Throughout the last couple years, I’ve tried to switch to better beauty. In college, I barely had enough money to buy groceries let alone high-end skincare or makeup. When I graduated and started having a regular income I knew it was time to research and find a skincare regimen that would start healing the damage from tanning that I so willingly put my skin through. I also wanted to start an anti-aging product, because I had heard from my wise elders that the earlier you start anti-aging, the better. That is very true!
I had seen and heard so much about one of, if not the biggest skincare company in the country, so I decided to give it a go! It wasn’t bad by any means and I don’t know how much change I actually saw, but it seemed to combat my dryness and I had zero breakouts while using it. The one thing I couldn’t shake was the occasional sting the products gave me, as well as the questionable ingredients. The products also left my skin very oily, which I thought was better than dry at the time.
Flashback to a decade ago…my whole family had started making the switch to healthier, safer, and organic options. I grew up with my mom making our own homemade laundry soap, buying the least amount of processed foods possible, and educating our family on safe ingredients and natural ways to remedy sickness through vitamins, foods etc…We believed in trying homeopathic care first and chiropractor appointments were common.
My mom’s research opened up my eyes to the corruption in the food, pharmaceutical, and FDA industry. It’s super confusing navigating your way through skincare, makeup, and household products, because we see the words “organic,” “green,” “non-toxic,” “chemical-free,” or my personal favorite, “all-natural.” Sounds amazing right?
So many times, more than I could count, I would buy products from Whole Foods thinking they’re “safe,” but they were ineffective, would dry out my face more than products with chemicals, and they would sting or burn. FYI: nothing should sting or burn!!
This tactic of labeling things “all-natural” etc… is known as greenwashing and it is an epidemic! Want to know the worst part? The FDA is virtually unregulated so they’re allowing this to happen! Allowing citizens to be completely fooled and left to their own devices to find out what products are ACTUALLY safe. For example, the term “organic” isn’t regulated by the FDA. When your products or food are labeled organic it means that the “item must be free of synthetic additives like pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and dyes, must not be processed using industrial solvents, irradiation, or genetic engineering” (USDA, 2019). BUT, just because a product is organic does not mean that it doesn’t contain harmful preservatives or other questionable ingredients. Labeling a product “organic” along with other catchy terms is a marketing tool plain and simple.
Another example of the loopholes within the FDA industry is the word “fragrance.” There could be dozens, even hundreds of harmful ingredients that fall within that word. With all this knowledge I had a hard time using a skincare line that was chalked full of possibly harmful ingredients and ironically a friend that had used the same line as me switched to a different, safer brand. I was curious, so I researched their site on and off for a full 3 weeks. I was so motivated and inspired by the company’s transparency, mission to provide safe products, and drive to regulate the beauty industry starting in Washington that I dove in full force and became a consultant. This company I’m so passionate about is Beautycounter and it was one of the best choices I’ve ever made! Not only do the products provide me with more hydrated, healthy skin. I genuinely believe in everything they stand for. Empowering women is a huge part of their philsophy and that is definitely something I can get behind! Beautycounter is also a B Corporation (B stands for Benefit) which means they use the power of business to help solve social and environmental problems by voluntarily meeting standards of transparency, accountability, and performance. Becoming a B Corporation is highly difficult.
So why is Beautycounter Safer?
First off, they’re transparent. Beautycounter does not hide any ingredients used to formulate their products. For example, I mentioned the word “fragrance” above. They do not hide harmful ingredients under that word and they share every ingredient so the consumer knows exactly what they’re buying. Beautycounter also has a 5-Step Ingredient Selection Process, in which they prohibit 1,500 ingredients from product formulations. This is called The Never List. Beautycounter does not claim to be “all-natural” or “chemical-free.” Natural ingredients are not neccessarily safe, and synthetic ingredients are not neccessarily harmful. For example, water is a chemical. They do however, choose ingredients with little or no risk to health. In order to know what is safe, as a part of their Ingredient Selection Process, they review emerging data regularly and even occasionally commission their own studies when they are not able to gather enough information on a particular chemical.
To snowball of that…I’d love to share my daily skincare routine with you in hopes that you might learn more about Beautycounter and the type of products that you could incoporate into your routine or possibly learn more about safer beauty products in general! I’ve been trying a plethora of Beautycounter products and I’m loving them so much I could go on forever. So, to keep it shorter I’m going to share with you my must-haves that I use daily and absolutely can’t live without!
CLEANSERS:
Cleansing Balm seriously does it all! I use this almost every night, especially for make-up removal. It’s not only a nourishing daily cleanser and make-up remover, but it also can be used as an overnight mask. It hydrates with nutrient-rich raspberry and cranberry seed oils and promotes a brighter complexion with radiance-boosting vitamin C.
Charcoal Cleansing Bar is what I use in the morning. It gives me a squeaky clean feeling. Ideal for oily or blemish-prone skin, this detoxifying cleansing bar absorbs impurities in your skin without drying it out, resulting in a clearer, smoother, and brighter-looking complexion. Made with purifying Japanese binchotan charcoal, antioxidant-rich organic green tea, and hydrating organic coconut oil.
SERUM:
Intense Moisture Serum: I use this about every other day, depending on dryness level. This can be used by itself, but I usually put it under my moisturizer, because my skin is super dry overall! It’s infused with two forms of hyaluronic acid, this intensely moisturizing serum delivers immediate and lasting hydration, while vitamins C (ascorbic acid) and E (tocopherol) provide antioxidant protection.
MOISTURIZERS:
Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion: I use this daily in the mornings after cleanser and/or serum. It’s lightweight and doesn’t feel oily. Not only does it provide up to 24-hours of hydration — it actually adjusts hydration levels throughout the day for a smooth look and feel and radiant glow. My favorite thing about this lotion is the Breakthrough Bio-Mimic Technology, which harnesses the unique life-giving properties of plants to exactly match the structure of skin, giving it precisely what it needs and nothing it doesn’t.
Countermatch Recovery Sleep Cream: I use this daily as well, but at night. I didn’t know I needed a night cream until this jar of goodness entered my life. The blend of hyaluronic acid, plum oil, and tara gum creates a protective layer to help replenish hydration and revitalize skin while you sleep—so skin looks youthfully smoother, softer, and more radiant in the morning and it DOES!
OTHER FAVS I RECOMMEND:
No. 3 Balancing Facial Oil: I was always skeptical about putting oil on my skin. My skin is already oily, why would I add more? I can’t tell you how much this has calmed down my redness and dryness. It’s a proprietary blend of seven natural oils moisturizes and smooths. Softening meadowfoam seed oil restores balance, while wild chamomile calms and soothes skin. Perfect for all skin types, especially those concerned with skin clarity, calming, and balancing.
Overnight Resurfacing Peel: WOW is all I can say about this product. This peel has given me the most noticeable difference so far. My skin literally glows in the morning. I put this peel on before bed. I let it sit for 3-5 minutes then follow it up with my night cream. I use a couple times a week. It’s formulated with 15 botanically-derived acids, this leave-on AHA/BHA peel improves skin texture and minimizes the appearance of pores, fine lines, and dark spots without irritation or over-drying. Does NOT dry out skin or turn it bright red like some other chemical peels do.
My boyfriend, Kyle is also using Beautycounter products. He is loving the Smooth & Control Conditioner. He has a dry scalp and has noticed a decrease in dandruff after using the conditioner for a couple weeks. I also just purchased the Counterman Collection for Kyle, because he struggles with dry skin and red bumps. I’m extremely excited for him to try it. Updates coming soon!
It’s been refreshing to feel confident in my skin with or without makeup and yes, I am a consultant for Beautycounter so my job is to tell you how amazing everything is! But, if you know me at all, you would know that I am approached by direct sales companies all the time and I’ve turned them down for years, because I just didn’t believe in their products 100%. I finally found a company where it’s more than just selling their product, it’s educating women and families that we don’t have to settle for crap anymore! It’s a push for regulations on beauty products and a demand for some change in the beauty industry. SAFER BEAUTY is here people and it’s here to stay!
If you want to dive into my website to look at more products here is my link:
Thanks for reading!
Much love,
T
Taryn's Truth 