About
A Skin-First Approach to Makeup
“Makeup is for you to convey a feeling and express yourself, elevate yourself, and skin is an extension of that. We spend so much time and money being healthy, so when you have healthy, glowing skin, don't cover it up. Show it off!” - Romy Soleimani
At MARIE VERONIQUE, our commitment to skin health is at the forefront of everything we do. As part of our mission to be your trusted resource for all things skin-related, we wanted to open a discussion on a topic we haven’t yet explored: makeup.
We are not the experts here, so for this article we sought advice from one of our favorite makeup artists, Romy Soleimani. Romy is a long-time fan of the brand and a renowned NYC-based makeup artist known for creating natural, radiant makeup looks for her celebrity clients, and that’s made possible by her strong focus on skin. (Romy recently joined Marie Veronique for a conversation with Kristina Holey as part of our Beyond Topical series; you can watch that here.)
Read on for our thoughts on what "clean makeup" means and what to look for when choosing products. We also share Romy's favorite Marie Veronique products to use alongside makeup to enhance your appearance and her list of brands and products she uses in her work.
Why does the kind of makeup you use matter?
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already a dedicated Marie Veronique user who’s invested time and money towards achieving healthier skin. With this strong foundation, it’s important to stay mindful of ingredients when choosing products. Not all makeup is created equal, and consistently using poorly formulated options could negatively impact skin function and disrupt internal systems.
The most common topical reactions we see from makeup are sensitivity and inflammation, contact allergies like atopic dermatitis, and potentially microbial symptoms from expired or contaminated products (e.g. rashes and breakouts). The impact doesn’t stop at the skin level, recent research studies show proof of endocrine-disrupting and carcinogenic ingredients that are commonly used in makeup. That doesn’t mean if you use makeup with these ingredients something bad will happen, but given the abundance of options available today, it’s easier than ever to avoid them. Apart from the consideration of what we put on our bodies, we also value consideration of the planet, so paying attention to packaging, ingredient sourcing, and the manufacturing process is another level of detail to consider.
Here are our guidelines broken down into levels of concern on how to navigate choosing makeup.
- Choose ingredients wisely.
Based on our research and expertise in formulation, these are the top ingredients to avoid in makeup (especially if you have sensitive skin or are pregnant): Methylisothiazolinone (MI), methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), fragrance mix, and formaldehyde and formaldehyde formers (like DMDM Hydantoin). If you do nothing else, refrain from buying anything with these in the mix.
If you are using certain products on a daily basis, consider reading further down the label to avoid: parabens, phthalates, resorcinol, PEGs, ethanolamines, BHT, PFAS, heavy metal compounds, petroleum distillates, siloxanes, triclosan, mercury, and Quaternium 15. Note, there are much longer lists of ingredients to avoid available online, however, it can get quite laborious cross-checking labels. For further reading on this topic, Safe Cosmetics and EWG are two good resources.
2. Find brands and voices you can trust.
Not everyone has the time or desire to read labels, so if that’s you, look for trustworthy sources for recommendations. Some good options here:
a. Seek out brands that are transparent about their ingredients, their business + testing practices, and that are mindful about packaging waste.
b. Use customer service - when you’re considering a purchase from a brand you don’t know, ask their team questions to find what you are looking for.
c. Find makeup artists you align with and use their favorite brands —for us that’s Romy!
3. Take care of what you do buy.
To maximize product longevity, store your makeup in cool, dry, and dark places, just as you would with your skincare, and keep an eye on expiration dates. Instead of purchasing multiples of the same item, we recommend purchasing one product at a time and using them up before buying a replacement or trying something new. This approach reduces the likelihood of products lingering past their expiration.
Prepping the Skin for Makeup Application
Like Romy, when it comes to makeup, we love a more natural look. Below are her suggestions on how to incorporate products to hydrate + plump, brighten, and moisturize to help you create that luminous base. For her clients, Romy suggests adding in certain techniques such as gua sha, facial massage, and even ice during this skin prep phase to wake up the skin, increase blood flow/drainage, and enhance product absorption. Romy also provided a quick tutorial featuring one of her favorite tricks for prepping + plumping lips. You can watch our conversation with her here to learn more.
Here are Romy’s favorite Marie Veronique products to prep the skin for makeup.
- To start your routine and wake up the skin:
PROBIOTIC + EXFOLIATION MASK & FACE TO CHEST HYDRATION MASK - “I love the dual support of double masking when you need a little extra boost or hydration. I put it on clients while they get their hair done, or I use it at home if I’m getting ready for a night out.”
- To deeply hydrate and calm:
BALANCING HYPOTONIC - “This is my latest obsession, for myself and my clients. To me, it’s the first step in giving your skin a drink. It feels like it opens and preps the skin, letting everything else sink in. It just feels amazing. I also like to follow this with PRE + PROBIOTIC DAILY MIST.”
- To brighten and plump:
C-THERAPY SERUM - layer over your tonic and mist to boost glow and brighten the skin.
- To restore moisture balance and protect:
BARRIER RESTORE SERUM - perfect for around the eyes to smooth fine lines and create a moisture barrier.
- To moisturize and increase luminosity:
BARRIER LIPID COMPLEX - “I love this oil! I add it to the upper cheekbones to add more richness and shine. You can use it before and/or after applying makeup.”
PROTECTIVE DAY OIL - “For myself, I use this in the summertime, when I want something light during the day. I don’t go crazy with my regimen in the morning, I just don't have time. I prioritize.”
- To remove makeup/cleanse the skin:
PURE + E.O. FREE OIL CLEANSER - thoroughly massage over the face to deeply cleanse pores and remove makeup.
Romy's Picks for Makeup Brands
The makeup industry has grown a lot recently and there are endless brands to choose from. We asked Romy to tell us what her tried and true (clean) favorites are for a natural look. Here’s her list of go-to products, organized by category and ranging in price.
- Concealer: Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Concealer, Kosas Revealer Concealer, Sara Creel Face Flex (for mature skin), Merit Beauty The Minimalist
- Bronzer: Romy prefers a cream bronzer: Saie cream bronzer; for powder: Make Beauty bronzer, Westman Atelier Bronzer
- Blush: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks, RMS Lip2Cheek, Saie Dew Blush, Milk Beauty Lip + Cheek cream blush, Make Beauty Dewy Gel Cheek Tint
- Mascara: Victoria Beckham Vast Lash
- Eyeliner: Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner pencil, Make Beauty Liquid Liner
- Eyeshadow: Cream shadow: RMS Eyelights; stick: Victoria Beckham EyeWear; powder: Victoria Beckham Smoky Eye Brick
- Lipstick: Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick, any by RMS, ilia Balmy Tint (most hydrating), Fara Homidi Essential Lip Compact, Milk Beauty Lipstick
- Lip liner: Victoria Beckham Lip Definer, Fara Homidi Smudge and Contour Lip Liner
Summing Up
We strive to make products that will make your skin the strongest, most resilient, and most vibrant expression of YOU. After years of working with clients seeking to elevate their appearance, we have witnessed that genuine confidence comes through as one's skin (and body) finds health and balance. We recognize the importance makeup may have in one's life — an accessory for special events, an avenue for self-expression, or vital for the day-to-day. Our view is that beauty is rooted in health, inside and out, and we encourage you to consider this innate quality and let it be the foundation that you can highlight or accentuate.