My whole natural health schtick started because I have ridiculously sensitive skin. I just can’t use most mainstream skincare or makeup without risking a reaction. I’ve had my eyelids get so swollen that I can barely open my eyes, all because I put on an eyeshadow my skin didn’t like. Fortunately, the demand has grown substantially for cleaner products since I was figuring this out 25 years ago, and there are hundreds of great brands out there now. But here’s a handful of my tried-and-true makeup favorites, just in time for warm weather, when I want an elevated no-makeup look, more often than not. And nary a one of these will settle into fine lines and make you look needlessly older, lovelies.

Foundation? Nah. Go with a tinted moisturizer/suncreen/serum hybrid that feels like a dream and protects like crazy. I go on and on about this sunscreen serum, because it’s everything good about the clean beauty industry. It’s made using upcycled tulips, and if you bought individual serums to cover the bases that this one single product does, you’d spend three times as much as buying this one little bottle from BloomEffects.

If you want a little more coverage without being foundation-y, try Laura Geller baked. “A powder!?” you say? I promise it’s actually made for women who aren’t teenagers, and despite what we’ve learned by trying other dry foundations, this one doesn’t make us look like crones. It goes great right over your sunscreen serum, and it gives a less dewey finish without drying your skin.

If you’re looking for a more traditional liquid foundation, this organic formula from Gabriel cosmetics is an eternal fave. It’s such a easy to wear, breathable, perfect skin coverage without looking like a heavy mask – and it’s made by makeup royalty who left big makeup to found this little organic brand.

I also really like the Laura Geller mascara. My eyes have become chronically dry, on top of being sensitive, and it’s made mascara a real challenge. This one doesn’t flake into my eyes by the end of the day, and it’s irritation free.

Cream blush, in a stick, made for mature skin. Boom blush comes in several universally subtle, flattering shades, and you can use it for lip color, too. Throw it in your travel bag, because TSA won’t care about it.

Concealers. We need them, but they sometimes hate us, especially as our eye area ages, which it does faster than the rest of our face (yay). Here are two that I use interchangeably, and sometimes layered together, if I’ve had a sleepless night.

This Embryolisse concealer is lighter weight, and the pink tint works well for lighter skin, beige for medium – both blend into a variety of skin tones, and don’t require precision to look amazing. (It’s from a French brand that also makes cult favorite moisturizer that every skin loves.)

This concealer from RMS is a bit thicker than the one above, and it comes in a huge range of perfect shades (mine is 11.5).

I’m adding this next RMS product as an honorable mention, because it’s new and I haven’t tried it yet. It looks so good! It’s a depuffing roller ball concealer, with sunscreen, caffeine, and peptides.

Bronzer is tough when you want to look sunkissed, but not sparkly like a teenage vampire, and so many of them are just too dark for me. But this simple, clean, matte one from HAN is perfect, and so inexpensive. I never-ever-ever stray from this one, and I use Malibu, which is light enough to work on the most porcelain skintones.

When I want to be fancy and wear eyeshadow, it’s these from RMS, period. They’re cream-to-powder, and they stay where you put them without a smidge of irritation. I have strobe and blaze, and they have a shimmer. I apply with my fingertip, and blend with an eyeshadow brush. It requires zero skills, which is great, because I’m not watching endless tutorials for the “perfect smoky eye.” RMS has just added a matte version that I haven’t tried, but plan to, immediately.

For lips, I hesitate to even get started. My 16 year old daughter says I’m an addict when it comes to everything lips, and I must confess: she’s right. I should probably just make lips a separate post.

For real lipstick (as opposed to gloss, balm, stain, or oil, haha), I have not found another natural brand that doesn’t irritate, feather into tiny creases around my lips, or fade within a few minutes. At the risk of sounding like an RMS apologist, I offer this trio of serum lipsticks, which are lovely; they should get you through any occasion calling for premium, grown up lips.

For my everyday minimal look, I have several faves that my fellow lip lovers will go gaga for, I promise.

This lip oil from Milani is vegan, comes in tons of sheer, glossy colors, and feels great on your lips. It’s also seriously inexpensive, so get several!

This lip whip from Kari Gran is another item I always have in my travel bag. It gives a little color, and can even be used on your cheeks in a pinch, but most importantly, it feels like a thick balm that delivers lasting moisture. It comes in clear, too.

Plumping gloss from Buxom is high shine, minty, tingly, and gorgeous. I wish I had every color they make.

For plain, no tint lip balm, this one from Korres is a fave. It also comes in subtle sheer tints, so knock yourself out.

My favorite overnight lip treatment – or for anytime my lips feel in need of extra care, really – is this one from Weleda. They’re a longtime staple of my skincare drawer, and they make zero mediocre products; everything is simple, elegant, and effective.

Ok, I’ll stop there, even though I could go on (and on, and on). For a woman who likes to look like she’s not wearing a lot of makeup, I sure do love makeup. Let me know what you try from my list!

As always, I’m a human writer/compiler of healthy items/lover of learning/home cookery rabbit hole girly, not AI. I’m also an affiliate, so any link you shop from above earns me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!