scorecardEvery item in this nontoxic beauty brand is under $30 - here's what each one is like
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Every item in this nontoxic beauty brand is under $30 - here's what each one is like

SOS Save.Our.Skin Daily Rescue Facial Spray

Every item in this nontoxic beauty brand is under $30 - here's what each one is like

ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss

ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss
ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss, available at Sephora, for $14

The ingredient list on these lip glosses is one of the most impressive I've seen on any lip product ever, including the hydrating lip balms I swear by. Every time I open the tube, I'm reminded of the fruity candies I used to enjoy as a child, and it's no wonder — the gloss is made of nurturing apricot kernel oil, raspberry seed oil which naturally protects from sun damage, and rosehip oil which promotes cell regeneration.

As an Indian woman, I'm predisposed to my lips getting darker when I'm out in the sun a lot, summer or winter. I almost exclusively prime my lipstick with lip balms that have SPF in them, so I appreciate the natural protection from the raspberry seed oil and hydration from castor oil.

The gloss comes in four colors: clear, purple, pink, and orange. Honestly, my first reaction to these was that I would never wear the ones with hues. The colors in the tubes were extremely bright, which is not my style. I own about a hundred nude glosses and lipsticks, and I like it that way. But when I tried them out, I loved that the pigmentation was extremely light.

On my tan skin, the orange hue "Fire" is perfect to bring out the pink in my lips and balance out the brown in them. I typically wear this gloss on its own, but when I put it over a nude pink lipstick, it adds just a small bit of orange without looking too bright or aggressive. Because of the clean ingredients, it doesn't go on tacky or sticky. Rather, it gives my lips a slick, thin coating that makes them feel hydrated — and tasting like candy.

BeachPlease Tinted Lip + Cheek Balm

BeachPlease Tinted Lip + Cheek Balm
BeachPlease Tinted Lip + Cheek Balm, available at Sephora, for $20

I saved the best for last. The balms come in four colors: clear, coral pink, burnt orange, and dusty rose. Though the coral and dusty rose aren't the best on my skin tone, the burnt orange and clear balms have become a daily staple for me.

I'm usually a bit skeptical of products that have multiple purposes. My thought is that it's important to master one product. If it works really well on my lips, it can't be that good on my cheeks. I chalked it up to a sales gimmick, but the burnt orange color dubbed "Golden Hour" is ideal for my skin tone. I get compliments every single time I put it on my lips, and I also keep this as a staple in my gym bag to dot a bit on my cheeks and eyelids for a little bit of color without looking like I'm actually wearing makeup.

As a darker-skinned woman, I don't really blush, but I imagine this is what I would look like if I did. When I dot this on and blend it into my cheeks and lips, I look like I got a full night's sleep (though I usually don't). It appears really natural on my cheeks and lids, but it comes off as opaque on my lips.

The clear balm is the ideal shimmer-free highlight for a natural, dewy glow. I put it on regularly under a matte foundation, just on my cheekbones, and it almost acts like a dewy primer. The balmy consistency isn't thick or tacky like a lot of balms can be, likely due to the aloe vera and shea butter in it. According to Dr. Zeichner, the green tea in it is great for oily skin, as well. "Green tea has anti-inflammatory benefits to soothe the skin. Aloe vera is ultra hydrating and may give moisturizing benefits," he said.

All in all, you can tell by looking at the products and using them that the line was founded by someone who worked in the beauty industry for a long time, and that every ingredient was carefully curated to have a purpose that isn't just beautiful makeup, but skin-loving and soothing — let the unused pack of oil-blotting sheets in my purse be the proof.

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