Feeling a little bit different this year. I have a lot less holding me back. As an almost twenty-nine year old I feel like I am finally okay with growing up. That doesn’t mean I’m going to ditch my old ways of watching cartoons for fun or collecting things I think are cute but more that I’m starting to realize I want to be seen as more refined. I want to start wearing more of my heart on my sleeve and that’s where Thredup comes in. I’ve fallen in love with 70s fashion. Flared jeans and striped tees are the bees knees. I gravitate towards warm oranges, pinks and earthy tones. I’m a sucker for ringer necklines and high-waisted pants. I’m still learning about my body type and what looks best on my figure aside from those sorts of things.
I started revamping my old wardrobe recently and it feels so liberating. I started only buying clothing that sparks joy in me. Going into this new year I want purchase less new and buy more second-hand. ThredUP is where I like to browse for thrifty finds. Buying online is sort of tricky though especially when you still buy from the juniors section..(trust me I’m trying my best to find cute clothing in other departments.)
First impressions.
I made my first purchase from Thredup back in July of last year. It was easy to surf their site but I think my measurements were off when I made my order. As I said before Women’s sizing is difficult to understand when switching from juniors. I purchased a size two thinking it would be the best bet but it was still too large. Maybe I’ll grow into them eventually. That being said when I purchase again from them I will try their juniors department. I could have returned them and I probably should have but its too late now. Learn from my mistake.
All and all the package came neatly bound and arrived within the time-frame it said it would. The pants looked brand- new when I tried them on. The only beef I have with their site is that there is no Men’s section yet. My husband would love to shop there too. I hope its something they are considering in the future.
screen of Thredup, to show different departments
Work towards saving our planet.
Thredup is a wonderful way to help save and be sustainable. They have over 35,000 different brands to choose from. Not only do they sell amazing clothes for unbelievable prices but they sell shoes, bags and accessories. Whats not to love? I’m excited to buy more from them. If you’re interested in checking them out remember to check out their coupon codes to save even more! I hope to show off a haul or two this year when I finally get back into photography but until then I hope you have fun shopping second-hand <3
For two years I’ve been struggling to find a liquid eyeliner that works for my sensitive eyes. It took a lot of digging and research to figure out what would work for my delicate skin. I am allergic to phenoxyethanol which is in nearly everything on the market sadly. I have very sensitive skin as of late. Finding eye makeup that works without causing irritation is rough. I am here to talk to you about what I found that works for me and why the other eyeliners didn’t.
My allergy.
My allergic reaction to phenoxyethanol causes watery eyes and peeling skin. It’s called blepharitis. I also have dry eyes and It’s kept me from wearing makeup for a long time. When your makeup contains preservatives and fragrances your eyes are most likely going to water and itch. When looking for an eyeliner that doesn’t sting be sure to research the ingredients that are within the product you are using. Not only in your makeup but in your skincare as well. That could be causing part of the problem. (Check out my article here to learn more about parabens.)
Finding the right eyeliners for you.
Not all liquid eyeliners are equal. So how do you choose the right one? First off going the clean route will help you narrow down your options quicker. With clean beauty the products are formulated without parabens, mineral oils, metals and formaldehydes. It’s safer for you and the environment. While clean beauty seems pretty narrowed down you still have to be careful when finding what’s worth purchasing. Like I said before I have an allergy to a preservative phenoxyethanol and it still falls under clean beauty. It can be found naturally in green tea but also as a synthetic solvent so you have to be careful to avoid certain additives. Listen to your skin and do what’s best for you.
Next try only looking at products that are Cruelty Free. When they aren’t tested on animals that just means that the ingredients are most likely safer for you and your environment. Plus knowing that your makeup didn’t harm anyone or anything will give you peace of mind.
Lastly do research into smaller brands that are not under bigger brand umbrellas. These brands are called Indie Brands. Most of these businesses are independently run and their owners do more than just putting their name on a product. They run their businesses fueled by passion and care.
Following these guidelines can really help you find beauty essentials that you actually find pride in and feel safe using.
1.Honest Beauty – Liquid Liner.
My favorite liquid eyeliner is the Honest Beauty Liquid liner in black. It’s made without silicones, petrochemicals, PEGs, parabens and is completely plant derived. It’s cruelty free and available at Target, Ulta and on their home website. I love the sleek packaging, the matte finish and the short natural ingredients list. It’s been my go to ever since discovering it back in 2020. This liner is comparable to ones I’ve used in the past for my eye look. It claims to last for up to 8 hours but I think that’s a bit of a stretch. It doesn’t flake though. Smudges are inevitable in humid areas like where I’m from so be aware. I don’t know if I’d recommend this liner to people with really oily eyelids but prepping the skin could help combat that. Did I mention that Honest Beauty is founded by Jessica Alba?
As for the eyeliner pencil I use at the moment is one by Pixi by Petra. The Eye Define Waterline in black is my favorite. My eyes had no irritation while using it for the first time and it has incredible staying power. I just picked it up this week and it’s already a staple in my collection. I love it’s creamy formula. It’s cruelty free, paraben free and Ophthalmologically tested. It’s a great choice for a smoky eye and a dramatic look.
Before I developed my allergies I used so many different eyeliners. I’d say the severity of my allergy to phenoxyethanol is not that common so these might work for you. There are cruelty free options and each one falls under clean beauty standards. The eyeliners listed below contain phenoxyethanol.
At a cheaper price point I would totally recommend the NYX Faux Whites liners. This eyeliner is half the price of the previously mentioned and are just as creamy and long lasting. It’s very comfortable and cruelty free. The lighter color is used to brighten the waterline to make you look more awake and combat your eyes from looking smaller.
My favorite eyeliner from the drugstore was probably the Wet N Wild Mega Liner. I went through bottles of that stuff. It’s affordable and matte. It comes in a variety of colors but black has the best formulation. It never bothered my eyes until my allergy flared up but do be cautious as it has the largest ingredient list.
My favorite pencil eyeliner before my allergy flared up was probably the ones by Melt Cosmetics. I used to receive PR from them so I had their entire collection of eye pencils. Their formula is creamy, long-wearing and they come in a variety of different colors. They have vegan shades too. Melt is leaping bunny certified and each one of their ingredients is listed on their site.
Similar formula to Melt is Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencils. Budge-proof and waterproof too. They are cruelty free and have vegan shades to choose from. Made with vitamin E, jojoba oil, and cottonseed oil these eyeliners don’t feel dry when applied. Both pencils are to be sharpened to keep a point. If you are looking for fun colors look no further they have a ton of different shades.
If you are interested in buying these head over to Amazon here!
7. KVD Beauty – Tattoo Liner/ Ink Liner
KVD Tattoo Liner is an eyeliner that comes in a pen form with a brush tip applicator. Unlike the liner mentioned previously this liner comes in a satin finish that is not fully matte. It has a shine to it when it dries down. It won the Allure Best of Beauty award in 2018 for its unique vegan formula. The claims are that it’s waterproof and have a smudge-proof formula but I don’t think that’s true for everyone. (This liner has undergone some formula tweaks since I last used it. The bristle head gives you control for thin lines and precise application.KVD also has an eyeliner with a felt tip applicator as well called the Ink Liner. For best application I’d suggest storing it upside down so that the ink is ready when you need it next.
If you would like to purchase their product head over to Amazon here!
8. NYX – Epic Ink Liner
If you are looking for a matte version of the liner previously mentioned I have good news. The NYX Epic Ink Liner is just the thing. This liner is also vegan and has a waterproof formula. (Be careful with this liner as the ink comes out faster than the KVD one.) No need to store it upside down or apply lots of pressure. It’s a liquid liner so avoid the waterline and or corner of the eye to avoid bleeding of the ink or irritation.
Before those eyeliners came on the market I was a huge fan of physicians formula Eye Booster in Blackest black. Very similar to the two mentioned before: same waterproof formula, brush tip applicator and a semi-matte finish. It’s hypoallergenic, paraben-free, gluten-free, dermatologist tested, clinically tested, and vegan. It was made with sensitive skin in mind.
You can see a list of their products on Amazon here
10. Flower Beauty – Forever Wear Long Wear Eyeliners
Flower Beauty has some retractable eye pencils that are super easy to use. They are the Forever Wear Long wear Eyeliners. Cruelty free and vegan. These are available in a few shades as well. Drugstore pricing. Quality product for sure.
Now that I shared my favorites I thought I’d share the ones that didn’t work for me. On my search for natural clean beauty options I tried one from Pacifica.
I was so excited to have found an eyeliner that didn’t contain phenoxyethanol. I bought it as soon as I read the ingredients. It had okay reviews and seems like a good place to start. It’s formulated without parabens, talc, phthalates or mineral oil. It claimed to have rich color and pigment. Well honestly it did match those claims. The Pacifica Eye Love Liquid Liner had no real staying power, wasn’t opaque and didn’t apply smoothly. The ink ran out quickly and didn’t last. I am really unimpressed with the formula other than it being safe for my eyes. It didn’t make my eyes water or itchy but it wasn’t worth purchasing because it was just a poorly developed product. It definitely needs improvements.
2. W3LL People – Expressionist Liquid Eye Liner
Another one that seems very promising was one by W3LL people. Their Expressionist Liquid eyeliner was such a bummer. Made with clean ingredients, bold claims and free of parabens I was intrigued. I loved the idea of an all day wear liner made for sensitive skin and a fade free formula but I was sadly disappointed with my purchase. It had a weird scent and creamy texture that never fully dried down. The eyeliner smudged even with the smallest amount applied. It was hard to achieve a clean cat eye without it getting everywhere and it wasn’t worth the price. Please save your money.
3. Naked Poppy – Liquid Liner
I felt so good about the eyeliner from Naked Poppy. It sounded perfect to me. Went ahead and ordered it last week because its ingredients are pretty basic and the claims are very promising. Being Ophthalmologist tested specifically for sensitive eyes it drew me in. The packaging is very similar to the one by honest beauty so I was so excited. It won last years 2020 shape beauty award as well as the Byrdie award for clean beauty. But this eyeliner wasn’t a hit with my eyes unfortunately. The formula dried very slowly and it needed building up. When applying it on to my lash line it got all over my lashes and smeared onto my cheeks. I wore it for several hours but upon looking in the mirror I noticed that it started chipping away. The finish was semi- matte and around the three or four hour mark I had to take it off as it was making my eyes itchy. I wouldn’t recommend to people with extremely sensitive eyes. It’s a very flaky formula. Maybe I got a dud but I am just being honest with you all.
If you are looking for eyeliners that give you a perfect wing or just a defined look I can’t tell you what one you’re going to like the most. I do hope that this list gives you a good idea of what ones you might. I keep up with beauty products and try my best to help you find winners for your makeup bag. Though I have still yet to find a gel liner for my sensitive eyelids I am still working on this list and hope to update it as soon as I find out more favorites.
Let’s talk about parabens and why you would want to choose to use paraben free moisturizers. During the past couple of years, I have had to change a lot of my skincare out for more natural alternatives. It wasn’t an option to keep using it as my allergies got worse. I am almost in my thirties, so honestly it was nice to find healthier options for my sensitive skin. When you are allergic to most things it’s not easy to find paraben free lotions, oils and face cream that fit your needs. It’s been a long time since I was able to wear makeup without irritating my skin.
Where it started, the paraben problem.
Back in 2018 I started developing contact dermatitis on my eyelids, face and body. I had to completely stop using makeup and through trial and error find out what ingredients were causing the problem. Turns out that parabens and preservatives were the culprit. After further determination I decided to go for products that didn’t contain any of the allergy-causing components. For me that was phenoxyethanol. It was my main trigger. Apparently it’s a preservative that can be naturally derived so it goes under the radar most of the time. When searching for products that are clear of irritants I thought it would be as simple as looking at clean beauty but unfortunately it is still listed as a clean ingredient according to the Food and Drug Administration. Not only that but there are about 50 other names that it can go by. Why can’t they just make things easier for us?
Anyways, I plan to go in depth more about different kinds of parabens in the future but today we are here to talk about my favorite moisturizers that are free from all that toxic stuff.
My top five favorite Paraben free moisturizers.
My first and second recommendation are both from GOOD MOLECULES. They make using natural products easy. I was kindly asked a couple years ago if I’d like to try their skincare line when they launched on Beautylish. I knew nothing about them but told them my skin type and concerns. They gifted me a few of their products and ever since then I have been using a couple regularly.
1. Squalane Oil from Good Molecules
The Squalane Oil is definitely my favorite at the moment. In my opinion oils are one of the best natural moisturizers. You have to be careful though, not all oils are created equal.
(I’d avoid oils like olive oil, coconut oil and mineral oils though as they can clog pores.) My skin has been behaving pretty good lately and I think it may be due to adding squalene oil to my routine. Their oil is 100 percent naturally derived by plants unlike some squalane that is from sharks believe it or not. This oil has never been tested on animals and is vegan, fragrance, and gluten free. Everything is under 20 bucks on their site. They also sell through Beautylish. Good Molecules is also 100 percent cruelty free.
2. Silicone free priming moisturizer from Good Molecules
My other favorite from Good Molecules is probably their silicone free priming moisturizer. It’s lightweight so it’s perfect as a daily moisturizer. It’s safe for applying before makeup and it’s also fragrance, alcohol, mineral oil, and silicone free. It’s not oil free as it contains shea butter and macadamia seed oil. Even if you have oily skin it doesn’t have a greasy residue. Good Molecules plan to start selling all their packages in glass instead of plastic for the environment. They are trying their best to be as transparent as they can. All ingredients are on a panel on the side of their boxes with the percentage of what’s used. They call it their nothing to hide ingredients list and it features their active ingredients.
Another brand that I discovered during all this is Cetaphil. I know Cetaphil isn’t always talked about in the best light but I honestly don’t have anything bad to say except I wish they were cruelty free. (I am still converting my skincare to cruelty free.) For my tattoos I need something moisturizing and light that’s suitable for regular use. I have tried so many brands of lotions and this is one of the few that doesn’t contain parabens. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and non comedogenic. When trying their products out I’d recommend reading all the ingredients because some of their products contain parabens and irritants. This moisturizer is safe for all skin types and safe for use on the body and face. With vitamin E and six different moisturizers your set for the day.
4. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA from The Ordinary
The Ordinary has an oil-free moisturizer I loved before my skin allergies. It contains phenoxyethanol so be wary but according to the FDA this product is still considered paraben free. The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors plus HA has a lightweight feel and is non greasy. They list it as alcohol, gluten, oil, silicone, nuts, and cruelty free. It’s also a vegan formula. I really miss using it.
Another one that contains phenoxyethanol is ELF Daily Hydration Moisturizer with cucumber extracts. It also contains aloe vera so be wary if you are allergic like me. This lightweight moisturizer absorbs into the skin and is cruelty free and vegan. Free of phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone. All skincare is also free from sulfates and is made from natural ingredients. None of those harmful chemicals. It’s great for all skin types.
All these recommendations are affordable and not one of them contains common parabens such as Formaldehyde, Benzalkonium Chloride, Methyldibromo Glutaronitrile, Cobalt Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Benzophenone, Potassium Dichromate, Bacitracin, Neomycin and Nickel. The top 10 common allergens that are listed previously are types of fragrance additives and preservatives. Most people don’t even realize what they are putting on their skin sometimes. Avoid these at all costs and be on the safer side.
Be smart and use websites to review ingredients.
If you are ever curious as to find new products and have to avoid certain allergens you should definitely check out SKIN SAFE PRODUCTS. Developed by the Mayo Clinic their website uses wellness markers to make browsing their site easy and quick. It’s free to use and when making an account you can log all the allergens you are sensitive to so that it narrows down what skincare products you can use. They also have an app available on android and apple. It has been such a life-saver.
*screencap of SKINSAFEPRODUCTS.com
Is it a paraben or are your products expired?
*screencap of COSDNA.com
Another helpful website I use on the regular is COSDNA. On their site they offer product searches and drop down menus that let you copy and paste your ingredients into with a breakdown of each ingredient, their safety and what their function is in the product. When I was doing research on irritants it made it so easy to narrow down what ingredient was in most of the products that were giving me allergic reactions. If you are using products that you never had problems with it’s a good idea to check the shelf life to see if it just expired. With paraben free products and organic ingredients things tend to have a shorter shelf life than products with synthetic ingredients.
What’s next?
I hope this list helps you and maybe makes your skincare routine easier on you and lighter on your checkbook. Everything listed above is at an affordable cost and nothing retails for more than 20 bucks. Please share what you think about my suggestions and if you have any others I would love to know. It’s tough trying to narrow down products to ones that don’t cause you pain. Eventually I hope to do a post about the beauty products and makeup removers that have helped me feel normal again here soon.
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