Beautycounter Review: The Clean Beauty Brand You Need to Know About

Hey there, clean beauty lovers! If you‘ve been on the hunt for a brand that delivers high-performing, luxurious skincare and makeup without all the toxic junk, let me introduce you to my absolute favorite: Beautycounter. Trust me, this is a brand you‘ll want to have on your radar.

What is Beautycounter?

Beautycounter launched in 2013 with a mission to create safer, cleaner personal care products that actually work. They‘ve banned over 1,800 questionable or harmful chemicals from their formulations – they call it their "Never List." This includes things like parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, mineral oils, and chemical sunscreens, just to name a few.

But Beautycounter doesn‘t stop at just creating clean products. They‘re also advocating for stricter regulations in the beauty industry. Did you know that the laws governing the personal care industry in the United States haven‘t been updated since 1938? That‘s why Beautycounter is dedicated to lobbying for better beauty laws. In fact, they‘ve had over 8,000 meetings with lawmakers to push for more health protective legislation. Talk about a brand that stands behind their mission!

Clean, High-Performing Products

I know what you might be thinking – "Clean beauty is great and all, but do the products actually work?" I can confidently tell you that with Beautycounter, you don‘t have to sacrifice performance for safety. Their skincare and makeup products are the real deal.

One of my absolute must-haves is the Countertime Supreme Cream. This ultra-rich moisturizer uses a plant-derived Retinatural Complex to visibly firm, brighten, and plump skin. In a clinical study, 100% of participants showed firmer skin after just 4 weeks of use. I‘ve been using it religiously and can attest to its skin-transforming magic.

For makeup, Beautycounter‘s Skin Twin Featherweight Foundation is a total game-changer. It provides lightweight, buildable coverage that looks like your skin, but better. The formula contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin, plus squalane to lock in moisture. I love that it evens out my skin tone without feeling heavy or cakey.

Beautycounter is also known for their rigorous testing protocols. Every product is screened for traces of heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants to ensure they meet the brand‘s strict purity standards. You can actually view the results of these tests right on their website. For example, their popular Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer contains less than 0.1% heavy metal. That‘s some serious commitment to transparency!

Certifications and Awards

Beautycounter‘s clean formulas have earned them some serious accolades in the beauty world. Many of their products are EWG Verified, which means they meet the Environmental Working Group‘s strictest standards for health and transparency. They‘re also Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free, so you can feel good knowing no animals were harmed in the making of your products.

Plus, Beautycounter is a regular on the "best of" lists of major beauty publications. They‘ve won multiple Allure Best of Beauty Awards, including for their Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm and Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion. When I tell you these products are the best of the best, I‘m not exaggerating.

Sustainability Efforts

In addition to creating clean and safe products, Beautycounter is also working to reduce their environmental impact. By 2025, they‘ve pledged to have 100% recycled, recyclable, refillable, reused, or compostable packaging. They‘re also aiming to be fully carbon neutral as a company by 2030.

Currently, 10% of Beautycounter‘s product packaging incorporates recycled materials like glass, aluminum, and recycled plastic. They‘ve also launched a refillable option for some of their best-selling products, like the Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil. It‘s amazing to see a brand not only talking the talk when it comes to sustainability, but walking the walk.

How Does Beautycounter Compare to Other Clean Beauty Brands?

The clean beauty space has definitely gotten crowded in recent years, with new brands popping up all the time. So how does Beautycounter stack up? Here‘s my take:

Compared to clean makeup brands like Kosas, Ilia, and RMS Beauty, I find that Beautycounter offers a wider shade range for complexion products. They have 18 shades of the Skin Twin Foundation, which makes it easier to find your perfect match.

Price-wise, Beautycounter is definitely an investment, with prices similar to luxury beauty brands. However, I‘ve found that the quality is 100% worth it. A little goes a long way with their products, so they end up lasting longer.

Ultimately, I think Beautycounter stands out for their commitment to transparency, advocacy, and sustainable packaging. No other clean beauty brand is doing as much as they are in terms of education and lobbying efforts.

What are Customers Saying?

You don‘t just have to take my word for it – the reviews speak for themselves. Here are a few highlights:

"I‘ve been using Beautycounter for over a year now and my skin has never looked better. The Countertime line has visibly reduced my fine lines and leaves my skin so soft and glowy. I love that I can feel good about what I‘m putting on my face." – Lauren K.

"The Countersun Mineral Sunscreen is hands down the best facial sunscreen I‘ve ever used. It doesn‘t leave a white cast, feels weightless, and works great under makeup. I recommend it to all my friends." – Jasmine M.

"I was skeptical about clean makeup, but Beautycounter has made me a believer. The Satin Powder Blush is so pigmented and blendable, and the Color Intense Lipsticks are insanely creamy and long-wearing. Never going back to conventional makeup!" – Hannah R.

Ways to Save on Beautycounter

I get it, premium quality clean beauty can get pricey. Luckily, there are ways to save on Beautycounter so you can get the most bang for your buck.

First, I recommend signing up for a Band of Beauty membership. It‘s sort of like Beautycounter‘s loyalty program. For a $29 annual fee, you get perks like:

• 10% back in product credit on every purchase
• Free shipping on orders over $100
• Receive member-exclusive offers and discounts (usually 15-20% off)
• Get a free gift with your first order over $50 when you sign up

Trust me, if you plan on shopping with Beautycounter more than once, the Band of Beauty membership is absolutely worth it.

Another way to save is to shop through a consultant. Beautycounter products are sold through their website as well as through independent consultants. While the prices are the same no matter where you buy, consultants often run their own exclusive promos and discounts. It‘s a great way to support a small business owner while treating yourself to some clean beauty goodies.

The Bottom Line

Whew, that was a lot of info! Let me sum it up for you: Beautycounter is the clean beauty brand that‘s raising the bar for the entire industry. With their high standards for ingredient safety, commitment to sustainability, and advocacy efforts, they‘re a company you can feel good about supporting. And most importantly (in my humble opinion), their products flat out work.

Whether you‘re a clean beauty newbie looking to dip your toe in or a seasoned green beauty junkie, I can‘t recommend Beautycounter enough. Yes, they‘re pricier than some other brands. But for me, knowing I‘m using products that are safe, high-performing, and made by a company that‘s fighting for meaningful change makes it all worth it.

So go ahead, treat yourself to a couple Beautycounter products and see for yourself what the hype is about. Just don‘t blame me when you fall in love and your bathroom cabinet becomes fully stocked with their goodies. Don‘t say I didn‘t warn you!

Have you tried Beautycounter before? I‘d love to hear about your favorite products in the comments! And if you have any other clean beauty brands you‘re loving lately, drop those recs below too. Let‘s share the clean beauty love.

Stay beautiful, inside and out!

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