Best of Clean Beauty 2021

This Best of Clean Beauty 2021 list features my top 10 favorite clean beauty items that I’ve tried this past year!

I’m really excited to share 10 of my favorite beauty products from this past year! I’ve tried some really amazing products in 2021 & am thrilled to put together this list of clean must-haves for you in case you’re looking to add anything new into your routine! This Best of Clean Beauty 2021 list includes a lot of new clean makeup, self tanner, & two hair products that are new to me. All of the items mentioned below are products that I’ve personally used & tried during this year!

Have you tried any clean beauty items this year that you just fell in love with? If so, I’d love to hear in the comments below! And if you’re in the mood to read a few other posts on clean beauty, I’ll share some below!

More Clean Beauty Posts from 2021:

• All Bright C Serum Review
• Ilia Makeup Review
• 100% Pure Shampoo & Conditioner Review
• 10 Ways to Upgrade Your Fall Skincare Routine

Best of Clean Beauty 2021

1. Think Big All in One Mascara

Beautycounter FINALLY updated their mascara formula this year & wow was it definitely a major upgrade! I did NOT like their previous mascara choices. The new Think Big All in One Mascara is honestly amazing & it’s been so fun to hear the feedback of everyone just loving it so so much.

I’ve never been so in love with how a mascara has made my eye lashes look. The length & lift this wand is able to provide is just next level. I wouldn’t go as far to say that it’s a true volumizing mascara but it’s very lengthening & can definitely be built up.

My only negative feedback is that it is oil soluble, so while not super consistent, it will sometimes run on me. Like I said, it isn’t consistent & really just depends on the day, but I can get over it because of how much I love the way it makes my lashes look!

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2. The One & Done Volumizing Mascara

I was back & forth on whether or not I liked this Lawless One & Done Mascara for a few months honestly. I really don’t like the applicator & find the formula to be very thick & clumpy, but hear me out.

It’s truly the ONLY mascara that can successfully withstand my teary, sensitive eyes without transferring below my eyes.

This mascara will not budge at all, which is why I love it – I can get past everything else haha! I also found the formula to be better after I used it for a handful of months because it dried up a bit. When I first got this mascara the formula was pretty hard to work with because it was so wet. Many brand new mascaras have a similar issue. A trick for this is to remove the wand from the bottle & wave it in the air for a few seconds to allow the formula to dry down just a bit before applying it to your lashes. This will give you a lot more control during your application.

But overall, this One & Done Mascara from Lawless definitely gives your lashes mega volume & impact. And of course is a great option if you’re like me & need a mascara that won’t run!

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3. Glow First Priming Serum

Okay now onto a product that I am head over heels OBSESSED with. Beauytcounter outdid themselves with this Glow First Priming Serum. It’s a hybrid between a skin-loving serum & a primer that creates the most perfect base for your makeup.

The formula is really unique & is made up of over 4,000 encapsulated jojoba ester bubbles that burst when they are applied to your skin. This delivers skin smoothing benefits & lots of hydration. You can of course wear this primer under makeup but I even love just wearing it on its own because it feels SO good on my skin. It instantly gives me a radiant glow!

And on days where I’m only wearing a little bit of makeup, I’ll apply this primer & then just a touch of concealer & I’m good to go. I can’t even put into words how much I love this product.

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4. Cheeky Clean Cream Blush

At first I was really sad that Beautycounter was temporarily doing away with their powder blush because I’ve been such a huge fan of it. But they recently launched this new Cheeky Clean Cream Blush in October & I cannot get enough of them. I’m completely obsessed & this is actually one of my very favorite products on this Best of Clean Beauty list!

This Cheeky Clean Cream Blush is SO easy to use. The formula is so creamy, so all you have to do is swirl your finger on the pan & then gently bounce the product onto the apples of your cheeks or wherever else you like to apply blush! I also like to apply just the tiniest amount of cream blush down the bridge of my nose to create a little bit of a sun kissed look! I think this really helps tie the entire makeup look together too!

I currently have three shades of this new cream blush, Chai (Dusty Rose), Cider (Soft Peach), & Truffle (Warm Terracotta). There’s a total of eight shades available & they all are stunning. As of right now, Chai is the one I grab for the most because I’m in love with the Dusty Rose shade. And much to my surprise, I don’t reach for my powder blushes at all anymore because the formula of these is just too good!

They’re a dream to apply & the color payoff is amazing! It will stay on all day! Intimidated by cream products? Don’t be! If you can apply concealer, you can apply cream blush!

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5. Lid Glow Cream Shadow

To say that I am a cream shadow fan would be an understatement. I LOVE Beautycounter’s new line of Lid Glow Cream Shadows. I have all 10 shades, my favorites being, Dusk, Sepia, Ember, & Gleam.

Again, don’t let the idea of a cream eye shadow intimidate you. These are so easy to apply, all you have to do is gently pat them in using your finger…even the darker shades! They’re so versatile as well! I did a reel, which has just under 40k views, showing shade Haze applied as an eyeshadow, blush, & lip color! You can watch it here!

The key to using cream shadows is to first set your eyelids using a setting powder with a fluffy brush. This helps create a nice base for the cream product to hold onto. For setting powder, I like to use this Lawless Loose Setting Powder or this Bite Changemaker Flexible Coverage Pressed Powder to first set my lids before going in with my Lid Glow Cream Shadows.

Most days I like to use two shades – one light shade (like Aura or Gleam) & one darker shade (like Ember, Sepia, or Dusk). I apply the lighter shade on my entire eye lid & gently buff it out using my finger tip. After the lighter shade dries down, I’ll apply the darker shade solely towards my outer corner. Again, using my finger tip, I gently pat the darker shade in to blend & it creates a gorgeous eyeshadow look in just two easy steps!

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6. Forget the Filler Plumping Gloss

This Forget the Filler Plumping Gloss is so so good. It’s definitely thick & a little sticky, so it might not be your vibe if you don’t like a thick gloss, but if you don’t mind a formula that is a little thicker, you’ll be obsessed with this gloss. It’s one of the very few lip products that I have rebought. I’m now on my third & fourth tube!

I love shade Rosy Outlook which is a super sheer baby pink shade. And I recently got Velvet, which is a rosy mauve with plummy undertones.

You can wear this gloss on it’s own or on top of a lipstick to make your lips so smooth & shiny. Also, the applicator is very plush & just the best for ensuring your lips are coated in gloss.

And of course, this Forget the Filler Gloss also helps to plump up your lips thanks to an ingredient called Maxi-Lip™ which is clinically shown to visibly increase lip volume by 40 percent & decrease the look of wrinkles by 29 percent.

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7. Forget the Filler Definer Lip Liner

I have been WAITING for a clean lip liner, so I was beyond thrilled with Lawless launched this Forget the Filler Lip Liner! I’ve been using shades Pink Sand (a pinky nude) & Honey Rose (a dusty rose) since March & have really enjoyed them!

The formula of this lip liner is so creamy, the shades are beautiful, & overall feel so smooth on your lips!

I think lip liner is a must, so I’d highly recommend these. I find myself using Pink Sand the most because I usually lean towards a pinky/nude lip. But if I wear a darker lip shade, I use Honey Rose.

Finding a good shade of liner can be key for creating a fuller pout. I really like the shades that Lawless has available because they work with many lipstick shades. For example, as I mentioned, if I’m wearing any nude, pink, or peachy toned lipstick, I’ll use Pink Sand. If I’m wearing any deep shade, I’ll use Honey Rose! In most cases, you’d never know that you didn’t match your liner to your lipstick exactly!

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8. Innersense Hydrating Hair Mask

Innersense is a brand that I’ve been eyeing for a while & finally snagged this Hydrating Hair Mask during Credo Beauty’s sale back in October. This mask can be used on all hair types but is especially great for dry or thick hair. It’s a rich & repairing treatment that you use like a leave-in conditioner while you’re in the shower on the middle to ends of your hair. You leave it on for 5-10 minutes & then you’ll rinse thoroughly.

After I use this mask & style my hair, I find that my hair is SO much more bouncy, shiny, & honestly looks like I got a fresh color! I’m currently using this mask about every other wash – a little goes a long way. Also! It has a really amazing & relaxing scent. Definitely smells like a treatment you’d get at a spa!

I hope to try more products from Innersense in 2022. I love that they actually have styling products, which is something I don’t see from a ton of clean hair care companies! I’d be interested in trying their Hydrating Cream Hair Bath, Hair Love Prep Spray, & the Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer.

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9. G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo

Okay this G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo is another product that I was eyeing for well over a year! I purchased it from Credo Beauty when I got the Innersense mask this Fall. I had heard amazing things about this shampoo scrub & it definitely lives up to the hype.

This scalp scrub honestly creates an entire aromatherapeutic experience in the shower with the scent, the consistency, & the exfoliation it provides. With that said, the very first time I used this scrub, it immediately caused a pretty awful eczema flare. If you’re new, you can read about my Dyshidrotic Eczema here. I’m not sure why it brought upon a flare but it definitely did. The next time I used this scrub, I only used my right hand to apply & work the scrub into my scalp & I was fine.

However, this scrub is amazing. It’s designed to be used as a shampoo. You take a little scoop & apply it directly onto your scalp & then Massage it into your scalp until it becomes a thick lather. Then you rinse thoroughly & follow with conditioner. It’s designed to be used once a week – I’m currently using it every other wash.

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10. Beauty by Earth Self Tanning Mousse

This Beauty by Earth Self Tanning Mousse has truly been a game changer for me this year, which is why it’s on this Best of Clean Beauty 2021 list! This product is hands down the best clean self tanner there is. It applies beautifully, gives you a really even & lasting color, & doesn’t have your typical self tanner smell.

The last time I used self tanner was literally in 8th grade, so I was definitely a skeptic prior to trying this mousse. But wow, I was blown away. I have & used both their tanning mousse & tanning lotion but I prefer the mousse formula because it’s easier to apply in my opinion. It also doesn’t take as much time to dry down in comparison to the tanning lotion.

I’d also recommend grabbing Beauty by Earth’s tanning mitt too. It makes application a breeze! If you’re in search of a really good & non-toxic self tanner, feel free to use my code MADI12 to grab this one! I promise, this product is a winter MUST!

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What product from this Best of Clean Beauty 2021 list would you be most excited to try?

Let me know in the comments below!