It’s been so wonderful to watch the world of cleaner, less toxic makeup take off in the past few years and in spite of how many brands are launching every year (every month!? every day!?), it’s hard to stand out and make products that people want to come back to time and time again.
Saie Beauty launched only in 2019 but has become a household name in clean makeup thanks to some really stellar products. I’ve tried a lot of the line and have some products I’d leave behind and not purchase, a few I quite like and one I can no longer live without. So today I’m reviewing Saie Beauty in depth.
When you use cleaner makeup, you’re going to be exposed to less harmful chemicals and ingredients often found in our under regulated world of beauty here in the U.S.
One of the reasons I love what Saie (pronounced SAY) is doing, is because they care about the product performance (their product development is definitely innovative!) and the planet. They’ve made major efforts when it comes to bettering the environment and from day one have looked at how to protect our earth by using less packaging (and more post consumer recyclable packaging), prioritizing sustainability and seeking out certifications that give us, the buyers, confidence in using their line. The line is also Cruelty-Free, Gluten-Free and Vegan. I also think Saie really nailed the price point on their products.
Saie Beauty was founded by Laney Crowell who I’ve actually known for over 10 years as our worlds in the world of New York and beauty have overlapped many times. (She used to work at Estee Lauder!) Laney was one of the first people I knew who was committed to cleaner beauty routines and what she built with Saie is really inspiring. Laney set out to design Saie to prove to women everywhere that makeup can be clean, chic and unforgettable.
Saie Beauty Review
Note: The brand has changed their packaging for products on several occasions so products shown may be in old packaging.
Saie Super Glowy Skin Foundation, $40
Let’s kick things off with the brand’s newest launch – their first foundation which dropped March 2023. This is a serum foundation so it is very liquid – 85% skincare and 15% pigment the brand says. It’s lightweight and glowy without being too dewy. It’s very your skin, but better coverage. You can build it up further if you’d like and I definitely found I needed to wait for it to dry down to apply other makeup over it. (And definitely be sure your primer has dried down before applying the foundation!)
I used the brand’s new Base Brush to apply it which they say should be used to buff and press the foundation into the skin – vs. rubbing. You can also use your hands but I haven’t tested doing so yet.
I tested Shades 2 (Very Light with Warm undertones) and 3 (Very Light with Peach undertones) and found 3 to be a better match for my fair skin. If you like light, glowy, barely there foundation I think you’ll love this one. I also think this would pair really well with a stick foundation or a creamy concealer if you feel you need more coverage in certain areas like I do (redness around my nose and chin for example!)
Saie Mascara 101, $26
This award winning mascara was in Saie’s line up of a few products when they launched. I think it’s an ok mascara for every day but I personally prefer more mega-lashes. I do love that it is formulated with 100% natural or naturally derived ingredients though!
It’s a step up in volume from the Ilia Mascara that people really love but I’m hopeful Saie comes out with a mascara for bolder, more glam lashes.
Saie Brow Butter, $20
Also a part of Saie’s initial launch, this brow butter is made for those of you blessed with voluminous brows that need taming. (Alas, I was not!) You’re going to get more hold than volume out of this brow product so if you have fuller brows, you may like this. I found the petite mini spoolie brush for application didn’t get enough product into my brows and couldn’t fluff them up as much as they need each morning.
It comes in four shades including a clear.
Saie Really Great Gloss, $20
The name says it all – this gloss is, indeed, really great. It’s cushy and goes on more like an oil than a gloss but has a hydrated, plumping feel that makes it feel more gloss with the non-sticky feel of an oil. It’s got a subtle brown sugar type flavor and the formula is packed with lip-loving ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Coconut Milk and Sunflower Butter.
Comes in five shades – I wear the shade Easy and you can see it on here.
Saie Dew Balm, $18
The brand calls this a “bouncy marshmallow” highlighter and it’s so spot on. I love applying this bouncy highlighter both over and under my face makeup. Its more dew than strobe so you can use it on your cheeks, on your cupid’s bow and on your brow bone – you’ll be left with this long lasting glossy glow that’s just so good.
A little goes a long way so this tube will last you a while! Comes in three shades and I use shade Rosy Gold. Pro tip: warm the product in your fingers before applying!
Saie Glowy Super Gel, $25
I can’t live without this glowiest, lightest weight luminizer. It’s become one of my favorite beauty products and I use it almost daily. Thanks to Papaya and Vitamin C in the formula, you get a gorgeous, bright, radiant look.
You can wear it alone or under your foundation or tinted moisturizer (or mixed with it!) I use it as a primer applying it all over my face before my coverage products but you could also apply it more as a highlighter, too or even use it to accent your shoulders, chest, legs, etc! It feels like nothing going on (the gel texture is crazy good when applying) and
Side note – it’s recyclable! When empty, recycle the glass after by twisting off the plastic pump to remove the inner pouch.
This stuff is so good – don’t skip it!
Saie Slip Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 35 Tinted Moisturizer, $36
People love this product and I can see why. It’s got SPF in it so you’re covered on that front and it’s more like a skincare product than a makeup product so your skin is going to feel good wearing it. Ingredients include Licorice for brightening, Pansy flower and Hyaluronic Acid for plumping moisture and Argan Oil for a dewy, fresh-faced look. The Argan makes it too-dewy of a finish for my oily skin to wear every day (unless I use a lot of setting powder) but if you have drier skin you’ll likey love the finish of this stuff!
I personally prefer to use a mineral SPF solo as it is better coverage for you given SPF in makeup dilutes its potency, but any SPF is better than none of course. I’d love a version of this product without SPF in it and sans Argan oil so that I could find a clean dupe for my beloved Erborian BB Cream.
Saie Sun Melt Bronzer, $32 and Big Brush, $26
This bronzer + brush (which I bought as a duo) is my latest Saie purchase & let’s just say I get the hype. It’s a super unique bronzer that melts into your skin. Despite looking a bit tricky to apply, the Big Brush really makes it effortless to get a “I summered in St. Tropez” kind of glow. The brush will buff and blend out Sun Melt into a glowy finish that’s buildable. I think it is such a good Chanel Bronzer dupe and I reach for it all summer long.
This product has been selling out ever since they launched so nab it when you can! It comes in four shades and I got the lightest shade – Light Bronze.
Saie Liquid Lip Balm, $16
This was a product I felt meh about. It was a little gloopy for my liking and didn’t have enough staying power for it to stick around in my lip collection. Not great, not bad – just fine.
Saie Dew Blush, $22
This cream blush goes on more like a stain – and a little goes a long way! You really only need one dot per check otherwise it’s easy to go clown-like real fast. I got the shades Rosy and Peachy and really like the natural flush this blush gives you without a lot of work.
Saie Airset Setting Powder, $30 & Fluffy Brush, $26
This is a new must-have product for me since it launched. This powder and brush basically changed how I did my makeup and allowed my skin to glow more.
This powder sets, smooths and diffuses and feels totally weightless. It has a super natural, velvety finish and thanks to hydrating Squalane skin never looks cakey or dry.
I use the brand’s Fluffy Brush to tap the powder onto targeted areas to blur and remove shine- particularly on my t-zone and I find it really holds up for oily skin. I use the shade Translucent.
You can save by buying the powder and brush together as a duo.
If you get oily skin I can’t recommend this powder enough.
Saie Lip Blur Soft Matte Hydrating Lipstick, $24
Saie claims this is the first clean matte lipstick that’s longwearing, shine-free, and hydrating. Lip Blur is packed with a blend of nourishing ingredients including Hyaluronic Acid, Olive Oil, Jojoba Esters, and Berry Fruit Wax to condition lips and blend in seamlessly. All six shades are formulated to be super comfortable, buildable, and achieve a softly-blurred to full coverage matte finish.
I got it in shade Classic which is an iconic red-blue. Wearing it in the above photo.
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If you need a gift, I think buying the Glowy Super Gel and a Really Great Gloss for a girlfriend wrapped in this little makeup bag would be so cute!
Shop Saie Beauty
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