I have been passionately sharing about Beautycounter for the past almost 4 years and I am not going to stop anytime soon! This company not only is a clean beauty brand but also is all about women empowerment. Which are 2 of many things I can stand behind. I want to keep you updated on all my favorite Beautycounter products plus the products I wouldn’t recommend. So, I am sharing my full Beautycounter Review today!
*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
Beautycounter
Beautycounter was launched in 2013 by Gregg Renfrew after she discovered that the US bans just 30 ingredients from personal care products while the EU bans 1,400. Her business model for Beautycounter was developed with the goal to transform the beauty industry by creating not just clean beauty products, but also some of the highest performing. And that’s not all! Gregg also set out with a goal to get the laws changed in the U.S. that determine what can and can’t be used in our products. This will ultimately give access to clean and safe personal care products for all!
Beautycounter has set its own standard for clean beauty since we are so lacking in this country. They have taken it way beyond what the U.S. currently legally requires with their Never List.
The Never List is made up of more than 1,800 questionable or harmful chemicals that Beautycounter never uses as ingredients in their products. This includes the over 1,400 chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern. (Source)
Beyond their Never List, Beauycounter also has continued to fight for better laws regarding the ingredients that are allowed in personal care products. In just 9 years they have managed to get 10 laws passed, send 200,000+ emails, make 16,000+ phone calls, and held 2,100+ meetings all to bring safer beauty to this country. When Beautycounter says they are going to do something, they go big! I can’t wait to see what the next 9 years will bring.
I am going to share some pros and cons of the Beautycounter brand to help you understand more about it and why I continue to share about it:
Beautycounter Pros
- Certified B Corp – To become certified, a brand must meet some of the highest standards regarding social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. The brand considers so much more than just profit, but also people and the planet.
Beautycounter’s most recent B-Corp score was 97.7 and the highest score they have received to date! 50.9 is the median score for ordinary businesses.
- Leaping Bunny Certified– The gold standard for cruelty free personal care items. This means no testing on animals.
- If you aren’t satisfied with a product for any reason, simply return the unused portion within 60 days from the ship date. This makes a Beautycounter purchase 100% risk free.
- As a consultant you are not only a business owner, but also an activist. This brand is all about making change!
- Third Party Testing. With such loose regulations on personal care products, 3rd party testing is the next best thing to ensure a brand is living up to their claims. Not only are they 3rd party testing for heavy metals (3x before it gets to the consumer!) but they also 3rd party test for things like phthalates, formaldehyde, 1,4 dioxane, etc.
- Builds Community. I have met so many women that share my passion about making a difference and sharing clean beauty with their friends and family.
- Supports Women Owned Businesses. The extra income that being a Beautycounter consultant has allotted women is just amazing. These women business owners are able to support their families on their time while sharing products that they are passionate about.
- Beyond their own brand and their own standards, Beautycounter is constantly advocating for safer products and stricter laws to be passed.
Beautycounter Cons
- Not organic but does contain some organic ingredients
- Some people are turned off by Beautycounter because it’s a direct marketing company. However, you don’t have to purchase directly through a consultant. You can purchase just through their website too.
- Does use the ingredient phenoxyethanol in some of their products. This is for some consumers a hard no when looking for clean beauty products. In fact, prior to Beautycounter, that was me! But, since I have researched a ton and have changed my opinion. Phenoxyethanol is used as a preservative in products. If a product contains water or aloe, it needs a preservative otherwise mold, yeast and bacteria can grow. There is a lot of false statements about phenoxyethanol out there on the internet. Trust me- I’ve read them! Beautycounter uses a pure form of phenoxyethanol, which has been tested twice by Tufts University. They have also had 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide tested on their raw form and it came back negative. On top of that, their percentage is under 1%. I definitely wouldn’t use just any product with phenoxyethanol without looking into it further. Read my post here where I dive in even deeper on this topic.
The Best Beautycounter Products
Skin Twin Featherweight Foundation
If you have been around for any time at all, you know I LOVE this foundation. Definitely a favorite liquid foundation in clean beauty. It has such a great consistency and it feels hydrating but offers the coverage I crave. A great medium coverage overall which means it looks like your skin but better. It has a ton of hyaluronic acid in it which really helps to plump up the skin and make it appear smooth. I also really love the longevity of Skin Twin, it still looks good after a full day wearing it. I wear 320 or 340. 340 more in the summer and when I have self tanner on. Check it out here!
Skin Twin Concealer
The Skin Twin Concealer is right there with the foundation. It’s my go to for hiding dark spots or hyperpigmentation, and for covering redness and using under eyes. It looks like your skin but enhanced. They just added some new shades as well. I wear Light #3 most of the time. Get it here!
Glow First Primer
This was a new product for Beautycounter this past year and it kind of took the clean beauty world by storm. It’s such a different primer, compared to other formulas I’ve used in the past. It really is more of a hydrating serum in my opinion. I love how it doesn’t feel greasy at all. It has 4,000 jojoba esters in it. When applied to the skin they burst upon application, giving your skin all the hydration. Jojoba is one oil that mimics the skin’s natural oil production so well. Plus, it has Tripeptides, which help to protect the skin from pollution and from skin-drying environmental stressors.
Clinically shown to help brighten and even skin tone, boost skin elasticity, and minimize the appearance of skin imperfections. I put this on in the morning whether I’m wearing makeup or not! If I am wearing makeup it goes on right before my foundation, after I’ve cleansed my skin, used a hydrosol, my Vitamin C Serum and a moisturizer. This helps to create a smoothness and fills in fine lines so my foundation looks fresh all day long. Get it here!
All Bright C Serum
This vitamin C serum really takes your skin to the next level. It uses two forms of stable vitamin C and is formulated in such a way that it doesn’t lose its potency like many vitamin C products. It not only protects your skin from environmental damage, helps to fight fine lines and wrinkles but gives you a brighter complexion with camu camu extracts and turmeric. I remember using this for the first time and instantly noticing a difference- like that day. Some Vitamin C serums take time, but this one really amps up your skin’s brightness quickly. Overtime I noticed fading in one dark spot in particular and an overall glow to my skin. It never felt irritating at all. My hubs is obsessed with this! He can’t be without it. Let’s just say I always have a backup on hand. I can’t recommend this enough! Get it here!
Beautycounter Reflect Mask
This mask is brand new from Beautycounter and so good! It uses AHA’s to help exfoliate your skin and give it an overall brightness. You are left with the smoothest skin! It’s like a facial in a jar, but you don’t have to leave your house. I’ve been obsessed with it and have been using it nonstop since it was released. Great for all skin types. Check it out here!
Cheeky Clean Cream Blushes
These came out last year as well and I have been collecting all the colors because I love them so much. They are the perfect creamy consistency. Not too dewy where you feel like your cheek is greasy, but just enough creaminess to give a slight dewiness to your look and the perfect amount of pigment for your skin to perk up. Love the colors Lychee, Rosebud, Cider and Chai- ok I like them all! Check them out here!
Countertime Skincare
Beautycounter wanted to create something that not only proved to be effective but safe. This is where they created a plant-derived Retinol Complex of Bakuchiol and swiss alpine rose. The line was formed in a lab with over 100 trials performed to test for contamination as well. Beautycounter didn’t want to win some awards for best in natural beauty but they wanted to be the BEST in beauty. Countertime has been in the works for 3 years- not an afterthought. Beautycounter brought research and development in-house, along with 5 chemists. The goal is to create natural products but in the end people want products that are going to be effective. Countertime definitely delivers on this front. The line is amazing and their skincare products are my go-to for fighting signs of aging with its plant-derived retinols, antioxidants, and peptides. I can’t recommend it enough. The Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil is my go to for when I’m not testing a new cleanser in clean beauty. I also love the Supreme Cream- such a decadent night cream. It’s one that I recommend so often for very dry skin that wants to also have the benefits of plant-derived retinol. Their Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum is amazing as well and full of all the actives your skin needs to stay looking fresh. You can’t go wrong with the entire line! Get it here.
Related Content: Best Organic Skincare for Anti-Aging
Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick
I’m not a gloss girl so when I tried these I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked them. These are the perfect middle ground between a lipstick and gloss. One of Beautycounter’s best sellers for good reason. It feels like a really hydrating lip balm but not goopy or tacky. Glides on your lips giving a hint of sheen and some color. The color pigment is more translucent and just a hint. The perfect everyday lip color to throw on. I wear these all the time. They would be great for teenagers especially in my opinion. Not as dramatic as a lipstick but still offers a little color. I love the colors Lily, Rose, Plum and Petal! See all the colors here!
Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer
They just reformulated this tinted moisturizer last year and I absolutely love the new formulation so much better! It’s a little more matte and less greasy feeling. It looks so natural on the skin and is the perfect everyday moisturizer that offers spf 20 with a hint of color. I wear the color No. 3. I love this especially in the spring and summer when I want my skin to breathe but still have a little spf and coverage. Get it here!
Related Content: Best Natural Tinted Moisturizers (With SPF)
Countersun Daily Sheer Defense Moisturizer
This is a great daily moisturizer with spf 25 in it. It glides on the skin so well and doesn’t feel greasy. It really acts like a primer too when you apply your makeup afterwards. Skin feels so smooth and supple. Get it here!
Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel
If you haven’t tried it you’re missing out, plain and simple. It works so well at minimizing fine lines, dark spots and sloughing off dead skin. It uses malic acid, lactic acid and glycolic acid to improve texture and tone of the skin. You put it on your skin like you would a serum at night and wake up with skin that looks refreshed, smooth and glowing. I’m not surprised this is a best seller! Get the peel here!
Countersun Mineral Tinted Sunscreen Spray
I love this product so much! I use it a ton in the spring and summer when I want to look tan quickly and also have the added spf. It’s like a foundation to me! I won’t wear anything else except some concealer. I spray some in my hands, then rub on my face or neck and voila! Instant tan and glow. Plus, it has spf 30. I wear the color medium deep. Get it here.
Mattifying Powder
If you’ve followed me for any length of time you know I’m obsessed with this! I love knowing that they are third party testing their powders, an area that can have a lot of heavy metals. This one works so well at setting makeup, from concealer, to eyeshadow and foundation. I love applying this on my eyes before I apply eyeshadow. Really helps to set the eye makeup so well and I apply it right underneath my eyes after applying concealer. Get it here.
Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm
Yep, I am going to share the Beautycounter products that just haven’t lived up to the hype for me. While I love the Beautycounter brand, it doesn’t mean I love every product they come out with. Here are a few I wouldn’t recommend trying:
Think Big All-In-One Mascara
I wanted to love this when it came out last year but didn’t. It flaked all over my eyes and got product everywhere. By the end I looked like I had been rubbing my eyes and I don’t wear it on the bottom lashes, just top. Check out my Natural Mascara Guide for the best mascaras!
Lid Glow Cream Shadow
These are very sheer and not pigmented at all. Really hard to layer them and they crease horribly. An hour into wearing them I’ll already have creases and the pigment is fading. Check out my Ilia Beauty Review if you are wanting a great liquid eye shadow!
Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Spray
I’ve tried this so many times but each time I’ve been burned when using it. I just find it’s not thick enough to withstand the sun’s rays even with proper application after so many hours. Check out my EWG Sunscreen Picks here to find a natural sunscreen that you will love!
Daily Shampoo and Conditioner
A lot of people love their shampoo and conditioner but it didn’t work for my fine/thin hair. It felt heavy and weighed down after and not light and bouncy. Check out my Natural Shampoo and Conditioners post to read about the best in natural beauty!
How to Save On Beautycounter Products
Of course we all want to save when possible. Beautycounter has a few ways they make it possible to save.
- Shop sales
- Band of Beauty Membership – For just $29/year you get the following perks:
- Free shipping on qualifying orders of $100+
- 10% Product Credit on applicable orders
- A welcome gift ($49 value) when you spend $50+ in product purchases upon enrollment
- Exclusive, Member-only offers
- Become a consultant and share the brand with others while also saving (and making) money – Enrollment is just $50 (Or $21 if you are a Band of Beauty Member already)
- Save at least 25% of Beautycounter products
- Share clean, safe personal care products with others and make commission on the sales that ranges from 25% to 35%
If you would like to learn more about becoming a Beautycounter consultant or have questions you can email beautycounter@gurlgonegreen.com. You can also become a Beautycounter consultant here! I would love to have you on my team!
Conclusion: Why I Continue To Share About Beautycounter
I continue to share about Beautycounter for so many reasons. One is that they continue to make outstanding clean beauty products! While there are some products I don’t love, the majority of their products are top notch and I’m consistently recommending them. They are constantly raising the bar and awareness about ingredients, sourcing and challenging not only themselves as a company but also the clean beauty industry in general to be better and keep learning. Beautycounter’s 3rd party testing is like none other. They make sure products are safe and have the ingredients they’re supposed to have in it. Beautycounter is also constantly advocating for safer beauty products to congress and making sure change happens. They of course support women owned businesses and that is something I can definitely get behind!
If you liked this post and are wanting to learn more about Beautycounter, check out these past posts:
- Beautycounter Review: Product Hits & Misses Video
- Before and After Using Beautycounter Countertime’s Line
- Dime Beauty Review
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