It’s that time of the year again. The oh-so coveted Sephora Savings Event, from October 27th until November 6th, that so many of us look forward to year after year. From youngsters and makeup newbies to seasoned skincare gurus, our favourite sale has something for everyone! But where to start? The website alone boasts tens of thousands of products, each complete with swoon-worthy packaging. Finding the products and regiment that works for you can feel like an intimidating, impossible task. Which is precisely why we wanted to streamline that process for you.
Consumers, primarily Gen Z and Boomers, are opting for “clean” beauty products.
The clean beauty industry continues to experience a significant uptick in sales on a global level. The demand for cleaner, sustainable beauty products, be it makeup, skincare, or hair products, are well heard. Conscious consumer demands are being met by newer, innovative brands and product launches, such as celebrity makeup and skincare lines. Old-time, cult favourite lines are also expanding to keep the conscious consumer in mind. The reasoning behind this trend? Society as a whole has continued to express the increased desire to know exactly what it is we are putting into our bodies. People are demanding transparency. And brands are stepping up to meet these demands, as society appears to gradually transition towards cleaner, natural-based products.
What constitutes these “clean beauty” products? Well, that depends who you ask. Which deems personal product research important and in our own best interest. Typically, clean beauty is synonymous with safe – for the body of consumers, the environment, and animals,free from toxins and potentially harmful chemicals. As well as environmentally sustainable – such as reducing waste from packaging and production processes.
Sephora’s website features an entire curated page dedicated to their clean products. Products approved as “clean” by the brand feature a green seal of approval visible on the bottom right- hand corner of the product image. To obtain this seal of approval, products may not include the following ingredients which when concentrated to certain levels, may be toxic or harmful to humans and or the environment. They include:
Phthalates Formaldehydes
Oxybenzone and Octinoxate Hydroquinone
Triclosan Coal Tar
Insoluble plastic microbeads
Check out some of our product recs, based on reviews from people just like you.
Moisturizer
Summer Fridays: Rich Cushion Cream Ultra Plumping Moisturizer
This moisturizer is a crowd pleaser, especially for those with drier skin. This rich cream targets loss of firmness and elasticity while intensely hydrating the skin. best of all, it’s vegan and cruelty free!
Skinfix: Barrier+ Skin Barrier Niacinamide Refillable Restoring Gel Cream
This lightweight gel moisturizer receives great reviews all around. It hydrates while containing niacinamide and antimicrobial peptides well suited for those with oily and blemish-prone skin. It is also refillable to avoid unnecessary packaging, which makes this moisturizer more budget friendly and sustainable. A win-win!
Lip Balm/Treatment
Farmacy: Apple Lip Smoothie Vitamin C + Peptide Lip Balm
We love Farmacy for their natural products, many featuring extracts and botanicals that are naturally occurring, like honey and antioxidants. This lip balm infused with vitamin c and peptides sounds so stellar, we’re going to have to try this one out for ourselves. It received astounding reviews all around for its hydrating and plumping properties. We love that it contains apple extract and mango seed butter, which lock in moisture while simultaneously nourishing the lips.
Bonus: not only is this product (and brand!) certified clean, it is also planet-positive, specifically produced using more sustainable, conscientious technology and regulations.
Makeup remover
Farmacy: Clearly Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm
This makeup cleansing balm gently melts away stubborn, even long-lasting makeup. Formulated specifically with sensitive skin in mind, it removes pollutants while gently exfoliating and cleaning pores.
Concealer
Saie: Hydrabeam Brightening + Hydrating Creamy Under Eye Concealer
This light coverage concealer visibly brightens while creating a hydrated, radiant finish. Olive- derived squalene and plant-derived glycerin lock in moisture to leave skin glowing, while tomato extract plumps, brightens and evens skin. It is clean certified and planet-positive.
Eyeshadow
Lawless: The Dreamy Dozen Talc-Free Eyeshadow Palette
This new, limited edition talc-free eyeshadow palette features a variety of taupes, browns, and neutrals for every occasion, from work to girls night out. It scored high amongst Sephora frequents, and the fact that it’s cruelty free and clean are the cherry-on-top.
Blush
Merit: Flush Balm Cream Blush
This Merit cream blush has received quite the publicity in 2023. It received the Allure 2022 Clean Beauty Award and is having a major moment on social right now. Foolproof and creamy, this blush comes in a variety of colours for all skin tones. It is vegan, cruelty-free, and even includes recyclable packaging!
Bronzer
Drunk Elephant: D-Bronzi™ Bronzing Drops with Peptides
Another crowd pleaser, the Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops are a must-try. Rich in antioxidants and peptides, this bronzy serum promotes a healthy skin barrier while covering uneven texture. As always, this bronzer is vegan and cruelty free – which we love!
Finishing touches
Fenty Beauty: Cherry Treat Conditioning + Strengthening Lip Oil
Social media is going wild for lip oils, and you should too. This strengthening ands conditioning lip oil is the final touch to any look. It is perfectly hydrating and strengthens the lips moisture barrier for smoother looking lips. It is infused with sweet cherry oil, wild cherry extract, and jojoba seed and reship oils to add an antioxidant boost. We love that this product is vegan, clean, and cruelty free.
Sources:
sephora.com
Photo by cottonbro studios on www.pexels.com
Written By Maddie Conn