My colleague Adina Neufeld is a bit of a rockstar in Vancouver when it comes to networking marketing and beauty & fashion. I was honoured to be given the chance to review Beautycounter‘s signature Nourishing Collection for a week, along with some products from the Balancing Collection. I should say that when I find a good, naturally-sourced skincare line that WORKS, I stick to it, so I always try out new products with extreme caution. However, Beautycounter has been on my radar as it’s one of the few B Corporation certified skincare companies out there, which is a bit difficult to do since the beauty industry is presently wrought with chemicals and toxins, not to mention testing on animals, which is inexcusable in this day and age.
A bit about B Corporation
B Corp is one of the few certifications that assess companies on their sustainable, social impact, and governance practices. So it’s a big deal to be certified. My first company was B Corp certified. On top of building that into the DNA of the company early on (which I was told when I met CEO Gregg Renfrew at the event I attended earlier this year), I love that Adina’s business card has all the need-to-avoid toxins on the back. Very similar to the list that I have on my site too. You can learn more about Beautycounter at the video I share at the end of this post.
In addition to the products in the two collections, Adina gave me a sample of the Cleansing Balm and a few of the Balancing products, which I’ll talk about it a bit.
All prices below are in Canadian dollars.
Nourishing Cream Cleanser
Going from left to right starting with the cleanser, this was a solid product. More creamy than the liquid I’m used to, but upon application it builds a great foam and does the job without being overly drying. Price: $32
Nourishing Cream Exfoliator
I’m not used to using a separate product for exfoliation, since my current cleanser has one built into it. However, this one, which I used 3x over the course of a week, is a solid product as well. The smell was great, and again, wasn’t overly drying. Price: $41
Nourishing Rosewater Mist
I don’t usually use mists, but I liked the smell of this one, and it was great for summer. I definitely sprayed my face on some of the hotter days when I could feel my face starting to sweat. The main ingredient is organic rosewater, but I liked that this smelled more refreshing and not like the artificial rose smell you get in a lot of beauty products or fragrances. Price: $43
Nourishing Day Cream & Night Cream
There were two separate creams to use after cleansing (and exfoliating) depending on the time of day. There wasn’t a huge difference between them, but again, I feel like they did the job, especially the day cream, which didn’t leave my skin oily, which usually happens in the T-zone (forehead and nose) area in the afternoon or evening. On some days I even put sunscreen underneath. I also like that both creams come in a pump bottle to avoid contamination. When you buy your moisturizer you should make sure you don’t get an open air tub because that can be easily contaminated with dirt or germs from your fingers, or even the air. Prices: $52 + $57
Nourishing Eye Cream
I used this on a couple of the days throughout the week, when I noticed dark circles in the mirror in the morning. Loved the texture – not overly creamy, and felt like it was a good base when I put moisturizer & makeup on top. Price: $43
Balancing Collection
Adina gave me a few bonus products to try from this collection, since I mentioned that my combination skin was pretty healthy, and the only issue was that oiliness in the T-zone sometimes.
No. 3 Balancing Facial Oil
Adina told me specifically to try this facial oil during the week to see what would happen. The first time, I used a cotton pad to apply it but found not much was getting onto my skin, so I used my finger the other times. It’s meant to go under moisturizer, so I was using it every morning and night – with skepticism because I’d never use this much oil as part of my skincare routine! However, I have to say this product was the winner. Without it, I’m not sure if the oiliness elimination would have happened just using the Essential Collection products. Even though it says Ylang Ylang right on the bottle, it’s actually the second to last ingredient so I really don’t know how much there would have been in 4 drops each application, but in any case… this sucker WORKS! Price: $79
No. 3 Balancing Facial Mask
I used this in conjunction with the Charcoal Bar since it didn’t make sense to use it during the week I was using the Essential Collection. I’m not used to masks, but I have to say, this was fun to use! It’s been so long since I’ve tried a mask, I forgot how fast they can dry. If you run your finger through it once it’s drying, it just takes it off, so I had to make sure I smeared a generous portion across my face and then I just left it for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off. It left my skin looking pretty clean and glowy, without overdrying. Tip: Don’t get this stuff in your eyes!! It might be naturally derived, but charcoal isn’t meant to get in your eyes. That sh*t stung! Price: $55
No. 3 Balancing Facial Mist
I used this facial mist less times than the Rosewater mist simply because I didn’t like the smell as much. It felt like it was balancing, so I’d probably use this more in the colder months. I don’t think I’ve converted to using mists just yet, but if I had to choose I’d buy the Nourishing Rosewater Mist instead. Price: $43
Charcoal Cleansing Bar
While the Charcoal Bar isn’t part of the No. 3 Balancing Collection, it may as well be since it’s charcoal too. It does the job as a cleanser, and can be used on the body too. Just had to wet it, apply, massage to create a foam, and rinse off. I’d probably use it if I was using the Balancing Collection daily, but it does feel a bit weird to use a bar when I’ve been using cleansers in bottles my entire life. It just sits in a dish in my bathroom. Perhaps we should start a cleansing bar revolution to eliminate the need for bottled packaging altogether! Price: $30
Cleansing balm
Before launching into the No. 3 Collection, I used this until the sample was all gone to see how it worked. It’s one of Beautycounter’s best-selling products, cleansing AND moisturizing, and can also be used as an overnight mask or a highlighter over makeup. So I was a bit confused as to how to use it, not having any directions. The texture is between a balm and a jelly, as it appears white and solid but is a lot lighter and rubs on clear. So when I first put it on dry skin and then tried to wash it off, it was like trying to wash oil off, so the next times I used it I rubbed it onto my face wet and that was better. I don’t think I’d use it as a moisturizer because it really is balmy, but I can see it being popular with older women or people with dryer skin. It’d make a great base for putting performance makeup over as well. I don’t know how it’d work over makeup though, as advertised. Price: $94
Final thoughts
I was really impressed by Beautycounter’s products, and am keen to try their cosmetics more at some point too. The price points are higher than drugstore products, but well worth it. Although I didn’t find any huge changes after a couple of weeks, it does take a long time to see results, and not having any major reactions to the ingredients is always a good sign. There are so many options for natural and organic skincare nowadays, that there’s no excuse for putting harmful chemicals on your skin, especially your face, which is key to a first impression and connecting with others. View the video below to learn more about Beautycounter and its business model, but more importantly to learn about why it’s important to choose wisely with your skincare.
To check out Beautycounter online, contact Adina through the tags I posted on social.
