natural makeup

Whiteheads, blackheads, acne, clogged pores, buildup—so many skin woes can be attributed to poor skin hygiene, further aggravated by a humid climate, poor lifestyle, and sometimes faulty genes. While the "gene" bit cannot be changed (nor should breakouts make you move cities), a better lifestyle and a good skincare routine can fix what is broken. A very important part of "good" skincare is the C of CTM—which at night translates to removing makeup.

While we don’t have a magic mirror who could call us “the most beautiful of them all,” our daily visage tells us how we look clearly. In case all you see is a dull face staring back at you, here is some short-term and long-term help.

Did you know 'vegan' can also apply to beauty products (not just your diet)? You might have seen a skincare product labeled 'vegan' or 'cruelty-free' while out shopping. Sadly, a lot of people get confused about this. Want to know what each label really means?  No worries: It's actually pretty simple to understand. Here, I explain what each term means and why they're certainly not the same thing.

Foundation and blush are great for really giving your skin an overall glow. That said, it can be hard to find all-natural versions at an inexpensive price. With these recipes, you'll never have to worry about running out of your favorite foundation or blush: You'll know a recipe you can make on the fly to replace it in a jiffy!

Foundation

Did you know the average woman eats 7 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime? To make sure you're not eating chemicals, try these crafty recipes for all natural lipstick and lip gloss. The best part is, they'll certainly save you a buck or two in the long run. Lipstick and lip gloss not your thing? You can always give these away if you'd rather not use them. Either that or learn to craft eye makeup instead! Either way, you're bound to look (and feel) fabulous.

Buying makeup is fun, but it can get costly. If you're feeling creative (or low on cash), these recipes will help you craft your own cosmetics in the comfort of your own home. Best of all, you won't have to worry about any toxic chemicals that conventional beauty brands use. After all, these recipes utilize ingredients you can mostly find in your kitchen cabinets. Just be warned: Things might get a little messy!

Nature will always be the best place to get everything; it’s an abundant source of all that is good for us. Why don’t we recall that this also includes items that beautify? Instead of chancing it with ingredients that sound like they emanated from a mad science experiment, you can make your own cosmetics at home, with natural ingredients you already know and love. Here are some great options to get you started on your way to a truly healthy glow:

Sugar Scrub

One of the biggest ironies in life has to be that many of the things created to make us look more beautiful, younger and healthier are actually making us sick. Keeping an eye out for toxins in everyday beauty items can be both exhausting and overwhelming, so we created an easy cheat sheet to make things a little easier. The following are ingredients found in everyday items--even organic and “natural” ones-- you definitely don’t want to put on your body.

1,4-Dioxane: