Are Beautycounter Products Safe?
We live in a day where unfortunately beauty products are full of harmful ingredients. It can be so hard to trust and even find clean beauty brands when they are hiding dangerous ingredients in their products. Let me help you learn the questions to ask and how to look into brands using Beautycounter as an example.
Are Beautycounter products safe?
Beautycounter products are some of the safest clean beauty products available for purchase right now. With brands using marketing tactics to trick people into thinking their products are natural it can be really confusing to know how to pick out a product that is not only safe but is going to work. Let’s talk a bit more about what makes Beautycounter products clean.
What makes Beautycounter Products “Clean”?
What makes a brand “clean” or “safe” comes down to a few important factors:
1.) What ingredients are used?
2.) Are the ingredients tested?
3.) Are all ingredients disclosed?
Of course, there are other factors to keep in mind such as sustainability, the packaging, etc. Let’s start with what ingredients Beautycounter uses and how they are selected.
What Ingredients Does Beautycounter use?
Let’s start with what ingredients Beautycounter will NEVER use! Beautycounter has made a list, called “The Never List” which is made up of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals that are never used as ingredients in any of their products. Check out The Never List here for more details. Next, let’s look into to the five-step Ingredient Selection Process that Beautycounter applies to pick the ingredients they are going to use.
Beautycounter’s Five-Step Ingredient SeLEction Process
The first step of the process is “Ban Intentionally.” We discussed this above with “The Never List”
The second step is to “Screen Rigorously” by conducting safety assessments on every single ingredient that is considered for inclusion in their products and prohibit the use of ingredients that do not meet their higher health and safety standards.
Next is “Learn Constantly” by regularly reviewing emerging data on ingredients and they even commission some of their own studies because the absence of data does not mean that a chemical is safe.
“Source Responsibly” by choosing the best available ingredient options.
They work to source ingredients from non-GMO, sustainable sources, many of which are organic. (Over 80% of their ingredients are natural or plant-derived).
They ask for certificates of purity and test for heavy metal contamination. (this is an important one we will discuss further below)
Work to manufacture all products in the U.S.
Do not test products or ingredients on animals.
Last is to “Share Transparently”, every ingredient that Beautycounter uses is shared on their product packaging, online, and in EWG’s Skin Deep database. Plus they share the source of ALL ingredients.
How are Beautycounter’s Ingredients Tested?
As you read above Beautycounter has a very strict Ingredient Selection Process. They perform a hazard and risk assessment on every ingredient considered for inclusion in their formulas. They review up-to-date authoritative lists (such as global regulatory standards) and scientific research for evidence of human health and ecological hazard for each ingredient.
The specific hazards that they assess are carcinogenicity, developmental toxicity, mutagenicity, allergenicity, and potential hormone disruption.
Does Beautycounter test products on animals?
Beautycounter does not test their products on animals, nor do they ask others to do so.
Does Beautycounter Test for Heavy Metals?
YES, Beautycounter test every batch of color cosmetics for heavy metals prior to bringing the product to market. Heavy metals are natural elements, however, there are heavy metals that can be very toxic to the human body even at very low levels of exposure (such as lead or mercury). Heavy metals can make their way into cosmetics through minerals, clays, and both natural and synthetic colorants.
This is the perfect example of when brands market themselves as “all-natural” that doesn’t necessarily mean “clean” or “safe”.
Are All of Beautycounter’s Ingredients Disclosed?
YES, all of Beautycounter’s ingredients are disclosed. Unfortunately, most cosmetic products are not labeled accurately. In part of Beautycounter’s Five-Step Ingredient Selection Process, every ingredient is shared on their product packaging, online, and in EWG’s Skin Deep database.
What Questions to ask when looking into brands who claim to be “clean” or “safe”?
The most important thing to first do is to check your product’s ingredients list! Watch out for ingredients like “fragrance/parfum”, “parabens”, “phthalates”, “ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid”, “PEGs”, “formaldehyde”, “hydroquinone”, and “sodium lauryl sulfate”. Unfortunately, there are many other harmful ingredients these were just a few to keep an eye out for. If you don’t recognize the ingredient, look it up on the EWG.
Whether you choose to shop with Beautycounter or you just are wanting to educate yourself more on clean beauty products I challenge you to look into the products you are putting on your skin, read the ingredient list on the back of the packaging. If you are not sure what the brands you use to stand for, ask them!
Do you disclose all of your product’s ingredients and where you sourced them from?
Do you test for heavy metals?
Do you test your products on animals?
Best Beautycounter makeup Products
Here are what I think are the best Beautycounter makeup products and the ones that I have been using for 3+ years.
Best Beautycounter Makeup Products for Those looking to make a clean switch
If you are looking for a makeup overhaul I highly recommend getting the Flawless in Five. This includes 6 products that will give you effortless beauty in just 5 minutes! It is one of the best ways to switch over to safer beauty without breaking the bank.
Best Beautycounter Eyeshadow Pallet
My all-time favorite Beautycounter eyeshadow pallet is the Velvet Eyeshadow Palette in the Color Classic. It is an amazing quality eyeshadow pallet in some stunning neutrals. I use this almost every day, it doesn’t crease and it lasts so long!
Best Beautycounter Lipstick
I couldn’t pick just one so here are my 2 favorite Beautycounter lipsticks. For everyday wear, I am all about Sheer Lipstick in Petal.
For a more statement look, I go for the Beautycounter Red Color Intense Lipstick.
Best Beautycounter Mascara
There are two to pick from but my personal favorite is the Lengthening Mascara. A little hack is a spritz some face spray on the wand when it becomes dry. For those with dark hair, you can use the mascara on your brows (that’s what I do!).
Best Beautycounter Skincare Products
Of course, we all have our own preferences but here are what I think are the best Beautycounter skincare products for each category.
Best Beautycounter products for all skin types
The Overnight Resurfacing Peel is one of those products that is amazing whether you have dry dull skin, blemish-prone, fighting age spots or wrinkles.
Best Beautycounter Skincare Products for those who have oily or acne-prone skin
Have oily or acne-prone skin? Check out the Countercontrol Collection
Best Beautycounter Skincare Products for Wrinkles and aging
Featuring a plant-derived Retinatural Complex, the Countertime Collection is designed to visibly firm, brighten, and plump the skin.
Best Beautycounter Skincare Products for Melasma
Struggling with an uneven skin tone? Try the Overnight Resurfacing Peel as well as the No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil. Both of these products are great for brightening and evening skin tone.
Best Beautycounter products for Dry Skin
I have really dry and sensitive skin and these are my favorite products to combat dry and flaky skin. The Overnight Resurfacing Peel, Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm, and Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream
Final Thoughts
Thank you so much for taking the time to read about Beautycounter and what is important to look for in other safer brands! I hope you have more knowledge and understanding of what safer beauty products mean and know how to look for them. Please feel free to comment below questions about Beautycounter products or about other brands and ingredients!
xx nichole