Looking for more nail design ideas? Check out:

• 50+ Spring Nail Designs
• 45+ Easter Nail Ideas
• Easy Galaxy Nails Tutorial (with Video!)
• Grunge Glam Studded Nail Tutorial
• Easy Gold Stripe Nail Tutorial
• 10 Easy Nail Art Tutorials (Step-by-Step)
• Hologram Nail Decal DIY

Nail design is so unique to the person who’s wearing them. Some like louder patterns with festive colors and designs and others would rather do a more subtle and sophisticated looking nail, but still want something pretty for the season (and some are kind of in the middle who want a little fun but not too much).

Lucky for you, we’ve got ideas to satisfy all manicure tastes!

LET IT SNOW

Adding snowflakes (large and small) with some snow banks is a cute way to bring on the winter weather.

GREENSLEEVES

These forest green nails with greenery decorations are delicate and festive without being too busy.

SANTA BABY

These fun little Santa faces will leave you feeling jolly!

PINK AND RED TIPS

These fun tips with the gold stars and gems add color and pattern to your holiday mani.

GREEN WAVES

This wavy green pattern is modern but keeps you in the Christmas color palette.

MODERN COLOR BLOCK

This pattern has a modern nutcracker vibe and is the perfect blend of red and gold.

ROSE GOLD SHIMMER

This design with double outlined glitter French tips is perfect for Christmas into New Year’s Eve.

GOLD DOT MANI

These gold dots along a reverse French tip line are easy and simple but still chic for a bit of festive gold.

EVERGREEN FRENCH TIPS

Pick your favorite shade of green and do a French tip for a colorful take on a classic.

CANDY CANE LANE

An all over candy cane design is sure to keep your nails looking sweet this holiday.

GOLDEN TIPS

Go high style with this wavy gold tip design.

CRANBERRY PUNCH

For a monochromatic Christmas look, a classic high shine red manicure is a classic for a reason.

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

Make your nails a winter wonderland with a cute snowman and snow covered trees.

SILVER BELLS

These silver glitter French tip outlines are just the right touch of sparkle.

SANTA HAUTE

This adorable Santa hat idea is one of our favorites and looks really pretty with an almond shaped nail.

GLITTER GOLD

Layer smaller gold glitter under larger chunks of glitter for a super sparkly textured holiday look.

CANDY CANE WAVES

If literally candy canes are too cutesy for you, try this modern take with candy cane colored waves!

COLOR BLOCK

These forest green and nude color block nails are a statement in a sleek modern way.

GREEN VELVET

This minty green cat eye mani gives the look of soft velvet and it’s so pretty!

GOLD SWIRLS

Modern but keeping in the holiday metallic theme are these fun swirl nails.

WRAPPED WITH A BOW

These bow nails are cute and festive without being too busy or overboard.

BERRY-KISSSED TIPS

For a pop of holiday color, these berry tipped nails are perfect to keep things classy but festive.

ICY WHITE

These hologram nails remind us of pretty icicles and will still look on trend for New Year’s Eve.

HOLLY JOLLY

These candy cane and holly nails will make your spirits bright!

GLITTER LINED

For a holiday twist on the classic French manicure, try this doubled lined glitter option to add a little ooh la la.

MATTE EVERGREEN

For a classy minimalist look, try a green mani but make it matte for a modern twist.

FROSTED TIPS

Silver frosted French tips bring the holiday sparkle in all the best ways.

CANDY CANE STRIPER

Glitter outlined candy cane stripes is the ultimate look for the Christmas nail maximalist.

OH CHRISTMAS TREE

Add a fun swirl of a Christmas tree to your hand for an evergreen touch.

SNOW PLACE LIKE HOME

These large snowflakes make a statement on each nail and on a nude background they are subtle yet sweet.

MAD FOR PLAID

Nothing says holiday spirit like a red and green plaid—so fun!

SNOW DRIFTS

These white waves remind us of curving snow drifts in winter (and they would be really pretty in white glitter too!).

HOLIDAY ICONS

Why pick just one holiday icon when you can have all of them in one place for a truly festive vibe.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

These soft golden glitter tips are all you want for Christmas if Santa and candy cane nails aren’t your thing.

HOLOGRAM HOLIDAYS

Since the holidays are officially sponsored by all things glittery, these icy hologram nails will look great by the fire as well as by the disco ball for New Year’s Eve.

ICE ICE BABY

These shimmery nails feature an ice shard design in a holographic silver and will go with any holiday look.

SNOW AND ICE

These icy glitter tips combined with full glitter nails and a cute snowflake design are just what winter ordered.

PEPPERMINT PLEASE

A bold candy cane nail design is the perfect amount of holiday kitsch for the festive-loving nail crowd.

HOLIDAY CLASSIC

While it may not be sparkly or colorful, the classic French tip design is always a good choice if you want to do something elegant for the season.

GLITTER SQUARED

These sparkly squared-off nails are ideal for those who want to dip their toes into glitter without going overboard.

HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS

This fun design features holiday symbols as ornaments and spreads cheer all around.

CHRISTMAS STAR

You can ask for this cute design at the salon or get some gold star nail stickers and do it easily at home.

These are items I use daily and religiously. I am dividing them up by morning and night routine. The night routine is, of course, much more important! I hope you enjoy a peek into my medicine cabinet.

Related: Emma’s Skincare Routine

When recently asked to describe my skin type, my reply was “old.” Haha. I was joking, of course! I know that I’m still young(ISH). But being 40 years old means taking great care of my skin morning, noon, and night.

If you’re reading this and you’re 22, trust me when I say—the earlier you start, the better. Just simply removing ALL your makeup every night and keeping your skin toned and hydrated can make a huge difference.

And you don’t need a bunch of expensive products. Toner and coconut oil could get you pretty far if you’re on a small budget and don’t know where to begin.

In my opinion, the most important element of a skincare routine is consistency.

Morning Routine:

Toner

Each morning I wake up, splash some water on my face (and towel dry), brush my teeth, and then immediately reach for my Thayer’s Toner. It’s one item in my routine that I never leave without. I prefer the unscented version.

You can swipe toner on your face using a cotton pad or your hands to press it into your face. During the winter, I tend to have more dry skin—I use toner often to keep my dry skin at bay.

Face Mist

Next, I spritz my face with a mist. I am currently using and loving the Sea Vitamin Boost by Osea. Mists make my skin feel fresh and it’s a part of my morning routine that actually helps me wake up. I wake up very early currently with two kids, so it’s not always pretty.

Moisturizer

When I’m not wearing makeup, I will put on some Summer Fridays Cloud Dew. It’s a great texture and a nice, natural scent. When I’m not wearing makeup (which is often), I still try to keep my skin highly moisturized.

Love a good toner? Check out 3 Easy Hydrating Toners You Can Make At Home!

Night Routine:

Cleanser

I use Leahlani Bless Balm as my oil cleanser pretty often. Oil cleansing is my favorite. All you have to do is rub the product into your skin (you can use pretty much any kind of face oil for this).

Then, run hot water onto a fresh washcloth and press it into your skin for 5-10 seconds. Repeat this a few times if you’re wearing a lot of makeup. It melts right off.

When I’m not oil cleansing, I use Honest Gentle Gel Cleanser. It’s great for all skin types.

Exfoliant

I am LOVING Moon Juice Acid Potion as my exfoliant. A few months back, I was experiencing a lot of breakouts around my mouth area. It was getting worse and worse.

After not having any facials or skin treatments for a year, my skin was generally just not at its best. I read a review for Acid Potion on another blog and ordered it right away. It has done wonders for me.

At first, I used it every day. Then when my skin cleared up, I started using it every other night or a few times a week. I will definitely keep it in my routine as it’s one of the first times a product has created an immediate result for my skin.

Night Cream

I absolutely love Osea’s Atmosphere Protection Cream. I was looking for a night cream with great ingredients, and this one smells and feels amazing.

I’m also obsessed with their Vagus Nerve Pillow Mist. It has so many incredible five-star reviews. I have found that sticking to a night routine has greatly improved my sleep quality!

One last thing that I forgot to include in a photo (but use every single night) is a lip sleeping mask. It’s super thick and the ultimate remedy for dry lips, which I often have. I love it and use it every single night right as I hop into bed.

Links: Thayer’s Toner / Sea Vitamin Boost / Acid Potion / Bless Balm / Cloud Dew / Atmosphere Protection Cream / Vagus Nerve Pillow Mist / Lip Sleeping Mask / Honest Gel Cleanser

I’d love to hear if there are any skincare products that you use and love, especially in the clean skincare category! xx- Elsie

With this update, I finally am using both a clean foundation and concealer (which in the past was an area I had trouble making clean swaps).

I also found some really amazing brow products recently that have made a big difference!

I am a true fan of using clean beauty whenever possible, and I think this is the cleanest my routine has been so far!

OK, ready to jump in? I tried to minimize this as much as possible, so what I am showing here is my favorite (or most used) product from every category. I could definitely do it twice as big, but these are my absolute favorites!!!

I am going to note the exact colors I use in case you are curious or you happen to be in the market for something similar.

Primer: I am loving Vapour Essential Daily Primer. I can tell a big difference when I use it (and when I don’t) for how smooth my makeup goes on, so I never skip it anymore.

Foundation: This past year I tried SO many foundations. I became obsessed. I really wanted one that makes my skin feel glowy and had SPF built in, since I tend to be lazy on SPF.

I used to say I wore sunscreen, but after having two children with albinism I now realize I BARELY wore sunscreen. It’s like when you say you drink green juice, but really you have one glass a month.

Anyway, Super Serum Skin Tint by ILIA has nice coverage and blends so well with my skin. I use shade ST5.

Concealer: Kosas Revealer Concealer. I have under eye circles, and this does the trick without being too heavy or fake looking.

Over time, I have been embracing the less is more makeup mentality. I am leaning more on products that create a more natural effect. I use shade 03.

Side note: Kosas has my other favorite foundation, as well. It’s very oily so I usually mix it with another brand. But I like the moisture.

Concealer brushes: I wanted to try these oval makeup brushes for a long time and I LOVE THEM. To me, they are even better than beauty blenders. I feel like my makeup is the most blended it’s ever been!

Here’s a swatch so you can see the texture of the three products. I use these every day.

Vapour Essential Daily Primer / ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint / Kosas Revealer Concealer

Brows: For my brows, I am loving KUSH Fiber Brow. I use it to create a bit more volume. My brows are pretty small, so the products that add fake little brow hairs (like this teeny little wand does) are great for me! It looks real. I use the color Herb.

Next, I use Anastasia Brow Wiz to fill in my brows “bald spots” and darken them overall.

I have been using the method of adding lots of little lines and it does create a more realistic effect, especially since my brows need to be lengthened on the ends. I use the color Auburn.

Mascara: I haven’t had eyelash extensions since last March. However, I have had time to try out every single clean mascara, and I have to say—ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara is IT for me. You can see the wand in the photo above.

For whatever reason, this helps my lashes not get clumpy like the fuller wands can. I do a LOT of layers of mascara (3-4, drying between each layer) to get my lashes as dark and full as I can.

Eyeshadow: I don’t use eyeshadow every day, but when I do I prefer warm colors and a light shimmery color, and ILIA’s Necessary Eyeshadow Palette does the job for me! I use the Warm Nude palette.

Eyeliner: For the first time in my ENTIRE adult life, I am not wearing much eyeliner. And when I do wear eyeliner, I have not been doing gigantic cat eyes (which used to be my thing).

I’m sure I will go back to that look eventually, but for now I’m enjoying a natural look. Anyway, Clean Line Gel Liner from ILIA is really nice for a natural look! I use the color Twilight.

Bronzer: This is just a good, classic bronzer for doing a teeny bit of contouring or trying to get your neck to match your face. I don’t use bronzer every day—just on a need-to basis. I use the color Golden Hour.

Liquid Blush: I am obsessed with liquid blush—it’s definitely my go-to. I love how it blends. If I had to cut it down to only blush, I would keep Cloud Paint from Glossier. I really like the shade Dusk, as it works well for my skin tone.

Peachy Blush: This blush by Beautycounter makes me feel like I look “more awake,” so I use a ton of it, especially when I’m sleep deprived. With certain outfits, I think it’s really pretty. I use the color Nectar.

Lip Crayon: I use Bite’s Creamy Matte Lip Crayon to line my lips. Sometimes I put on lipstick after, or I just gloss. It make my lips look more defined and bigger. I don’t do heavy or dark lipstick, so this is the darkest color I wear. I use the color Hard Cider.

Lipstick: Color Block Lipstick by ILIA is my favorite—I wear it often. It’s really pretty and natural. I use the color Amberlight.

Lip Gloss: I love Bite Plumping Lip Gloss. It’s a bit shimmery, but doesn’t look like full ’90s glitter (don’t be scared). It says it’s plumping, but I don’t notice anything in that department.

The color is really nice and it looks pretty as it wears off. I use the color Cider Donut.

ILIA Color Block Lipstick / Bite Creamy Matte Lip Crayon / Bite Plumping Lip Gloss

Vapour Essential Daily Primer / ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint / Kosas Revealer Concealer / Anastasia Brow Wiz / KUSH Fiber Brow / ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara / ILIA Necessary Eyeshadow Palette / ILIA Clean Line Gel Liner / LAWLESS Velvet Matte Bronzer / Glossier Cloud Paint / ILIA Color Block Lipstick

OK … I know that probably felt like a lotttt of products, but I tried my best to minimize it. If you have any questions, I will answer them in the comments! And be sure to check out my clean skincare routine, too! xo Elsie

P.S. If you’re unsure about when to get rid of makeup, check out our tips to know when to know it’s time to throw it out!

I’ve been a big fan of false lashes since my early 20s (which was like five years ago, right?!? How kind of you …).

I’ve done lots of variations to get a good lash look from simple false lashes, to lash extensions, to using Lashify lashes, to lash serums.

While I like the look of false lashes (especially for special occasions or photos), it’s not something I always felt like messing with every day. So doing a lash serum seemed like a good way to go to get “all the time” lashes.

I’ll show you what happened when I tried GrandeLASH-MD Serum and how well I thought it worked!

Related: What Happened When I Tried Lashify Lashes

Granted, I am wearing mascara in the “after” photo above (check out the photo below for a comparison without mascara), but you can see that my lashes are quite more noticeable than they are in the “before” and I am thrilled with the results!!

Even though it’s been about six months of use, I still am shocked at times how amazing they appear when I look in the mirror!

Here’s a photo without mascara on as well … I feel like mine tend to get a lot longer rather than also being a ton thicker (which I will take!), but a lot of people report much thicker lashes in general, too.

How Often Do I Have to Apply GrandeLASH-MD?

• You use the serum once a day. Just one dip does both eyes and you apply it like you would liquid eyeliner at the base of your lashes.
• You’ll want to apply it on the skin next to your lashes rather than on the lashes themselves. Give it two minutes or so to dry though before applying makeup or laying down.

How Long Does it Take to Work?

• It takes about four-to-six weeks to notice a difference, so if you’ve tried serums before but didn’t stick with it long, you may have quit before it started working.
• It takes about three months before you really see a full transformation, but it’s worth the wait!

How Do You Get the Most out of your “New” Lashes?

• To really make your longer lashes stand out, take advantage of an eyelash curler (especially for stick straight lashes like mine) to really show off your new length!

Is There a Mascara That’s Best to Use with GrandeLASH?

• GrandeLASH-MD does sell their own mascara with peptides, panthenols, and natural waxes to condition your lashes, but you can use whatever mascara you like!

• This mascara is our team favorite here at A Beautiful Mess. It’s a clean, non-toxic mascara and we all love it!!

Can I Use GrandeLASH if I Wear Contacts or Have Lash Extensions?

• Yes, you can! I do the serum in place of lash extensions, but if you are wanting a better set of lashes to start your extension on or are just doing them for a bit and don’t want to regress your lash serum progress, you can do both.

What Happens if I Stop Using it?

• Well, your lashes will just go back to the way they were before you started!

Can I Use GrandeLASH on my Eyebrows for Thicker Brows?

Most lash serums say they can also be used on brows as well, but GrandeLASH-MD doesn’t say that, and they also have a brow serum specifically for brows.

Like any product (especially products around the eyes), don’t use this if you have an allergic reaction, and discontinue if you experience a negative reaction.

In all honesty, I did have occasional itching at the baseline of my lids when I first started, but it wasn’t causing puffiness or redness so I just waited a bit to see if it went away and it did.

I don’t have crazy sensitive eyes, but I would say they are more on the sensitive side.

Overall, I’m thrilled with the results of using the lash serum and since I’ve grown them in I haven’t reached for the false lashes even once. So if you’re looking for longer, thicker lashes all the time, maybe give it a try and see if you love it too! xo. Laura

Want Even More Luscious Lash Drama? Give These Posts a Try!

• Let’s Talk About False Lashes
• I Got a Lash Lift and Tint and Here’s What Happened
• How to Apply False Lashes

I mentioned this on Instagram, but I got a few broken blood vessels on my face and neck while I was pregnant. A couple of them were basically smack in the middle of my forehead.

While I am so, so grateful I was able to get pregnant, these new little spots were not my favorite side effect that stuck with me even after my son was born. So, I decided to do some research and see what, if anything, I could do about them.

Here is a before and after photo from my experience. See the little red dots on my forehead, between my eyebrows? Those were the spots that annoyed me the most. I also had a few around the bridge of my nose and near my collarbone. These broken blood vessels showed up sometime around the end of my first trimester.

As I was researching solutions, I found that a vascular laser treatment was something I could try. For me, this was available through a dermatologist’s office, and a registered nurse was able to administer the treatment. It does not require any numbing agents and only takes a few minutes.

I won’t lie, it does hurt. It feels like a needle going into your skin (it’s not, it’s a laser). But it’s super quick and way less painful than any of my tattoos.

Vascular laser treatments can also work for cherry angiomas (cherry moles). I have a lot of those, and so at the same appointment I had a few of the most prominent ones removed as well.

Here’s another before photo where you can see the largest cherry mole I had treated (on the side of my face between my eyebrow and hairline).

This is probably obvious, but except for the first photo in this post, all these photos are unedited and I have no makeup on. You can see I also have melasma, which had gotten darker during my pregnancy.

Here is what my skin looked like immediately after the laser treatment. All the red splotchy spots are areas where I had a broken blood vessel or cherry moles treated.

And here is what it looked like the next day. The areas that were treated turn darker at first, and the cherry moles turn almost black and then fall off within a week or two.

I wear sunscreen everyday already (I’m very fair skinned and burn easily), but I was cautioned by the nurse to be extra careful for the following few weeks after the treatment to always wear sunscreen and hats because the sensitive skin could scar/discolor more easily from the sun while it was healing.

And here is what my skin looked like two weeks after the treatment. As you can see, the large cherry mole on the side of my face is still somewhat visible. After my first treatment, they already had scheduled a follow up for four weeks later to see if any of the spots would need a second treatment, and it looks like this is one spot that probably will. But pretty much everything else was good after just one treatment—especially the middle-of-my-forehead broken vessels.

I went to Ozarks Dematology Specialists (in Springfield, Missouri) for this vascular laser treatment. It only took about 15 minutes and cost $150. The price will vary based on how many spots/how much time you need.

And it would likely vary based on where you live. But I just wanted to share what it was for me, for reference. This was not something my insurance would cover, as it was cosmetic in nature rather than going to the dermatologist to be checked for skin cancer (which is also a very important thing to do).

Thanks for letting me share this very random experience with you all. I love skin care stuff. I am constantly trying new moisturizers, masks, facials, and other things. I also love trying new makeup. I view it all as super fun and for me, self care. xo. Emma

Big sun hats, rash guards, etc., are my best friends. BUT, I miss the glow and even skin tone that a tan could give.

I remember getting my first spray tan in maybe 2002? Wow, things have come a long way since then. The orange-tinted nightmare has now become, in some cases, a very convincing substitute for the real deal! So grateful for that.

My favorite kind of tan is an airbrush tan where someone has the spray machine and they do it manually.

Related: Check out our skincare archive for more!

It’s usually not cheap, but proper preparation can have a major effect on how long your spray tan investment lasts. Here is the timeline I follow that’s given the best results:

Five days to 8 hours before your spray tan:

I like to start my exfoliating/hydrating routine about 3-5 days before my spray tan and carry it through until the night before—this way your skin is really optimally exfoliated and moisturized instead of a “last-ditch effort” the night before.

I absolutely love this scrub from First Aid Beauty. I have keratosis pilaris and this really helps with that as well as being a great physical exfoliant.

My favorite “scrubbing” tip is to actually exfoliate in gentle circles—this works just as well as a firm touch. Scrubbing hard is only going to inflame your skin, so be sweet to it.

My custom lotion from Function Of Beauty (use that link for 20% off your first order) is my favorite for quick and easy hydration.

I’ve recently started incorporating dry brushing into my routine again after years of not doing it, and I feel like dry brushing before your shower really helps to exfoliate even further.

Twenty-four to 12 hours before your appointment:

If you wax, wax at least 24 hours before your appointment. I shave, so I normally do that the night before my spray tan—at least 12 hours before.

Day of spray tan:

Take a shower so your skin is clean (remember, do not shave or wax!), and do not put any oil or lotion on your skin afterward. Anything on your skin could lead to the tan not developing correctly or getting streaky/blotchy.

If you’re worried about certain areas being too dry and taking on too much of the tanning solution, your salon should have a special oil-free lotion that you can apply to places like your nail beds and knuckles.

Be sure to wear loose clothing! Anything that rubs against your skin right after your spray tan will disrupt the tan’s development—I even go so far as to not wear a bra because I know that will leave marks.

Avoid sweating after your appointment. I usually wait until I wash off the tan for the first time to exercise or do anything I know will make me really sweaty.

Be sure to wait the appropriate amount of time before showering. Depending on what type of spray tan you get, there will be a period of time you’ll need to wait while the tan fully develops. Your esthetician/tech will tell you this info!

After your spray tan:

Hydrating is going to be key to prolonging the life of your tan—the dryer your skin, the more it’s going to flake off and disrupt your tan. This gradual tanning lotion from Vita Liberata made a spray tan I had last for 12 days—it was incredible and I swear by it!

Obviously, you have to shower, but the more you shower or are in the pool, you are shortening the life of your tan. I find that using a gradual tan lotion like the one above helps so much if you’re on a beach vacation or something where you’re in the water a lot.

I hope this was helpful, and if you have any favorite spray tan prep/maintenance tips, please share them below! xo Keely

Since we’re in a new season, our skincare and makeup routines have changed, and today, we’re sharing our favorite clean products that we swear by this time of year. If you’re looking for an everyday sunscreen to use (so important, especially now!), we love this one. It’s lightweight, invisible on your skin, and acts as a primer for your makeup. If your hair is feeling extra dry or frizzy, this prickly pear hair oil is a cure-all—and Elsie’s favorite.

If you don’t want to skip foundation because of the heat, this tinted serum is packed with antioxidants and ingredients that will make your skin happy (it also has SPF 40). It’s a favorite among our team! And, we also love this budget-friendly eyeshadow palette—it doesn’t crease and it’s long-wearing despite warmer temperatures. You can shop all of our favorites below!

You can check out this post for more of our fave summer clean beauty or our Five Clean Bath and Body Product Swaps From Target and if you have any go-to summer products, we would love to hear about them in the comments! xo, The ABM Team

P.S. If you like to make your own clean beauty products, check out Our Best Clean Beauty DIYs (and Tips!)

Fix what’s broken! We’ve all been there … a perfectly good foundation gets damaged. Maybe your powder compact shattered when you dropped it or maybe something scratched (or dug into) the makeup. Don’t throw it away just yet! There IS a way to fix it, and the secret weapon is isopropyl alcohol. I tried this method out so you can see how it worked out for me and what I might do differently next time.

Simply grab your alcohol bottle and very carefully pour some in your compact. You’ll know right away when you have enough as your makeup will start “healing” before your very eyes.

I used a bobby pin to spread and smooth things out, but I would recommend a small blunt knife or the back of a spoon to smooth it out a little better. However, THIS WORKED!!! I left the lid open for the foundation to dry out and I was so impressed with how it made something broken usable again. If you have a liquid foundation that broke, maybe the bottle shattered, the top broke off, or the pump is broken, try something like this! You can siphon what’s left of the foundation into a new bottle so your precious product isn’t going to waste.

Be sure you aren’t leaving product behind. Every time I get a new foundation it takes me a few applications to figure out just how much I need. Sometimes, we are letting product go to waste by simply using too much of it and it gets washed away from our brushes and sponges. Maybe you need a half pump instead of a full pump, a pea-sized amount instead of a skittle—and this goes for just about any liquid/cream product.

Get everything out of your tube foundation! Are you at the end of a tube of foundation (or any other beauty product!)? Here’s one of my favorite tips: cut it off in the middle and check out how much product is still left in the bottom! You can scoop the product out into a really small container, and if you don’t have one of those, just pop the tube in a small tupperware container in the meantime. You can see above I probably have 5-10 more applications left in this tube that I couldn’t possibly squeeze anything else out of.

Make a tinted moisturizer. Have a liquid product that you need to stretch for a few more days until you can get a new bottle? Squeeze in some sunscreen or your favorite moisturizer to add some more volume to the product. This will dilute the pigment, of course, but it’s better than nothing! Here’s a great sunscreen option.

Here’s to getting every last drop out of that bottle or tube! xo, Keely

What is “Baking” Your Makeup, and When Should You Do It? Check out Keely’s post for more details!

Credits // Author and Photography: Keely Rust. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.

This toner has the power of rose oil (which reduces the appearance of wrinkles, helps smooth skin, and the smell promotes relaxation), rose hydrosol for hydration, and some alcohol-free witch hazel which helps moisturize and balance out the pH level of the skin. A fresh and floral way to end and start each day!

Rose Toner:
-18 drops rose essential oil
–Solubol (a carrier for your essential oil when used with water … you can also use Polysorbate 20 according to the Tisserand Institute guide on safely adding oils to water)
-2 tablespoons rose hydrosol
-2 tablespoons alcohol-free witch hazel
–2 ounces fine mist spray bottle
–small funnel set (optional)

First, you’ll want to add your Solubol carrier oil to your bottle. You’ll add 4 drops of Solubol for each drop of essential oil you use. For a 2 ounces bottle we’ll keep our rose oil at a 1% dilution rate (you can do more but don’t go higher than 1.5% for use on your face), so that would be 18 drops of essential oil and 72 drops of Solubol. If you use the Polysorbate 20 as your carrier, you can use one drop of carrier oil for each drop of essential oil, so 18 drops of each. Once your carrier oil is added to your bottle, add in your essential oil and gently roll the bottle between your hands to blend the oils together. Use a funnel or carefully pour in your hydrosol and then your witch hazel and shake the bottle to combine.

If rose isn’t your thing, this toner uses lavender oil and hydrosol as its power agents (which helps soothe the skin and the scent is also very calming) and the alcohol-free witch hazel reduces irritation and gently cleanses skin.

Lavender Toner:
-18 drops lavender essential oil
–Solubol (a carrier for your essential oil when used with water … you can also use Polysorbate 20 according to the Tisserand Institute guide on safely adding oils to water)
-2 tablespoons lavender hydrosol
-2 tablespoons alcohol-free witch hazel
–2 ounces fine mist spray bottle
–small funnel set (optional)

First, you’ll want to add your Solubol carrier oil to your bottle. You’ll add 4 drops of Solubol for each drop of essential oil you use. For a 2 ounces bottle we’ll keep our rose oil at a 1% dilution rate (you can do more but don’t go higher than 1.5% for use on your face), so that would be 18 drops of essential oil and 72 drops of Solubol. If you use the Polysorbate 20 as your carrier, you can use one drop of carrier oil for each drop of essential oil, so 18 drops of each. Once your carrier oil is added to your bottle, add in your essential oil and gently roll the bottle between your hands to blend the oils together. Use a funnel or carefully pour in your hydrosol and then your witch hazel and shake the bottle to combine.

If you want maximum benefit of your toner and you don’t mind a more earthy scent, go for a chamomile toner (an excellent soother of congested skin, has antioxidants, and reduces bacteria to prevent breakouts) with a calendula hydrosol (which has a long history of soothing blemishes and irritation)

Chamomile Toner:
-18 drops of chamomile essential oil
–Solubol (a carrier for your essential oil when used with water … you can also use Polysorbate 20 according to the Tisserand Institute guide on safely adding oils to water)
-2 tablespoons calendula hydrosol
-2 tablespoons alcohol-free witch hazel
–2 ounces fine mist spray bottle
–small funnel set (optional)

First, you’ll want to add your Solubol carrier oil to your bottle. You’ll add 4 drops of Solubol for each drop of essential oil you use. For a 2 ounces bottle we’ll keep our rose oil at a 1% dilution rate (you can do more but don’t go higher than 1.5% for use on your face), so that would be 18 drops of essential oil and 72 drops of Solubol. If you use the Polysorbate 20 as your carrier, you can use one drop of carrier oil for each drop of essential oil, so 18 drops of each. Once your carrier oil is added to your bottle, add in your essential oil and gently roll the bottle between your hands to blend the oils together. Use a funnel or carefully pour in your hydrosol and then your witch hazel and shake the bottle to combine.

Shake before each use to blend the essential oil back into the mixture. You’ll want to keep the bottle in the fridge to keep the hydrosols fresh, but I promise that the cooling mist will make those few extra steps to the kitchen worth it (or you can go for one of these mini beauty fridges if you have the space in your bathroom)! You can spray onto your face or you can soak some into a cotton round and rub in circles to exfoliate and clean your face (you can get reusable cotton rounds like these as well). For best results, you’ll use it morning and night after you clean your face before applying moisturizer or serums (this is a great budget-friendly face wash). Pair this with a quartz face roller and you’ll be in self-care heaven! And in case you were wondering, you can mix and match your oils and hydrosols to create custom scents with different focuses—I did a rose essential oil toner with the lavender hydrosol instead and I loved the mixture of the two, so feel free to get creative and customize your own! Hope toner is a game changer for you as well! xo. Laura

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Hydrating Toner DIY

3 hydrating toner DIYs (using clean ingredients)

Keyword clean beauty, toner

Author Laura Gummerman

Ingredients

• 18 drops essential oil rose, lavender, or chamomile
• 72 drops solubol or 18 drops of Polysorbate 20
• 1 ounce hydrosol rose, lavender, or calendula
• 1 ounce witch hazel alcohol-free

Instructions

• First, you’ll want to add your Solubol carrier oil to your bottle. You’ll add 4 drops of Solubol for each drop of essential oil you use.

  For a 2 ounces bottle we’ll keep our rose oil at a 1% dilution rate (you can do more but don’t go higher than 1.5% for use on your face), so that would be 18 drops of essential oil and 72 drops of Solubol.

  If you use the Polysorbate 20 as your carrier, you can use one drop of carrier oil for each drop of essential oil, so 18 drops of each.
• Once your carrier oil is added to your bottle, add in your essential oil and gently roll the bottle between your hands to blend the oils together.

  Use a funnel or carefully pour in your hydrosol and then your witch hazel and shake the bottle to combine.

Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Color Story Desktop.

I wear makeup most days, usually skipping one or two days a week (usually when I’m pressed for time, ha) and over the years I’ve swapped out a lot of the makeup I use for more natural brands. I may still have a few items that don’t fall under the umbrella of “natural” makeup, but for the most part my everyday makeup routine is pretty clean. But even if you couldn’t care less about natural products everything I use also feels (at least to me, and with my skin type) high performing and high quality.

Above is everything in my makeup bag, although I don’t use all of this every day. I feel like most people (who wear and like makeup) have at least a few shades or lipstick or blush that you cycle through depending what you are wearing or what you’re in the mood for that day.

Foundations & Concealers-

I have two liquid foundations I love. I tend to use Bare Minerals BarePro in Aspen 04 in the colder months and ILIA Skin Tint in Tulum in the warmer months. I love that both contain a good amount of SPF (although I still wear sunscreen under my makeup if I am going anywhere at all), but the ILIA Skin Tint is a lighter consistency so it just feels better during the warmer season to me.

I love W3ll People Bio Correct in Ivory for a very full coverage concealer, like if I am covering up a blemish or red spot. And I also like this ILIA concealer stick—I tend to use it more like a highlighter or for under my eyes mainly.

Also pictured is ILIA Serum Concealer in Arrowroot, which I use at the very end to kind of set my makeup, or I’ll brush some on if I want to avoid looking shiny.

Eye Makeup-

I have eyelash extensions that I get refilled once a month. For this reason, I don’t really wear eyeliner or mascara. I love my eyelash extensions (I go to Abby at Foxie Lash in Springfield, Missouri) and to me they are worth the time and expense to keep them up. It’s my #1 treat to myself.

For eyeshadow, I have the Lawless The Little One Palette. I use ILIA Essential Brow in Medium Brown for my brows. And I also wanted to mention this HAN eyeshadow in Celebrate as I love it for not only my inner eyes, but also I use it as a highlighter on my cheekbones or the bridge of my nose.

Blush & Bronzer-

I only own one bronzer, I love it. It’s ILIA Bronzing Powder in Drawn In.

I have a few different blushes that I use and love that are slightly different shades/looks. I use Rejuva Minerals Baked Blush in Cranfusion for a basic, everyday pressed powder option. I like the ILIA Multi-Stick in At Last for cheeks and lips. I also like Bloomeffects Tulip Tint for both cheeks and lips. When I use either of those last two options it’s a little more of a dewy look.

Lipsticks and Glosses-

I love a matte lip, so most of the lip products I own fall into that category. Love BITE Lip Crayons (the two colors I have are Glacé and Nonino). I also love these Shade M Matte Liquid Lipsticks—the colors I have are Lila and Secrets. I own one very pink, bold lipstick from 100% Pure in Marrakesh, which is for special moments. Ha. And, I love HAN Lipgloss on its own for a softer look, or layered over one of my other lip products.

Thanks for letting me share! Check out Elsie’s clean makeup favorites for more product recommendations! xo. Emma

Credits // Author: Emma Chapman. Photography: Emma Chapman and Janae Hardy