Safety: Free of parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, talc, PEGs, phthalates, solvents, irritants, and allergens
Known for: Making natural makeup fun (and safe for sensitive skin)
Tower28’s sunny, beachy vibe is a callback to its namesake: the crossroads of the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach. The bright lucite packaging is an Insta girl’s dream, and the formulas are like grown-up versions of your ’90s beauty favorites. The line goes beyond the classic hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and dermatologist-tested trinity that are standard for products aimed at sensitive skin. Inspired by the founder’s journey with eczema, the products have been formulated so that they’re all free of sensitizing irritants (like essential oils) and full of calming ingredients. Luckily, none of the fun has been removed—as you’ll see with the squishy Shine On Lip Jelly glosses and Beach Please Luminous Tinted Balm compact.
Safety: Non-GMO and free of parabens, petroleum, pesticides, propylene or butylene glycols, silicones, talc, carbon black, phthalates, sulfates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, artificial dyes, and synthetic fragrances
Sustainability: Operates with solar and wind power where possible, uses recycled packaging, prints with soy ink, and provides support to EWG
Known for: Skin care backed makeup and being one of the O.G. organic brands
Juice Beauty needs no introduction. It’s one of the first organic skin care brands to have set the standard for the rest of the industry. Its ingredients are USDA-certified organic, meeting one of the most rigorous organic farming standards in the world. The brand also monitors its clean promise from start to finish, from solar-powered facilities to cutting down on fuel waste. Plus, uts products deliver noticeable results and are generally a joy to use. Juice’s eventual expansion into makeup was well worth the wait. The formulas are just as good as its signature serums and peels, while maintaining its organic standards. For great takes on the basics, we recommend the lightweight Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation and feathery Ultra-Natural Mascara.
Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation
As much as the beauty industry claims that makeup is a tool for empowerment, for me, it’s more of a crutch. Sure, there’s something “empowering” about the fact that covering my acne makes it easier to focus on my work. A red lipstick gets me in the headspace to have a fun night out, and thick winged liner makes me feel like the ’60s It-girl I want to be. But when it gets down to it, I use it to feel prettier and to cover what society has drilled into my head are my flaws.
I’m not ashamed to say that. I don’t think wanting to look a certain way makes me any less intelligent, or less of a feminist, but it is exhausting. Every day, I wake up and spend at least 30 minutes getting myself ready for the day ahead. I layer on a full-coverage foundation, along with concealer, blush, highlighter, brow gel, liner, and mascara, and slowly sculpt myself into the face I recognize. I started wearing makeup when I was 12—my mom generously let me wear neon Urban Decay eyeshadow to middle school—but it wasn’t until high school, when my acne began and my self-esteem plummeted, that it became something I couldn’t live without.
I’ve struggled with cystic acne for a decade now. I had a brief stint of clear skin thanks to Accutane in 2018, but it returned with a vengeance last year. And after a particularly brutal breakout this winter left me covered in red scars, it hurt to look in the mirror. This sounds dramatic, I know, but if you’ve ever experienced it, you’ll understand. I’ve long depended on makeup to make myself feel like myself, and not like I’m stuck in a bad dream or a teenager’s body.
I refuse to run to the corner store without at least a light layer of tinted moisturizer and mascara. Even when I have nowhere to go I’ll pile on some foundation and liner so my heart doesn’t sink every time I catch a glance in a reflective surface. On the off chance I do pop out for an errand without makeup on, I find it hard to make eye contact with anyone I pass.
Cut then to a few weeks ago. In early March, I woke up as usual and put on my regular face, paying extra attention to my cat eye since I hadn’t slept well amid the growing anxiety about coronavirus. I checked my email before stepping out the door to see a message that, like most of the country, my team was told to work from home until the situation got better. I worked from home in a full face that day. The next day, I applied my foundation as usual, grasping at some semblance of normalcy and wanting to look good for a Zoom meeting.
It went on like this for days until I woke up one morning exhausted by my new normal. With the reality sinking in that social distancing didn’t have a foreseeable end, I didn’t reach for my makeup bag all day. I told myself it was a pledge to let my skin breathe, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that painstakingly covering every spot on my face (probably about 25 at last count) felt like such a waste of energy.
One month later I can count on both hands the amount of times I’ve worn a full face of makeup during all this. I started wearing it only out on runs to the store or days where I have video meetings, but I’ve slowly tapered it off to about once a week. I wear mascara some days, and a light coat of foundation when I have Zooms scheduled with beauty brands (I’ve since abandoned that when just meeting with my team). Once a week I’ll treat myself to the whole shebang—foundation, liner, blush, mascara—just to feel like myself. Plus, playing with my products is legitimately fun—and, fine, I need one day a week to take cute selfies.
How I look most days now.
Bella Cacciatore
But on most days, I’m barefaced. It doesn’t seem to be helping my skin—thanks to a diet of stress and sugar, I’m breaking out just as much as usual. But I’m not stressing over it the way I usually would. Sure, I still don’t love what I see in the mirror (I’m not sure I ever will), but I’m slowly moving toward something resembling acceptance. Some days are better than others. I’ll consider swearing off foundation forever only to wake up the next day ready to cake myself in it. Currently, I have two giant red zits, but it doesn’t feel like the end of the world. Maybe because so many other things do.
Going makeup free has really hammered home the point I’ve always told myself but never fully believed: No one is looking at you. It’s become shockingly apparent that everyone is so caught up in stocking up on bread, enjoying their daily walks, or trying to make it to work without contracting a raging virus to judge me for leaving the house with visible pimples. In all the chaos, it’s become a strange comfort. I’ve even started to appreciate things I’ve never noticed: how dewy my skin is when I’m not suffocating it with foundation, or how green my eyes are in certain lights.
Does this mean I’ll retire my Charlotte Tilbury when this is all over? No. But it’s nice to know that if I do, the world will keep on turning.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore.
Of course! My mom was all about skin care and taking care of your skin, so no matter what, I wash my makeup off at night. When I was little, her signature look was a nude lipstick with lip liner and a smoky brown eye, and it was something I’ve always loved as well. Today, I still rock a darker lip liner with nude lipstick in my looks.
What beauty rules do you think are BS?
I think you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg for a good serum in your skin care routine. I also think keeping your skin care routine simple is the best thing to do for your skin. Having too many steps can actually have the opposite results.
You’re stranded on a desert island. What are the three products you bring with you?
I can’t live without MAC Lip Pencil in Cork, it’s the perfect nude liner. I’d also bring a rose water mist—I love all of them—and a moisturizing lip balm.
It all depends on my mood, but currently my go-to has been ’90s Madonna.
What’s your favorite way to take a moment for yourself?
There are two things I do: I’ll either like lay down in the grass at my secret nature spot in L.A. (I’ll never tell), or take a long bath.
If you could switch beauty routines with anyone, who would it be and why?
If I could switch beauty routines with anyone, it would be the Mexican singer Irma Serrano. Her beauty looks were so stunning!
What’s the last Instagram hole you went down?
I don’t typically go into Instagram holes often, but recently I was looking at all of the fall runway shows. My favorite designers from the season were Vivienne Westwood which was such a beautiful show. I also loved Mugler, Schiaparelli, and Giambattista Valli.
Who are the women who inspire you the most right now?
There are tons of women throughout my life who have inspired me, especially my mom, aunts, and grandmother. All of them are strong and have sacrificed a lot for their families, which inspires me every day. Also, Alma Har’el, who is a director doing a lot of amazing things for women in film at the moment.
Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.
How to clean makeup brushes the right way might seem obvious, but it’s a little more complicated than just wash, rinse, and repeat. Yes, it can be a bit of a pain, but washing your brushes regularly makes a world of difference. Considering they’re an essential part of your makeup routine—what good is the perfect foundation if you have nothing to apply it with?—it’s worth taking the time to learn to treat them right.
In addition to looking better on your vanity, clean brushes actually perform better. Dirt, oil, and makeup buildup can weigh down brush hairs, making them harder to work with—which can mean streaky foundation and patchy blush down the line. Dirty brushes can also harm your skin as well. “We know that makeup brushes grow bacteria and fungus,” says Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta skin care. That bacteria paired with the aforementioned dirt and oil can lead to breakouts and even dermatitis in some cases.
In order to avoid that, we asked Ciraldo and makeup artist Kasey Spickard to share their best tips for keeping brushes squeaky clean. Read on to have all your questions answered, including how often to wash your brushes, how to do it, and the best cleansers for the job.
How often to clean makeup brushes
No offense, but you’re probably not washing your brushes often enough. “Clean brushes are essential,” says Spickard, who says that ideally you should be disinfecting your brushes after every use with a liquid cleanser (this is non-negotiable if you’re a makeup artist). But he gets that’s not exactly realistic for must of us and says a deep clean once a week is fine. Ciraldo recommends giving them a good scrub at least once every two weeks, more if there’s visible makeup buildup, and to be extra diligent about cleaning your makeup sponges, like Beautyblenders, since they’re more prone to bacteria.
What to use to clean makeup brushes
Katie Friedman
You have a few options when it comes to what to use to wash your brushes. Spickard prefers to use a liquid brush cleanser like Cinema Secrets between uses since it’s “able to penetrate the bristles and really get in and break up the makeup.” However, he warns that the liquid cleanser can leave a bit of a residue, so he likes to use the Beautyblender Solid Blendercleanser for his weekly deep-clean. “I also always have 70% rubbing alcohol with me,” he says. “It’s great at removing things like waterproof mascara that even the best brush cleaners struggle with. It’s also the best disinfectant and cleaner to truly sanitize your brushes.”
But you don’t have to buy a separate soap for your brushes if you prefer not to—the shampoo hanging out in your shower will likely do the trick. Just make sure it’s sulfate-free, says Ciraldo. “While you want to rinse the brushes out thoroughly, it’s good to avoid sulfates that may possibly leave a residue on the brush and lead to some irritation or pore clogging.” Some pros also recommend gentle dishwashing liquid for a thorough clean.
Hold your sponge under running water until it expands in size.
Step 2: Work in Your Soap
If you’re using a liquid soap, squeeze some directly on the sponge and work it in by massaging with your fingers, or up against the palm of your hand to break up makeup. If you’re using a bar soap, rub the sponge directly on the soap to work up a lather. Beautyblender makes specialty liquid and bar soap, but many pros also swear by dish soap for a less expensive option.
Step 3: Rinse
After the sponge is nice and soapy, rinse it out under running water. Make sure to gently squeeze it while you do so, so no soap gets stuck inside.
Method 2: Clean Your Makeup Sponge in a Soak
If you’re sponge is really dirty—we’re talking can’t remember what color it was when you bought it—then it could benefit from soaking a little longer. This method is a favorite of celebrity makeup artist Kathy Jeung.
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Step 1: Prepare Your Soap Bath
Either in your (clean) sink or a small bowl, mix up some water and liquid soap. If you’re extra worried about killing bacteria, boil some water and use that.
Step 2: Soak
Place your sponge in the mixture, and let it sit for a few minutes. This will loosen and break up the makeup, according to Jeung.
Step 3: Spot Clean and Dry
After time’s up, give your sponge a few squeezes to squish the soap solution through. Add a little more soap to any areas that need some extra love, and massage it on your palm. Then, thoroughly rinse under warm running water.
Method 3: Clean Your Makeup Sponge in the Washing Machine
This method is great for aspiring makeup artists, or those of us who have multiple sponges on hand. By tossing them in the washing machine, it’s super easy for you, it just takes having enough sponges to make it worth it.
While drugstore products are better than ever, there’s something to be said about the joy a fancy palette or lipstick can bring. And nothing says luxury like the best Chanel makeup. Each glossy black compact embossed with those signature interlocked C’s feels like a little treasure—and even if you can’t afford a bag or pair of shoes, a lipstick lets you in on the fantasy.
Where a classic, elevated look can often give off a stuffy feel, such isn’t the case with Chanel Beauty. Even in the age of millennial pink everything, it’s still managed to capture the hearts of it girls and makeup artists around the world. (Although, we will say, its killer Instagram presence and truly innovative formulas certainly don’t hurt.) But while beauty products are the easiest way into the brand, they aren’t exactly inexpensive—which is why our editors are often asked if they’re actually worth the money. The short answer is yes. In this case, you’re not just paying for that coveted label, the formulas are consistently top notch and feel both wearable and high-fashion.
Ahead, we asked Glamour editors to share the best Chanel makeup products they’ve ever tried. From a lipstick that goes on like the prettiest, sheerest popsicle stain to a mascara that delivers all the volume without any of the flakes, here’s what’s absolutely worth spending your money on from Chanel.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
