Tag: nontoxic

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Best Eye Makeup Remover

Posted on by biglittlebites

I scrub my face almost every night, with one of my favorite exfoliators, and while I get super-smooth, clean skin, it doesn’t take care of getting the  eye makeup off.  If you’re wearing eyeliner, eyeshadow and/or mascara, you need something that’s going to break down those makeup particles without irritating your eyes.

What if I told you, the perfect eye makeup remover may already be in your kitchen? If you’re like me, you already have a stash of coconut oil for frying up eggs, cooking popcorn on the stove, coating veggies to roast, using as an oil rub on pans before baking, inside of baking recipes… the list goes on! I’m sure you’ve heard by now, all of the touted benefits to using coconut oil on your skin and hair – but have you tried it to remove that stubborn eye makeup? Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, is moisturizing and contains vitamin E which protects the skin from sun damage and the fatty acids in the oil help break down waxy makeup. Coconut oil is safe to use on the delicate skin around your eyes – simply use a cotton ball or your fingertips, to gently swipe over eye makeup, being careful not to tug on your skin. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser afterwards and follow with your favorite moisturizer.

I don’t love coconut oil as a daily skin moisturizer because it is comedogenic and can clog the pores on your face over time, but have no issues with it around the eye area. I have a couple of favorite facial oils I can’t wait to tell you about in a future Monday Must, so stay tuned!

How to Buy:

Always look for a coconut oil that is raw, unrefined, extra-virgin and preferably organic. Unrefined, means it is the least processed and that all of the nutrients (including those important fatty acids, polyphenols and phytonutrients) are still in tact.

This is one of my favorite, trusted brands:

 

 


woman on bathroom counter holding makeup primer

Best Summer Makeup Primer!

Posted on by biglittlebites

Summertime Makeup Savior!

Have you ever applied your foundation, only to be left looking cakey, greasy, or see it settling into fine lines and pores within an hour? What about a makeup application that melts off your face from being outside in the summer sun? Girls, we all have experienced at least one of these problems!!

Enter my new best friend: Mattifying Primer
woman on bathroom counter holding makeup primer

A Mattifying Primer that Stays Put in Humid Weather

I typically don’t wear foundation and like the idea of allowing our skins natural glow to do most of the work. Going natural, is always the surefire, healthiest way to go. That being said, if there’s a special day or night out, I’m going all out for flawless skin and want the makeup application to last. 

I’d been trying to find a good primer for use in summer weather for years, but wasn’t impressed with what I was seeing on the market. So many of the ingredients are not clean, so I began doing research with standards for healthy living in mind. A good makeup primer for summer weather should help keep makeup in place through sweat and humidity while not clogging your pores or making your makeup look caked on or dry. Humid weather and shiny skin pretty much go hand in hand. Not only is shiny skin in the wrong places not a great look, but it’s basically the perfect surface for makeup to slide right off of! I first tried this primer while traveling in Florida last year and it turned out to be the ultimate product test. I was prepping to attend a 4 hour outdoor event taking place in humid 90 degree weather. The goal? A natural, yet flawless look that would stay put. Mineral Fusion Mattifying Makeup Primer did the job and is now a mainstay in my great-looking skin arsenal! * This post contains affiliate links for products I love and use.  The Big Little Bites blog may earn a small commission from your purchases, at no cost to you. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are unbiased.

While I don’t wear foundation every day, my favorite summer primer has come in handy soooooo many times for both makeup days and no-makeup days. In fact, that’s one of my favorite things about this product – you rub a pea-sized amount between your fingers, glide it over your face and then realize you may not actually need to apply any makeup at all! When you put this clear gel primer on, you’ll notice a reduction in shine right away thanks to Kaolin clay. Once applied, it dries to a soft, matte finish without drying your skin out, and makes your skin so smooth with an airbrushed effect. Basically, it’s magic! You know I’m super cautious about what I put in my body and what goes on it, so I’m excited to share with you that it’s paraben-free, cruelty free, free of artificial colors and hypoallergenic.

Mineral Fusion Mattifying Primer is my favorite summertime primer for controlling shine, but it also delivers antioxidants and a collagen boosting peptide that are anti-aging benefits. I love that this primer is matte, makes my skin feel silky, helps the makeup go on smoothly and keeps my makeup in place. I have been HOOKED ever since! It gives me a blur-effect for photographs and also keeps oily-skin in check. Makeup no longer settles into fine lines, meaning I’m left with a smooth canvas for even makeup application with minimized pores.

Where to Buy the Best Summer Primer

With multiple kids under foot, I gave up only shopping at brick and mortars a while back, and have since declared myself an expert online bargain shopper! The best part of shopping online is that most of the time I end up saving money. There are always deals to be found online, you just have to look. For example, you can buy my fave mattifying primer on Amazon, for $10 less than at Whole Foods! Helloooooo, $10 in your pocket! If you’d rather purchase this product in person, it’s easy to find in the makeup aisle at any Whole Foods store. 

How to Apply Mattifying Makeup Primer

Here’s how I use it:

First, I wash my face with honey, then I use my favorite lactic acid treatment, serums and moisturizer and give them a few minutes to settle in. Next, I pump out a pea-sized amount of Mineral Fusion Mattifying Primer, and rub it between my fingers. I gently pat the gel primer into my skin, concentrating on the T-zone area as well as wherever I see fine lines (crows feet for example). At this point, I either go about my day, or allow the primer to set for a minute before layering foundation on top! I like to use a foundation brush to buff my makeup in, and voila! Skin magic for the day! Here’s another great thing to know – you don’t need oily skin to enjoy this product – it’s great for all ages, because it does’t dry out your skin like the trendy matte foundations do.

woman on bathroom blue counter applying makeup primer

 

 

Exfoliators

Posted on by biglittlebites
 
Today’s “Monday Musts” post is all about exfoliating! Before I can talk about any other skin care or beauty product, this needed to be discussed! Exfoliating your face, is the primer of all primers for product absorption and flawless makeup application. If you skip this easy, at-home step in skincare, you’re truly missing out on experiencing the best skin you could have! Regularly exfoliating the surface of your skin, diminishes age spots and discoloration, removes dead skin cells which clog pores, minimizes pore size and maximizes product absorption from your favorite serums and moisturizers.
 
 
 
I introduced some physical (a hard substance) exfoliators as well as a couple of chemical (acid or enzymes) exfoliators and talked about how these can be used together, separately or as a weekly regime. Physical and chemical exfoliators essentially do the same thing: degunk your skin by removing dead skin cells, stimulating collagen production and thereby diminishing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Our preferred chemical choice is Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) because they are safe to use when pregnant or breastfeeding – while still being very effective. AHA’s work by combining with the structural lipids in the outermost layer of your skin and dissolving them so that the dead skin cells can break away naturally. AHA’s are water soluble, moisturizing and proven to reduce signs of sun damage on your skins surface. We also mentioned a fruit enzyme exfoliator in our Monday Musts, and while we haven’t tested it ourselves yet – we can tell you that these are usually better choices for those with sensitive skin. Another way to increase cell turnover, is through use of physical exfoliators; these can be mechanical (like the tool listed below), or a granular scrub. This type of exfoliation boosts circulation, resulting in a beautiful glow and stimulates collagen production.

Everything we’ve listed is safe in pregnancy and while breastfeeding, and some more natural than others but all relatively clean. We love to reference the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website ” Skin Deep” before using any new product. A great step in moving towards cleaner living, is to first cross-reference your current skin products by typing their brand name in the search bar. When I first started this non-toxic journey about 9 years ago, I was shocked by what some of my most favorite products were rated and what the ingredients in them could do in my body, and it was the catalyst to making over my skincare regimen.
 
Without further ado! Here are some notes from today’s stories, about exfoliators I actually use and love!
 
 
 
  • Physical exfoliator
  • Cross between mild and medium abrasiveness; you can feel the teeny tiny particles (very fine texture) in this creamy cleanser, as you scrub
  • Perfect for everyday
  • Holistic, yet science-based exfoliator detoxifies, smooths and fights free radicals
  • This company says they’re at the forefront of anti-aging of the future
  • Free from gylcols, petrochemicals, silicones, parabens, synthetics, fragrance and animal derivatives
  • Glucomannan from Konjac absorbs oils and impurities, detoxifying delicate facial skin while rejuvenating, smoothing and rebalancing, leaving skin looking radiant
  • Polylactic acid from corn starch gently assists delaminating and dissolving dry and dead skin cells leaving facial skin looking refreshed and revitalized
  • Pink grapefruit rich in free radical fighting antioxidants: vitamin c flavonoids noticeably improve the appearance of skin effected by oxidative stress while polyphenols from peppermint leaf leave facial skin looking calm and soothed
  • Very distinctive scent- it’s not overpowering
  • $67 on Amazon Prime (check for lower pricing on Walmart and Overstocks websites if you’re not in a rush to start polishing)
 
 
  • Physical exfoliator
  • Agressive abrasion, you can feel the difference
  • I use it daily but if you have sensitive skin, 1-3 x a week is suitable!
  • Acure is a skin care company focused on creating products without parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, paraffin, mineral oil or animal testing
  • Natural and organic ingredients: utilizes sea kelp, lemon-peel granules and walnut shell flour to exfoliate and French green clay to decongest pores (if you have a nut allergy, be aware of the walnut)
  • Contains plant-based stem cells (to boost cell turnover – although more research needs to be done on whether plant stem cells actually do anything)
  • Nutritious ingredients like rose hips, aloe, chlorella and argan oil are soothing and replenishing
  • Thick paste, packed with scrubbing particles – only need a pea sized amount
  • Splash your face with water first; I like to keep it in the shower
  • Can’t stop feeling your face after; I’m not kidding – will leave your face baby soft
  • $8.49 on Amazon Prime, $9.99 in stores
 
 
  • Great for those with sensitive skin, and for those who want something more aggressive, thanks to the discs provided
  • Use once a week only
  • Safe and effective at-home skin care tool that provides the similar results as professional, in-office microdermabrasion treatments
  • Combines the power of spinning disc technology with a calibrated vacuum suction to brighten, smooth, and even skin tone and texture
  • Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, blemishes, and enlarged pores
  • It comes with different discs, with varying degrees of abrasiveness and different sizes so you can use it on your body as well
  • $199 (although I found mine for less during a Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!)
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Smooth, slippery serum with no granules
  • Potent formula of  5% purified grade lactic acid (AHA) enhanced with licorice extract to visibly brighten the appearance of age spots and discolorations
  • Non-irritating for sensitive skin, and can use it nightly, or morning and night
  • Company has a commitment to green technology and to produce clean formulas
  • Focus on supplier and ingredient integrity and uses advanced, clinically proven ingredients in conjunction with balancing botanicals
  • Free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban, and contains less than one percent of synthetic fragrances; also vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and comes in recyclable packaging
  • Clinically proven to plump the look of fine lines and wrinkles in as few as three minutes
  • Smooths rough patches and dull surface of skin
  • Treats age spots and discoloring
  • Glowing, smooth, plump skin
  • $105 with Amazon Prime delivery (or you can buy it on the Dermstore website for $89.25 with a subscription thats easy to change or cancel at any time)

* This post contains affiliate links for products we believe in.  Big Little Bites earns a small commission from purchases, at no cost to you. All thoughts and opinions are our own and are unbiased.