7 Worst Conscious Beauty Products I’ve Tried in 2023

Cover photo by Manuel Taboada

Even though I do a lot of research before purchasing a product, now and then, I end up with something that hasn’t met my expectations. These are the worst conscious beauty products that I’ve tried in 2023.

OK, while this article is about conscious beauty products that didn’t work for me… it doesn’t mean that these don’t work (or are good) for you. We’re all different, and we all have different needs.

Some of the products on this list are social media favorites and have a legion of friends. But, for some reason, these ended up disappointing me.

Without further ado, these conscious beauty products became a complete waste of money for me.

Milk Makeup Rise Mascara

To be honest with you, I had high expectations about this one. Why? Because I’ve had a positive experience with other Milk Makeup mascara in the past. Also, Milk Makeup’s Rise Mascara also comes with a curved wand that would make the application process easier.

What happened? This was the flakiest and smudgiest mascara I’ve ever tried.

I don’t know if there was something wrong with my tube. I had a sample size, but it was enough to check that it wasn’t the right fit for me.

I am also super glad to have tried this one on a day I was working from home because the problems started just a couple of hours after applying it.

Imagine me applying it before going to the office and arriving there early in the morning, looking like a raccoon and unable to solve it.

If you’re into Milk Makeup or want to try their products, I highly recommend trying their original mascara - instead of spending your hard-earned money on this one.

e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick 

If you’re on social media or into makeup, you probably already know that e.l.f. Cosmetics is one of the most hyped brands when it comes to low-cost makeup products.

Besides the price, their products are vegan and cruelty-free - a huge plus for me.

As it's really hard to get e.l.f. 's products in Spain (where I am currently based), I seized my trip to London last year to get my hand on some of their best sellers. It took plenty of trips to different Boots and Superdrug stores to gather some of the things I wanted to try.

E.l.f.'s Monochromatic Multi Stick was one of the products I was keen on trying, mainly because a close friend highly recommended these to me.

What happened? These blush sticks from e.l.f. aren't matte, and I have some texture on my cheeks due to years and years of acne, so this formula would accentuate these even more, which is a big no for me.

On the other hand, I like that the package is relatively compact, and the formula is easy to apply on the cheeks. But if you're looking for something with a matte finish… this isn't the right product for you.

Garnier Over Makeup Super UV Spray

I wanted to love this product. Why? Because it’s practical to apply, it has a vegan formula, a convenient format, and an affordable price.

As the name says, Garnier’s Over Makeup Super UV Spray is a spray to reapply sunscreen protection over makeup.

Despite increasing your protection from sun exposure, it’s also meant to set your makeup without budging it or making your skin feel oily.

So, what happened? I’ve noticed that this product made my skin feel oily over time and that, whenever I applied it, I accumulated product near my hairline - which is uncomfortable and not pretty.

Given my experience, I would not recommend this product. Especially if you have combination skin like I do and would use this product every two hours.

Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow Kitten Karma

I’ve already talked about this disastrous purchase but given the hype of this product… I can’t stress it enough!

I am talking about Stila’s Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow Kitten Karma. Despite its price, this one is an Internet favorite and is usually sold out.

What happened? The glitter particles are a bit chunky, which makes it impossible to get an even application, no matter how hard I try to build its opacity on the eyelid. 

Keep in mind that, in this specific case, more product results in a heavier eyelid - which isn’t exactly pleasant, especially throughout the hours.

If I had been aware of the specifications of this formula, I wouldn’t have spent that much money on it.

e.l.f. Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow

On a similar note to Stila’s Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows, but for a fraction of the price, are e.l.f.’s Liquid Glitter Eyeshadows.

I purchased both products within a couple of weeks, and I haven’t had the chance to put one to the test before buying the other one.

Both formulas are pretty similar, but the glitter particles are more notorious on the one from Stila. However, it’s still incredibly hard to get an even application with the e.l.f. one - despite the slightly finer particles.

If you’re interested in these, the shade Flirty Birdy is a decent dupe to the Kitten Karma eyeshadow from Stila and costs way less.

Tarte Sculpt Tape Contour

OK, TikTok made me buy this one. I still have mixed feelings about this brand after trying Tarte’s products (from different product categories) for the past three years.

Why? Most of the products I tried haven’t convinced me, except Tarte’s Shape Tape Glow Wand, which I’ve been using as a highlighter for the past couple of years.

However, after seeing Tarte’s Sculpt Tape Contour on TikTok and how easy it was to get a natural bronzy look (on strategic face areas), I decided to try it.

As I have fair skin, I purchased the lighter shade, believing that it would be the right one for me (I was afraid that the darker one would be too dark), but it ended up being a total fail.

Once I start blending out the product with Tarte’s Quickie Blending Sponge, it vanishes completely - resulting in a waste of time and money.

I still wonder if it have been any different if I had purchased the darker shade in the first place. But, given the experience, I prefer staying loyal to my Nudestix Nudies Matte Bronzer in the shade Bondi Belle.

Supergoop! Re(setting) 100% Mineral Powder

I am sort of a sunscreen freak! And, yes, I reapply it a few times throughout the day - especially when I am out and about, which can be challenging when wearing makeup.

I got excited when I discovered Supergoop’s Re(setting) 100% Mineral Powder because it seemed like a convenient way to reapply UV protection when I am out and about.

And don’t get me wrong, it is! It’s super convenient, and we don’t even need a mirror.

So, what’s the problem? It’s hard to tell if we’re applying it evenly or even if we are applying the quantity we need to begin with, and that concerns me a lot.

Because, in this case, we’re not talking about lacking your blush or highlighter. We’re talking about something much more serious.

Given its price, I’ll do my best to use this product. But I won’t repurchase it, nor do I recommend it - for safety reasons.

What about you? What have been the worst products that you’ve tried lately?