Clean Beauty on a Budget, Check Out These 7 Brands

The clean beauty world is exploding. I see new brands popping up left and right and some are, not only conscious of their ingredients, limited budgets as well. I know we are all starting to feel that pinch a bit as we see the price of almost everything creeping up. Many of us still want to use less toxic, cleaner personal care and beauty products but are just not willing to break our budget to do so. These high end, higher cost brands argue that the time and research spent on finding the most effective and safest ingredients drives the cost up. While I do understand that, there are many people who just cannot afford those high price points and should not be left choosing between breaking their budget or buying products they don’t feel comfortable purchasing because of questionable ingredients. If you choose to live this lifestyle like I do, it’s nice to have options that don’t break the bank. I did some research and found a handful of brands that are making an effort to keep their price points down while also providing an effective product with safe ingredients. Here’s what I put together for you.

Clean Beauty on a Budget, Check Out These 7 Brands

Acure

Acure is the first brand that comes to mind because they have been around for a while. Acure is a no-frills brand and features a full line of skin, hair and body products. I’ve been using their body lotions for years and I am always so pleased with the price point and how well they work especially on my dry, itchy winter skin. Prices range from under $10 to under $25 (excluding their kits). SHOP ACURE

Lily Lolo

Lily Lolo is a cosmetics brand started by Vikki Khan when she couldn’t find mineral makeup in her native UK. The brand has grown and now features a full line of cosmetics. I especially love the eyeshadow palettes. Everything, including brushes and eye shadow palettes, is under $40. SHOP LILY LOLO

Tower 28

Tower 28 is a California inspired brand named after a lifeguard tower in Santa Monica. They create products for sensitive skin and are all dematologist and allergy tested. Everything with the exception of their product bundles is under $40. SHOP TOWER 28

Juice Beauty

Juice Beauty has been around since 2005 and has grown into a respected and trusted clean beauty brand. They provide a wide range of products including cosmetics, moisturizers, cleansers, serums and treatments. Prices can vary quite a bit too. The serums and treatments are in the $60-$100 range, which is expensive but the cosmetics tend to be priced under $40. It’s worth checking out their product line and seeing if something fits into your budget! SHOP JUICE BEAUTY

Exa Beauty

Exa Beauty is a relatively new brand that focuses on providing a wide range of color options for all skin tones while also creating formulas that are healthy for the skin and our planet. They have a small line of products that include primers, mascara, foundations and color correctors. I really like their color corrector. Everything aside from one of their bundles is under $40. SHOP EXA BEAUTY

INNBEAUTY PROJECT

INNBEAUTY PROJECT was started by two beauty industry veterans in an effort to create safe, effective skincare products that are also budget friendly. The line includes cleansers, moisturizers and serums. Prices are under $50 for individual products and bundles are $34 and up. SHOP INNBEAUTY PROJECT

Make it stand out

Three Ships was started by two women who were fed up with complicated, greenwashed and high priced skincare. They created a simple, clean and afforable line of products for all skin types that are clearly labeled and provide an ingredient glossary for full product transparency. Aside from their bundles, prices are under $40. SHOP THREE SHIPS

OTHER OPTIONS:

DIY - I actually love a good DIY beauty project. Some things like body moisturizers are really easy to make yourself. Most ingredients can be found at your local health food store or online. Wellness Mama has a ton of DIY beauty recipes on her website.

Payment Apps - Another option would be to use a payment app like Afterpay, Shop Pay or Klarna to spread out the payments over time for your beauty products. These payment apps kind of remind me of old school layaway, except you get the product upfront and the apps automtically charge the payments to your bank account on a set schedule. Most online and even some brick and mortar stores offer this option for consumers. I think it’s especially helpful when you are stocking up on products.

7 Winter Skincare Products I’m Loving Right Now

It’s a new season and I thought it would be a good time to share some of skincare products I’ve been using and loving. Since it’s the winter and super dry from lack of humidity and indoor heating, my skin’s needs have definitely changed so what I’m using now is different from what I was using during the warmer months. I’m also always trying new products and when I find something that works for me, I also like to share it in case it works for someone else.

7 Winter Skincare Products I’m Loving Right Now

Kari Gran Lip Whip - Kari Gran is clean beauty brand dedicated to creating products that promote healthy skin for women with aging skin. Lip Whip is a moisturizing lip balm with color that is buildable. I like it because it gives me a very natural, sheer wash of color while also acting as a moisturizing balm. It comes in multiple shades, including clear. My favorite color is Jolene! Kari Gran Lip Whip $25

100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm - I love using a cleansing balm especially in the winter because it cleanses the skin without soap. 100% Pure’s cleansing balm uses blood orange and a blend of oils to gently remove makeup and other impurities. It’s great for winter skin but if you have dry skin, you can use it all year. I’ve used a couple of cleansing balms at much higher price points and this one works just as well and is very reasonably priced. 100% Pure Blood Orange Cleansing Balm $38

Acure Seriously Soothing 24hr Moisture Lotion - I’ve been using this lotion on and off for a few years and I keep coming back to it because it’s well priced and it works really well on my dry winter skin. It’s thick and protective without being greasy and fragrance free so it’s good for sensitive skin. Acure Seriously Soothing 24hr Moisture Lotion $9.39

Herbivore Moon Dew 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Eye Cream - I was interested in trying this eye cream because I like the Herbivore brand and I was curious about the retinol alternative. I am really sensitive to retinols and have opted to not use them in my skincare so I wanted to see if this eye cream was able to provide similar benefits. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and I like it a lot! It’s lightweight and layers well under my makeup. It’s hydrating and firming, but also has honey locust seed polysaccharides that instantly tighten and lift skin. Herbivore Moon Dew 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Eye Cream $48

GOOP GLOW Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser - Exfoliating is a really important part of any skincare routine. It helps remove dead skin cells so that makeup goes on smoothly and products like serums and moisturizers can actually access fresh skin and do their job. I only exfoliate a couple times a week but this one is gentle enough to use everyday and a little goes a long way. I also like a combination exfoliator and cleanser because it eliminates adding an additional step to my routine. GOOP GLOW Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser $35

Herbivore Pink Cloud Soft Moisture Cream - Another winner from Herbivore. This cream is very light and creamy and is perfect for my skin type. I tend to have combination skin and this is not too heavy for the oily parts of my face and is just enough moisture for the drier parts of my face. I do also use one of Herbivore’s facial oils to help balance my skin and provide a layer of protection. I also like that this moisturizer is fragrance free because I’ve never really seen the point of putting fragrance on your face! Fragrance and essential oils can also be really irritating to the skin so I am happy to see companies eliminating them from their facial products. Herbivore Pink Cloud Soft Moisture Cream $44

Ten Clean and Sustainable Beauty Brands You Need To Check Out Right Now

The clean, green and sustainable beauty and personal care world is exploding with some amazing brands. You know the clean beauty world is gaining some serious traction and attention when you see larger retailers like Sephora and Anthropologie carrying cleaner options for their customers. If you feel like you have not been able to find the right fit for you, one or several of these brands might just do the trick. If you’re a beauty junkie like myself, perhaps you just want some new brands to try. Some of these have been around for a while and are just lesser known and some have only hit the market in the last few years. Either way, let’s take a look at the brands that are getting me excited!

Ten Clean and Sustainable Beauty Brands You Need To Check Out Right Now

Pyt Beauty - Pyt was started by duo Amy Carr and Mary Schulman in 2018 after being concerned about some of the toxins being used in cosmetics and the effect that the beauty industry was having on our environment. They set out to create a clean and green brand that was also fun and effective. Now they have a collection of cosmetics that is free from over 28 concerning ingredients and uses sustainable plastic options like recyclable plastic, recycled plastic, sugarcane plastic and pre-degraded plastic. I was so excited to see that they have an eye primer because that has been one of the harder products to find with cleaner ingredients. Check out their full line of cosmetics and their mission at Pyt Beauty.

Jones Road - After selling her incredibly successful beauty line and leaving the company a few years ago, Bobbi Brown was not ready to leave the beauty industry. She started Jones Road with the mission to create high-performance, streamlined, clean beauty products for all ages and skin types. Bobbi calls it the “makeup equivalent of the Swiss Army Knife” and stays true to her “no makeup, makeup look” philosophy. Jones Road goes above and beyond E.U. standards by banning more than 2,700 concerning ingredients from their cosmetic formulations. I’ve been using the eye liner and loving how easily it glides on and lasts. Check out Jones Road’s full line and read about their story here.

Primally Pure - Started by Bethany McDaniel in 2014 after farm life began to teach her about the power of eating real food, thus opening her eyes to the wellness world in a whole new way. She ditched her conventional beauty and skincare products and decided to start making her own with simple, pure ingredients. The “less is more” philosophy is at the heart of Primally Pure by formulating products only using clean, high quality ingredients sourced from nature and tested for efficacy so you are getting a clean product that actually works. I use their deodorant and it has been the best non-toxic deodorant I have tried to date (and I’ve tried A LOT). Check out the full line of products and their story on the Primally Pure website.

Lily Lolo - Lily Lolo was started in the U.K. by Vikki Khan who fell in love with mineral makeup when she was traveling but wasn’t able to find it in England. She took a chance and launched Lily Lolo to fill that void and has since grown a brand of clean, mineral-based cosmetics for all skin types. The Lili Lolo Laid Bare Eye Shadow Palette is one of my favorites because it’s loaded with soft, neutral easy-to-wear shades that I can wear everyday or layer-up for a more dramatic evening look. Check out their story and their full line of products!

Merit Beauty - I actually discovered Merit Beauty when I was browsing my local Sephora. I was so pleased to see a larger retailer showcasing a clean, up-and-coming brand along with their more high-profile brands. Merit’s philosophy is based on minimalism and sustainability by offering fewer, multi-tasking products with safe, clean ingredients. I decided to grab their tinted lip oil during my Sephora visit. It’s moisturizing with a light wash of high-shine color that you can build for a dramatic look. To shop and get the full scoop on Merit’s products, check out their website!

100% Pure - Oh I am super excited about this brand. Founded by Susie Wang, James Wang and Rick Kostick with the mission of creating incredibly safe and pure beauty and personal care products. The fruit pigmented makeup is what first caught my attention since most color cosmetics use synthetic dyes. All of their products are cruelty free and many are vegan, gluten free and made in the USA. They have a full line of color cosmetics along with skin care and hair and body products. They also focus on sustainability by creating fully biodegradable formulas, eco-conscious packaging and shipping materials. Check out their entire line of products as well as their mission on their website!

Athr Beauty - Started by Tiila Abbitt in 2018 after working as a product developer for Sephora for 7 years. She wanted to create a brand that aligned with her organic lifestyle but was also effective and on-trend. Athr Beauty focuses on sustainability, ethical sourcing, clean, non-toxic and vegan ingredients. Tiila has been meticulous when it comes to product packaging by eliminating mirrors and magnets in her palettes so that the cardboard case can be recycled when it’s empty as well as using post-consumer glass and plastic that can be recycled at Credo Beauty locations or reused at home. With all of this being said, Tiila wanted to make sure her products actually worked so efficacy is also at the top of her priority list. I absolutely love my Rose Quartz Crystal Quad eye shadow palette. I encourage you take a deep dive and learn about the emerging brand and Tiila’s mission on the Athr Beauty website.

FitGlow Beauty - FitGlow was started by, Anna, a health and fitness expert who was looking for solutions to calm and heal her rosacea-prone skin and had trouble with even the clean beauty options available at that time. Anna worked with experts for over a decade to formulate a line of effective plant-based skincare and cosmetics. Made in the USA, small batch, plant-based, woman owned, dermatologist tested and leaping bunny certified, FitGlow is definitely a brand worth a closer look. They are also committed to sustainability by using recyclable aluminum packaging, reducing virgin plastic use by 95% by 2030, using refillable, PCR and sugarcane packaging. Check out FitGlow’s website for the full scoop and their full line of products!

Honeybee Gardens - Honeybee Gardens has actually been around for many years but it’s definitely not as mainstream and well-known as some of the other clean beauty brands and I think it deserves some attention. It was started by Melissa Buckley in 1995 after she realized that the corporate world was not for her. She had been studying and growing herbs for years and used that knowledge to eventually formulate a shaving cream that worked for her husband’s sensitive skin. Melissa used her passion for herbalism to grow her business to what it is today. Honeybee Gardens features a full line of color cosmetics, including nail polish as well as some facial and body products. Check out Melissa’s story, her philanthropy work with animal shelters and her products on the Honeybee Garden website!

Odacite Skincare - Odacite was started by Valerie Grandury in 2009 after a breast cancer diagnosis. The diagnosis changed her perspective on many things including what she was putting on her body. Finding clean beauty that actually worked at that time was incredibly challenging so she started making her own products in her kitchen. Odacite grew and she moved production out of her kitchen and into a lab in Los Angeles in order to take her products to the next level. All products are clean, vegan-friendly, cruelty free and made in California. They offer a gorgeous line of skin, hair and body products. I’m especially excited to try Le Blue Balm which is a multi-purpose hydrating balm. Check out the rest of the Odacite products and the story behind the brand on the website!

My Clean Beauty Product Guide

If you’ve been hesitant to make the switch from your conventional personal care and beauty products, there’s never been a better time. The clean beauty industry has exploded in the last few years and there are so many options. The good news is that everything from your hair care to your nail products are going clean. Although maybe you’re left wondering: Do they really work? The short answer is yes, BUT like any product some may work for you and some may not. So it’s important to be patient and not give up. Your products are out there, it just may take a little trial and error.

Some quick tips for making the switch easier:

1. Read the Product Reviews: There’s no better way to learn about customer satisfaction than through customer product review. It’s also important to remember that what may not work for someone else may work great for you.

2. Try Free Samples First: Many brands and retailers like Beautycounter, Sephora and Ursa Major offer free samples. Ask a consultant or sales associate for some samples so you can try before you buy.

3. Talk to an Expert: Many of these companies have consultants and/or customer service representatives to help out. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions.

4. Buy from Companies with Good Return Policies: Most of the major brands and retailers have good, reliable return policies so you can buy and try risk free. Just make sure you read before you buy so you know what to expect if something doesn’t work out. Have a Whole Foods nearby? They carry a wide variety of clean, non-toxic beauty and personal care brands and have a good return policy.

5. Join a Clean Beauty/Living Facebook Group: Joining a group is a great way to ask questions and get feedback from individuals knee deep in the clean living world and those just getting their feet wet. Join my women’s only Facebook Group here.

6. Switch Out One Product At a Time: Do not. I repeat, do not throw out all of your old products and start fresh. It’s too expensive and overwhelming. Replace slowly as you tun out of individual items so you can take your time to research the right products for you.

My Clean Beauty Product Guide

Beautycounter - I’ve been a customer of Beautycounter for 6 years and they are the gold standard when it comes to clean beauty, IMO. I use quite a few of their products in my regime because of the consistency of quality and efficacy. This especially true with their targeted skincare for issues like acne, anti-aging, brightening, etc. They also have really nice make-up, a sheer mineral sunscreen and a new deodorant that I’m excited to try. Browse their products and read about their mission and standards on their website.

My Top 3 Favorite Beautycounter Products:

1. Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer - My first and favorite Beautycounter product. Contains sunscreen and it light and sheer.

2. Counter + No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil - Facial oil is must for me and this has added brightening benefits. Sinks right into my skin and keeps it balanced.

3. Counter + Overnight Resurfacing Peel - This did wonders for smoothing my skin and eliminating minor acne.

Ursa Major - Ursa Major is a small skin care company our of Vermont. What I like about them is that they only release a product when their team is 100% in love with it. They’re less concerned about marketing deadlines and more concerned with quality and it definitely shows. All of their products are also gender neutral. Check out their website to learn more about this great, little company!

My Top 3 Favorite Ursa Major Products:

1. Golden Hour Recovery Cream - I love everything about this cream. It smells good and is moisturizing without being too heavy or greasy. There’s a reason it’s one of their top rated, best selling products!

2. Morning Mojo Bar Soap - Deodorizing, exfoliant and long-lasting, this is hands down my favorite bar soap.

3. Essential Face Wipes - I love these for both face and body. They are perfect for washing your face on-the-go but also for refreshing the bod mid-day.

OSea - OSea is a skin care company out of Malibu, California. They source their ingredients from a botanicals, but especially three different types of seaweed with healing properties. They are vegan, cruelty free and gluten free. OSea’s products are beautifully crafted and feel very luxurious and pampering. Check out their products and their story here.

My Top 3 Favorite OSea Products:

1. Vitamin C Probiotic Polish - My absolute favorite exfoliator of all time. It’s a little on the pricey side but lasts forever and I love that I can mix it with my own cleanser. Fades darks spots and hyperpigmentation and smooths skin for even make-up application.

2. Anti-Aging Body Balm - This is an incredibly luxurious moisturizer. It smells amazing and feel so good on your skin. If you are looking to treat yourself or someone special, this body balm is the way to go.

3. Sea Vitamin Boost Facial Mist - I love having this facial mist on hand to refresh my make-up or for a mid-day moisture boost.

Clean Hair Products Available on Follain.com

Follain - Follain originally started out as a clean beauty and skin care retailer and now they have their own line of products. I enjoy shopping their website, learning about new brands and reading reviews to decide what I want to try next. Check out Follain’s website here.

My Top 3 Favorite Follain Products:

1. RAKE Styling Balm by Reverie - I work just a tiny amount of this styling balm through my clean wet hair and it gives it much needed texture and volume without weighing it down.

2. Follain Everybody Bar Soap - I love this long-lasting, moisturizing bar soap with a rich, creamy lather.

3. Hurraw Moon Balm - I like keeping this lip balm in my bedside table. It contains calming chamomile so it’s the perfect lip moisturizing before bed.

Other Notable Brands I Love:

RMS Beauty - Another great clean beauty brand. I love their Buriti Cream Bronzer and Tinted Daily Lip Balm.

Ilia Beauty - Ilia has some beautiful products and I was so happy to see them being sold at Sephora. I love their Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint and Necessary Eye Shadow Palette in Cool Nude.

Merit - I’m just getting to know this brand. At my last trip to Sephora, I noticed their products were featured on one of the aisle end-caps. I picked up their Shade Slick tinted Lip Oil in Pink Beet and I love it so far.

Juice Beauty - Juice Beauty has been around for a while and has some great products. They have a full skin care line and some make-up. I love their Green Apple Peel and Green Apple Blemish Clearing Serum.

Acure - Acure is another brand dedicated to clean skin care. They have reasonable price points and wide range of effective personal care and skin care products. I really like their Seriously Soothing line of products.

*May Contain Affiliate Links

My Routine For Reviving Tired, Dull Skin

I don’t know about you guys but my skin gets fried this time of year. Between the lack of sleep and sun, dry air, too much time indoors, masks and perhaps too many cocktails, it really takes a beating and, unfortunately, the older I get the more it shows. While I do try to keep up with my healthy habits, sometimes I’m in need of a quick fix (like when I have a family brunch on New Year’s Day after being up all night drinking champagne). After years of being a make-up junkie, I have picked up a few tricks to help either restore my glow or fake it if I’m really in a pinch.

Skin Care for Tired, Dull Skin

**This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item via one of the links included in this post, I may receive a percentage of the sale. As an Amazon associate, I receive a small commission from qualifying sales. I only recommend products that I’ve tried and love and that align with my mission and lifestyle. Thank you for supporting me and my blog!

Clean Beauty Products for Dull Winter Skin

What to do for Tired Eyes:

Glossier’s Haloscope Highlighting Stick

• Highlighting Stick: I use Glossier’s Haloscope a highlighting stick that comes in three shades (Quartz is my shade of choice). I apply it in both the inner and outer corners of my eyes to help give me that bright-eyed, well-rested look. Bonus: You can use this highlighting stick all over your face to give it a nice dewy glow. I like it because it blends nicely and looks subtle and natural.

• Shimmery Shadow: When I use a neutral shimmery eye shadow, I feel like it gives me an instant eye lift. I like soft pinks, champagne, taupe, beiges for every day because they are foolproof to apply and look natural. A quick sweep of eye shadow and mascara and I’m good to go. I love the shades in Jane Iredale’s eye shadow trio in Sundown.

What to do for Dull Skin:

• Facial Razor: This is one of my newest tools to help create a nice clean surface by removing hair and dead skin cells that can dull skin and make it more difficult for your glow-inducing products to do their job. I was a little intimidated at first but it’s super easy to use, it did not irritate my skin at all and I was really pleased with how clean and smooth my skin was afterward. I like this one from Sephora. Still not sure about the facial razor? An exfoliating facial wash or scrub will get rid of dead skin cells. I really like Acure’s Brightening Facial Scrub.

• Facial Oil: I’m a big fan of facial oils. They give a good boost of moisture without being oily or greasy and leave skin looking hydrated and refreshed. There are about a zillion different versions of facial oils out there but I really like the ones by Beautycounter or for a less expensive option try Acure’s Rosehip Oil. All of the oils are natural and botanically-derived so they sink right into the skin and do not clog pores.

• Highlighting Sticks and Powders: Highlighting products can be applied to several key places on your face to give you a lift. Apply to your cheekbones, brow bones, jawline, bridge of nose and your forehead along your hairline. Make sure you blend really well and check yourself in natural light to make sure you didn’t over do it (speaking from personal experience). I like Beautycounter’s Luminous Highlighting Powder.

• Hydrating Facial Mists: I’m going to be honest when I say I thought these were useless, but when I was desperate to find something to help give me a mid-day moisture boost, I decided to give one a try. I really like Wander Beauty’s Glow Getter Mist and OSea’s facial mists. They both give a little moisture boost and refresh and perk up skin.

A little bronzer goes a long way!

What to do for Pale Skin:

A sweep of lipstick is a good way to perk up a pale face!

• Bronzer: I use a shimmery bronzer (no matte, powdery products on my face) to highlight and define certain areas on my face like the hollows under my cheekbones and my forehead along my hairline. I always think a little bronzer helps you look more refreshed and if applied correctly can give you that healthy sun-kissed glow. I like Beautycounter’s Radiant All Over Bronzer (it’s also on sale right now).

• A Little Color on Your Lips: A little touch of color on your lips can help brighten your face up. This is what I do for pictures as opposed to full on lipstick so I have a fresh, natural look in photos but not “made-up.” A lip stain works well but I also I take any complimentary shade of lipstick in a darker color (I think pink or rosy shades work best) and apply just enough to give some color and then just enough lip balm to add some moisture. I also like lightly tinted lip balms. I love this Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia or Hibiscus or Pacifica’s Lip Tint in Guava Berry or Sugared Fig.

• Sunless Tan: I often don’t think about sunless tanning in the winter but with a light application, sunless tan can enhance your skin tone without looking unseasonably tan. I recently found Coola’s Anti-Aging Face Serum Sunless Tanner and it is the first sunless tanner that does not dry out my skin and has subtle, buildable color, so one application gives a nice glow. Just make sure you exfoliate before applying any self tanning product so that the color is clean and even.

Good Skin from Inside Out

Healthy skin truly comes from the inside out. Proper hydration and a good diet full of fruits and vegetables will help your skin look it’s best. There are a few supplements that can help give your good habits a boost. Omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, vitamins C, D and E, selenium and zinc are all great for your skin. If you drink alcohol or caffeine, make sure you’re drinking at least two glasses of water for every 1 glass/cup of an alcoholic or caffeinated beverage. Also getting outside is great for your skin. There’s nothing like some exercise, sun and fresh air to give your skin a healthy glow.

My Non Toxic Nail Polish and DIY Manicure Guide

Whether it’s a DIY job or at a salon, I love a good manicure. Number one priority for me is making sure my nail products are safe but I also want them to be effective and long-lasting. Is that even possible? Yes! I’m amazed by the non-toxic nail products now available that actually give you a fabulous manicure. In addition, the color selections have grown exponentially since I picked up my first bottle of clean nail polish 10 years ago (a lot of improvements have been made since then). I’m going to give you the scoop on the nail care brands that I know as well as provide links for application tips and easy nail art design videos!

Ten Over Ten - Ten Over Ten was launched by a three-woman team out of NYC and is one the first “new generation” non-toxic nail products that I tried after many years of skipping the ineffective and disappointing polishes and treatments. If you happen to be in NYC, you can visit one of their two salons or you can buy their full line of products online. They offer 36 different colors and a full line of accessories and tools. Ten Over ten is “8-free” which means its free of 8 of the most toxic nail polish ingredients (dibutyl phthalate (dbp), toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, xylene, triphenyl phosphate (tphp)). The polish is $12/bottle. Shop their full line of products here.

Cote - Cote is another great non-toxic nail polish company out of Los Angeles started by two clean beauty conscious women. They have an amazing collection of 126 colors along with a line of accessories, treatments and tools. Polish is $18/bottle and also free of formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, camphor, formaldehyde resin, TPHP, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, parabens, and gluten. Shop Cote products here.

Sundays Studio - I have not tried Sundays Studio yet but they have a collection of 50+ sleek, sophisticated and long-lasting shades. All polishes are 10-free which means free of the 10 most toxic nail polish ingredients (TPHP, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, xylene, ethyl tosylamide, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, parabens, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide) normally found in conventional polishes. $18/bottle. Shop online here.

JinSoon - I’ve used JinSoon for a few years now and I love the color selection, ease of application and durability. JinSoon is $18/bottle and their full line of products are available online here. JinSoon polish is also “10-free.”

Zoya - Zoya is another great brand I’ve used for years. I only recently learned that they were one of the first nail care companies to eliminate the top six most toxic chemicals from their formulations. Zoya has about 400 colors and are $10/bottle. Shop the Zoya website here.

Nail Application

Get the easiest, stress-free nail polish application instructions via Sunday Studios by clicking here.

Nail Art Videos

Access Cute Polish’s easy beginner nail art videos on YouTube by clicking here and their nail art videos using household items (no nail art tools necessary!) by clicking here.

Want just holiday nail art? Click here.

Browse Cute Polish’s full line of nail care and nail art videos here.

My Recommended Tools

I recommend getting yourself some basic nail tools to make things easier and help give a cleaner, salon-grade manicure (or close to it). Cuticle pushers and nippers have been a game changer for me. Here is a set on Amazon, but many of these recommended nail polish brands also have tools. I recently purchased this nail clean-up brush and nail polish remover pot from Olive and June. The pot makes it easier to remove polish from individual nails in the event you make an oops and without ruining your remaining polished nails.