If you’ve been looking for non-toxic swaps for your current beauty routine, I’d love to help. I want to disclose up front that I’m a Crunchi Advocate, but because I know firsthand what it’s like to spend money on products that don’t work as promised, I want you to know this is my honest clean makeup / Crunchi skincare review.
Why I Switched to a Non-Toxic Skincare Routine
In 2019, my health took an unexpected turn when I had an emergent surgery to remove a softball-sized liver tumor that developed because of birth control. That experience changed everything. It made me question not just what I was putting in my body, but also what I was putting on it. I started researching skincare and makeup ingredients, quickly realizing how many toxins were hiding in my everyday products. My goal became simple: remove as many harmful ingredients from my lifestyle as possible and switch to truly clean beauty.
I first tried Primally Pure skincare, hoping their natural ingredients would be the answer. While it provided hydration, it’s oil-based approach just didn’t work the same magic for my sensitive skin that it did for others. In 2021, I was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis — a chronic skin condition with red, swollen, painful, and flaky patches that just wouldn’t go away. When I mentioned I was using natural skincare to my dermatologist, I was basically laughed out of her office along with a prescription for steroid creams I’d have to use forever. Determined to heal this naturally, I kept trying to find new products to help…
Crunchi Makeup: My First Introduction to the Brand
To cover the seborrheic dermatitis patches plaguing my face and neck, I decided to try Crunchi’s Smart Primer & Beautifully Flawless Foundation. I had heard about the brand’s commitment to non-toxic ingredients and was impressed by before and after pictures I had seen. But what really sealed it was when my chiropractor talked about how much she loved it. The foundation helped me hide the redness of my patches, but the flakiness and swelling were still evident and deep down, I knew makeup was just a temporary fix. My skin needed real healing, not just coverage.
My Skin Transformation
Crunchi has been absolutely pivotal on my journey, but *record scratch* I have to acknowledge another piece of the puzzle if I’m going to write an honest Crunchi skincare review. In all my late night, desperation-fueled Google searches about seborrheic dermatitis, everyone made it seem like there could be a topical cure. And while I feel skincare is part of the equation, there’s another contributing factor you should know about.
Around the time my skin was at its worst, I also got diagnosed with an autoimmune GI disease. This prompted trips to a naturopathic doctor and major changes to my diet. I believe deep in my core that much of the healing that happened with my skin was due to lowering the inflammation throughout my entire body. If you’re here, desperate for answers, understand they may be more than skin deep. That said, after years on that diet, I still notice a little regression in my progress when I’m not diligent with my skincare. So, obviously both factors are making an impact.
When I first decided to try this new non-toxic skincare, I started with Crunchi’s Daylight Facial Cream and Nightlight Facial Cream. I was hopeful, but honestly a little ready to be disappointed like I had been with other products. But within a couple of months, the transformation was undeniable. My skin felt calmer, the redness faded, and the persistent flakiness began to disappear. I even took photos to document the transformation because I couldn’t believe the improvement!
Encouraged by these results, I decided to explore more of Crunchi’s skincare line…
My Current Crunchi Skincare & Makeup Routine
Today, I use a full Crunchi skincare routine, and I can confidently say it’s been a game-changer for both my skin and my confidence. I also love that all of their products come in clean, eco-friendly glass packaging…
Crunchi Skincare Review
Let’s go through some of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) Crunchi skincare products. FYI: I’m sharing the products in the order I use them just in case that’s helpful. You can also grab my entire Crunchi line up by clicking here.
Gentle Facial Bar
I have to admit… I did NOT like Crunchi’s cleansing bars. It felt like it stripped my skin of any moisture… That said, it makes a wonderful non-toxic makeup brush cleaner. For a daily cleansing bar, I really do have to revert to Primally Pure on this one. I use their Baby Bar and it just feels so much more gentle.
I AM Polished Exfoliator
Probably my favorite product, to be honest! I was nervous to try it because with my sensitive skin, exfoliators can be kind of a nightmare. But this one is different. I put it on dry, clean skin, let it sit for 5 minutes, rinse, and my face feels as smooth as grassfed butter. The best part? I only use it 1-2x a week, so my last container lasted over a year.
By the way, I AM Polished is both a safe chemical and physical exfoliant, so it does some heavy lifting on dry / dead skin. Plus, it contains firming paracress extract, which helps smooth fine lines and improve skin elasticity. (Some say it’s the natural alternative to botox.. so safe it’s EWG verified.)
Clarilight Facial Essence (Toner)
This non-toxic toner helps balance my skin and preps it for the next steps. It’s infused with green tea extract for antioxidant protection and willow leaf extract to gently exfoliate and soothe inflammation. I also feel like my moisturizer goes way further when I use this beforehand.
Initially, I applied this with a reusable organic cotton round, but found that a little goes much further if I just press it into my skin with my hands! A bottle of Crunchi Clarilight usually lasts me about 6 months when I use it exclusively in the morning.
Daylight Facial Cream
My everyday moisturizer that keeps my skin hydrated without feeling greasy. It’s packed with hyaluronic acid for deep hydration and aloe vera to calm irritation & soften skin. I could probably upgrade to the Daylight Advanced Facial Cream, if we’re being honest, but instead I often use two pumps to coat my face with extra hydration.
I AM the Balm Cleanser
This turmeric extract-infused cleansing balm is my go-to makeup remover because it literally melts my makeup, but doesn’t dry out my skin. It contains sweet almond oil, which is full of fatty acids and antioxidants that actually nourish your skin (unlike a certain face-burning wipe that comes in a light blue package 👀)…
You can also use this ask a mask, but I’ve yet to do that. Because I only wear makeup 2-7x a month and only use this to remove it, a container of I AM the Balm lasts me about a year!
Nightlight Advanced Facial Cream
This overnight cream is the best moisturizer I’ve ever used. It’s made with bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative that helps with fine lines and collagen production. It also has hibiscus flower extract, which helps brighten your complexion. I can absolutely feel the difference when I get lazy and skip my nighttime routine.
Non-Toxic Makeup Routine
While skincare has been my main focus for the past few years, it’s also nice to get dolled up every once in a while without worrying about what’s soaking into my skin. While there are a few Crunchi products I love, you can find my full clean beauty routine (shown in the photo below) here:
Crunchi Makeup Favorites
- Smart Primer – I’ve used their foundation with and without this EWG Verified primer and I’m telling ya… get the primer. It goes on so much smoother, lasts longer, and gives an airbrushed finish.
- Beautifully Flawless Foundation – my go-to for date nights or events. The coverage is insane. But my favorite part of this foundation is that instead of making me breakout for days after wearing like other foundations have in the past, this one seems to act like skincare on my face… One thing I will say, though, is that I’ve noticed how much better the foundation looks when I start with a smoother canvas. That’s exactly why I love the I AM Polished exfoliator. It’s a night and day difference.
- Sunlight Tinted SPF – perfect for summer days or when I want light / dewy coverage. Unlike the foundation, I feel totally fine just wearing the tinted SPF as my makeup without feeling like I need to do mascara or eye liner. It’s very versatile and if you’re not a huge makeup girlie, you’ll love this. Pssst… Crunchi also has a Find My Shade quiz for both their foundation & tinted SPF.
- Hydrogloss Lip Oil – I’m a big fan of this Crunchi lipgloss. I have a berry-colored peppermint one from a couple of years ago and it is not only beautiful, but it makes your lips delightfully tingly! And unlike other lipglosses, it’s truly an oil, so it’s not sticky or filled with a bunch of crappy ingredients you’ll slowly ingest throughout the day. (In fact, it’s EWG Verified, which means it’s squeaky clean.)
- Crunchi Shadow Bar – I opted for the “In Bloom” palette and love using it as both eyeshadow and eyeliner for my bottom lash line. I’m the furthest thing from a makeup artist, but Crunchi has helpful diagrams for how to apply the colors for different looks, which are so helpful!
Other Clean Beauty Makeup Favorites
Crunchi is great, but there are a few products I’m still loyal to in different non-toxic brands…
- ILIA’s Limitless Lash Mascara – Crunchi offers their own mascara, but honestly, I’m a creature of habit. I love Ilia’s mascara, so why fix what’s not broken? I have heard from some other Crunchi gals that they also prefer Ilia to Crunchi mascara.
- Ilia Clean Liquid Eyeliner – Gotta be honest… It was a little nerve-wracking using this the first few times, but it goes on so smoothly (even over eye shadow). And it does. not. budge! Seriously, until I go in with my I AM the Balm, it stays put.
- 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip & Cheek Tint – I have to be honest, I just haven’t ran out of this blush yet. I really like how it performs, so I’m unsure of if I’ll switch or not yet.
FAQs About Crunchi Skincare & Makeup
Yes! Many of their products are EWG-verified, meaning they meet some of the highest safety standards in the industry.
Absolutely. While it’s not the cheapest option, the quality of the ingredients and the performance make it worth every penny. A little goes a long way, and my skin has never been happier.
Whether you want to save on makeup or skincare, you can get a Crunchi discount on your first order. To save 10%, click here and use code: Advocate10. Crunchi also regularly does sales. Visit their site & scroll to the very bottom to join their email list so you don’t miss out!
Crunchi’s personalized skincare quiz takes less than 15 seconds and doesn’t even require an email to get your results. It will give you a variety of skincare recommendations at different price points so you can find something that fits your budget!
I would say it’s similar in their commitment to clean ingredients / packaging. Both have many EWG-verified products. That said, I’ve used both personally over the years and prefer Crunchi and their focus on clean beauty education. Beautycounter caused some pretty significant breakouts on otherwise healthy skin for me, so you’d have to see for yourself which work better!
Crunchi has a Money Back Guarantee, so you have 30 days to try their products risk-free. If you don’t like them within that timeframe, Crunchi will refund you (minus shipping / handling). When they say “no fuss,” they really mean it. Their customer service is incredible.
From my experience, yes. I have extremely sensitive skin with a history of seborrheic dermatitis and Crunchi has been one of the few brands that didn’t cause irritation, but instead fostered healing.
Final Thoughts: Is Crunchi Worth It?
For me, the answer is a resounding YES! I went from struggling with persistent skin issues to finally feeling comfortable without an ounce of makeup. If you’ve been looking for high-quality, non-toxic skincare that actually delivers results, I highly recommend giving Crunchi a try.
If you’re on the fence, start small… try Daylight and Nightlight like I did and see how your skin responds. Hopefully it’s as much a game-changer for you as it was for me! If you’d like to save 10% on your first order, click here and then type in code: Advocate10 at checkout!
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