This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
As you know, a main focus of mine is helping others live healthier, cleaner lifestyles through clean eating and nutrition. But there’s a whole other area that affects our health, even beyond nutrition, and that’s our lifestyle choices. In particular, the products we choose to put on our bodies every. single. day.
I decided to become a consultant with Beautycounter – a young (just 5 years old), industry-disrupting, safer, performance skincare & makeup company, nearly 2 years ago. And I didn’t take the decision lightly.
As I do with any product or service I share with my audience, I needed to REALLY get to know the products. I experimented with their skincare and makeup for months before I decided to share the products with you, my readers, and my community. (Because that’s my commitment to you – I’ll never share something I haven’t fully vetted and experienced.)
I also took a ton of time to truly get to know Beautycounter’s mission. Because this company isn’t just about selling products. It’s also a B-Corp, which is extremely important to me, and Beautycounter is deeply involved in pressing local, state and even the federal government for more health-protective legislation governing the personal care industry. That’s right, Beautycounter is actively asking the government for more regulation of its own industry – because our founders believe that there’s more to this multi-billion dollar industry than just the bottom line. They truly believe that beauty should be good for you, and their products and their advocacy work reflects that.
The personal care industry in the United States is governed by just a few pages of legislation, and a major federal law governing the industry hasn’t been enacted since 1938. (For reference, this is a decade that saw rat poison in depilatory creams, among other things.) http://www.nbcnews.
Today, even still, companies are basically responsible for policing themselves. Which is probably why we’re still finding lead in lipstick. (See above.)
I chose Beautycounter because their products are amazing and rigorously screened for safety.
I wanted to be part of changing the beauty industry as a whole, and there’s nothing more powerful than voting with my own dollar and providing others with solutions they can use, that solve their problems, and that perform beautifully without potentiall
I also chose Beautycounter because of their company ethic, their integrity, and their commitment to innovation and safety. And it was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself and my business!
My Why:
I’ve been wanting to share my WHY with all of you for some time now.
If you don’t already know by now, I have the MTHFR gene mutation, as does my husband, and am working hard on my DETOX system as well as detoxing my home. My heavy metals are a little higher than we’d like, which I attribute to years of putting things on and in my body that I, and many others like me, cannot get rid of (detox) properly.
Aside from all of that, my skin has always been problematic. For as long as I can remember I had been self-conscious about going out without wearing make-up, and just feeling badly that my skin was STILL an issue. I figured this was just the way it was and that sadly my skin wasn’t going to ever change.
As I got a bit older, I became more and more upset about my skin. I would constantly say, “I’m in my mid-to-late twenties and my skin still looks like I’m a teenager.” If any of you have struggled with skin issues in your adult life, you can attest that it is such a frustrating journey.
I always knew I wasn’t using the best products that I could be using on my skin, nor was I totally taking care of my skin the best way that I could. But I kind of ignored all of that and attributed everything to hormonal issues. And while I have and do struggle with some hormonal “stuff,” I knew I could probably be doing more to help my skin on the surface. And I am saying this 100% no bullsh*t, these products absolutely changed my skin.
This has been a gift: not only do I feel confident in the products I’m using on my face and body for the sake of my internal health, but my skin also looks SO MUCH BETTER on the OUTSIDE! It’s a win/win.
It’s really, truly sad that we can’t trust the government to ensure the basic safety of our self-care products, but it’s the reality. (I’m not talking over regulation, I’m just talking basic protective measures!) Many of our personal care products contain harmful ingredients that are known endocrine disruptors (that means they can cause hormonal imbalance), ingredients linked to cancer, and even heavy metals – and that’s just to name a few. Many of these ingredients are banned in Europe, but are in most of the self-care products sold in the US.
Did you know that (per a recent study), 80% of Americans do *not know* that their personal care products contain ingredients that are questionable or potentially harmful to human health? 80%!
Companies are not required to screen their cosmetics for contaminants like heavy metals. They’re not required to review the scientific literature on the potential problems with certain ingredients. Most companies just produce products that sell – and sure, sometimes they work, but at what cost?
Beautycounter screens every single ingredient for safety by reviewing the scientific literature and commissioning studies where data is lacking. They test every batch of color cosmetics THREE TIMES for heavy metal contamination (did you know “natural” makeup, like mineral makeup, is at risk for high metals contamination?) They’re transparent about every ingredient they use and why. And even better? They use active ingredients that work.
SO, for me? It’s personal. I’m personally avoiding heavy metals, fragrances, and endocrine disrupters in my self care products. I’m personally choosing safer products that are good for my acne-prone skin. For me, it’s personal that I share this with all of YOU. So you can make the best choices for you and your family. You may not have detox issues, but if I’ve learned anything over the past number of years in this area of my work, it’s that genes can be “turned on” at any time.
We have a choice. I strongly believe that, when it comes to our health, we must control what we can. The products I use are something I can control – so I absolutely will.
Direct Sales:
Let’s get right down to it. Beautycounter is a “Direct Sales” company, which is often written off as an MLM (multi-level marketing company). Many people are thrown off by this approach. I was too. I get it. 1000%. I had a negative attitude left over from dealing with the pushy/negative tactics I witnessed in the past few years from people I thought were my friends! I was beyond hesitant to add this aspect to my business, but let me say this:
- Yes, Beautycounter is a direct-retail company with a network of independent consultants – however, its products are brought to market via three different avenues: e-commerce (the Beautycounter website), strategic partners (like J.Crew, Goop, Rachel Zoe, and Target), and through their force of one-on-one consultants (the largest leg). Consumers can shop however they’re most comfortable, and if they don’t want to purchase through a consultant, it’s not required. (However, we all deeply appreciate your business!)
- Beautycounter has taken some of the best aspects of an MLM (flexible income potential, the ability to work from anywhere, and the ability to earn money from the products you recommend) and eliminated the downsides (required purchases, pressure tactics).
- The woman behind Beautycounter, Gregg Renfrew, chose this sales model because she felt it was the best way to spread their mission – to get safer products into the hands of everyone. She felt the mission would get lost selling in big-box department stores, and honestly, she was right. Each consultant comes with a story as to why they chose to change their lifestyle to improve their health and how Beautycounter was a part of that.
- There are no monthly minimums and no auto-draws. Clients can shop exactly how they want to shop, when they want to shop. Beautycounter is an education-first company working to get safer products (not just Beautycounter products) into the hands of EVERYONE by way of our advocacy in government policy, pioneering safer skincare technology, and peer-to-peer education.
As a blogger, I would never, ever promote products I don’t stand behind. I’d never be part of a “scam” where you can only make money off of other people “signing up” for some obscure business opportunity. My goal is simple: spread safer skincare and better beauty to as many people as I can, because I believe in it. If I can earn a living by helping people get healthier in all ways, using every tool we have, I’ve done my job right!
What Makes Beautycounter Products Different?
✓ Beautycounter has banned more than 1,500 ingredients (The “Never List”) yet their products perform like conventional products – they’re as indulgent as any luxe shampoo, lipstick or cream on the market.
✓ Beautycounter uses the best of SAFER SCIENCE. While Beautycounter’s products aren’t 100% natural, they have innovated performance-oriented products that are significantly safer than anything on the market – so they’re perfect for someone who wants a little extra oomph from their products without sacrificing safety.
✓ Beautycounter has developed a rigorous ingredient screening process, looking for data on skin irritation, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, and more.
✓ Every single Beautycounter product is rated between 0-3 on EWG’s Skindeep database, which is the most amazing go-to resource for product safety! If you haven’t checked that database out for some of the products you are using in your home, I highly recommend it. It is majorly eye-opening.
Getting Involved:
Retail is becoming less and less of the way people shop, and the direct sales model is becoming stronger and stronger! I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to earn money from referring people to my favorite products.
I think it is important to find a business that is ideal for you and what you are passionate about. So whether you get involved with makeup, essential oils, supplements, body care items — I would pick one and focus on it. Top people like Tony Robbins and Robert Kiyosaki believe in this type of sales approach, and Robert has even called it the “perfect business.”
What I love about working with Beautycounter is: YOU get to decide how you run your business. You get to decide how much time you want to spend on it. Yes, there are pushy people out there. YES, there are people who take approaches that you may cringe over. But they don’t get to decide how YOU run your business and what you decide to do for YOUR future. YOU DO.
I was so focused on hating how others approached direct sales, and so stubborn about this business model, that I waited a long while to get involved, despite my love for the company, the mission, and the products. Don’t be stubborn like me!
Through research, advocacy for more protective regulation, an education-first mission, and the development of safer products, Beautycounter is making it happen. So, if you’re looking for a way to DO something that’s both flexible and rewarding, this can be an avenue for you.
I have a purpose in saying this: I see people struggle all the time in their daily lives. They are constantly stressed and overwhelmed, they are buried in bills, debt, etc., and they can’t stop and just enjoy life.
The thing is, you CAN do something to change your finances. If that’s not a direct sales or network marketing business, that’s okay! But at least do something to change your life so that you can live well and thrive! Do that for yourself.
I am mentoring, with careful intention, a team of women who are committed to building a business with Beautycounter. If this business resonates with you, please email me (beauty@lexiscleankitchen.com)
Want to be the first to know about deals and things or want a one-on-one skincare consult?
Sign up for my safer skincare/better beauty email list here, and please email me (beauty@lexiscleankitchen.com). I’m available to answer questions and help you find products that would be great for YOUR skin.
Lastly, you can check out other home swaps we’ve made here. This is not limited to deodorant, toothpaste, cleaning products, etc.
