Why didn’t anyone tell us that when we hit our 40s that our skincare needs would change? That suddenly I’m dealing with dark spots, less than glowing skin, and where did those lines around my eyes even come from?!
And why weren’t we prepared for how dry our skin gets?! I live in the mountains at elevation and trying to keep my skin hydrated has been such a challenge.
I started looking around at skincare routines and trying out different products and exploring different biohacking ways to get my skin to shine again (spoiler alert: you don’t need to biohack anything) and I wasn’t finding anything that worked.
Then I discovered Beautycounter and my skin looks better than it did when I was 20 and I feel confident that the products not only work but are also safe to use free from toxins and less than stellar ingredients.
Safer Beauty for Your Skin
Beautycounter introduced me to the idea of safer skin and personal care products and I haven’t looked back since. The company was founded in 2013 by Gregg Renfrew who was looking for better products for her family and friends. She realized how many products are full of very harmful chemicals that we’re putting on our skin multiple times a day. These harmful chemicals can impact our health multiple ways, for example becoming hormone and endocrine disruptors.
Our skin is our biggest organ and has the ability to absorb things (like when you rub on lotion or sunscreen and it gets absorbed) which means that we’re taking in these chemicals and ingredients.
One of the key missions of Beautycounter is to advocate for safer beauty standards and increase awareness around potentially harmful ingredients commonly found in personal care products. They have created a list called “The Never List,” which outlines specific ingredients they avoid in their products due to safety concerns.
Beautycounter routinely goes to Washington to lobby on behalf of getting policies and laws changed around the personal care industry so that we can have access to better and safer products. In 2019, the founder, Gregg Renfrew, appeared before a Congressional Committee to speak on behalf of consumers to educate and encourage the FDA to work to protect consumers and revisit the laws surrounding makeup and personal care products.
The hearing led to the first vote in Congress on cosmetic reform since 1938. Check out the full list of Beautycounter’s advocacy work and the bills that they helped pass.
Testing and Safety
While Beautycounter has a whole list of ingredients that they don’t use in their products, they also routinely test their products to make sure that they fully meet the standards they have set.
If a product comes back that doesn’t meet their standards, that batch is immediately pulled from sale. Heavy metals (for example, copper, iron, lead) appear naturally in products with pigment, such as, cosmetics.
Beautycounter tests for all of this in their products to ensure that these are not found at high or harmful levels.
They have also joined forces with Tufts University to research and stay updated on ingredients and the impact they can have on our bodies. Beautycounter also has their own Science Advisory Council to help guide them on how to reduce exposure to harmful ingredients and to serve as a sounding board for our approach to safety.
They are also a part of The Chemical Footprint Project which is a third-party program that measures how effectively businesses drive toward greater transparency and safer chemicals. Beautycounter has been a top scoring company since 2014.
Create your own Radiant Skincare Routine
Feeling overwhelmed on how to create a skincare routine? I got you! I explain the steps, what products you need and what they do, and give you some tips on how to get started that fits within budget.
Transparency and Education
Beautycounter prides itself on transparency and advocacy within the skincare community. All the ingredients for all of their products are listed and available.
They want consumers to know what they are purchasing and using which is why they also provide education around ingredients and how to pick products that are safe.
As a company they work extremely hard to not only make sure their products are safe but to talk with lawmakers and advocate to get policies in place for better products for everyone.
Ageless Skin
I started using Beautycounter’s Countertime line to help manage my skin and it has exceeded my expectations. Geared towards mature skin this line helps with hydration but also tackling things like fine lines, helping with firmness, and radiance.
Key ingredients are:
- Bakuchiol: Native to India and derived from seeds of the plant Psoralea corylifolia, bakuchiol has been shown to provide skin-care results that are comparable to retinol—without harmful side effects such as skin irritation and increased sun sensitivity
- Swiss Alpine Rose: Renowned for its remarkable ability to protect itself against dehydration and other environmental stressors at the highest altitudes of the Swiss Alps.
This is a full skincare routine line complete with cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, day cream, and a night cream.
Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil (150 ML / 5 FL OZ): A lightweight cleansing oil that gently removes makeup and other impurities without stripping essential lipids from the skin.
Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence (150 ML / 5 FL OZ): A deeply nourishing moisturizing essence that instantly boosting hydration and radiance.
Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum (30 ML / 1 FL OZ): Serum that visibly increases skin firmness and elasticity, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream (50 ML / 1.7 FL OZ): Light yet hydrating cream improves skin’s barrier function and protects it from daily environmental stressors.
Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream (50 ML / 1.7 FL OZ): Rich and deep hydrating night cream to support elasticity and visibly firms while smoothing skin texture.
Ultra Renewal Eye Cream (15 ML / 0.5 FL OZ): Revitalizes the eye area and reduces the appearance of under-eye shadows and crow’s feet for a smooth, firmed look.
I have been using this line for over a year now and cannot believe the difference in my skin. It’s more radiant and extremely well hydrated! Yes even living here in dry ass Colorado at 5000 feet!
Becoming An Adocate
Because of how impressed I was with this line and I feel aligned with Beautycounter’s mission, I became a brand advocate.
Now I can help others find the perfect products for their skin and lifestyle while also helping to educate around safer skincare for all of us.
If you have any questions about Beautycounter or are interested in joining my team of advocates , I’m just an email away: Andrea@ourraidnatlife.com
