Beautycounter Flawless in Five: Is it worth it?

Beautycounter has been discontinued! Read about what happened to Beautycounter (and when it might come back) here. In the meantime, I have lots of great recommendations for Beautycounter product swaps linked in this post. Also, be sure to join my email list so you can be the first to know when your Beautycounter favorites come back.

For years, I tried dozens of different makeup brands and products (spending hundreds of dollars in the process), but never had a makeup routine I liked. So, of course, I would spend more money on yet another product, hoping to find the right stuff. My goal was to look natural and put together without looking overdone or “too” made-up. My other requirement was that my makeup routine had to be easy.

It took a WHILE, but I finally discovered a tinted moisturizer I liked (from an Instagram follower!) from Beautycounter. I was hooked, so I started trying the rest of their makeup and it fit all my requirements, plus it was cleaner beauty! Actually, I loved it so much that I joined as a consultant, since I was already telling everyone I knew about it (and the discount was pretty enticing).

When I was first trying Beautycounter makeup, I ordered one product at a time and built up a makeup routine after collecting products. But now, they sell a makeup starter set called Flawless In Five with six makeup essentials at a discounted price, that’s designed to be applied in five minutes (hence the name).

1. Tinted Moisturizer or Foundation
2. Concealer
3. Brow Gel
4. Mascara
5. Cream Blush
6. Lipgloss

Today I’m sharing my review of this set, along with some finished makeup shots. Let’s jump in!

Beautycounter Flawless In Five

The name “Flawless in Five” comes from the idea that you only need these few products and five minutes for a flawless, natural, makeup look. And as a mom who also runs her own business, five minutes is about all I have for doing my makeup! What’s included:

1. Tinted Moisturizer or Foundation
2. Concealer
3. Brow Gel
4. Mascara
5. Cream Blush
6. Lipgloss

The set costs $171, but if you were to purchase the 6 products individually, it would cost you $214. The savings are SO good with this set that it’s a total no brainer. I personally don’t buy the set anymore and purchase things a la carte, but if you need a makeup routine and a product overhaul, this is a GREAT way to get started.

Now that you know the basics, let’s dive into each product that’s included.

What’s included in the Flawless In Five set?

Skin Twin Hydrating Foundation OR Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

You have two options to choose from when it comes to your base. The first is full coverage: Skin Twin Foundation, and the second is sheer coverage: Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer.

Skin Twin Hydrating Foundation

The Skin Twin Foundation is a full-coverage foundation that comes in 27 shades. I love how smooth this goes on, and how long it lasts. I find that this is lightweight enough to feel great all day (not cakey or greasy), but it looks good and lasts all day as well.

The option of 27 shades makes chances of finding your perfect color match pretty good. I recommend using the Beautycounter Shade Finder to find your perfect color match.

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

The Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer was my gateway product to Beautycounter. It’s the best tinted moisturizer I’ve ever used. The coverage is sheer, but gives you just the right amount of “something” to build your makeup look on top of. It also contains SPF, which is a huge win in my book! When I was a little younger, I preferred to wear just this as my base. Now I like a little more coverage.

The Dew Skin only comes in 8 shades, but that’s because the color is sheer enough that it’s really forgiving. It blends in nicely, so you don’t see a line on your neck. As long as your near your skin-tone in the shade you pick, you’ll likely be just fine.

Skin Twin Creamy Concealer

Next up, you’ll choose your concealer shade. There are 20 shades, so you’re sure to find a perfect match with the Shade Finder. This concealer is SO creamy and breathable. It goes on super smooth and lightweight, but still provides medium to full coverage. It also contains powerhouse ingredients like knotgrass extract which helps the skin look firmer over time (like skincare and makeup combined!).

I love that it’s lightweight and breathable, but also easy to build for more coverage if needed.

Brilliant Brow Gel

Filling in my eyebrows was BRAND NEW to me a few years ago, and if you’re also new to it, you’ll feel a little funny at first. The Brilliant Brow Gel is essentially mascara for your eyebrows. It’s a weird feeling to see your eyebrows filled in at first, but it really does help your eyes pop since it frames your face, especially since, as we age, our brows get thinner and lighter.

You brush it through your brows (starting from the middle of your brow, not the part nearest to your nose, for more even application), and that’s it. The gel holds your brows in place and the color helps tint them just a little. You can choose between 4 shades, so I’d recommend going for something similar to your hair color. I prefer darker, but that’s preference!

Cheeky Clean Cream Blush

I absolutely love this cream blush. It gives a beautiful flush of color, blends easily and is hydrating and long lasting. To apply, tap your finger into the blush, and then tap onto the apples of your cheeks up to your temples. I keep one of these in my purse!

You have 8 shade options, and Beautycounter will recommend a color for you based on the foundation or tinted moisturizer shade you choose. My personal favorites are chai and paloma.

Think Big All-In-One Mascara

The mascara has RAVE reviews. It’s dark, bold, lengthening, and has a TON of impact, which I love in a mascara. It’s oil-soluble, like most mascaras, so it comes off with most eye makeup removers. I don’t like it since it smudges on me. However, all oil-soluble mascaras smudge on me, so I can only wear tubing mascaras. You can see how it looks compared to another tubing mascara in this review.

Beyond Gloss

Lastly, you get to choose a lipgloss shade. I’m a BIG fan of lip color for finishing off a makeup look, and the Beautycounter gloss is hard to beat. It’s not sticky (at all), smells nice, and the color options are great! You can choose from 14 shades, and Beautycounter will recommend one based on your foundation choice. (Beautycounter also has great lipsticks!)

Is the Beautycounter Flawless In Five Worth It?

Maybe. It depends on what type of makeup person you are and what you need.

If you want just one or two items, I’d buy them separately and not in the set.

However, if you don’t want to think about a complete makeup routine and don’t enjoy shopping for makeup, then yes! It’s great since you’ll get all the basics you need for a simple and pretty makeup routine. However, some of the products included are not my personal favorites.

• Mascara – I personally don’t like this but so many love it. How to know if you’ll love it? If most mascara smudges on you, I think the Beautycounter mascara will probably smudge on you. (You’ll likely have more success with a tubing mascara).
• Foundation – This was actually the first foundation I ever liked and I do still use and like it, years later. I have a lot of foundations I like and this is one in my regular rotation, but it’s not my TOP pick of all foundations.
• Tinted Moisturizer – I loved Dew Skin for years, but as I’m nearing 40, I prefer ILIA Skin Tint since it’s more hydrating.
• Concealer – I loved this for year, but now prefer a bit more coverage that Tarte Shape Tape Creamy Concealer provides. If you want light to medium coverage that’s easy to blend, you’ll like this.

I am a big of a makeup junkie and am constantly trying different brands and formulas. If that sounds terrible to you, the Beautycounter ones are absolutely solid and you’ll like them. Well, except maybe the mascara. I’ve warned you.

Buy the Flawless in Five set here.

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