I’m happy today to share with you details about an innovative company that I’ve recently discovered: BeautyCounter. This business creates safe and effective skin care and cosmetics and  was created not only out of a desire to be 100% transparent in ingredients, be environmentally conscious, but also to raise the bar in health standards to the highest in the personal care industry. They have done just that and more. Oh, and I forgot to mention the products really work!

The company, BeautyCounter based in beautiful sunny Santa Monica, CA, was founded by Gregg Renfrew. Gregg recalls her direct “wake-up call” moment after viewing the Al Gore Documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”. The seeds as they say were planted. Ms. Renfrew then turned knowledge from the information she learned showing the direct connection between the health of the earth and the personal health of each human being into a new cosmetic line. BeautyCounter was born out of her epiphany!

Ms. Renfrew was like so many of us in assuming when she purchased her favorite, cleaning supplies, body lotion, makeup and even her choice in sunscreen, that the products “must be safe as well as regulated”. Imagine the surprise when she became aware that the US has not passed a federal law to regulate the ingredients used in personal care products since 1938! As Gregg remarked, she “felt duped”.

I think we’re due for an update in the regulations, don’t you? Our bodies are bombarded with so many new chemicals daily. The average American woman applies between twelve and twenty chemicals on their skin 365 days per year. Yes, I’m shocked too. There are some situations in life we can’t control, but the ones we can, we should! Personal care and beauty products are one important area that can make a significant difference in how many toxins enter our system. I for one would feel safer in knowing that the government would require full disclosure of the ingredients in our personal care purchases. But sadly, that has not happened at this point in time. Thank goodness for Beautycounter.

Beautycounter has fully committed to the mission to get safe products into the hands of everyone. They have voluntarily banned more than 1,500 ingredients setting a new health and safety standard. They even developed a groundbreaking ingredient screen. At Beautycounter they run every ingredient through the screen, looking for data on skin irritation, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, cumulative exposure and more.

I for one feel very reassured from a company that has voluntarily raised the standards for our health to even higher than the European Union requires! This is impressive to say the least. The name Beautycounter reflects going “counter” to the rest of the beauty industry. A little rebellious, in a very good way and I like that~ This brand has a very chic presentation as well as a fashionable style.

Now I want to tell you about some of the products I graciously received, tested and the ones that have made their way to my “will repurchase favorites list.”

Lustro Face Oil 1 Calendula  $64 / .67 FL.OZ.

A luxurious blend of seven radiance boosting oils, including organic argan nut, organic grapeseed, organic marula, meadowfoam seed, rosehip, rose otto and seabuckthorn-deeply nourishes skin with antioxidants and vitamins.

My thoughts: I love (my favorite) this lightweight facial elixir. The rose otto and calendula oils are the perfect scent combination for my taste. Lightly pressing a few drops of this face oil into my sensitive skin feels so hydrating and healing. I use a few drops at night and then again in the morning as a primer before applying my makeup. My skin drinks this right in with absolutely no oily residue.

Rosewater Uplifting Spray $32./ 1.7 FL.OZ

“Organic rose essence and purified water combine to nourish skin and create a dewy glow, so skin looks healthy and feels instantly refreshed. Beauty Bonus: mist your face after makeup to set. Perfect for midday pick-me-up or when you’re on the go. A few spritzes around your bed pillows impart a rose aroma as you sleep.”

My thoughts: If you have read my past product reviews you probably know by now how much of a fanatic I am of anything that includes rose. I find this particular rose water to be soothing to my skin as well as it helps relieves my redness and irritation.I use this to set my makeup for the day and to spritz my face for regular hydration. Roses contain the highest vibrational frequency of all the flowers which is not surprising to me. Just getting a whiff of anything rose and I immediately feel my mood elevated.

Gentle Exfoliator Polishing Cream $30./ 4 FL.OZ.

“Our Gentle Exfoliator Polishing Cream sweeps away dead cells and impurities to uncover fresh, glowing skin. Non-abrasive jojoba beads provide gentle exfoliation while organic coconut oil conditions and soothes skin. Hydrating aloe nourishes even the most sensitive skin types, while a mix of botanical extracts-like geranium, lavender and green tea- support skin’s health. Meadowfoam seed oil delivers essential fatty acids and vitamin E (essentials for a radiant-looking complexion). Lightly scented with citrus essential oils.”

My thoughts: I have THE most sensitive highly reactive skin ever! But with this gentle exfoliator used once per week I’ve seen diminished pores and a softer brighter complexion. Beautycounter recommends using this 3-4x per week, but for me that’s too much. Once per week is beneficial for me and doesn’t seem to aggravate my sensitivities. You have to do what works for your own personal complexion. I apply a pea size amount to my damp skin and gently massage in circular motions. Then I rinse with warm water and pat my skin dry. I then spritz  the Rosewater Uplifting spray and while still damp, follow with a few drops of my Lustro Face Oil 1 for sensitive skin. My skin really glows after treating it so well with this routine.

Lip Sheer in Petal $28.

“Sheer brilliance. Our team worked meticulously to create the ultimate lipstick: the perfect mix of sheer color and polished sheen. The result? A formula that feels lightweight yet luxurious on lips while moisturizing and conditioning. Each of the six universally-flattering shades was color-tested to make sure every hue complements all skin tones. Boast staying power without ever feeling oily or waxy. Plus, there’s no synthetic fragrance (just a sophisticated hint of vanilla planifolia). Wear it alone, or under Lip Shine for an even more lustrous look.”

My thoughts:  These ultra chic gold colored lipstick containers make it such a pleasure to touch up lips during the day and I feel so glamorous when I do! Each color contains such a rich nourishing formulation that  just glides on my lips.The color selection: Petal, Twig (Best of Beauty Award Allure), Rose, Coral, Currant, Plum and Lip Shine (Best Seller). My favorite color so far is Petal. It gives my lips a soft and sheer wash of light natural pink. This is my go to everyday color. Often I layer a few of the various colors to create my own unique combinations.

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Beautycounter showed their support last month at A Night For Green Beauty in Los Angeles. I can’t wait to have the opportunity to meet Ms.Renfrew in person at next year’s event (my fingers are crossed).To date Beautycounter has grown to include over 2,500 consultants and is present in 40 states. Now that is an accomplishment that Beautycounter should be very proud of.

Have you tried any products from BeautyCounter? What are your favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

xoxo,

Britanie