5 Tips To Create An Effortless & Glowy Look In Just 3 Minutes

In this episode, we chat about why some may have such a personal relationship with makeup, how to build a clean makeup bag, her go-to products—and, of course, some expert application tips. Here, her five easy lessons for a refreshing and easy glow: 

"For people who are still looking for their perfect foundation or lipstick, well the clean beauty industry is just like the mainstream industry: There are brands that are doing it really well, and there are brands that are not doing it well," she says. "It's all about reading reviews, looking at products that professional makeup artists are posting; learn from other people who are in the clean beauty space; look up #cleanbeauty on social media; you'll find tons of people doing it. It's a good time to experiment."

"One positive side of social media has allowed for body positivity for all kinds of outliers—like things like blemishes or birthmarks aren't seen as imperfections," says Denno. "I think a lot of brands have made it cool to not need to cover up your face with foundation or concealer. The makeup isn't about perfecting the skin—it's about the artistry of drawing on your face." 

And there are real reasons to make the switch to clean, especially for mascara: Research has shown that using clean eye products may be the most critical. This is because the eye area has been shown to most readily absorb the chemicals that come into contact with the area. One study found that participants who used traditional mascaras had significantly higher levels of endocrine disrupters, like parabens and phthalates, in their systems.

"Axiology has been making lipsticks for years, but they just launched Lip-to-Lid Balmie. They are the most eco-friendly little crayons," she says. "They're super cute, add a pop of a bold color that looks great on every skin tone, and there are so many colors to choose from. So just find something that looks good on you and that you like, and then just swipe on your cheeks, swipe on your eyes, swipe in your lip. And it's so easy to wear. It's totally great for the novice."

In the age of video calls and social media photos, shine is your friend: It helps add dimension and glow. "You can really load it up and you can't go wrong—you want to lean into highlighter or lean into it if you have a lot of natural face oil. If you have oily skin, use it, enjoy it, and embrace it! And for those of us who are dry as a bone, I suggest you add Weleda Skin Food," she says. "Then it's just putting them on the high plains of your face, bridge of your nose, and your Cupid's bow."

If you're looking for more engaging beauty conversations, listen to our new beauty podcast, Clean Beauty School. Subscribe on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.