Beautycounter FAQs
Hey there! I hear that you’re curious about making a switch to nontoxic skincare and makeup. I have honestly tried SO MANY brands that just didn’t meet my high standards for product performance and safety. After many, many, many tries to find the right ones for my family and myself, I’ve chosen Beautycounter products AND decided that their mission aligns so much with my beliefs that I made it my career.
First and foremost, please listen here to my personal Beautycounter Story. I was lucky enough to participate in a Counter Conversation with Gina Murphy in November 2020! What an experience! You will hear my “why” for starting with Beautycounter and how it has truly changed my life ever since!
Make sure that if you’re wanting bite sized pieces of safer beauty and skincare information that you join my e-mail newsletter to receive updates on beauty education, special sales, and deals on your favorite Beautycounter products!
I will also always suggest that when making your first purchase as a Beautycounter customer that you, don’t forget to join Band of Beauty , Beautycounter’s brand loyalty program for 10% back, free shipping, and a $50 gift with purchase! It’s NOT based on a monthly auto shipment and it’s the best bang for your buck without being a consultant.
Here are some of my most popular Beautycounter posts:
The truth about MICA
Upgrade your basic makeup routine
5 Easy Steps to a Green Beauty Routine
Turn back Time with Countertime
A day in My Life. How I work my Beautycounter Business
Be Counter in Washington, D.C.
How to host a Beautycounter Social
Beautycounter FAQ’s
When I started on my Beautycounter journey 5+ years ago, the company was brand new and not many people had heard of our mission! It has been my pleasure to educate my friends, family, and customers about our collective mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Along the way, I have gotten a lot of repeat questions about Beautycounter and the career I have made as consultant. You’ll find the more frequently asked questions below.
Why Beautycounter?
I started using Beautycounter 5 years ago when one of my friends started talking to me about the products. I’ve tried lots of “natural” and “organic” brands since changing my lifestyle and they never met my standards. Organic doesn’t always mean safe. After downloading the “Healthy Living” app, I found out that the reason why was because those products that were labeled as safe and non toxic were the exact opposite. I encourage you to download the app for yourself, start plugging in your beauty products and see what exactly you’re applying to your skin.
Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including but not limited to asthma, cancer, and infertility) are on the rise and are due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it’s in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home.There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don’t have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry.What’s worse is that the Food and Drug Administration (the agency that regulates cosmetics in the United States) does not have the authority to remove harmful ingredients from the products we put on our bodies and on our kids’ bodies every single day, day after day. Read more here.
Take the time to watch this video by Beautycounter so you can understand the mission better. This video is something that I share with everyone and it gives me chills every time I watch it.
I’m interested and want to dig a little deeper and learn more about Beautycounter’s Mission, where can I get more information?
If you want a total overview of our mission, please take a few minutes to review our 2020 Social Mission Report. Our entire mission is outlined here as well as a timeline to show you the progress we’ve made so far in the U.S. and Canada.
In December 2019, our company founder and CEO, Gregg Renfrew, gave her testimony in front of the House Committee for Energy & Commerce in a hearing called “Building Consumer Confidence by Empowering FDA to Improve Cosmetic Safety.” Her efforts were done specifically to lobby for two new bills: “Cosmetic Safety Enhancement Act of 2019” and the “Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2019.” We are currently the only personal care company who sends consultants to Washington, D.C. to lobby for safer beauty. Read more about my personal experience in Washington here.
Read more about Beautycounter’s advocacy work here.
I want to clean out my beauty products and use only Beautycounter but it’s such an expensive move. What are your tips and how did you do this process?
Honestly, I didn’t have the money to just go crazy and buy every single Beautycounter product at once when I first started. I wish I did but I’m being real with you! What I suggest to everyone and what I did for myself is going to the Environment Working Group website and typing all of your products (one at a time) into the Skin Deep page. This will show you what ingredients are in your products, and how toxic they are rated on a scale of one to ten.
Once I researched my products, I took the top five toxic ones and threw them in the trash. Yep, throw those bad boys away! I know that sounds like a waste of money but once I found out the yucky stuff that I was using on my skin I no longer cared to harm my body. Then I replaced them with the corresponding Beautycounter products. The next month, I went down the line with the next products that ranked high for toxic chemicals and replaced them. Then the next month, I did the same thing. I did this until I had replaced everything with Beautycounter and didn’t go broke trying to do so! And if that seems overwhelming to you, or you feel that that’s not in your budget, you can also just replace one item at a time as you run out! Make baby steps… remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint!
What are your favorite Beautycounter makeup products?
For my simple and beautiful every day look I use the following products: Skin Twin Foundation, mattify powder, Cheeky Clean Cream Blush, brow pencil, Think Big All-in-One Mascara, and a lip sheer. Mic drop, you’re done and gorgeous within minutes! Once you get into a routine it can be done in such a short amount of time you’ll be surprised how easy it is! I always tell my clients to start with our Flawless in Five collection when making the switch to safer makeup products!
Read about my tips for a flawless and non-toxic makeup routine here and my top tips to keep your makeup in place here!
What are your favorite Beautycounter products?
It’s really hard to choose favorites but here are some of the products I use every single day:
Countertime is my favorite line to keep my skin looking supple and youthful! most notably, the Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum and eye cream! I skip the Soft Cream + Supreme Cream because they are for dry skin and don’t work for my acne/oily prone skin.
All Flawless in Five Products : This is what I use for my every day makeup! It literally takes me five minutes.
I wash my body with our Citrus Mimosa Body Bar. Post-shower, I apply our Citrus Mimosa Body Butter to re hydrate my skin.
Some other favorites are our Daily Shampoo and Daily Conditioner, and Countersun Mineral Sunscreen!
What about anti-aging?
Funny you should ask! FYI- Beautycounter has banned the term “anti-aging” when it comes to talking about their products to empower and support women in their offices and around the world. Instead of using chemicals like hydroquinone and retinyl aplmitate, Beautycounter went the healthy and holistic route by using extracts from the Spilanthes acmella flower, marine algae, lentil seed, Actium lappa root, and Boaerhavia dissua root to fend off fine lines and wrinkles. I have recently started doing preventive care for my skin and I am so happy that I have found all natural products for this new journey in my skincare.
Check out our COUNTERTIME collection:
Featuring our plant-derived Retinatural Complex, this collection is designed to visibly firm, brighten, and plump the skin. Welcome to the new age of aging well.
Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream– Supremely rich and deeply hydrating, this cream supports elasticity and visibly firms while minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. With continued use, wake up to more radiant, youthful-looking skin.
Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil– Inspired by Asian beauty rituals and informed by Japanese technology, this luxurious, lightweight cleansing oil gently yet effectively removes makeup and impurities without stripping essential lipids from the skin. Rich in vitamin E, fatty acids, and our plant-derived Retinatural Complex, the formula reinforces the skin’s fragile moisture barrier for a soothed, nourished complexion.
Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream– This high-performance eye cream revitalizes the eye area for a youthful, brighter appearance. A targeted combination of our plant-derived Retinatural Complex and Persian silk tree extract reduces the appearance of under-eye shadows and crow’s feet for a smooth, firmed look.
Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence– Lightweight but deeply nourishing, this milky moisturizing essence (like a toner, but more beneficial) lends vital nutrients to the skin’s moisture barrier—instantly boosting hydration and radiance. Formulated with our plant-derived Retinatural Complex, mineral-rich sea water, and a fermented blend of sugars, it renews and balances the skin and preps it for the treatment steps that follow.
Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum– This transformative rejuvenating treatment visibly increases skin firmness and elasticity, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Formulated with a powerful blend of peptides, amino acids, and our plant-derived Retinatural Complex, it helps enhance the skin’s moisture barrier function to optimize hydration for a radiant complexion.
Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream– Formulated with our plant-derived Retinatural Complex and Nasturtium flower extract, this velvety, revitalizing cream works to visibly plump and firm the skin while boosting hydration to protect skin from drying environmental stressors throughout the day. Skin is left healthy looking and glowing.
I’m looking at the website and I’m overwhelmed! What are the differences in the skincare lines?
Now that you’ve seen our Countertime Collection, here’s an easy breakdown of our other skincare lines:
COUNTERSTART COLLECTION:
Our Counterstart Collection consists of our CocoCream Cleanser and Moisterizer. This collection is amazing if you have sensitive skin and is actually a great starting point for teens! This gentle daily cleanser removes makeup and impurities without stripping away moisture. The formula, made with a blend of coconut oil and aloe vera, leaves skin feeling nourished and soothed and is perfect for sensitive skin.
COUNTERMATCH COLLECTION:
Our Countermatch Collection is formulated to match the natural structure of the skin and deliver long-lasting moisture—for an everyday glow.
Countermatch Hydra-gel Radiance Toner– Made without mineral oils, sulfates, and parabens, this is the prep step you’ve been waiting for. With a unique gel texture and a sustainable glass bottle, this new toner helps minimize the appearance of pores while removing residual impurities, leaving skin hydrated and radiant.
Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion– This lightweight lotion adapts to the skin throughout the day* to keep up with modern life. Not only does it provide up to 24-hours of hydration** —it offers the essential building blocks of hydration, nutrition, and oxygenation to keep skin soft, smooth, and glowing.
Countermatch Pure Calm Cleansing Milk– This ultra-gentle cleanser removes makeup and impurities without harsh surfactants that can strip away natural oils. Its conditioning formula respects the skin’s balance, replenishing essential hydration so skin feels soft and nourished, never dry or tight.
Countermatch Eye Rescue Cream– Formulated for the delicate eye area, this cream awakens eyes with hydrating squalane. Phytic acid helps to boost oxygenation and while reducing the appearance of shadows and puffiness.
Countermatch Recovery Sleeping Cream– This overnight cream with two forms of hyaluronic acid helps create a protective layer to shield skin from moisture loss during sleep. The advanced formula replenishes hydration and revitalizes skin with a blend of hyaluronic acid, squalane, plum oil, and phytic acid.
Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum– Packed with two forms of hyaluronic acid, plus vitamins C and E, this intensely moisturizing serum, without mineral oil or synthetic fragrance, delivers a boost of lasting hydration and antioxidant protection. With continued use, skin will feel firmer and look brighter with a more even tone.
COUNTERCONTROL
This anti-acne skincare line is intended for people with oily skin, if you have dry skin this is not for you! With a anti-inflammatory ingredients, this line helps heal and nourish the skin, rather than strip and dry it. This is great for teens and adults with very oily-prone skin.; it’s the most affordable and vegan/gluten-free. I plan to buy this for my kids when they reach puberty and experience changes in their skin!
Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser- This daily exfoliating cleanser for oily and blemish-prone skin effectively removes oil, makeup, and other impurities without harsh surfactants that can strip skin of moisture. The formula, featuring SkinBalance Complex and aloe vera, helps purify pores and soothe while jojoba beads gently slough away dead skin cells. Infused with an energizing citrus scent, it leaves your complexion feeling refreshed and balanced, not dry or irritated.
Countercontrol Instant Matte Toner- This alcohol-free mattifying toner for oily and blemish-prone skin removes residual impurities, controls excess oil, and minimizes the appearance of pores. The formula, with our SkinBalance Complex, helps purify skin while preserving ideal moisture levels for a refreshed, comfortable complexion.
Countercontrol All Over Acne Treatment– Clear existing blemishes and prevent future breakouts with this all-over treatment. The formula, featuring our signature SkinBalance Complex and plant-based salicylic acid, helps reduce blemishes while promoting healthy-looking skin.
Countercontrol SOS Acne Spot Treatment- This invisible formula penetrates pores to reduce blemishes and help clear up acne pimples. Featuring our SkinBalance Complex, this lightweight gel treats breakouts without over-drying for a clearer, healthy-looking complexion.
Countercontrol Matte Effect Gel Cream | Oil-free- Control oil for up to eight hours* with this innovative cream-to-gel formula for oily and blemish prone skin. Featuring our signature SkinBalance Complex of wintergreen and rosebay willow, this non-greasy hydrator improves skin’s texture without silicone and other ingredients that can clog pores. Oil-free.
COUNTERMAN
This line of products was specifically created with men in mind. Men’s skin is generally thicker, more porous, and oily. This line includes specific skincare best for males, and also a line of gender-neutral bath and body products such as Charcoal Body Bar , Charcoal Body Wash, and Soothing Shave Cream. Derrek swears by his Counterman products and we are excited that this line continues to grow!
Counterman Daily Exfoliating Cleanser– This daily cleanser, featuring our Sequoia Stem Cell Complex, helps protect skin from everyday environmental stress. Slough away dead skin cells, help unclog pores, and calm skin with exfoliating jojoba beads and the soothing power of aloe. Bergamot and vetiver essential oils lend a fresh, woodsy scent inspired by the Sequoia tree.
Counterman Oil-Free Face Lotion– Lightweight and non-greasy, this daily moisturizer absorbs quickly and boosts hydration. Featuring our Sequoia Stem Cell Complex, oil-controlling ingredients, and taurine, it helps prevent shine, improve skin’s resiliency, and protect from everyday environmental stress. Fragrance free. Oil free.
Counterman Smoothing Shave Cream– This conditioning shave cream softens facial hair for a close, comfortable shave. Featuring shea butter, aloe, and our Sequoia Stem Cell Complex, it works to soothe, hydrate, and protect skin from everyday environmental stress. Fragrance free.
Counterman Energizing Charcoal Body Wash – Made without harsh sulfates that strip away moisture, this energizing body wash features activated charcoal and our Sequoia Stem Cell Complex to help detoxify skin, wash away impurities, and protect skin from everyday stress. A blend of natural citrus, mint, rosemary, and cedarwood oils give this daily body wash a refreshing scent.
Counterman Charcoal Body Bar – Formulated with charcoal, coconut oil, and our Sequoia Stem Cell Complex, this invigorating body bar produces a creamy lather to wash away impurities and protect skin from everyday stress. A blend of natural citrus, mint, rosemary, and cedarwood oils give this daily soap a refreshing scent.
What is Band of Beauty?
This is the customer loyalty program for Beautycounter… and it is excellent!
It’s $29 annually to join our Band of Beauty loyalty program and the perks definitely pay off right away. You get a free welcome gift with $50 purchase, free shipping for all orders of $100 or more and you get 10% of every product order in a credit to use with your next order. The product credits are good for 60 days and there’s no minimum purchase or catch. The credit just comes off the total.
What made you become a consultant?
I started using the products about five years ago and then I had a friend that is a Beautycounter consultant tell me how amazing I would be and why I needed to join. I must have told her “no” ten times before actually signing up! Confession: I finally joined because I wanted the discount on the products that I was falling in love with and buying on a regular basis. At the time, we lived in the middle of nowhere and I was convinced I wouldn’t be able to successfully sell the products. After seeing my mentors (the people above me in the Beautycounter chain) hit goals and start making money, I decided what the heck, I am going to give this a shot! I started talking about it, sharing my love for the company, the mission and the products and as the months passed, my business took off! I started off small… but has snowballed. I would love to share more if you have specific questions. If you have questions about our compensation plan, please reach out to me via email at Amanda@littlesouthernlife.com. I am an open book and would love to chat with you about the opportunity.
I am interested in the opportunity. Can I join your team; will you be my mentor?
Yes! I’d love to have you join me on this mission! If it’s something you’re considering please contact me so we can chat to see if it’s the right fit for you and we will come up with a plan to get you started out on the right foot! Email me at Amanda@littlesouthernlife.com