This review is not sponsored and contains the author’s personal experience. The Good Trade was gifted this product. The Good Trade editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.
Summary: After initially testing Jones Road makeup for a laid-back, natural look for my low-maintenance lifestyle (and dry skin!) in 2023, I was excited to test out additional products for a more comprehensive sense of the brand’s current offerings. I am personally a big fan of the performance, formulas, and versatility of the products — though I don’t think that this is a line for everyone! Jones Road makeup is ideal for more mature or extremely dry skin since these products are first and foremost richly moisturizing.
Pros
- A little goes a very long way, so these products will last a long time.
- All Jones Road products are cruelty-free. The mascara, most of the skincare, and tools are vegan.
- These products are nontoxic too and formulated without phthalates, sulfates, petrolatum, PEGs, cyclic silicones, EDTA, or BPA, and more.
- Packaging is made from 100% recyclable Forest Stewardship Council-certified post-consumer fiber.
- Both the eyeliner pencil and gel are *chef’s kiss* sheer perfection for creating crisp, highly pigmented lines for perfect cat eye or winged looks.
- Every single lip product is a star, with beautiful, buildable pigment and natural moisture that feels as good as it looks.
- The mascara is a truly showstopping product that gives you instantly dramatic lashes without clumping, and it lasts all day long.
- The Hippie Balm is the real miracle: for spot-moisture needs all over the face and body that works like a lotion but feels like the lightest, silkiest dream, it’s quickly become my all-in-one winter survival kit.
Cons
- Do you have combination, youthful, or oily skin? Pass on the foundation and Miracle Balm, which might feel greasy and sticky to you.
- The foundation has a kind of department-store-skincare scent that I didn’t particularly love.
- It’s expensive, though again, the amount of product is substantial, so it will maybe even out cost-per-use. With the quantity of product in The Miracle Balm, it actually feels like there’s slight too much product so I’m racing to use it before it gets grimy and goes bad.
Here’s my makeup origin story: At a crucial point in my youth, I discovered that I had acne, rosacea, and a seasonal complexion that sits on the “washed out” side of the spectrum (soft summer, if you must know). As a thirteenth birthday present, my mom took me to an Aveda concept salon where a woman named Angela taught me how to use foundation, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. I went home with a bag of products in “my colors,” and a basic template I followed nearly every day for the next twenty years.
It took a pandemic and becoming a new mother to break me of my daily makeup habit. Spending months at home changed my relationship with what it means to “get ready.” More concerned with face masks and hand sanitizers, not to mention diaper bags and bottles, putting on foundation seemed bananas — it was just going to smear onto my mask, and no one could tell anyway. So without even noticing it, I just stopped.
“Going months without doing my usual makeup routine changed everything for me — especially the desire to change my face so much.”
And then a funny thing happened. Preparing for a Zoom one day, I put on what I used to wear to the office (did I mention my daily smoky eye look and winged liner?) and I saw myself in my computer screen and flinched. It looked like stage makeup, clownishly over-the-top. What I had thought was a “natural look” (again — liquid. black. winged. liner. 😅) seemed suddenly garish and excessive. So I washed it all off. It turns out, there wasn’t anything wrong with my face — I just wasn’t used to seeing it bare. Going months without doing my usual makeup routine changed everything for me — especially the desire to change my face so much.
So began a hunt for clean, subtle beauty products that could give me a little polish here and there without warping what I look like. Anything promising to be a “no-makeup makeup” caught my eye. It wasn’t long before Jones Road Beauty got on my radar, specifically the Miracle Balm. Instagram ads that showed creator Bobbi Brown calling this the ultimate product that could replace everything from your moisturizer to your hair cream piqued my curiosity in a major way. Couple that with the killer reviews and the fact that their extremely curated selection of products are all clean and high performing had me hook, line, and sinker. When the opportunity came to review their goods, I jumped.
What I was not expecting was the incredible polarization of reader comments about these products. Turns out, a lot of you found the formulas to be greasy and heavy. The foundation in particular, which sometimes separates and needs to be stirred, is not exactly a crowd favorite. And after years of use, I can totally understand why! It works for me for extremely specific reasons (and under particular circumstances!), and this context is key to understanding any review.
Makeup is such a personal thing — how we want to look and feel, how the product works with our own skin and lifestyle, and how much money or time we are able to spend all factor in to what ends up in our bag. It’s rarely as simple as typing “clean mascara” or “cruelty-free foundation” into a search engine before we buy! Reviews and recommendations are where so many of us start if we aren’t able to test the products for ourselves. And it’s even more essential to feel like whatever investment we make has a better chance of being a good fit when the price tag is on the higher end.
“How we want to look and feel, how the product works with our own skin and lifestyle, and how much money or time we are able to spend all factor in to what ends up in our bag.”
I was excited for another opportunity to test even more of the products from this brand, and to update my first impressions on the makeup from my original review after almost two years of use. My goal is to give you all a more comprehensive review of what Jones Road has to offer — and for whom, exactly, I think each product might work.
Original reviewed products (updated)
Here is my honest review:
The face makeup
What The Foundation (a tinted moisture balm) | $44
What I’m looking for in a foundation is even, natural coverage — I want my skin to look like skin, but I also want my coloring and texture to appear even, smooth, and just shy of dewy — and a super easy, foolproof application. I’m always drawn to the products that show models just smearing it all over their faces with their hands (I am not the target audience for a contouring tutorial lol). Though this foundation does require some tools, the product itself has become a must-have for me.
First: this foundation is thick. This is a little off-putting when you imagine it as a makeup product only, but it is actually skincare — it’s technically a tinted moisture balm. Packed with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil and sodium hyaluronate, it feels rich and luxurious on my skin. I only used the tiniest amount (what was on the protective lid, actually) for the first time and it gave me complete coverage. It has a lightly tacky texture that my hair kept catching in at first, but by the end of my routine it wasn’t a problem. The hue, (which I matched using their online quiz), wasn’t what I would have chosen for myself, but it definitely works! The coverage is subtle but buildable, and the feel is really nice. There is a scent (what I would call “fancy department store makeup”), but it’s fairly light and I didn’t notice it after a few minutes.
My biggest concern about this foundation is how to keep it from getting contaminated with bacteria from my fingers since it’s in a little pot. You can buy a special spatula from Jones Road, but I am just using a face mask applicator that I already had — I simply wash it along with my hands when I’m done. I alternate between using a foundation brush and my fingers, depending on how lazy I’m feeling, and I’m happy with results either way.
2025 update
Yes, this is the same pot. It is technically only supposed to be used for 12 months after opening, but I am very frugal about expensive products and since I didn’t notice any issues, I am still using it. 🤷🏻♀️ I still have a lot left, and I even gave away about a tablespoon to my MIL in a little pot! So my initial impression that this stuff was going to last forever was dead on.
It does separate a bit, as you can see. It’s kind of like natural nut butter — just give it a good stir and it’s usually fine. I do occasionally see some small harder bits now that won’t mix in, but that could be just because of my utter disregard for its shelf life. I just pick them out and move on.
I still love this foundation, though I never use it once the weather warms up. Even if I skip my moisturizer, trying to wear this in the summer in the South produces a look that flies right past “dewy” and lands squarely in “sweaty.” In the dry winter air, however, it is a dream. Between the biting winds and the arid heat inside my radiator-heated house, my little pot of What The Foundation is the only thing preventing my face from looking like a red, flaky raisin.
The Neutralizer Pencil and The Face Pencil | $25 each
I was a little reluctant to try these because I’m more of an all-over coverage person over the spot-concealer type. These not only seemed too small to meet my needs but also look like colored pencils, which are not exactly known for being rich and hydrating. But the moment I uncapped these babies I knew that there was more to them than what meets the eye. A quick swatch on the back of my hand revealed a buttery texture that glided smoothly and easily across my skin.
The Neutralizer Pencil is specifically formulated for the dark circles and discoloration of the undereye skin. Used on top of an eye cream or just after moisturizing, it’s easy to dab and gently blend into the skin. I was astonished when I noticed an almost instant difference! Using the color match quiz, I chose the shades recommended to me, and they were exactly right: light peachy pink for my particular skin tone’s purple tendencies, and then two concealer shades from the lighter and darker ends of my skin tone spectrum.
Here’s what I appreciate about this system: Skin is not a single color. Most noticeable with the wrong color match, we’ve all probably had an experience of applying an all over foundation to our face only to realize that it looks like a strange, pancake mask. The skin texture and quality changes all over our faces, from the thin, delicate areas beneath our eyes to the thicker cartilege of our noses. To achieve a truly natural look, it makes sense that you would need to blend a few different shades to create dimension while still evening out the sun spots, dark circles, redness, and the like. This trio worked together perfectly to create a harmonious, balanced coverage that still looked like real skin, only a little bit more even. It was very easy to work with my fingers, and as long as I used the pencils right after moisturizing, blending was smooth sailing.
The Miracle Balm | $38
If you’re on Instagram you’ve probably seen the ads for this stuff, and if I’m honest it was the product I was most looking forward to. In my opinion, it is a game-changer — though there are some things you should know!
The balm is an all-over, versatile product that can be used to moisturize and blur, or to add some color to your skin. Depending on the color and your skin type, it can replace your moisturizer, foundation, blush, and bronzer. (Founder and creator Bobbi Brown even says she uses any leftover product to smooth flyaway hairs!) It comes in several shades, with recommendations for both the desired effect and for skin hues. I went with “Flushed,” which is meant to provide exactly that — a light, naturally flushed, and subtle sheen for all skin tones.
“Depending on the color and your skin type, it can replace your moisturizer, foundation, blush, and bronzer.”
It comes in a wide, shallow tub that I think is going to last me for the rest of my life. It looks like a giant lip balm, but you can’t simply swipe a little bit and go. You *must* break the surface. The pigment will not be activated if it isn’t broken and rubbed into your fingers first. The texture is like hardened coconut oil, so be ready to apply a gentle pressure to really get in there, though it will quickly soften in your hands. There is a very faint, pleasantly citrusy scent. After rubbing it between the pads of your fingers, apply it to your skin in a gentle smoothing and patting motion (the brand provides a ton of videos demoing this). I saw that some people use brushes, but I wouldn’t unless it’s after everything is already on your face and you felt you needed to blend it further.
It is not, in my opinion, shimmery (whew!). There is a kind of glowy quality to it and the overall effect is a very healthy flush, just as promised. It feels sublime, and I love how it looks on my lips. I’m planning on purchasing it in both Au Natural and Magic Hour and then I think I will be set for life, because like the foundation, a little of this stuff goes a very long way.
TL;DR — this stuff is phenomenal, but definitely watch an application video.
2025 update
I was so excited to try the Miracle Balm in new shades, because despite loving Flushed, I really only use it as a blush and sometimes lip color. I felt like I was missing out on the “superproduct” part that is such a big part of its online presence. Could it be the IRL filter for my skin that Instagram claims?
I ordered Au Natural and opted to try Golden Hour over Magic Hour because it’s designed for all skin tones (which I thought would be better for our readers!). Now, having tried a blush, bronzer, and “colorless” balm, I feel like I finally *get* it.
This product is the secret weapon for taking any makeup look and giving it a “dew” effect. Meant to go on last, it’s the finishing touch to unify a look with a glowy tint. In other words, it acts exactly like a filter: It softens or enhances existing features by washing the whole thing in subtle color. Or in the case of Au Natural, more of a very dewy, almost pearlescent sheen.
Like Flushed, the Golden Hour shade produces a look that is exactly what it sounds like: It takes the entire finished makeup look and casts it in a subtle, golden light. I actually didn’t even appreciate how effective this product was at being an IRL filter until looking at these photos side by side. Not quite a tanned look, there’s a gentle sunkissed glow that Golden Hour adds, perfect for pale winter skin or more mature skin that’s lost some of its natural pigment.
The Bronzer | $35
As a Very Pale Person with rosacea, bronzer has always been one of those products that has completely eluded me. I just… I can’t figure it out. Am I trying to fake a tan? Or am I trying to change the shapes of my face? Contouring videos are my nightmare. I’ve tried a handful of powders and one or two sticks, but I always lack the confidence to use them and so after a few lackluster tries, they end up just gathering dust in my bathroom.
I was excited but skeptical to try the Jones Road bronzer, which is called The Bronzer. It is a translucent, buildable powder that is super forgiving for this less-than-confident user. In the past, I have gone to dust my brow bones and ended up with a terrifying copper streak that could not be blended or budged, but The Bronzer was subtle and chill. It’s not a hyperpigmented, aggressive product. It is easy to apply and blend, adding a light but noticeable touch of color. I actually ended up using it as a finishing powder, which helped to remove the tacky feeling of the foundation and stop my hair from sticking to my face. I was really happy with the final look of my skin!
2025 update
This hasn’t been my most used product, though I suspect that’s got more to do with my general ambivalence about bronzer rather than the product itself. Because it’s so light, I have used it the handful of times I’ve needed to mattify my skin.
The eye products
The Best Pencil | $22
Can I tell you something that blew my mind? Eyeliner is one of the best ways to fake fuller lashes. I learned this from a friend who was born with alopecia. She didn’t have any hair at all, but it wasn’t immediately evident to almost everyone who knew her because not only did she have a great wig and a set of tattooed brows that were gorgeous, but she was a wizard with eyeliner. Even without lashes, she could create the appearance of them just with a pencil.
Those of us with eyelashes (even tiny ones like mine!) have a major advantage. Done correctly, a good eyeliner can act sort of like how extensions work in your hair: The line you draw along your lashline can enhance your lashes, and depending on how thick the line is, you can even create the appearance of fullness and volume.
The Best Pencil is a highly pigmented product designed after the 70’s eyeliners famous for making bold cat eyes and dramatic looks that made everyone look like they were born with Elizabeth Taylor’s eyes. The pencil is made with much cleaner ingredients, and infused with vitamin E, which is ideal for the delicate, dry skin on your eyelids. It makes a crisp line that looks incredible on its own or stunning layered with shadows. Despite its knack for being able to create a sooty, smoky look effortlessly, the lines stay where you put them after a few minutes. I love this pencil — it’s the only pencil liner I’ll ever use again!
Gel Liner | $30
Hooded or heavy eyelids benefit from specific kinds of definition, and this gel liner is ideal! Richly pigmented but also water- and transfer-resistant, the creamy formula goes on like paint but then stays perfectly in place. For a winged liner, I would definitely be turning to this stuff.
Also, in a not-so-surprising turn of events, this is another Jones Road product where a teeny bit goes a long way. This might actually be the last gel liner I’ll ever need to buy — like this actual pot. There’s that much in there!
The Mascara | $26
This! Product! I used to love the Bobbi Brown mascara, but I felt like if I wanted really built-up dramatic lashes then the cost was some clumping. But the Jones Road mascara is it. With a couple of coats, I got a nicely defined lash line that instantly woke up my eyes, but I could also build up a very glamorous, sooty-looking lash without a clump in sight. And the real sell for me was after putting it through the wear-test ringer: I not only napped, but I ran in the stuff, and there was nary a streak nor smear! There wasn’t even that fine dust of crumbling that sometimes happens with clean mascaras by the end of the day. It was, dear reader, exactly as I’d left it. A clean, buildable mascara that looks the same from application to removal? (And is fairly easy to remove with a simple double cleanse?) Where’s the lifelong subscription button because I am in!
2025 update
Listen, I hear you: This mascara is extra. It can easily clump, and no way is it going to pass as “natural.” But here is where the personal bias of your reviewer is so important to take into account: I am not looking for dainty lashes. I have dainty lashes. You could even argue that what I have is somewhere less substantial than dainty — wispy, maybe. Or just the faintest echo of the memory of lashes. What I’m saying is that if I am going to go through the trouble of coating ten invisible strands of lash hair into the impression of lush, full, dare-I-say sooty lashes, I am going for a product that’s packing a punch.
“Volume” in mascara speak means “the appearance of volume.” As much as I would welcome a mascara that could make my dinky eyelashes look thick and full forever, the truth is that mascara is just a goop that we coat the hairs with until they are thick and full … of product. The key? Lots and lots of light layers. It takes patience and practice to get it right, otherwise you can very easily end up with someone resembling the heavy-handed drama of an old-timey circus clown.
Yes, you have to paint this stuff with care. It is a rich formula, and it only comes in bold, make-an-entrance black. But if you are willing to take the time to layer it properly and with care, this mascara can lure even the most reluctant eyelashes into the spotlight — no falsies necessary.
The lip products
The Lip Tint |$26
I am a tinted lip balm fanatic. My lips are constantly dry but I look like a dead person without some color (it is truly astounding how colorless my lips can get; I look like I have a Victorian illness). But lipstick devotees know that if you aren’t careful you can end up in an endless cycle of products that dry your lips out further, until you have crusty, chapped lips that look and feel terrible — with or without color.
This is the no-lipstick-lipstick I’ve been looking for. It goes on smooth with a nourishing, soft slickness that settles beautifully into my skin. Rich in castor oil and vitamin E, you can feel the nourishing, clean ingredients soaking into your lips. The colors are sheer and buildable, so you can go for a more vibrant look (like with pink rose) or a more subtle color (I tried nude rose) just to bring some life to your face. If you don’t exfoliate your lips already, definitely do so to get the best experience from this product. My extremely lazy advice is to get in the habit of brushing your lips after brushing your teeth with your toothbrush. *shrug* Sure, you can do a lip mask or a coffee/sugar scrub, or you can save your lemon peels and rub those across your mouth. Do you. Just do something — your lips will thank you.
2025 update
The lip tints were the only products from the original review that I actually finished. I used them every day until I was having to dig with my pinky nail into the product container to get every last bit of product out. It’s a true balm, not a lipstick, so the pigment fades after a few hours (faster if you’re eating or drinking). I definitely recommend this one as an option for anyone who wants a little color from a nourishing, clean formula that comes in a sleek applicator but isn’t quite a lipstick.
The Lippie Stick | $22
My drugstore staple of the Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm got a serious big girl upgrade with the Jones Road Lippie Stick. In fact, the pink nude shade is nearly identical to the Burt’s hibiscus shade! But while the Burt’s product is slightly silkier in texture, it is also less pigmented, and does have a tendency to drift a little bit outside of my lip lines.
The Lippie stick has a slightly denser texture — some reviews called it a little bit “gritty.” I wouldn’t describe it that way but I know what they mean! You have to put a little more pressure when applying, like there is the most subtle resistance or drag as it goes on. I think this has to do with the jojoba seed oil, which is also the key ingredient in the Miracle Balm. It has a similar feel, though the color is more opaque.
I also love that even though it looks like a chapstick, it comes in a chic metal tube. Even the feel in my hand makes it clear that this is a substantial product!
Lip and Cheek Stick | $34
I’m a real sucker for a multipurpose makeup in a convenient, easy-to-use form. This stick is perfect for adding quick dabs of color to your cheeks and lips — I’ve even used it on my eyelids when I wanted a rosy, monochrome look. With castor oil as its key ingredient, the feel is silky and smooth, providing the perfect texture for blending in or building up. I erred on the side of natural when I chose rosy brown, but I think the formula is sheer enough that a bolder hue like royal plum could help a natural look go from day to night.
The Lip Pencil | $22
Ten years ago, I had a since-discontinued lip pencil from Sonia Kashuk that I still have dreams about. If I ever wanted to bring out my lips without shine, it was the matte, velvety hero. I sharpened it down to a nub, until the entire thing got lodged into the sharpener and I had to say goodbye. I’ve been on a hunt ever since for a good dupe, and the closest I’ve ever come is this pencil.
A true lip liner, it is a smooth, fine implement that is made for defining the fine edges of your lips. The color is a little more brown than I had expected, but it wears beautifully and doesn’t smudge at all. To be a true replacement for my white whale lip pencil it would need to be a little fatter for easier filling, but I’ve used it to fill in my lips anyway and it looks very even and sophisticated. But where it really shines is as a foundation for the Lippie stick or the Lip and Cheek Stick. It gives a gorgeous ground for the silky, sheer formulas to sit on, blending into a versatile lip that would be appropriate in the office or out to dinner.
The Skincare
The Cleansing Stick |$34
I looooooove a stick: Stick face masks are my absolute go-to, so I couldn’t wait to get my paws on this cleanser.
It is beautiful to look at when you first open it: a totally clear, gel-like dome that you just know you’re going to ruin with makeup. I used it in the shower, which did cause the consistency to soften and melt, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend keeping it in there. The website says to rub it directly over your made-up face, then add water to create a lather with your hands, and then wash everything away. The product smells like fresh limes. It has a surprisingly oily texture from key ingredient sunflower seed oil that didn’t immediately rinse off — if you have very dry skin you might choose to leave it on your skin. The site says to “continue with your skincare routine,” after rinsing, which I took to mean as using my usual cleanser, and that washed away the oily-feeling residue. The most important thing was that every stitch of makeup — including the perfect, immovable mascara — was absolutely gone. I moved the stick into my medicine cabinet and now use it exclusively as a pre-cleansing makeup remover, though I do sometimes apply it to my hands instead of the makeup first, just to keep the stick clean. They note that you should be careful around your eyes, and I did accidentally rub some directly into my eyes which did not feel great, though it rinsed out quickly.
2025 update
This didn’t end up being a perfect match for my skin for daily use — while it is a great makeup remover, I didn’t like that I would always have to use a cleanser after, just to get the oil off. However, I did find one specific circumstance under which it’s been a great fit: my pool bag! Every Saturday, my family and I swim at our local Y. Pool water sucks every last drop of moisture out of my skin, especially my face, and the Jones Road cleansing stick is the perfect solution! Travel-friendly, it’s easy to toss into my gym bag, and the sunflower seed oil is the ideal antidote to the chlorine as I’m rinsing off in the locker room.
Hippie Stick | $32
This powerhouse, on-the-go moisturizing stick is sold out, and I’m not remotely surprised. It’s the ideal, lightweight balm for all the little rough spots and patches you might have in drier seasons. I use it on my lips, my heels, my cuticles, and even on the little eczema outbreaks that crop up on my hands. I recently had a cold and used it on my nostrils after they got raw from all the tissues. It feels so light it’s almost as if nothing is going on to your skin at all — the only telltale sign is the nourished, soft feeling it leaves behind.
Pro tip: If you have a little one who hates the feel of lotion (or if you find lotions and creams to be too wet and sticky) get your name on the waitlist for this stuff ASAP.
Bonus:
The Nail Polish Kit | $48
Classics only, please! For the understated touch that instantly gives any look some sophistication and, ahem, polish, you can’t go wrong with a manicure. And this set is the capsule wardrobe of home manicure kits: a 2-in-1 clear top and base coat, a classic sheer soft pink, and a bright poppy red for a cheery pop of color that never goes out of style. The kit also includes a mini nail file so you can keep your nails in whatever shape you prefer.
Made from nontoxic ingredients, these polishes have a strong, lovely varnish that the brand says can last up to a week, though mine lasted ten days! They also dry quickly, between 1-5 minutes per polish, meaning you could knock out a quick mani in ten minutes flat. My review? *chef’s kiss* Sheer perfection!
So: is this the no-makeup makeup of my dreams? Yes, I think so. I was looking for high-performing, clean products that work with my dry skin and uneven texture. For me? Jones Road nails it.
The products all feel fantastic and wear well throughout the day, and my skin has felt and looked great even if I wear a full face of product several days in a row. I love that a little goes a long way, making the price tag feel completely worth it.
For a nontoxic, minimal, skincare-based makeup, Jones Road delivers.
Stephanie H. Fallon is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer originally from Houston, Texas and holds an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she writes about motherhood, artmaking, and work culture. Since 2022, she has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, fact-checking sustainability claims, and bringing her sharp editorial skills to every product review. Say hi on Instagram or on her website.
