I’ve been using Beautycounter alongside a handful of other brands for a few years now, but as a skincare and makeup junkie, I was always trying new brands so I have some great recommendations for the best replacements for your Beautycounter products.

Fingers crossed we’ll get our Beautycounter favorites back later this year after Beautycounter gets sorted out, but until then, the show must go on for our skin, ha! (Here’s a post about what happened to Beautycounter.) The best brand I’ve found for Beautycounter swaps is Oliveda. I’ve been using their products in place of all of my Beautycounter stuff for over a month now, and I can confidently say they are great alternatives (and even better in some cases) for your favorite Beautycounter products. Oliveda is a European brand that focuses on waterless skincare, so it’s extremely potent and the results are SO wild. I noticed a change in my skin within 72 hours!

I know that it’s a LOT simpler to order from one place vs. multiple retailers, so the majority of the links below are to Oliveda with a few Colleen Rothschild additions. And for the makeup section, almost everything is ILIA since that is currently making up the majority of my makeup routine. If you aren’t familiar with those brands, I have a review of Oliveda here, a Colleen Rothschild review here, and a review of ILIA here.

Oliveda’s website can be a bit confusing, and since the products aren’t organized the same way that Beautycounter organized theirs, it can be hard to know what to order for your skin type! The list below should help, but feel free to fill out this skincare survey and I will email you back with personalized recommendations! You may also notice that a lot of Oliveda products are sold out (things have been going somewhat viral!) but I’m sharing in-stock alerts in this Instagram Broadcast Channel, so be sure to join that for alerts.

I also send out text updates about Oliveda restocks. If you want to join my list, click this link and the hit send when it populates the word “oliveda” in your text composer. I know not everyone checks email or FB and/or IG all day (ahem) so hopefully this helps those of you who haven’t been able to get things when they restock before they sell out again! These are text messages that I send (not the company!) and I won’t blow up your texts unless it’s time sensitive or I think it’s important!

If you’re reading this post on a computer, that link won’t work. Just text OLIVEDA to 336-554-7262 to join.

The Best Replacements for your Beautycounter Products

Countertime

Countertime Cleansing Oil

The Oliveda Arbequina Cleansing Oil (F78) is the best swap for the Beautycounter cleansing oil. It smoothes, refines, and provides lipid defense, but it also removes impurities without destroying your skin’s natural barrier function.

Countertime Essense

The Corrective Facial Tonic (F67) is Oliveda’s toner for dry, aging skin. It works to soothe your skin while also getting rid of dead skin cells. It has hydroxytyrosol and the vitamin C booster camu camu which protect your skin from environmental stressors AND gives your skin a radiant/youthful glow. Nothing will ever be my beloved Countertime Essense, but this is a great alternative.

Countertime Radiance Serum

I wasn’t a huge fan of the Beautycounter Radiance Serum anyway. I tried the Oliveda F59 Corrective Face Serum a few weeks ago and my mind is blown. This is what people call “botox in a bottle”. It’s made with para cress which has a lifting effect similar to botox, but’s clean and safe. It targets fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. I’ve noticed a significant difference in my smile lines since I started using this.

I also just got the Oliveda Green Retinol Face Elixir and I’ve been adding a few drops to my Corrective Face Serum at night. This is a natural retinol made with bakuchiol, which is the same retinol alternative that Beautycounter used. This reduces fine lines and pore size, improves complexion, contracts pigmentation, AND protects against free radicals. If you’re only getting one serum, get the Oliveda F59 Corrective Face Serum, but add the Green Retinol to your wishlist since you can add it to your routine at any time.

Countertime Soft Cream

The best Soft Cream swap is the Oliveda F42 Corrective Face Cream. It’s ideal for dry/aging skin because it has extra hydroxytyrosol in it (a super powerful antioxidant). It’s smoothing, super hydrating, improves elasticity and reduces fine lines. It contains a sun protection factor!

Countertime Supreme Cream

I was worried it would be hard to find anything as great as the Beautycounter Supreme Cream, but the Oliveda F74 Regeneration Intense Face Cream has blown me away. It’s actually more hydrating than the supreme cream. The texture is weird and it takes some getting used to how it’s applied and massaged in, but now I love it.

Countertime Eye Cream

The best swap for the Countertime Eye Cream is the Oliveda F60 Corrective Eye Cream. It’s hydrating, boosts collagen, and gives you a smoothing effect around your eyes. But the real game-changer is when you add a few drops of the Oliveda F64 Corrective Eye Elixir underneath the eye cream. It It has a triple hyaluronic acid structure and a ton of antioxidants, so it hydrates and plumps while also giving your eyes a more lifted, radiant look. You apply a few drops under your eyes, massage it in, and then follow with the Corrective Eye Cream.

Countermatch

Countermatch Foaming Cleanser

For the Countermatch Foaming Cleanser swap, you’ll want to use the Oliveda F71 Corrective Cleansing Gel. It’s made with hydroxytyrosol (this is the superstar of antioxidants, mainly found in olives and olive oil) and gives you a deep clean while counteracting pigmentation. It’s super gentle and very hydrating (I can even use this on my very dry skin). It smells amazing, but the smell is very natural and not super strong. (I’m sensitive to scents and love this.) I can use this morning and night and my very-dry skin isn’t stripped at all.

Countermatch Toner

The Oliveda Activating Facial Toner is the perfect toner for normal or combination skin because it’s non-drying and does not strip your skin, but rather helps restore your skin’s natural balance.

Countermatch Serum

The best recommendation for an alternative for the Countermatch serum is the Oliveda F86 Corrective Vegan Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Hyaluronic serums are great for dry and aging skin because they deeply moisturize and hydrate. This serum also repairs oxidative damage and makes your skin look and feel more elastic/tight. This can be used in the morning and night.

For something a bit more affordable (and almost as good), I’d recommend the Colleen Rothschild Hyaluronic Serum.

Countermatch Adaptive Moisturizer

The most similar in terms of benefits is the Oliveda F05 Anti Oxidant Face Cream but it will feel different. The consistency feels much thicker, but it’s not heavy on the skin. It protects, balances, and hydrates your skin, but it has antioxidants in it too that fight the effects of environmental stressors on your skin. This is lightweight (in terms of hydration, not feel!) and plumping.

Countermatch Eye Cream

The best eye cream option for de-puffing and brightening is the Colleen Rothschild Illuminating Tinted Eye Cream. It contains hyaluronic acid to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and caffeine targets puffiness and water retention. I wouldn’t use this at night though, since it also has coverage that you wouldn’t want to waste. For PM, use the Oliveda F09 Anti-wrinkle Eye Cream. I love the texture and it’s completely non-irritating. It tightens and reduces fine lines around your eye area. You can use it in the AM too, but I just love that Colleen Rothschild Tinted Eye Cream.

Countercontrol

Countercontrol Cleanser

A great cleanser for oily or breakout prone skin is the Oliveda F38 Purifying Cleansing Gel. This gives you a super deep cleanse while also supplying your skin with highly concentrated antioxidants that help prevent signs of aging.

 Countercontrol Toner

The Oliveda F11 Activating Facial Toner is perfect for oily/acne prone skin. It helps clear away impurities while also soothing your skin with chamomile extract. It also refines pores and gives your skin tone a more radiant glow.

Countercontrol Serum

The Oliveda F81 AHA + HT Serum Face is a true hero product. It’s similar to the Overnight Resurfacing Peel in terms of benefits: reduces scarring, improves elasticity, reduces and fights hyperpigmentation, and boosts collagen. It’s great for breakout prone skin because it gentle exfoliates and sloughs off dead skin which can cause build up and breakouts. This is pretty potent though, so I’d only use it once a week to start!

For a daily serum, you’ll want to try the Oliveda F06 Cell Active Serum . This serum helps smooth your skin and reduce pore size, but it mainly reduces dark spots and smoothes wrinkles! What I love most about this is that it has a skin-tightening effect! It’s just a great all-around serum for most skin types.

Countercontrol Spot Treatment

For a spot treatment, you’ll want to use the Oliveda F85 SOS Face Drops. These drops unclog pores, balance sebum production, and reduces acne-causing bacteria.

CounterControl Gel Cream

The Oliveda F07 Anti Aging Face Cream is a great face moisturizer for oily/acne prone skin. It’s lightweight, improves skin elasticity, and overall just balances the skin’s hydration. It’s important to use a moisturizer, especially when you have oily skin since drying out your skin causes it to produce more oil to overcompensate.

Other Favorites

Cleansing Balm

I preferred the Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm anyway. I’ve been using it for years. I have a full review of the CR Cleansing Balm here.

Vitamin C Serum

We all loved the Beautycounter Vitamin C serum for good reason, but I think you’ll love the Oliveda F83 HT + Vitamin C Serum more. It’s made with hydroxytyrosol which is a super powerful antioxidant, and it also contains camu camu, just like Beautycounter. This has 1300% more power than vitamin C alone. It improves fine lines and wrinkles, neutralizes free radicals, and gives you a super radiant complexion.

Overnight Resurfacing Peel

The Oliveda F81 AHA + HT Serum Face is just like the Overnight Resurfacing Peel. It’s a chemical exfoliator that visibly reduces the signs of aging. It also reduces scarring, improves elasticity and firmness, reduces and fights hyperpigmentation, and boosts collagen. Everyone should have this in their skincare routine.

Sunscreen

Supergoop Glowscreen is my favorite face SPF, but it’s not a zinc-based sunscreen. If you want zinc, then the Acure Radically Rejuvenating SPF 30 Day Cream is perfect since it’s a clean option! (This post with non-toxics sunscreens has even more ideas.)

AHA Mask

I actually didn’t love the Beautycounter AHA mask as much as I already liked both the Colleen Rothschild Dial Enzyme Polish and Oliveda Honey Enzyme Face Mask. They’re similar, but the Oliveda Honey Enzyme Face Mask has a warming sensation that I love. It’s also green which is fun! It’s especially beneficial for dry and/or aging skin since you’re paying more for those types of products and you want to get the most out of them. (The women who give me my facials have been telling me for years that I need to use an enzyme mask regularly to see improvements in my fine lines and deeper wrinkles).

Bamboo Face Polish

I haven’t found anything like this, but the Oliveda Olive Core Face Peeling is also a physical exfoliator and it’s a great option even though I love the powder form of the Bamboo Polish.

#3 Balancing Oil

If you were a Balancing Oil fan, then the F25 Neroli Face Oil Serum from Oliveda is a great replacement.

The Clean Deo

All natural deodorants tend to stop working for me after about 12 months, including the Clean Deo. This is actually an issue that women commonly run into if they use natural deodorants, since our body chemistry changes over time. (It’s also why some clean deodorants work for some people but not others. For example, I CANNOT use Native but some people love it.)

Anyway, when one stops working, I switch to a new one. The one that has worked for the longest amount of time is the Nécessaire The Deodorant Gel. I’ve used it for 6 months without stank.

(If you do get stank with a natural deo, use the Bella Skin Probiotic Underarm Toner and it will help a LOT! I use it just once a month or so.)

Body Lotion

Wink Llama All Over Lotion, hands down. Yes, it’s a kids lotion but it’s so good. Tommy and I have both used it for years since it smells just as good as the Beautycounter Body Lotion (although it is a different scent) and it’s more affordable.

Shampoo / conditioner

I’ve been using the Colleen Rothschild Shampoo and Colleen Rothschild Conditioner for over a year now. The Colleen Rothschild hair mask is legit too. I use it in place of my conditioner a few times a week.

Body wash

Primally Pure Citrus Mint Body Wash is a 10/10. So hydrating and smells amazing.

Makeup

Skin Twin Foundation

The ILIA Skin Rewind Complexion Stick is SUCH a good foundation, but if you want a liquid foundation, the ILIA True Skin Foundation is a good option (I have an ILIA foundation review here).

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

I wasn’t in love with the Dew Skin tinted moisturizer anyway (it too drying as my skin aged), but I DO love the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 because it’s more hydrating. I have a full review of the Skin Tint on the blog here.

Cheeky Cream Blush

I’m super sad to loose the Beautycounter blush but the ILIA Multi Stick is just as good.

Cream Bronzer

I hate it because Beautycounter was set to launch new bronzers that I had tried and they are SO GOOD. I haven’t found an alternative yet, but the Tarte Shape Tape Contour works well as bronzer if you use just a touch and blend it out. I also love their Tarte Park Avenue Princess powder bronzer if you want to go that route.

Mascara

As much as I wish I could wear a regular, oil-based mascara, they always smudge on me. So I always shop for tubing mascaras that are water soluble. (Read more about tubing mascaras and how they work here.)

However, if you were a Beautycounter mascara fan and it didn’t smudge on you, you’ll really like the Tarte Maneater mascara. If you need a good tubing mascara recommendation, you can’t beat Tarte’s Tartelette Tubing mascara (read my Tartelette Tubing Mascara review here).

Concealer

The ILIA Concealer is a great (super clean) alternative. My preference is the Tarte Shape Tape Radiant concealer though since I only really use it under my eyes.

Lip Sheer

I just got the Ravie Beauty Effortless Lips in the mail a few weeks ago and they are UNREAL! They apply very much like the Lip Sheer (actually, better). See how each Ravie Beauty shade looks on me in this video. Go for Dahlia for the best everyday shade.

Lip Intense

I like the ILIA Colorblock Lipstick. It’s not quite as good as the Beautycounter lipsticks but it’s similar and a clean option. My all-time favorite lipstick is Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk.

Brow gel

ILIA Brow Gel is very similar to Beautycounter’s brow gel, but it doesn’t dry out as quickly.

Discount Codes

One silver lining to trying new products is that you can typically get a discount on your first order (and I believe all of my codes work on every order).

• Colleen Rothschild – Use code TERILYN20 for 20% off
• Tarte – Use code terilyn15 for 15% off
• Wink – Use code TERI for 15% off
• Primally Pure – Use code TERI for 10% off

Oliveda doesn’t have a promo code, but they do have good perks.

1. A freebie when you take the Oliveda skincare quiz and order 2+ of the recommendations. I have to note that I think their Skin Quiz results can be a little confusing to understand, so if you fill out my skincare survey here, I can help get you personalized recommendations.
2. Free shipping on $50+ orders (ALWAYS!)
3. 365 day product guarantee.

Okay, that’s all I have for now! Like I mentioned above, if you have good recommendations for Beautycounter swaps, please drop them below!

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The post The Best Replacements for your Beautycounter Products appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

Beautycounter has been discontinued! In the meantime, I have recommendations for the best Beautycounter replacements 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.

On May 6, Beautycounter consultants found out that Beautycounter and its products won’t be returning until late 2024. That also means that thousands of Beautycounter consultants no longer have a source of income. I am disappointed since I love and use their products, and financially, it’s a big hit to our household. I’ve been with the company for 8 years and have consistently been one of the top 3-5 sellers in the entire company.

While most consultants who made a significant income built teams to do so (and worked their booties off to support them), I made the vast majority of my paycheck from my own personal sales. (You can read more about my thoughts on the lost income in this post about the aftermath of the Beautycounter shutdown.)

What Happened to Beautycounter?

In short, the founder of Beautycounter, Gregg Renfrew, sold the company to a private equity firm, Carlyle, a few years ago — I think that was the biggest mistake. However, I’m not certain Gregg wanted to sell to Carlyle. The rumor mill has said she was outvoted by the board, mainly one key investment group who wanted to divest.

So why did Carlyle buy it? My thought when they bought it was that their plan was to increase margins and then sell it to a larger company, like Johnson & Johnson, who wanted to get into the clean beauty business, using an established player rather than create their own formulations.

Beautycounter Controversy

While I disagreed with who Gregg sold the company to, as a business owner, I can understand why she did it. Growing a business is exhausting — exhilarating and rewarding, yes, but also exhausting. Add 30,000 women to the mix and yowza, that’s a lot of pressure (and drama). I don’t fault Gregg or the board for wanting to sell and make a substantial profit — companies do that all the time. When you start a business, an exit strategy is very often planned at the same time. The problem was with who purchased the company. If you know who Carlyle is, the massive implosion that followed can’t have been a surprise.

I don’t think Carlyle fully understood the consultant business model (which is why the compensation plan changes didn’t go over well), and when they couldn’t make the money they anticipated they planned to exit. They stopped funding the business (that part has been confirmed) and that is why Counter Brands went bankrupt.

Gregg Renfrew purchased back the intellectual property (IP) — the Beautycounter name, the formulations, etc. — but getting the company back up is much more complicated than a Poshmark transaction. When that happened, the original return date that was communicated of May 1 was laughable. I never even shared that date with my clients because it was truly unrealistic.

When that relaunch didn’t happen, I still never shared a return date since we didn’t have one. When companies have launches — whether it’s a new product, a new website or a new arm of the business — nothing is confirmed until it happens. And these types of transactions and ownership changes typically take MONTHS to iron out, not a week like Gregg communicated when she bought it back.

What happened with Beautycounter consultants?

They essentially lost their jobs. Gregg said Beautycounter will come back in Q4, but essentially, the company is gone. Counter Brands (which is different from Beautycounter) filed bankruptcy and went into foreclosure (which isn’t as dramatic as it sounds but rather a business move that makes sense financially) and Gregg’s new company – G2G – is just kind of a shell. It’s an LLC name that owns some assets (the IP, mainly); it’s not a functioning business where consultants can make money. “How Beautycounter Fell Apart, Sinking Almost $700 Million With It” was the name of the New York Times article that was published right after we learned about everything.

I didn’t realize I had so many Beautycounter consultants following me on Instagram but I’m getting lots of DMs about what this all means — I guess because I have shared my thoughts on it and been vocal that Beautycounter is NOT my only source of income — so while I had a call for just MY team, I also hosted a call for consultants who were on other teams. I will send you a link to the recording if you fill out this form.

I have so many more thoughts about all this from a business perspective– I worked in finance for 15 years, including at Goldman Sachs – and the fastest way to share information will be through a Zoom call for Beautycounter consultants. I also have thoughts for Beautycounter consultants and what their next steps should be.

Where can you buy Beautycounter?

While I get to try a lot of beauty brands for my job (and have a few I love), Beautycounter was my go-to when someone asked for help with a skincare routine. As you know, their products are clean and work VERY well for almost everyone.

Unfortunately there’s nowhere to buy Beautycounter anymore, but I did discover a new-to-me skincare brand that I’ve been absolutely loving. I shared more about the brand (Oliveda) in this post, and also wrote a post with the best Beautycounter replacements that you can read here. If you aren’t one of my clients, you can sign up for my beauty emails here. And, of course, my blog will be updated with that information ASAP too.

While many people lost their jobs in May — myself included — I have always found a way to be successful, even when things looked very dire in my personal and professional life. This will be no different. It will be stressful, for sure, but we aren’t the first people to lose our jobs and there is always a viable next step. Let’s go.

The post What Happened to Beautycounter? appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

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.

I’ve been really blessed not to experience many issues with my skin during pregnancy, either time. I was worried about the common issue with hormonal acne since I used to have HORRIBLE acne in my mid to late 20s, but the worst I’ve had is an occasional breakout and some dryness. This pregnancy is slightly different from my first because the weather is drier and colder than when I was pregnant with Thomas, so my skin is drier this go round, but still, nothing serious. And I give a LOT of credit to having a good skincare routine in place long before I got pregnant.

Because I’m quite the skincare junkie, and because I’ve talked about my pregnancy a lot on Instagram, I’ve been asked a lot if I changed my skincare routine. I’ve also been asked if I stopped using any products while pregnant, but I’ve kept everything the same except for one or two serums. Since the majority of my skincare products are from Beautycounter, I know they’ve done rigorous research and tested ingredients to ensure their products are safe. And they specifically evaluate how they impact vulnerable populations like pregnant or nursing moms.

Skincare during Pregnancy

When I got pregnant with Thomas 4 years ago, my doctor sent me home with a handout of products and ingredients to stop using. I was thankful I didn’t worry about anything I used! (When I got pregnant with baby #2, I knew there were only a few products I’d need to stop using, including a great retinol oil from Colleen Rothschild).

But, I know getting pregnant and getting that handout is how a lot of women first start to learn about some of the potential negative side effects of products they are using. And doing that research may have led you here. So, I hope this post is helpful so you have more information about what to look for in your skincare products and what you may want to ask your doctor. (If you’re looking for safe beauty products, you can see my makeup routine here.)

Is Beautycounter Pregnancy Safe?

Yes. Every single Beautycounter product is screened for 23 health and environmental endpoints, including reproductive toxicity. Not only that, but Beautycounter is famous for their Never List, which is comprised of 2,800 ingredients questionable or harmful chemicals that they never use as ingredients in their products.

This includes the nearly 1,700 chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern. None of those are allowed in their products. It says a lot of that there are more than 1,000 other ingredients Beautycounter won’t use, considering the EU is pretty stringent. Beautycounter is one of the best clean beauty brands on the market because they are rigorous with testing but the performance is still SO good.

Here’s what Beautycounter has to say:

At Beautycounter, we craft all of our products with safety in mind, especially for those who might be extra vulnerable – like pregnant women and babies. We carefully screen and assess each of our ingredients for 23 distinct, safety endpoints, including reproductive toxicity. That said, as pregnancy affects everyone differently, check with your doctor before beginning the use of any products if pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant.

If you want to do a deep dive on ingredients and their safety during pregnancy, this blog post from To Make a Mommy is very helpful.

The moral of the story is that every pregnancy is different, every doctor is different and every woman’s comfort level with various things in pregnancy is different. And that’s true for everything, not just skincare.

For example, Beautycounter’s Overnight Resurfacing Peel contains glycolic acid and this Beautycounter SOS Spot Treatment contains 2% salicylic acid. I’m comfortable using both of those since I know the rigorous testing that Beautycounter does on the safety of their products, with special consideration for the concentration of ingredients for those who are pregnant.

But, you may not be comfortable using those. And I’m sure there are things you use that I wouldn’t. So again, you have to do what’s right for you! Educate yourself and go with your gut.

Skincare Product Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy

The hard thing about pregnancy and data is that it’s hard to do really thorough studies because it’d be an ethical issue to subject certain women to potentially harmful ingredients. That applies to skincare, diet, drinks, everything. For example, some doctors will say a sip of alcohol here and there is fine and others say absolutely don’t touch a drop.

The same applies to skincare and specific ingredients. Some doctors will say certain ingredients are fine, while others take a more conservative approach. However, Beautycounter’s standards INCREDIBLY high, so there’s no guesswork involved. You can feel good about every single product they carry– from body butter to blush and even mascara.

Remember, every pregnancy is different. There may be additional products or ingredients that your doctor tells you to avoid so if you have questions, check with your OBGYN.

Below are ingredients that are typically recommended to be avoided while pregnant, and I’m going to share which Beautycounter products I use instead.

Retin-A, Retinol, and Retinyl Palmitate

All of these are vitamin A derivatives and may lead to birth defects. Most doctors will tell you to stop using those because of the harmful side effects. I used retinol for years before switching to the Overnight Resurfacing Peel came out. It’s a safer alternative to a retinol product with similar results, and it drastically improved my skin texture.

Accutane and Tazorac

Accutane and Tazorac can both cause major birth defects if used while pregnant. Generally doctors will require a pregnancy test before they prescribe Accutane and will often require you to take them throughout your course of Accutane. I believe they do the same for Tazorac too. (I’ve never personally used either.)

Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is an ingredient used to brighten skin. It’s often used to address melasma or skin spots. While some say it doesn’t have negative impacts, it is known to have a higher absorption rate than other types of ingredients. That means it could eventually make its way into your blood stream and affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risk and benefit for your situation. However, Beautycounter’s All Bright C serum is safe for use during pregnancy. My post about the Beautycounter Vitamin C serum goes into detail on its ingredients and benefits.

Chemical Sunscreens

Most conventional sunscreens use a chemical based sun protection like oxybenzone or avobenzone. These may cause hormone disruption and/or interfere with your baby’s nervous system development. (They also damage coral reef and are banned in Hawaii.)

I switched to non-nano zinc oxide mineral sunscreen years ago and haven’t looked back. This post has lots of non-toxic sunscreen options I like. (Beautycounter’s sunscreen even made the cut in a Women’s Health article about safe sunscreens.)

Laser Treatments 

There are LOTS of opinions on this without a clear answer. Definitely talk to your doctor about your situation.

Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acids

Acne during pregnancy is common. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the most common treatments for acne. But, those ingredients are controversial when used during pregnancy.

If you do use salicylic acid, most doctors will recommend that you use products no stronger than 2%. (All of Beautycounter’s acne products contain 2% or less.) When applied topically, Benzoyl Peroxide is believed to be safe during pregnancy, but some people still have concerns. So check with your doctor regarding your situation on both ingredients.

If you’re struggling with breakouts, be sure to read this post with more tips for clear skin.

Glycolic Acid

This is yet another highly debated ingredient. While it’s only supposed to penetrate the top layer of skin (i.e., not absorb into your bloodstream or make it to your baby), some medical professionals advise staying away out of an abundance of caution.

Note that this differs from hyaluronic acid, which is safe for pregnancy.

My Favorite Pregnancy Skincare Products

Here’s what I currently use.

Morning skincare routine

Cleanser

Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil or Countermatch Foaming Face Wash – I like having a non-glass option to keep in the shower, so I sometimes use the Countermatch lotion. Both are hydrating options that don’t leave a heavy film on my face.

Tone/Prep

Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence – this helps balance my skin after cleansing so it’s not too try and helps the products that follow absorb better

Treat

All Bright C Serum – this brightens skin and helps prevent and address melasma, which is common in pregnancy. (Read my review of this Vitamin C Serum here.)

Tripeptide Radiance Serum – this helps tighten and firm skin and improve hydration.

Hydrate

Antioxidant Soft Cream – this day time moisturizer helps prevent fine lines and also provides ample hydration without causing makeup to pill.

Ultra Renewal Eye Cream – the ONLY eye cream I’ve ever liked. Amazing for dark circles, puffiness and fine lines.

Protect

Daily Sheer Defense SPF

Evening Skincare Routine

Cleanser

Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil or Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm – I LOVE the cleansing balm but it’s too heavy for daytime for me. So I often use this at night, alternating with the Cleansing Oil. Both are very hydrating! (This post explains why I prefer the Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm over the Beautycounter Cleansing Balm.)

Tone/Prep

Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence – same prep step as my morning routine

Treat

Tripeptide Radiance Serum – same prep step as my morning routine

Overnight Resurfacing Peel – I use this 2-3 times a week in place of the Tripeptide Serum to help with skin spots, large pores and fine lines. (Read my review of the Overnight Resurfacing Peel here.)

SOS spot treatment & Charcoal Mask (as needed) – I get occasional breakouts around my nose and use these to dry them up.

Hydrate

Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Night Cream – I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THIS. It’s amazing for dry skin! It’s incredibly thick, but absorbs quickly without a greasy finish. A little goes a long way too, so it lasts forever.

No. 9 Oil – On the nights that I’m not using the peel, I use and love this hydrating oil. It’s silky and not greasy. Beautycounter’s Brightening Oil is another great option but I do find it’s a bit heavier than the Colleen Rothschild one.

I hope this helps you figure out a solid pregnancy skincare routine. As with everything I share on my blog about pregnancy, I’m sharing my personal experience. Talk to your doctor, be your own advocate and go with your gut on any decisions you make throughout your pregnancy.

The post Is Beautycounter Pregnancy Safe? appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

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.

Beautycounter launched a new full-coverage foundation a few years ago, Skin Twin Featherweight Foundation, and I am obsessed (read my full review of the Beautycounter foundation here).  And then, they launched a concealer, the Skin Twin Creamy Concealer, to go with it. And I’m also obsessed. So when they pulled it for about a year while they re-did the applicator tip, I was so disappointed since it’s the best concealer I’d ever used. While I was unable to buy it, I tried a few other brands (Ilia and Tarte Shape Tape (which I love for full coverage too) and they were okay, but nothing is as great as this one! I’m sharing my full review below!

Beautycounter Skin Twin Creamy Concealer Review

I used and loved Beautycounter’s old concealer, the Touch Up Concealer Pen, for years. I used it for dark under eye circles, any skin spots or imperfections, and the occasional breakout. (Thankfully my skincare routine has made my concealer needs pretty minimal!!) But, the pen did have its drawbacks, including how difficult it was to dispense the first time you used it (you had to click it like 50 times, no joke) and many felt like it didn’t provide enough coverage, even when I added another layer. Those issues have been addressed with the new Beautycounter concealer formula and packaging. Here’s what’s changed.

Better coverage 

Beautycounter increased this concealer’s pigment load for improved coverage that still looks natural. You can build the coverage from medium to full. The concealer pen was designed for light to medium coverage. If you struggle with breakouts or imperfections and use concealer to cover them, this provides much better coverage. But, unlike other full coverage concealers, it’s not sticky or tacky, something I always hated with previous full coverage options I tried. I felt like I damaged my skin, especially delicate under eye area, trying to blend those!

Better ingredients

Like all Beautycounter products, the ingredients in the concealer are safer than other brands, both from the drugstore and department store. Additionally, the Skin Twin Creamy Concealer is made with avocado butter-coated pigments for pure color, which feels like butter on your skin. It also contains knotgrass extract to give the appearance of smoother, firmer skin. All of that means it blends more easily, looks more natural and makes your skin appear better!

More shades

Just like the Skin Twin Foundation, the Beautycounter concealer comes in 20 shades instead of the previous Concealer Pen that came in only six shades. It’s much easier to create a look that matches your natural skin tone since you can get a better color match now. The below shade chart is really handy so if you know your Skin Twin shade, you can more easily pick the matching concealer shade!

New design

The old concealer came in a click pen. To dispense product, you’d click the bottom (similar to a mechanical pencil) until concealer came out onto a little brush. Then you’d apply it directly to your skin with the brush.

The Skin Twin Creamy Concealer comes in a vial (like lipgloss) so you have much more control over the amount you dispense. And, you don’t have to click a million times to get it to come out the first time – that was always frustrating with the pen, not knowing if it was broken or not! After they first launched the new concealer, there were some reports about the tip of the applicator breaking, so they took the product off the website for a few months, got the tip situation fixed, and now it’s back and better than ever.

You may have noticed the Beautycounter Better Blender in those photos too ;). It’s a great beauty sponge if you prefer to apply makeup with that over a brush. I tend to use my fingers most days.

How to use concealer

Start with clean, hydrated skin.

This is my skincare routine. And don’t forget SPF!

Next, apply your foundation.

I love the Skin Twin foundation.

Apply concealer

Then, you’ll move on to the Skin Twin Creamy Concealer to provide more coverage where your foundation didn’t provide quite enough. Typical areas that need more coverage are under eyes, eyelids (the skin there is very thin and can show veins which can make your eyelids look darker and more tired), around the nose and anywhere you’re having breakouts or have acne scars.

To apply the concealer, dab a very small amount to the area you’re covering up. Always start with less product than more! When you use too much product, that’s when creasing happens. (Applying foundation around your eyes also leads to creasing so leave that area clean and only use your concealer there.)

Then, using a makeup sponge blender or your ring finger (your weakest finger, which helps protect the delicate eye area), lightly tap the product into skin until it blends. Don’t rub the product into skin since that spreads it and won’t actually cover up the area you’re focused on. Repeat as necessary to get the level of coverage you prefer.

Set it

If your makeup tends to come off throughout the day, use a mattifying powder to help set it (I love the Blur Finishing Powder by Chantecaille). Tap a large fluffy clean powder brush into a loose, translucent powder, tap off any excess and then lightly press across your face.

Finish your cheek and eye makeup

After that, you can move onto blush, bronzer and/or highlighter and your eye makeup. You can see my full makeup routine on the blog!

Application tips

Covering Acne

For covering raised, active breakouts, sometimes applying a dot of concealer around the pimple, rather than right on top of it, looks better. I also recommend tapping on some mattifying powder to help set the concealer.

Eye Makeup

If you’re doing a lot of eye makeup, with eyeshadow in particular, you may want to wait to apply your concealer until that’s done. During eye shadow application, the powder can drift down to the under eye and cheekbone area and you’re left trying to clean it up, right after you applied your concealer. So keep that in mind! Another thing that will help prevent the drift is to tap your eye shadow brushes after you press it into the powder and before you apply it to your eyes to help shake off any excess.

This concealer has my full approval, and you can shop it on beautycounter.com

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Every year, Beautycounter rolls out exclusive gift sets for the holidays, and every year, I’m SO excited to try everything, and I gift them as well. I also like to break some of these sets up into smaller gift; Ttere are a few that make the perfect stocking stuffers if you split them up or make cute teacher gifts paired with a coffee gift card.

This year, the Clean Eau De Parfum Duo set is my TOP pick. Beautycounter has never launched fragrance before, so this is VERY exciting, and you can read more about it below. I also love the Hand Cream Trio and the Polish & Plump Facial Trio. I fully anticipate that they will both sell out based on the holiday products that sold out first in the last few years.

As a Beautycounter consultant, I got to shop and try the products early and I’m sharing a few of my favorites!

Ready to see what’s included this year? Let’s dive in!

Beautycounter Holiday Gift Guide

Clean Eau De Parfum Duo

Beautycounter has finally launched PERFUME! Beautycounter has been working on creating a scent category for years, and this perfume duo is the very first launch. Both scents were created in partnership with a fine fragrance house, and they’re EWG verified, safe for even the most sensitive skin, and even I don’t react to them (and I react to many clean perfumes, including Phlur).

There are two scents in this duo: Sun Spill and Miles Away. Sun Spill is an uplifting citrusy floral scent and Miles away is an herbal green scent. Do NOT miss this duo!

Mini Beyond Gloss Vault

Beautycounter’s Beyond Gloss is a great gloss when you’re on the go since it applies perfectly without a mirror and a little goes a long way. This set includes four NEW colors: Daisy Shimmer (a sheer opalescent shimmer), Toffee Shimmer (a bronze gold shimmer), Petunia (a true rose color), and Posy (a cool plum shade). They’re mini sizes, and even the mini will last you months. They’re perfect for your purse, clutch, or car. This is one of those sets that I’ll split up and gift individually! I’ll give them to a few friends of mine with a card. Or give the full set to a beauty junkie who’ll be excited to try all the colors. (This is a great option for nieces!)

They’re all great for fall and winter, and the shades are designed to look good on all skin tones.

Lashes & Lips Makeup Duo

Next up is the Lashes & Lips Makeup Duo which includes Beautycounter’s famous a Thing Big All-in-One Mascara and their Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick in a brand new shade. This set also comes with a reusable makeup bag! Reusable Makeup Bag. While I don’t personally use this mascara, it does have a loyal following. (All oil-soluble mascaras transfer onto my skin so I can’t use them; I only use tubing mascaras, which I explained in this post.) The Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick is another cult favorite. It’s like a blend of lipstick and gloss. And this brand new shade, Transformer, was made to enhance the natural color of your lips.

This set would be a perfect gift for a teenager who’s just starting to wear makeup. Or a beauty junkie who would want some minis to keep in her purse.

Hidden Gem Makeup Set

I was really excited when I saw that the Hidden Gem Makeup Set included my very favorite cream blush + Beautycounter’s famous priming serum. While I really like the priming serum, the blush is the part I’m most jazzed about. When I tell you it lasts forever, I mean forEVER. These have the best staying power, natural finish, and can also be used on your lips in a pinch. Their cream blushes blend the easiest of any brand I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a lot) so it’s a good way to venture into cream products.

The priming serum is a favorite of many Beautycounter junkies because it is a makeup + skincare combo. Not only does it improve the wear of your foundation, but it also makes your skin look plump and smooth all day.

Main Squeeze Lip Jellies

Eeekkk the Lip Jellies are BACK! If you’re new here, these have a cult following and they’re my favorite minis ever! These baby lip glosses are ultra-glossy and have the perfect sweet scent/taste. They aren’t sticky and are so fun to apply since they have a bit of nostalgia to them. They don’t have as much as the glosses but give more of a tinted sheen.

This set comes with 5 shades: confetti (an iridescent shimmer), Oat Latte (a milky peach), Sugarplum (a sheer berry), Lollipop (a sheer, bright pink/red shimmer), and a returning favorite, Sorbet.

While this set would be a perfect one to split up into smaller gifts, I know I’m going to end up keeping them all for myself. I also have to mention that the packaging is SO fun for this set too.

Shimmer & Glow Makeup Duo

I am really excited about the Shimmer & Glow Makeup Duo set. It includes Beautycounter’s talc-free highlight powder in a brand new shade Cava (shimmering rose bronze) along with the fan favorite cream eyeshadow in a new shade, Blaze — a shimmering pink champagne that draws light to your lids. Both of these products are the perfect addition to a makeup junkie’s arsenal, especially for fun holiday festivities.
(Here are some cocktail dresses for holiday parties!)

Brighter Days Skin-Care Set

If you’re a Vitamin C fanatic (like me), then you will LOVE the Brighter Days set. This includes both a mini of the All Bright C serum and a mini of the our All Bright Triple Acid AHA Toner. The toner is designed to refine your pores and make your skin glow (it’s incredibly effective), and the All Bright C serum is the best daily vitamin C serum I’ve tried. It’s helped reduce my dark sun spots SO much (I shared a before and after here). You could easily gift this set to anyone on your list who loves skincare, but I’m keeping it for myself so that I can have travel sizes of my favorite products.

Countermatch Carry-On Set

The Countermatch Carry-On Set is by far the most requested set we’ve had in a while. People who use and love Countermatch products have been begging for a travel-sized set since Countertime got one last year. I’m so happy they made this! Not only is it great for Countermatch lovers but it’s the perfect set to gift to a teen who’s just starting a skincare routine! Countermatch products are designed for normal or combination skin and use gentle ingredients to cleanse, hydrate, and balance.

Keep Cool Radiance Duo

The Keep Cool Radiance Duo set is a fun option for a skincare junkie. This set has a full-size bottle of the best-selling Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum which is what I use in my skincare routine. It helps improve the skin barrier function, increases skin radiance, and decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I love how gentle it is too (it’s the perfect serum to alternate with your more aggressive retinol products). Then, you also get these brand new Refreshing Facial Globes to help depuff and improve absorption. They work best when they’re chilled, so just put them in the refrigerator.

Sets like this are super fun to give because I don’t think anyone on my list would buy those Facial Globes, which makes them such a fun and “extra” treat. It’s always fun to receive things like this and get to try them without having to buy them for yourself.

Polish & Plump Facial Trio

The Polish & Plump Facial Trio is a powerhouse set. It would make 3 really good gifts or one GREAT gift for one lucky friend or family member. This set includes a mini Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm, mini Reflect Effect AHA Smoothing Facial Mask, and a mini Mighty Plump Ceramide Water Cream. All THREE of these products are best sellers and worth buying on their own, so to get them as minis, all together, is just super fun. I could rave about all three separately for paragraphs, but I’ll just let you read my full blog reviews of each (linked above).

Long story short, if you only get one set, it should be this one.

Goodnight & Glow Duo

The next set is the Goodnight & Glow duo which comes with a Mini Overnight Resurfacing Peel and a mini Reflect Effect Overnight Resurfacing Body Peel. The Overnight Resurfacing Peel is one of the best products Beautycounter makes and truly restores + renews your skin. It’s a safer alternative retinol and what I’ve been using since I got pregnant. The Body Peel is the same thing, but for your body instead of your face. It’s a GREAT option for anyone with Keratosis pilaris.

Sugar & Silk Body Set

The Sugar & Silk Body Set is one of the easiest sets to gift because it’s not skin-type specific! Everyone loves a luxurious bath set, and this one comes with a body polish (my all time favorite body scrub) and a body oil (which is super luxe and smells amazing).

Good Scents Hand Cream Trio

Every single year this limited edition Good Scents Hand Trio set sells out. The hand cream trio is not only an easy gift idea, but the packaging looks so high-end and fancy. AND this set is pretty affordable too! I tend to split these up and gift them along with a small coffee gift card.

Triple Quench Body Butter Set

Brand new to the gifting lineup this year is the Triple Quench Body Butter Set. Similarly to the Hand Crean Trio, I bet this will sell out! Body butter makes a perfect gift for your hair stylist, your nail tech, your mail lady, etc. This is limited edition, so you have to get it now!

Gifting tips

I mentioned above that I like to split these sets up to create smaller gifts. Things like the hand cream or body butter go well with a Starbucks gift card, and the lip gloss is great with a sweet note mailed to friend! There are lots of ways to make these sets smaller, but then again, who doesn’t love a full set of fun skincare goodies? :).

And no shame at all if you keep them for yourself. In fact, maybe go ahead and order 2 so you can keep one ;).

Shopping tips

1. When I first joined Beautycounter as a consultant, I didn’t really believe when they said holiday products would sell out. But… after five holiday seasons with the company, I now know that they do. So if there is anything you KNOW you want, shop sooner than later.

2. I would also be sure to add Band of Beauty to your cart before checking out — It’s kind of like Sephora rewards… but better. You get free shipping on $100+ orders for a year and you’ll also get 10% product credit back on every order (it adds up fast!). You’ll get a free gift with your first order if you spend $50.

3. Be sure to select TeriLyn Adams as your consultant at checkout so I can help with any order questions that come up! I so appreciate it!

4.  Make sure you’re on my newsletter to updates on any promos launching during the holidays, e.g. Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

5. You have 60 days to make returns, no questions asked. So, if you aren’t sure something will work for you, no worries! They even cover return shipping.

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The post Beautycounter Holiday Sets + Gifts for the Beauty Junkie appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

Beautycounter has been discontinued! Read about what happened to Beautycounter (and when it might come back) here. In the meantime, I have 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.

These are my top 3 picks for foundation while Skin Twin is unavailable:

• ILIA True Skin Medium Coverage Foundation – This looks and feels the most similar and is what I was using instead of Skin Twin even before BC closed since it’s more hydrating. I wear shade SF2.5 Molokai. I have a full review of the ILIA foundation here.
• Crunchi Flawless Foundation—This is the cleanest option since Crunchi does extensive testing, just like Beautycounter. I don’t love the way it applies, but after it’s on my skin for a bit, it feels fine and looks great. It has slightly more coverage than Skin Twin. I have shade 2.5.
• Tarte Maracuja Juicy Glow Tint – My personal favorite, but not as clean as the other two. I wear shade 24N.

I have a couple other options linked in this Lightweight Foundation roundup if you prefer lighter coverage.

The Skin Twin foundation’s coverage is much more buildable than the previous Beautycounter foundation, Tint Skin.

You can see in my YouTube video about lightweight foundations where I apply Skin Twin (the first one shown) so you can see how it blends and the amount of coverage.

Beautycounter Skin Twin Foundation Review

Ingredients

Hyaluronic Acid

First, let’s discuss its anti-aging benefits. It contains Hyaluronic Acid, a popular anti-aging ingredient and moisture magnet often used in skincare. It helps skin glow and appear plumper immediately and even more with continued use. Skin Twin contains 10x more Hyaluronic Acid than Tint Skin.

Jojoba Esters

These are derived from the desert-dwelling jojoba plant and help moisturize, soothe, and soften skin.

Hydrophobic Pigments

These pigments provide long-wearing, buildable, second-skin coverage. These types of pigments are what help make it feel and look so natural!

Safer Ingredients

Skin Twin does not contain mineral oils, cyclic silicones, or synthetic film formers, all of which are common in foundations and may be linked to harmful effects to human health. You can read more about Beautycounter’s “Never List” here and use it to check your current foundation.

Stringent Screening & Safety Testing

Each batch is tested for heavy metals to ensure it meets Beautycounter’s strict safety measures. Beautycounter is super selective when it comes to pigments; out of the 65 cosmetic colorants allowed in the U.S., Beautycounter prohibits the vast majority—only using 18 colorants in their color cosmetics. (Read more about Beautycounter’s safety efforts.)

It’s also tested for peanut, soy and gluten allergens and contains no added fragrance or masking agents.

Beautycounter Skin Twin Colors and Shade Finder

Another benefit of Skin Twin is the shade range. Skin Twin has 27 shades versus Tint Skin’s 10. For years, I’d been sort of “in-between” colors with Tint Skin, and had to mix two shades together. I’m SO happy I don’t have to do that anymore. I mean check this out! It’s a perfect match!!

Before

After

To use it, you’ll just add 2-3 pumps to the palm of your hand and then use your fingertips, a foundation brush or damp beauty blender to blend it into skin. Continue to apply until you have the coverage you want. I usually need just 2 pumps and then maybe a little extra around my nose! Oh, and be sure to shake well before you use it.

I’m wearing shade 340. You can see all the makeup I use on this page and my makeup tutorial here. If you want a more in-depth makeup tutorial, get that here! (And here’s the skincare line I use.)

You can use Beautycounter’s Shade Finder here.

Another thing I love is that that this foundation comes in a glass bottle. Glass has a higher recovery rate, creating a better chance your empty bottle will be recycled into a new product in the future. Moving Skin Twin into glass (vs. Tint Skin’s non-recyclable tube) avoids an estimated 235k plastic tubes from entering landfills and waterways in just one year. And since the new glass bottle is sourced from North America, the packaging travels an estimated 5,000 fewer miles to get filled.

How to save money

Buy Skin Twin as part of Flawless in Five

Flawless in Five is Beautycounter’s makeup set and it’s a great option if you’re looking to get a simple, complete makeup set. The set comes with Skin Twin or Dew Skin, blush, brow gel or pencil, mascara, and lip gloss. You get to choose all your shades, and you save $30 when you buy the products as the set instead of buying each product separately.

Note: Dew Skin is a sheer, tinted moisturizer that I was obsessed with for YEARS before I turned into a foundation addict. (Here’s my review of Dew Skin – it was my first-ever Beautycounter product!).

Sign up for Band of Beauty

Sign up for Band of Beauty when you make a Beautycounter purchase. Band of Beauty is their VIP membership, kind of like Sephora Rewards or Nordstrom Rewards. You can read more about it here.

Get Skin Twin here! 

Make sure you’re on my beauty newsletter to get more skincare and makeup tips sent straight to your inbox!

The post Beautycounter Skin Twin Foundation Review appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

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

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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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. If you’re looking for a specific shade swap, feel free to leave a comment on this post and I’ll try to help!

Also, be sure to join my email list so you can be the first to know when your Beautycounter favorites come back.

When I was younger, I was perfectly happy with just a simple lip balm or nothing at all on my lips. Now that I’m nearing 40, I don’t feel fully ready without a lip gloss or lipstick, even if I just swipe on a neutral, sheer shade. I also love a bold lipstick too; while a heavy eyeshadow look has always felt funny on me, lipstick has always felt comfortable and natural. It’s easier and faster to dress up my makeup routine that way too – I just keep eyes neutral and put on a bright lip!

Even on days that I don’t feel my best, a bright lip really makes me feel alive. When I was in the early stages of postpartum life, I had so many people say that I looked too good for not sleeping much, and I truly give a bold lip, a polished brow, and concealer credit. Just a couple products (and always a lip color) work magic for making me feel more polished and pulled together.

But, until I discovered Beautycounter and fell in love with the brand, I never bought expensive lipstick. Nope, I’ve never even owned a MAC lipstick or even a Clinique one. I just bought the $5-$10 options at the drugstore. But, after I started learning more about what is in most lipstick and glosses, I started buying Beautycounter’s lipstick and lip glosses instead. (The fact that they have a Never List with ingredients they’ll never use — even though most color cosmetic companies in the U.S. do — gives me comfort in knowing their products are safe.)

Best Beautycounter Lipstick

Beautycounter has four main lip products and they’re all a little different, so depending on what type of finish you like will impact the best one for you. If I had to pick just one, I’d go for the Sheer Genius lipstick. They all have a nice vanilla scent, except the hyaluronic lip balm.

Statement Maker Satin Lipstick – This is the boldest, most long lasting option. It applies very smoothly, like a balm, but the color and coverage is bold and more impactful than a gloss or glossy lipstick.

Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick – This is my personal favorite because it’s a blend of a balm and a lipstick, and the color it leaves is more natural and sheer than the Satin Lipstick. I also find it really hydrating and it’s sheer enough that I can apply without a mirror so it feels low maintenance and is great when I’m rushing around (which is most of the time).

Beyond Gloss – I’ve never been a huge gloss person because I always found them sticky (or they smelled bad), but I actually like these. Some shades are very sheer and others have more pigment for a bolder, but shiny, finish.

Clean Sweep Hyaluronic Lip Balm – The newest lip product from Beautycounter, the Clean Sweep Hyaluronic Lip Balm is a sheer, hydrating everyday option. It leaves a very (VERY) subtle wash of color, but mostly moisturizes and nourishes dry lips. It’s like a grown-up lip balm; no more Chapstick for you.

All of the Beautycounter makeup shades are designed to work on all skin tones, so it’s hard to go wrong with a lip color. But I definitely have some favorites, which I’ll share below.

Statement Maker Satin Lipstick

If you’re normally a lipstick wearer, you’ll love the Statement Maker Satin Lipstick. It’s everything that you love about lipstick AND it’s clean and safe. (Many color cosmetics use unsafe levels of lead.) There are 14 colors and they’re all vibrant and rich and last all day without drying out. Beautycounter actually worked on this lipstick for years and it replaced their old Color Intense Lipstick.

The old one was a little chalky until you warmed it up, left a mostly matte finish, and had a sort of minty smell. The new one applies MUCH smoother, leaves a satiny, full coverage finish, and has a subtle vanilla scent. The packaging is also tres chic. It was designed so that you could flip the lipstick over and use the angled edge as a liner!

Ingredients

Shea & Mango Butter – Helps smooth and soften lips.

Açai Fruit Oil – A natural skin conditioner that’s rich in fatty acids and antioxidants.

Jojoba Esters – Helps with the balmy glide feeling during application. It also helps provide better coverage.

Candelilla & Carnauba Wax – Help moisturize and condition.

 Beautycounter Statement Maker Satin Lipstick Colors

Independent: Cool Nude Pink

Confident: Dusty Pink

Inspired: Pink Coral

Captivating: Soft Brown Pink

Brilliant: Rose Plum

Savvy: Neutral Berry

Brave: Warm Pink

Electric: Vivid Pink

Energized: Orange Red

Vibrant: Blue Red

Passionate: Brick Red

Powerful: Deep Burgundy

Daring: Rich Brown Red

Fearless: Warm Chestnut

Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick

The Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick is the perfect everyday lipstick. It’s smooth and ultra-moisturizing, which gives a really nice polished sheen look. It applies like a balm, i.e. you don’t need a mirror to apply it. I love this for everyday because it has more color than a regular gloss and stays on much longer than gloss, but doesn’t feel like a typical lipstick. The sheer lipsticks get their moisturizing finish from plant-based ingredients such as jojoba esters, and their light scent from real vanilla — not from synthetic flavors, fragrances, or ingredients linked to a negative impact on health.

Ingredients

Responsibly sourced vanilla – the subtle vanilla scent comes from ECOCERT-certified organic vanilla from Madagascar. Beautycounter intentionally chose their supplier because they are committed to improving the life of their famers while also only sourcing the best quality vanilla.

Jojoba esters – Give the lipstick the balmy texture and polished sheen.

Beautycounter Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick Colors

Lily, Petal and Twig are my three favorite shades since they’re all subtle. Lily is such a pretty, soft pink. Petal is very similar but doesn’t have the slight shimmer of Lily. And Twig is my go-to for something when I want a tiny bit of color but not really. It’s super natural-looking, but flattering.

Pearl: Clear With Soft Shimmer

Petal: Light Pink

Orchid: Cool Berry

Rose: Vibrant Pink

Lily: Luminous Neutral Pink

Terra: Earthy Pink

Twig: Rosy Beige

Rosewood: Warm Neutral

Plum: True Berry

Raisin: Brown Berry

Beyond Gloss

One thing that I normally hate about lip gloss is how sticky it feels, but Beyond Gloss doesn’t feel sticky at all. It’s smooth and has a tiny bit of a vanilla scent and uses vitamin E instead of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a preservative commonly used in lip products that may have harmful health effects. All of these are safe for pregnancy, just like all their skincare products I used during pregnancy.

It’s very shiny and just a little swipe goes a long way. I really like the applicator too. These are always stashed away in my purses and tote bags, as well as my car and office.

Ingredients

Responsibly sourced vanilla – This is the same ECOCERT-certified organic vanilla from Madagascar that I mentioned above.

Jojoba seed oil – Gives the ultra-cushiony wear that stays put, without feeling sticky. This is also a safer option than the potentially harmful ingredients like plasticizers and phthalates, which are common in most lip glosses on the market.

Tocopherol (vitamin E) – Helps maintain the integrity of the gloss over time, and it also helps with conditioning and provides functional antioxidants.

My favorites are Peony and Dahlia for a wash of sheer pink color, and I like Brulee for layering over lipstick for a little shiny and shimmer.

Beautycounter Beyond Gloss Colors

Brûlée: Beige Shimmer

Quartz Shimmer: Clear Shimmer

Mulberry: Deep Plum

Spice: Warm Neutral Shimmer

Rosewood: Warm Neutral

Bare Shimmer: Neutral Pink With Golden Shimmer

Peony: Warm Pink

Raspberry: Sheer Bright Pink

Dahlia: Cool Pink

Black Plum: Deep Eggplant

Magnolia Shimmer: Mauve With Silver Shimmer

Sienna: Sheer Raisin

Amber Shimmer: Warm Amber Shimmer

Clove: Warm Beige

Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm

The Hyaluronic Lip Balm is a newer product to Beautycounter, and honestly an essential one, now that I have it! Think of this as your everyday chapstick or lip balm. It has all the hydrating benefits you want in a lip balm (with only the best skin-care ingredients), but it also comes in 4 shades, so that you can have a subtle wash of color too!

Ingredients

Hyaluronic Acid – This is the main call-out for this lip balm. Hyaluronic acid a powerhouse for hydration (many people use an HA serum as part of their skincare routine for this reason) and helps make the lips look more plump!

Blend of Mango & Murumuru Seed Butters – These are rich in fatty acids and help soften and smooth the lips (but don’t leave a greasy finish). They also aid in hydration.

Blend of Jojoba Seed & Avocado Oils – Help mimic the skin’s natural lipids which means they help retain moisture.

I have Plush and it’s very pretty!

Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm

Nada: Translucent

Pinch: Rosy Pink

Bitten: Warm Berry

Plush: Warm Pink

One of the nice things about Beautycounter lip products is that the colors are designed to work on every skin tone. That makes it much easier for me to venture out and try new shades since buying lipstick online can be a little risky. But, Beautycounter also has a 60 day return policy, for a full refund, no questions asked, no matter how much you’ve used. They even cover return shipping! So, if you get a shade that just isn’t for you, send it back.

Beautycounter’s lip products are also safer than most lipsticks you’ll find on the market. They test all of their makeup for lead (some major brands have been tested and have high levels of lead in them) and they even audit their mica suppliers. And they NEVER use synthetic fragrance in any of their products.

I hope this was helpful! You may also like these posts if you’re shopping with Beautycounter!

How to Save Money on Beautycounter

My Favorite Beautycounter Products (and the ones I don’t like)

Beautycounter Flawless in Five Review

Shop The Post

The post The Best Beautycounter Lipstick + My Favorite Shades appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.

If you’re just looking for the Beautycounter promo code, drop your email in this form and I’ll email it to you (you’ll also get a free gift with your first purchase)! If you want other tips to save money and help justify the price of Beautycounter, keep reading.

I’ve been using Beautycounter skincare and makeup for 7.5 years. Their skincare completely transformed my skin and their makeup line is what made me fall in love with makeup. Now, my skincare routine consists of about 70% Beautycounter and 30% Colleen Rothschild. My makeup routine is about 80% Tarte and 20% Beautycounter. But for a while, my routines were about 90% Beautycounter so I have a pretty good sense for the best Beautycounter products (and what’s not so great)!

If you’re not familiar with Beautycounter and what makes it different, read my post about What is Beautycounter for an overview. This explanation of The Never List is helpful too. Those posts also help explain why their products are pricier than what you may be used to. So, let’s get into the best ways to save money on your Beautycounter orders. If you find this post helpful, I hope you’ll select me — TeriLyn Adams — as your consultant when you check out at Beautycounter.com.

Beautycounter Promo Codes & How to Save More Money

Beautycounter takes ingredient selection very seriously since many ingredients in most skincare lines in the U.S. may have links to hormone disruption, cancer and birth defects. That’s why many women change their entire skincare routine when they get pregnant, but I didn’t have to; here’s my pregnancy skincare routine.) And most people start to learn about potential issues with their skincare routine after they get pregnant.

But, it’s not cheap so a lot of people struggle to justify paying for it, especially if you’ve been using drugstore brands like Cerave and Cetaphil. But remember, Beautycounter is a high-end, high-performing beauty brand. It’s not a drugstore brand. It’s designed to give you results, has active (yet safe) ingredients and is luxurious. Would you say that about Cetaphil? No. Beautycounter is priced more closely to products you’ll find at a department store, but I’ve personally found they last a lot longer than those brands since you use such a small amount. And, of course, their ingredients are safer.

But, there are a couple ways to save money when buying Beautycounter, both with and without a promo code. I share that information below as well as tips to get free shipping, free gifts and discounts on sets. And make sure you’re on my email list list since I email that group as soon as I know about discounts or free gift with purchase promos.

Beautycounter Promo Code

Beautycounter has a standing promo code, CLEANFORALL20, which gets you 20% off your first Beautycounter order. If you’ve shopped previously, sometimes you can use a new email address, but I think they are pretty good at flagging people who have already shopped and don’t allow the code. The code doesn’t apply to sets and regimens since the are already discount.

Occasionally Beautycounter will have a 30% off code for new clients, but it’s typically only a few times a year. Again, if you’re on my email list, I email whenever that happens.

Other ways to save money on Beautycounter

1. Band of Beauty

The next best way to save money is by joining their customer loyalty program, Band of Beauty. This is a $29 Beautycounter membership with product credit and free shipping perks. It’s not the same as becoming a Beautycounter consultant. Think of it more like Nordstrom Rewards or Sephora VIB, where you earn credit whenever you shop with those brands.

What does Band of Beauty get you?

10% product credit back on every order. This can be used on your next order. You’ll see the option to apply it when you’re logged into your account and about to checkout.

Free shipping on all orders over $100. If you order 2-3 products, you usually hit $100.

A welcome gift, if you spend $50 in product when you join. If you don’t see it in your cart, you haven’t hit $50. (The $50 threshold does not include the membership fee.) The free gift rotates, but it’s always something that’s a very popular item and is usually around a $40-$50 value. Right now, it’s their Glow First Primer.

Occasionally they’ll do member-only promos, like double Band of Beauty credit, so you’ll earn 20% back instead of 10%. And Band of Beauty members sometimes get the option to buy new products or holiday sets before they’re available to everyone else.

Is it worth it?

100%. Especially if you plan to purchase Beautycounter every couple of months.

For example, if you spend $150 on your first order, you’ve earned $15 back and saved $6.95 on shipping on that one order alone. (Or more, shipping can go all the way up to $19 since it’s based on weight.) So, even if you aren’t sure if you’ll shop again, depending on your order, it may be worth it just to save on shipping and get a free gift.

Since the average order is $150, product credit adds up very quickly. I see people redeem $20-$40 credits all the time. The product credits do expire 60 days after accruing them, and I email my clients to give them a heads up so they can use it before they’re gone, but keep that in mind.

How do I cancel my Band of Beauty membership?

It doesn’t auto-renew so you don’t have to cancel it. You’ll get product credit back on every order and free shipping on orders over $100 for a year. Then, if you decide not to renew, it just goes away.

How do I renew Band of Beauty?

You’ll use a different page to renew Band of Beauty vs. join for the first time. I try to always email my clients when their membership is about to expire since the Beautycounter emails don’t always go out or they often go to spam. And, when you renew, you’ll get a renewal gift. They rotate what it is, but it’s always good.

Okay, so Band of Beauty is the best way to save money on Beautycounter. Here are a few other ways. I’d say these are all equally good, it just kind of depends on how you want to shop, e.g. if you want to overhaul your routine (and even toss things out), if you are out of a lot of products or if you only want to shop a few times a year.

Okay, I think that’s all you need to know about Band of Beauty. Here are other ways to save money.

2. Replace products gradually

If it’s better for your budget, replace things as you run out so you’re not overhauling everything at one time. This also helps you avoid being left with product of another brand that you don’t use. If you want to ditch your toxic products for cleaner options, I’d prioritize buying things that go over your entire body first, like lotion and then next, prioritize things that you use daily or twice a day (like skincare). That’s what I did.

3. Buy sets

If you buy a skincare set, one of their regimens or collections (collections have larger sizes of products and include an eye cream) or a set of makeup (like their Flawless in Five), you’ll save money by buying it as a bundle vs. individually. It’s typically a 20% discount so this is a good way for current clients to save.

4. Sign up for auto-replenishment

Once you have products you love, set up auto-replenishment. This is like using Amazon Subscribe & Save. By signing up to receive your go-to products automatically, you’ll save you’ll save 5% on your first order and 10% on all subsequent auto-replenishment orders. You can always cancel if you need to — just do so up to 24 hours before your order is set to renew. You should get an email reminder from Beautycounter 24 hours in advance.

If you aren’t sure what frequency to set your products at, write the date on your products when you start using them with a sharpie. Then, you’ll be able to see how long your products last you. It will vary for everyone but in general, most products will last 10-12 weeks… but some will last much longer, like eye creams. (I’ve been using mine for 5 months.)

5. Shop during a Spend More, Save More Promo

Percentage-off sales come just 2 or 3 times a year. This typically happens during the Beautycounter Friends & Family Sale in April and again in November around Black Friday. The last time their Friends & Family sale happened in April 2022, these were the tiers.

• 15% off sitewide (no minimum)
• 20% off orders $250+
• 25% off $250+ (for Band of Beauty Members only)

6. Shop during a Gift with Purchase promo

They do free gift with purchase promos 3-4x a year, usually around major holidays, like Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day. But sometimes they’ll do free gift with purchase promos at random times and it’s hard to predict.

Consultants sometimes get a heads up 1-2 days before it starts, but not always. I always post in my Beauty Facebook Group whenever I get wind of a sale, so be sure to request to join that

Can you get free shipping at Beautycounter?

Sometimes. They’ll do free shipping promos a couple times a year, usually with a $50 shopping threshold, which is 1-2 products. The best way to get free shipping is by joining Band of Beauty. Consultants don’t even get free shipping so that’s a good perk for members.

I hope that was helpful! If you have questions let me know!

You may also find these posts helpful:

My Favorite Beautycounter Products

Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel review – this is my #1 product recommendation to new clients

All Bright C Serum Review – this is my 2nd pick!

If you’re unsure which skincare is best for your skin type or want help picking similar products replace any of your current ones, click here to fill out my quick skincare questionnaire and I’ll shoot you an email with my recommendations.

The post The Beautycounter Promo Code & 6 Ways to Save Money on Your Orders appeared first on TeriLyn Adams.