The Clean Beauty Brands I Actually Use and Recommend

I've been a hair and makeup artist for 18 years now, and for around the last ten of those, my kit has been entirely clean beauty. No harsh chemicals, nothing that leaves skin feeling tight or irritated by the end of a long day, and every brand cruelty-free.

I get asked about this a lot, by brides thinking about their skin in the run up to the wedding, and by clients coming to my 1:1 makeup lessons who want to switch their own routine over. So I thought it was about time I actually wrote down the brands I reach for again and again, the ones that have earned a permanent spot in my kit bag.

Why I made the switch

Wedding morning makeup gets worn for a long day, often twelve hours or more, through happy tears, hugs, dancing, and a toast or two. That's a lot of time for a product to sit on skin, which is exactly why I wanted formulas that were as kind as they were long lasting. Once I made the switch, I never looked back. My clients' skin looks better for it, and I feel better about what I'm putting on their faces.

If you want the fuller picture on what clean beauty actually means, I wrote about that in my post Why Choose Natural and Clean Beauty Products.

Antipodes

Antipodes natural skincare products are scientifically and clinically proven to help promote healthy skin. They contain extracts from sustainably cultivated native plants. Founded in 2006, some of the products are certified organic, all are cruelty-free and free from a long list of synthetic ingredients. Most products are vegan, though some contain manuka honey. Made in New Zealand.

ILIA Beauty

ILIA is one of the few brands I trust completely off the shelf. They're Leaping Bunny certified and genuinely transparent about every ingredient, right down to the trace amounts. Their Super Serum Skin Tint and cream products are what give that natural, your-skin-but-better glow I'm always aiming for, and their lip and cheek balms are brilliant for quick touch ups through a long day.

Nailkind

Not every clean beauty conversation includes nails, but it should. Nailkind's polish is toxin free and up to 90 percent naturally derived, without giving up on the finish. It's a small thing, but it matters, especially for a bridal party who want their hands looking just as polished as everything else on the day.

The full edit

These three are the backbone of my kit, but there's a lot more where that came from. My Clean Beauty Product Guide is my personal pick of the best clean beauty brands out there, three products from each, plus discount codes to help you get started. And if you're keen to actually learn how to apply it all yourself, my Natural Makeup Digital Guide and 1:1 makeup lessons walk you through everything, skincare prep included.

If you'd like to know more about how I built a fully clean beauty kit over 18 years in this industry, you can read my story on my About page.