Spring Cleaning? Choose The Cleanest, Skincare & Eco-Friendly Makeup: Beautycounter ~ & Your Very Own Consultant!

 

Spring and cleaning go together like peanut butter and Jelly. Or like Thelma and Louise. So many great pairings 👯 Yet, I daresay that few if any duos are aligned with their very own season!  And with all due respect to Marie Kondo and tossing things that don’t bring you joy, there’s a way more important Clean to attend to. Don’t you agree that skin cleansing & selfcare bests disposing of a college sweatshirt?!  

I can’t wait to share just the transformative, squeaky~clean solutions you’ll want to ADD to your tidy beauty routine.  Let’s reassess our decluttering: 

Like Kondo advises, you should start your cleaning by imagining your ideal lifestyle. She says Kurashi is a way of life or a “life-changing magic.” Bring on that Clean magic! This post is all about mindful personal care cleanliness. 

While I’m not a betting person, I’ll wager that you, like me, will always choose clean skin care, cosmetics, makeup, bath and body products. 

The thing is, we just need to be educated about what’s in the products we use. 

And again, as Marie says about her clean methods to change your life forever, it’s not a sprint. As Leeann says, I’m dedicated for the long haul. 😉

I like to think of my beauty products as an investment. For my future self and wellness. 

I am not given to caprice. Truth be told, I’m a loyal Capricorn, so changing up the beauty products I use in my daily regime is not something I do.

I’m thoughtful and circumspect. 

What has been a consistent underpinning is the desire to use authentic, real, unadulterated ingredients in the products that also don’t harm the environment and are good for science-based climate initiatives. Just like in my food and drink recipes and in my sustainable garden design and sustainable horticulture practice. 

After all, you’re putting these products on your body!  

Cue the natural, healthy introduction.  

 

I was introduced to BeautycounterⓇ by way of an extended family member: Eva Rich.  A talented and natural beauty who exudes loveliness by way of her own accord.  And yet, when she asked me to help share her knowledge and, what was to me, her great passion for the products and the brand’s commitment to all things Clean and environmentally sustainable.  

As a Beautycounter brand advocate, Eva, is a jewel of a representative for the company’s dedication to clean beauty. 

Those that know me, can attest to me saying that when a professional 

handles some part of my portfolio ~ they need to manifest that inherent attribute; as in ~ my financial advisor better be wealthy, my hairdresser needs a stylish coif, my interior designer should have a home worthy of Elle Decor. 

So when I was asked to consider Eva and her Beautycounter, I didn’t hesitate.

The story behind Beautycounter is what attracted Eva ~ and by turns, me.  

As a brand advocate, Eva could readily get behind a company that represented values she could admire, and significantly, allow her to work and at the same time, be at home with her three children.  A win/win/win. 

Beautcounter’s mission statement is in itself, a “tidy” declaration of what we should look to when choosing beauty products. From their website you can read:

We take safety seriously. Over 2,800 ingredients are never used in our formulations—we call this The Never List™—and we go above and beyond to screen every ingredient against our high standards in pursuit of clean beauty.

To learn how safety is their north star, read more…On their Beautycounter Mission page. 

And with regard to Sustainability, they vow:

We're committed to formulating clean beauty products that protect both people and the planet. As leaders in clean, we’re doing our part to advocate for human rights and climate justice while minimizing the environmental impacts of our products, packaging, and footprint. 

Beautycounterlists all their ingredients on their website ~ for every product.

Further, they are committed that by next year, their packaging will be 100% recycled, recyclable, refillable, compostable, or reused. 

Further, they are committed that by next year, their packaging will be 100% recycled, recyclable, refillable, compostable, or reused. 

             

Just today and hot, er, Clean off the press, Beautycounter released their yearly progress report

They had me at Clean…

It really comes down to educating ourselves and being our own advocate for safer personal care products.  

And I very much appreciated the mission and commitment of Beautycounter Founder and CEO, Gregg Renfrew, (portrait image below) who says when she started Beautycounter she:

…set out to transform the beauty industry by creating clean, high-performing skin care and makeup—while fighting to change the laws that control what can and cannot be used in products, so that everyone has access to safer beauty. 

Go ahead, type in a search query for "the best clean beauty product." What comes up?

You guessed it:

People also ask: What is the cleanest cosmetic brand? Beautycounter. Beautycounter is a shining example of a non-toxic beauty brand that champions natural skincare and eco-friendly makeup. With a focus on sustainable beauty and clean beauty products, they are a leader in the natural skincare and cruelty-free makeup movement.

Personal Shopper and Curator

All that said about a brand’s commitment and delivery on promises to do good, I also don’t have a boatload of time to devote to sourcing and finding beauty products ~ online or in a brick and mortar store.

I used a celebrity branded product for years and I did like it. What appealed to me was a combination of ingredients and convenience.  Until it wasn’t. 

They continued to “push” product and accelerate shipments until I was backed up enough that I could’ve opened a shop. Slight exaggeration but you get the idea.

And in terms of retail shopping, why, just today, I went in-store to get some things I like and to use a coveted gift certificate.  While I’m a VIP with this brand (they must be very non-discerning to allow me to part of this elevated position ^:^), I found the loud, pulsing soundtrack, the number of shoppers and the lack of help ~ i.e. salespersons, just so much stimuli.

I opt for Eva and her ability to calmly curate my personal needs and wants for clean skincare and makeup. No crowds. No dealing with a challenging customer service hotline: aka sales. 

Ahhhhh. 

The Process

While you can contact Eva immediately and directly via her Beautycounter website ~ it’s also super fun to do what we did:

An online Zoom Beautycounter overview and demo with Eva. I organized the session with a few of my favorite lady friends.

And Eva can do the same for you.  She even sent us product samples beforehand so we could test-drive, and then be prepared to ask questions.

Eva provides an overview of Beautycounter, the brand and its mission, walked us through some of the products and their latest introduction: Fragrance (more on that in a sec)

When we asked Eva to do a demo for us, she showed how she preps and puts on makeup for a natural, glowing look. While it surely is desirable to look like Eva 😀to start with (oh, what a canvas!), we could nevertheless relate to the easy-to-apply products, their benefits and the makeover results. 

How to Work with Eva and Beautycounter 

Please do contact Eva to schedule a Zoom meet up ~ your friends can be in one spot ~ I’m thinking Bellinis or Mimosas and later, Espresso Martinis ~ or you all can be in separate locations joined via Zoom.  It’s fun!  

You can order directly from Eva via her Beautycounter link

At the same time, you can follow Eva to stay in the loop, on her Instagram 

On her blog  ~ she notes a recent deep dive about their first-ever fragrance launch. 

And on her website: @Littletreemindfulness 

Because most of her customers prefer working with a consultant, Eva is very hands-on and communicates with her clients via text or email or phone or… a real person who cares about you.  Wow. 

“I’m trouble shooting for them all the time,” Eva adds. 

She helps them stay in the know. Get products, credits, sending reminders on sales, too.  

You, the customer, are in the driver's seat.  “You choose your adventure,” Eva says. 

A Recap of what Eva covered on our Beautycounter Zoom: 

Basics of a solid skincare routine, am and pm (this is the order of the products, she demoed, too.) 

1. Cleanse (Cleanser)

2. Prep (Toner or Essence)

3. Treat (Serum) 

4. Protect (Moisturizer, and SPF)

5. Makeup

Eva sent us all samples of: 

Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil  - this is an oil based cleanser, so it's slightly different from a typical cleanser in that you apply it dry (to start) and then add water to form a milky consistency. Wipe away with a warm, damp washcloth. This will remove makeup too, though she confessed that her favorite cleanser/makeup remover/multi-tasker is the cleansing balm. This is also an oil based cleanser, but a solid, so super easy to travel with.

Countertime Essence - balances and preps your skin to better absorb all the products that follow. One of her favorite products - -  a game changer.

Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum -  helps with skin firmness, elasticity, barrier function, fine lines and wrinkles. This is the treatment step of your routine - - a concentrated dose of active ingredients. 

She also sent Vitamin C serum (I LOVE this product). This is a company best seller - made with 10% vitamin c, turmeric and camu camu for brightening and an antioxidant boost. Both serums will help with brightening/fine lines and wrinkles - - but if you have dark spots/sun spots or melasma...you want this one! Recommended for use in the morning, so you could do this in the morning, and the tripeptide serum at night (that's what she recommends and does) 

Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream - like butter for your face! This is the Beautycounter thicker night cream - - there's a lighter day cream in this line, too. Worth mentioning, and Eva pointed out during our Zoom, that the entire Countertime Line uses Bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine Rose instead of retinol (on our Never List of banned ingredients due to health concerns) - so you're getting the performance benefits without the issues.

Eva also demoed Flawless in Five. This is a customizable set (bundled at savings) of 6 makeup products. Available a la carte as well. She personally prefers Dew Skin over the foundation - - built in SPF and sheer coverage. 

No surprise for a natural beauty 😀

I asked Eva what her favorite product is. Can you guess? 

It’s the Mighty Plump Ceramide Water Cream 

Everyone Loves a Deal 

We got 20% off our entire order with code CLEANFORALL20 at checkout

As another major brand triumphs it slogan: “Membership has its privileges.”  Here too: 

$29 annually gets you free shipping on orders over $100, 10% of every order back in product credit for the future, a free Glow First Priming Serum when your first order is 50+ (value $65), exclusive member perks throughout the year, and currently when you spend $100 as a member you also get a free discovery set of their 5 brand new clean perfumes launching later this month. Such a good deal! 

I did it. So worth it! 

And the best part, Eva can build a customized cart for you (that you can edit as you wish ~ remember, “it’s your adventure!”) 

When reaching out to her, she asks that you please answer the following:

1. How would you describe your skin? Normal/dry/oily/combo/sensitive/other...

2. What are your biggest skincare concerns/is there anything specific you are looking to treat? 

3. Are you interested in clean makeup? If so, what is your typical routine? (Note: if you'd like her to help color match, please send a photo of yourself in natural light)

4. Anything else I should know?

Finally: If you're curious to check the safety of the products you now use, ewg.org/skindeep is an incredible third party resource. Type in a product to see how it rates or peek at ingredients (For example, they have some really good info on retinol!) 

You’ll be charmed how Eva came to be a Beautycounter advocate nearly ten years ago. After completing her yoga teacher training, a friend recommended the clean, safe products.  When asked if she wanted to work for the company, she said, “‘Why not? I had no expectations.” 

At the time she launched her brand advocacy, she had given birth to her first child, an adorable, precocious, Eloise, and was highly successful at the business working as a stay-at-home mother. Eva continued to build and grow her business. She recognized that she was an, ahem, “natural resource.”  (I couldn’t resist this reference.  If the shoe fits… )  

“I had been teaching yoga, including pre and post natal; I’d worked in theater,” and she further explained that being in pursuit of wellness for her and her now-growing family, besides her business. Henry William is her second child and just recently, she gave birth to her third. Eva thoroughly embraces Beautycounter’s mission and commitment to the environment.

Eva, like many, appreciates and respects Beautycounter’s stringent testing, superior supply chain process, and respect for workers and employees.

You can take a deeper dive into the brand and their advocacy, leading and testifying for health protective laws as it concerns beauty products and recycling packaging.  The company proudly proclaims that “Since 2013, they’ve helped pass 13 landmark pieces of clean beauty legislation.”

Thank you for helping us and the world be more beautiful. 

“Beauty is only skin deep,” they say. 

But the making of the products runs deep into our environment, I say. (wink)

And as Eva reminds us: “Your skin is your largest organ so it's a good thing to take care of it.”

So why not purchase and use products that are good for you and your family AND the planet?

Customized Shopping

As I mentioned, I really am jazzed about the process of customized shopping experience. 

No more hassle. 

I can shop online, buy direct from Beautycounter’s SoHo location in Gotham ~ they also have brick and mortar stores in Denver and Los Angeles. If you’re in those stores, you can work with Eva (I said it was easy, right?!) Just click on Eva Rich at the Beautycounter when in-store.

I opted for the Membership: $29 is a good annual deal plus to get the $65 value for the  serum product.  

I received my first order in no time. Very exciting.

Labels, Labels. Label reading is a lot easier when I can recognize and say what the ingredients are!

Fragrance Celebration 

You know how much I adore fragrance. Especially natural ones. What a quiet, affordable luxury. Also, of our five senses, Fragrance is the one that triggers memories the most. 

So it is with a particular joy, that my introduction to Beautycounter coincided with the launch of their first-ever fragrance line: Clean Eau de Parfum. 

I love the rare, exotic vanilla so much, (in fact, it’s also a protagonist in the novel I’m writing…) so it was rather easy to choose Second Skin, the “delicate and warm gauzy blend of florals and silky vanilla creme” from their five blends, including Hyper Rose, Sun Spill, Miles Away, and Pacific Dreams.

Beautycounter just celebrated their 11th Anniversary last month.  Cheers to a company that has changed so much of what beauty products can and should be.

Clean is good for us and our environment.

I’m looking forward to a very clean and healthy relationship with Beautycounter.

Thank you, Eva.

Wishing you all a beautiful, glamorous, and Clean lifestyle. 

Remember to surround yourself with products that will “spark joy” and help you feel the thrill that you’re living the life you want to lead.

* Except for Spring Cleaning and my product order, all photos courtesy of Eva Rich and Beautycounter website