Best Beautycounter Products for Aging Skin

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.

When I was in my 20s, I had horrible breakouts. I tried countless skincare products – Cerave, Cetaphil, Proactiv, Mario Badescu, the list goes on – but my skin only got worse. But, now that I’m in my late 30s my skin has never been better. What changed was switching to Beautycounter skincare products. I was using low-quality products and the wrong type of products for my skin and expecting good results. The right products make a huge difference in your skin’s appearance, just like what you eat impacts your health!

And yes, our skin will age, no matter what. Wearing SPF is a must to help prevent signs of aging, but there’s no way to completely avoid the natural signs of aging. However, there are things you can do that will help you look more youthful now!

Here’s the deal: if you research anti-aging skincare, you’ll find LOTS of products that makes lots of claims about how they will reverse your aging skin and some may make a big difference in your skin’s appearance. But the reality is that many of those products have ingredients in them that aren’t safe.

That’s one of the reasons I started using Beautycounter. It’s a clean, safe, and effective (read that again: effective) beauty brand that makes skincare and makeup products. I first tried it about 7 years ago and now I am HOOKED. I even joined as a consultant since I was sharing it with my friends all the time.

Best Beautycounter Products for Aging Skin

Beautycounter has a few skincare lines, made for different skin types (acne prone, combination, and dry & aging). The best products for anti-aging are the products in the Countertime collection, which I outline and explain below. In addition to those, there are a few other products that help with signs of aging that can be used with any skincare routine, so I’ve listed those at the bottom as well. Note that the Countertime products are for VERY dry skin. If you don’t have dry skin, you may be happier with the Countermatch line. It still has anti-aging properties and will help balance skin’s hydration, which will in turn help reduce the appearance of fine lines. So, know that Countermatch is another solid option (that also happens to be more affordable!).

Let’s dive in!

The Countertime line was inspired by Asian skincare. And if you’re into skincare at all, you know they are famous for their routines with oil-based cleansers, essences and, as a result, gorgeous skin. Beautycounter developed a Retinatural Complex, which is plant-based, using Bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine Rose to help fight the signs of aging. These two ingredients give results like retinol but are safer options.

What’s especially impressive about the Retinatural Complex is that it’s in every product in the line. Most high-end skincare lines have a hero ingredient, but it’s only in one of the products, e.g. in a serum or moisturizer. Not in a cleanser. Not in a toner. But Beautycounter includes it in every product, which is likely part of the reason why I saw such impressive results.

Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil

This product is cool and a little different from other cleansing oils I’ve used in the past. You apply the (very lightweight) oil to dry skin, massaging it into your face. Then, you wet your hands and massage your face again and it turns into a milky cleanser before you rinse it off.

My skin feel SO clean without feeling stripped AT ALL. It can also be used to remove eye makeup.

What it’s for: Cleansing and removing makeup

How it works: Cleanses skin while also reinforcing your skin’s moisture barrier

Key Ingredients: Retinatural Complex (Bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine rose) and Vitamin E and Essential Fatty Acids

How to use it: Massage onto dry skin, wet your hands, massage skin again to create a milky color. Rinse off with washcloth and tepid water.

When to use it: Morning and night before the rest of your skincare regimen.

Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence

I never used an essence before this but I’m hooked. It feels a little bit like a toner, but is a bit thicker and milkier. An essence has higher levels of active ingredients to increase hydration, reduce the appearance of pores and improve dullness.

I can feel a difference in my skin’s hydration right after applying it. Rather than rubbing it into your skin or applying it with a cotton pad, you pour a little into your hand (dime-sized) and then press it into skin. I love the smell of this product especially!

What it’s for: Adds vital nutrients to the skin’s moisture barrier which boost hydration and radiance

How it works: Renews and balances your skin and preps it for the rest of your skincare routine

Key Ingredients: Retinatural Complex (Bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine rose), Sea Water, and Fermented Sugars

How to use it: Pour a dime-size amount of product into your palm, and then press the product into your skin with your palms.

When to use it: After cleansing, both morning and night.

Tripeptide Radiance Serum

This serum increases firmness, improves elasticity (giving skin that youthful snap back when you press it) while it reduces fine lines (yes!). It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly.

What it’s for: This serum increases your skin’s firmness and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

How it works: The blend of peptides, amino acids, and Retinatural Complex, helps enhance your skin’s moisture barrier function which optimizes hydration. That’s what give you a radiant complexion.

Key Ingredients: Retinatural Complex, Tripeptide, and Amino Acids.

How to use it: Using one pump’s worth of product, massage it into your face with your fingertips.

When to use it: Morning and night, after cleanser and essence.

Antioxidant Soft Cream (Day)

This is the daytime moisturizer. I love the texture of this too! (Noticing a theme here?) It’s not too lightweight (which I don’t really like in a face lotion) but still layers well under makeup. The ingredients include Nasturtium Flower Extract and fermented sugars to soothe skin, improve hydration and defend from environmental stressors (sun exposure, dry air from AC, pollution, etc.). Science and nature is cool, y’all. A little bit of this goes a LONG way.

What it’s for: Moisturizing your skin and aiding in hydration.

How it works: This plumps and firms the skin while boosting hydration which protects your skin from the drying environmental stressors we experience throughout our days.

Key Ingredients: Retinatural Complex, Nasturtium flower extract (Tropaeolum Majus Flower Extract), and Fermented Sugars.

How to use it: Using one to two pumps, massage the Soft Cream into your skin.

When to use it: After your cleaner, essence, and serum in the mornings. This should be your last step before SPF.

Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream (Night)

The night cream is UNBELIEVABLE. And I am VERY picky about night creams. I like them to be thick without feeling greasy. The texture of this is incredible – it’s like a thick frosting but applies so smoothly and absorbs easily. It’s almost bouncy…not creamy like other night lotions. Despite the extra thick texture (which I personally love), it doesn’t feel heavy. And I only use a TINY amount. A little bit goes a LONG way.

What it’s for: Night time (or when you’re SUPER dry in the AM) hydration.

How it works: These key ingredients supports elasticity and visibly firms while minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Key Ingredients: Retinatural Complex, Tetrapeptide, and Fermented Sugars.

How to use it: Using a pea size amount, massage into your skin.

When to use it: At night, or during the day if you have extremely dry skin. I use this during the day in the winter months.

Ultra Renewal Eye Cream

This is the one product that I was a little hesitant to try since I’m super sensitive to eye creams, I actually can’t use any of the other Beautycounter eye creams since I react to them, even though most people (even with sensitive skin) love them. But, I’ve now been using it for three years without ANY issues. And, I seriously LOVE it. I’ve tried dozens of brands over the years (including some CRAZY expensive ones) and I never felt like any actually made a difference. This one does. My under eye circles are immediately brightened, making me look more alive in the morning. And my little crows feet have definitely improved!

What it’s for: Reducing the appearance of under-eye shadows and crow’s feet.

How it works: The key ingredients revitalize the eye area for a youthful, brighter appearance

Key Ingredients: Retinatural Complex and Persian Silk Tree Extract.

How to use it: Apply a pea size amount under your eyes and on the eyelids.

When to use it: At night and morning, after your cleanser, essence, serum, and moisturizer.

Countertime Set Options

There are a few ways to buy the Countertime products.

1. You can buy them each separately, one by one. I would only do this if you’re only interested in replacing one product in your current skincare routine, since there’s a way to save LOTS of money (see below).
2. Buy the Regimen set or the Collection. The regimen set is $303 and includes the Cleanser, Essence, Tripeptide Radiance Serum, Soft Cream (day), and Supreme Cream (night). It doesn’t include the eye cream. The Collection includes the eye cream and the Soft Cream and Supreme Cream are larger in this set. The Collection costs $422.
3. Buy the Countertime Carry-On Set. This set is small (travel size) and comes in plastic bottles with a travel bag. The Carry-On set is $148.

Additional products to fight signs of aging

Overnight Resurfacing Peel

The Overnight Resurfacing Peel is the one product I recommend when people want to try something from Beautycounter but don’t know what. It’s a very gentle chemical exfoliator that you use like a serum (after cleansing, before moisturizing), that’s designed to improve your skin’s texture and clarity without drying it out or irritating it. I SERIOUSLY love this stuff. What’s amazing about it is that I saw results after only using it a couple of times. Most products take a long time to give results, but this helped my skin SO fast!

I have a full review of the Overnight Resurfacing Peel that you can read here.

What it’s for: Improving skin texture, promoting cell turnover for a smoother complexion, boosting radiance, minimizing the appearance of pores, reducing the appearance of fine lines, reducing appearance of dark spots and age spots, evening skin tone, and improving acne (as skin cells turn over, it will be easier to get gunk out of pores, which can lead to breakouts).

How it works: The Beautycounter Overnight Resurfacing Peel uses a combination of acids, some that resurface skin, and others that soothe, hydrate, and protect skin. Basically, it’s effective at improving the appearance of the skin by breaking down dead skin cells on the surface of skin. But it also soothes and restores without drying skin out or causing irritation.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, and Arginine & Fatty Acids.

How to use it: Apply 1-2 pumps of the overnight peel into your hand and gently spread a thin layer across your clean face. Be sure to apply it to your face, neck and décolletage. Applying product all the way down to your décolletage is often neglected but it’s so important since that area shows signs of aging too!

When to use it: After your cleanser and essence in the PM. Use this instead of the Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum a few times a week.

All Bright C+ Serum

Vitamin C is SUCH an important part of anti-age skincare. Beautycounter’s Vitamin C serum has a 10% blend of two forms of vitamin C which brightens and evens your skin tone (which makes you look youthful) and helps reduce the appearance of existing dark spots, while antioxidant-rich turmeric and camu camu extracts help protect against new ones. Win-win!

Plus, this stuff smells like summer. Think of is as the day-time counterpart to the Overnight Resurfacing Peel. Read my full review of the All Bright C+ Serum here.

What it’s for: Helping prevent and reduce dark spots and discoloration (e.g. age spots, melasma, acne scars) to brighten skin, and supporting skin’s natural collagen production to make skin look more youthful. It also brightens and evens skin tone.

How it works:  The vitamin C (two forms of it) brightens and reduces the appearance of existing dark spots. The turmeric and camu camu extracts help protect the skin from new dark spots.

Key Ingredients: 2 forms of Vitamin C: 5% Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, and Myrciaria Dubia (Camu Camu) Fruit Extract.

How to use it: After cleansing and toning in the morning, use your regimen’s regular serum, wait about 30 seconds, then layer All Bright C Serum on top. Apply to face, neck, and décolletage.

When to use it: AM after cleanser and essence. Then follow with moisturizer.

Daily Sheer SPF

This goes without saying, but SPF is the #1 skincare product to protect against dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. We all know this, but unfortunately for many of us, we didn’t learn it soon enough. The good news is that you can still protect against new dark spots and fine lines by using SPF daily. We can’t turn back time and start using this earlier, but I wish we could. For anyone reading this who’s in their 20’s, WEAR SUNSCREEN NOW and thank me later!

The best thing you can do now is wear SPF daily, even when you don’t think it’s super sunny outside. And even if you aren’t outside often. Even sun from your car windows can cause signs of aging. Beautycounter’s Daily Sheer SPF is made for your face. It’s mineral based, so it’s super safe, and it doesn’t leave a white cast like many mineral sunscreens do, and it has 25 SPF. This soaks in to your skin in a matter of seconds, and you can easily layer your makeup on top without any issues.

I also wear this SPF when I’m running since that’s when I get the most sun exposure!

What it’s for: Protecting your skin from UVA, UVB, and HEV blue light rays.

How it works: This is mineral-based sun protection technology that works by reflecting UV rays off of your skin, while also hydrating and protecting from environmental stressors.

Key Ingredients: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide, Chicory Root Extract, Vitamin E, and Squalane.

How to use it: apply one to two pumps onto your skin after your skincare routine.

When to use it: In the morning. Use this instead of the Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum a few times a week.

Bottom Line

I’ve used all of the products for over two years now and I can safely say that I can 100% recommend them. I even used all of these throughout my pregnancy and breastfeeding (that’s how safe they are). It’s one thing to call products safe, but a whole other thing when they’re safe and actually work. To add all of these products to your cart at once, click here. 

If you don’t have a skincare routine you love, fill out this quick questionnaire and I’ll email you back with my recommendations for your skin!

If you’ve never purchased Beautycounter before, use the code CLEANFORALL20 for 20% off your first order!

This post was first published in 2021 and the photos below are from that time. I’ve kept using Beautycounter and you can see how my skin has continued to improved with continued use in the new photos above!

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