Do you wear makeup every day?
Do you wear makeup just for special occasions?
Do you wear makeup at all?

Me, for a very long time, housebound with a string of chemical sensitivities and not a lot of money, spent the best part of 20 years without a lick of makeup on. These days, I only wear natural makeup and only for special occasions, and only enough to smooth out and even skin tone and give a subtle highlight to cheeks, lips etc.

Because of this, I really am quite the novice when it comes to the artistry of applying makeup. I found this great video tonight showing a lovely young lady doing up half of her face. In the video, she talks about makeup shaming. Me, I think makeup can be a mask to hide behind for some people (I know many people who describe their experience that way), and at the other end of the spectrum, it can be a colourful layer of fun and excitement. I am all for people doing what makes them feel comfortable and not judging others for what they do.

With that said, sit back for 7 minutes and watch this video and then read on for a couple of quick shopping links for your natural beauty bag.

Natural makeup products that actually work

You may think there's a handful of products that just won't work if you choose a natural one. Wrong! If you choose quality products, you'll find all kinds of natural beauty wonders for your makeup kit.

Natural Liquid Eye Liner - yes, we absolutely have one. Lavera make a black liquid eye liner that really does work.

Natural Eye Brow Definer - not content with just pencils, Zuii make a certified organic eyebrow definer that colours, shapes and holds all in one. It comes in two shades for blondes or brunettes. The brunette version is below.

My top 2 tips for skin prep and cleaning

If you're going to wear natural makeup on a regular basis, it's still vital that you take care of your skin. I have two tips to ensure you get the most out of your makeup.

1) Have a consistent and steady organic skin care routine. You can multi-task with pure oils, just ensure you cleanse and moisturise twice a day and exfoliate once or twice a week to ensure you have a smooth palette for your foundation. Jojoba oil is your friend and in a pinch, can be used to cleanse and moisturise, especially if you're travelling and can't carry a lot.

2) Don't go to bed with your makeup still on. If you're wearing a lot of eye makeup, there's no need to buy a dedicated eye makeup remover, just decant a little bit of coconut oil from the kitchen and use that. If you have jojoba oil in your beauty bag, that works well too.