I recently came across three new-to-me brands that I can’t get enough of! I’ve always felt very grateful for having the opportunity to discover new beauty and wellness brands through the blog, and I’m currently raving about these finds to all of my friends and family. 

Have you heard of The Seaweed Bath Co., Kindred, and Alora? They all offer nontoxic, effective and affordable skincare and self-care products that are worth trying ASAP if not. The Seaweed Bath Co. is available at Target and Amazon — hello, convenience! — and Kindred’s profits benefit Coalition Against Trafficking in Women. I love that I can feel good about contributing to such an important cause. 

Read about these new favorites below, and add a comment if any of them catch your eye, too! Truly, MKR

One. The Seaweed Bath Co. Whole Seaweed Detox Bath. I basically fly through bath salts and soaks in our house, so and I’m always eager to try new brands. I picked this one up on a recent Target run and couldn’t love it more. Don’t be surprised if you see me gifting it to friends and family soon too — it’s that good. 

Two. Kindred La Femme Body Oil. This luxurious, moisturizing body oil is perfect for everyday use; it absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling amazing. With ingredients like almond oil, shea oil, coconut oil, rose geranium oil and lavender oil, it’s the perfect addition to your nontoxic beauty routine. Added bonus: a percentage of Kindred’s profits benefit Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.

Three. The Seaweed Bath Co. Exfoliating Detox Scrub. Another goodie by The Seaweed Bath Co., this scrub uses a super-find blend to gently exfoliate the surface of your skin with 65+ vitamins and minerals. It smells wonderful and feels amazing while it’s working its magic. 

Four. Kindred Polish Cleanse. I can’t rave enough about this product by Kindred Skincare Co. The blend of mango butter and green tea butter work together to soothe and moisturize my sensitive skin. It’s pretty versatile too; the citrus peel and fig seeds gently exfoliate the top layer of skin. Check the list of ingredients to believe it for yourself; it’s a gem of a product. 

Five. Kindred Bâton Rosé. This little stick can be used on the face and body for a little shimmer and color for the cheeks, lips, shoulders, decollete, arms, etc. It’s made of all organic ingredients and smells divine; mango butter, evening primrose oil, calendula oil, rose geranium oil and mineral powder.

Six. The Seaweed Bath Co. Firming Detox Cream. Always on the hunt for a good cellulite cream? Me. Too. This one boasts organic and sustainably harvested seaweed that helps skin’s elasticity. It’s rich in antioxidants and hyaluronic acid that locks in moisture and nourishes your skin all over. 

Seven. The Seaweed Bath Co. Micro-Scrub. This micro-scrub makes it easier to remember to exfoliate more regularly — it’s super gentle and gives me instant results. By sloughing away dead skin and evening skin tone, I’m one step closer to that glow I’m always striving for. 

Eight. The Seaweed Bath Co. Purifying Detox Facial Bar. If you want a 2-in-1 nontoxic cleansing bar, this is the product for you. It’s gentle enough for the face, yet nourishing enough for the entire body. I’ve stocked up on a few of these for the guest bathroom to pamper guests! 

Nine. Alora Bimbi Candle. Three of my favorite scents come together in a lovely, made-in-the-USA candle by Alora — lavender, chamomile, and bergamot. The result is citrusy and light, and it smells perfect in my kitchen while cooking. 

Ten. The Seaweed Bath Co. Day Cream. This lightweight face cream is the perfect addition to your daily beauty routine. It feels absolutely amazing while you apply it, offering a subtle, never overpowering scent. Again, this one’s available at Target — so convenient and affordable! 

Eleven. The Seaweed Bath Co. Detox Body Wash. Here’s a great daily wash that works to detox and cleanses — minus all the nontoxic additives that so many of the leading brands have. Thanks to green tea extract, French clay, spirulina, coconut oil and olive oil, your skin is left moisturized, fresh and squeaky clean. 

The number one question I get on Instagram, like get asked at least once a day, is “what’s your makeup routine?” And most specifically what eyeshadow do I wear. This question always makes me laugh, not because it’s a bad question at all, but because I have a VERY low key makeup routine.  In fact, my routine is one that I could do with my eyes closed in less than ten minutes.  And it’s a routine that NEVER really changes.

Eventually, I’m going to just bite the bullet and do an Instagram video for it, but I thought I’d share it here as well.  Before I get too deep into the specifics let me first say this, especially if you’re new around here.  I have worked hard over the years to de-toxify anything and everything I put on my face and my body.  The body is our biggest organ, and there are VERY few restrictions here in the US concerning the garbage they can put into our beauty products so I urge you to do some research and begin making the switch.  If you want to read more about what spurred that journey and the general steps I’ve taken check out this post. And no I am not 100% green or non-toxic, but I’m super close.  I’d say I’m at about a 92% and hope to be at 100% very soon.

Now on to the details. I’ve broken it down below, but I will say one of the best things you can do for your beauty routine and wardrobe routine is get a color analysis done.  What I mean by that is there are color experts that will do a few simple tests to help you understand what tones look right on you and which ones don’t. For me, even though I’m super pale skinned, cool tones work best with my complexion.  So if I want to go with a pink or a red, it needs to have those underlying blue tones rather than orange tones.  Understanding this changed how I dress and what makeup colors I choose.  You can take these quizzes or test online, but I did mine in person where the expert actually holds up colors to you and you can see your skin tone actually change so if you can do it in person, definitely go that route. 

Another thing to note is it took me a LONG time to understand what works on my very sensitive and fickle skin that has been the bane of my existence since the dawn of time.  Dramatic, yes a bit, but I have serious envy for people with perfect complexions.  That’s not me, nor will it ever be me, but I have figured out what to use that doesn’t cause a flare up.  I’m saying this because it’s a journey and what works for me won’t necessarily work for you. So test the waters and play around, but once you find what works hold on to that shade or brand for dear life!

Lastly, get some good makeup brushes and take the time cleaning them! I used to be so lazy about cleaning my brushes, but I found cleaning them weekly helps keep my skin clear.  My go-to brushes are actually from Young Living as well as the Thieves Foaming Hand Soap I use to clean them with.  Yes, that essential oils company has an amazing non-toxic makeup line now and it’s pretty great (read more about that HERE). The other thing I would 100% say get is this little rubber mat-thiny that you suction to your sink and clean your brushes with.  Game changer! 

And that’s it.  I hope the step by step below helps, and I hope this finally answers all those DM’s I haven’t gotten around to answering! Truly, MKR

Step One: Beauty Counter One Touch Concealer under my eyes. I show my tiredness and age under my eyes, so this has been a game changer and one of the most important tools in my arsenal.  Make sure you go at least 1 shade lighter than your skin as you want this to actually brighten.

Step Two & Three: Bare Minerals Foundation & Bronzer.  I’ve been using Mineral Makeup for over a decade now and it just works for me.  I put the foundation all over my face and a bit on my neck, followed by the bronzer.  I then take a q-tip and go through my eyebrows and hairline removing makeup that got into those places.

Step Four: Eye Shadow. I first start with a liquid eye shadow in this shade and rub slightly over my eye lid.  I’ve found that starting with a liquid eyeshadow allows my powder eyeshadow to stay put all day.  Then I mix a few different colors from this large Beauty Counter Pallete.  I start with Espresso mixed with a bit or bordeaux and maybe a bit of Canyon if I feel it’s coming off to brown.  I brush this all over my eye lid.  Followed by this lighter brown in my crease to blend the two a bit.  If it’s an eyeliner day I actually just use my eyeliner brush and blend the black and the bordeaux for an eyeliner.  Then I take one small swipe of the gilded and go over my entire lid to give it a bit of shimmer. And finish it off with Eggshell in the very crease of my eyebrow, where I want my eyebrow to point up, right in the center.  And then a bit in the corner of my eyes.  Eggshell really helps to brighten it up. Beauty Counter has switched up their shadows since I took this pic so now I use this pallet and this one and have MORE than enough colors for what I need to do.

Step Five: Because I guarantee a ton of eyeshadow has now fallen below my eyes I take my foundation brush and wipe it off under my eye.  I then layer another layer of the One Touch Concealer.  Patting, not rubbing the One Touch Concealer in.

Step Six: Brush my entire face and neck with Young Livings Savvy Minerals Mineral Veil in the lightest shade possible.  This is basically a finishing powder.

Step Seven: Beauty Counter’s Volumizing Mascara.  I LOVE this mascara.  It doesn’t flake, and really does volumize.

Step Eight: YSL Tropical Pink Lipstick.  This is my signature pink, and one I cannot find a different version of.  I love this color so much, like so much! And then I top it all off with my favorite lip gloss in Opal Moonstone and voila, I’m done!  Pretty easy right?!?