ll love it as much as I loved the other Babor cleansers I’ve tried!

* This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support!