Tag: Wellness

Clean Living, Home, Leaders We Love

5 Easy Ways to Add Self-Care to Your Daily Routine

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5 Easy Ways to Add Self-Care to Your Daily Routine

Here at Beautycounter, we’re serious about self-care. That’s why everything we make meets the highest standards when it comes to safety (but that doesn’t mean we compromise on effectiveness.).  

Beauty shouldn’t just do good—it should feel good, too. And that’s where self-care comes in. Weaving small (but effective) changes into your everyday routine can make a big impact on your body and mind, from head to toe.  

So, show of hands—who could use a little extra “me time”? Don’t worry, Beautycounter’s got your back. We tapped HQ’s OG Queen of Clean and self-care guru, Christy Coleman.  

Not only is she Beautycounter’s Chief Artistic Officer (hello, dream job), but she’s also the ultimate self-care devotee. Christy even credits her everyday beauty rituals for keeping her sane during the recent Texas ice storms (Christy hails from the Lone Star State.) “My One-Step Makeup Remover Wipes were my salvation,” she says. 

Here are Christy’s go-to tips for adding a boost of self-care to your everyday routine—all of which start right inside your own home. 

1. Reach for matcha instead of coffee—and your skin will thank you. 

Curious about matcha? If you’re looking for a pick-me-up without the jittery crash, try this antioxidant-rich coffee alternative.  

“I absolutely love the taste [of matcha]! It has wonderful antioxidant benefits, which help with skin renewal,” says Christy. “I make my own almond milk with the Almond Cow, which I sweeten with dates from Rancho Meladuco [in Coachella Valley, California]. Once you try these dates, you can never buy another brand.” 

2. Pare down your morning routine.  

Got 10 minutes until your first Zoom call? Christy recommends these five products for making your morning a breeze: “Counter+ All Bright C Serum, Skin Twin Creamy Concealer, Color Define Brow Pencil, Color Pinch Cream Blusher in Hibiscus, and Beyond Gloss in Clove. Ready, set, go!” 

3. Create the ultimate bath ritual.  

Even if it’s just once a week, indulge in a luxe bath or shower with all your favorite Beautycounter products. Here’s Christy’s take: 

“I start by filling the tub and adding a few pumps of the Luminous Hydration Body Oil directly into the water,” she says. “While the tub is filling with water, I exfoliate with the Sugarbuff Body Polish. I then slip into the tub and try to relax! I use this time to listen to a podcast or a bedtime story on the Calm app. I love Matthew McConaughey reading ‘Wonder,’ not just for his voice but also because I absolutely love the story. After I get out, I immediately apply the Luminous Hydration Body Oil to damp skin, then follow with the Melting Body Balm.” 

4. Learn to press pause. 

Everyone has those moments throughout the day where it feels like everything’s happening at once. Creating a mantra, meditating, or simply just giving yourself a minute can surprisingly work wonders.  

“I have a tendency to ‘never stop,’ so I am in a constant battle with myself to slow down,” she says. “I have found that going back to my breath is very helpful—I like to visualize taking a step back, and creating a ‘pause’ for myself. I do this about 10 times throughout the day. It allows me to catch my breath, literally.” 

5. Keep a clean house. 

Keeping potentially harmful ingredients away from your skin and body is a great start, but Christy takes it one step further in her home.  

“I have two Molekules: An Air Mini for my bedroom and the Air Pro for the house,” she says. “I also use lots of Dr Schulze Air Detox. I have used this product for about 15 years, and I literally can’t live without it. I spray my house, pillows, mattresses, and sometimes the bottom of my shoes!” 

Don’t have an air purifier at home? Try plants! Plants are an effective (and beautiful) way to keep your home clean, happy, and healthy (and here are some more ideas). Houseplants scrub the air of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These hazardous compounds, like formaldehyde and benzene, are known to be potentially cancerous.  

Fun fact: In 1989, NASA conducted a study and found that indoor plants like ficus, peace lilies, and mother-in-law’s tongues, when placed in the same environment as VOCs, can reduce them by as much as 70%. 

With Christy’s simple approach to self-care, taking care of your body and mind doesn’t have to be just another chore—we already know how long your to-do list is. A dash of daily health and wellness adds up quick. So, go ahead and treat yourself! And make sure to tag @beautycounter to show off your self-care time. You deserve it! 

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Clean Living

How To Clean Up Your Everyday

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How To Clean Up Your Everyday

Did you know that by making small changes to your daily routine, you can help protect yourself from toxic chemicals that can have potentially harmful effects? The good news: Committing to a safer (and more socially conscious) lifestyle doesn’t have to feel drastic. That’s why we’ve put together a curated list of small ways to refresh your day-to-day. Bookmark it for whenever the inspiration to clean up your routine strikes. 

Home  

  1. Choose a safer detergent. Skip formulas with potentially harmful, skin-irritating ingredients. Check out The Clean Guide for a few of our favorite responsible household brands. 
  1. Surround yourself with plants. Indoor greenery doesn’t just look good—it comes with clean benefits. In 1989, NASA found that indoor plants can scrub the air of cancer-causing volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and benzene*. Try a bamboo palm, spider plant, or aloe vera. 
  1. When in doubt, raise a glass. Some plastics contain the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which has been shown to be disruptive to the hormone system.  
  1. Leave your shoes at the door. This is an easy one: Wearing shoes inside can increase your exposure to dust, lead, bacteria, and pollutants.  
  1. Support brands that fully disclose their fragrance ingredients. When “fragrance” is listed as an ingredient, it’s usually a blend of various chemical compounds, many of which are common allergens or have links to hormone disruption. And since suppliers seek to protect fragrances as trade secrets, there is no way to know for sure what ingredients are in the formulas. (We’re on a mission to change that.) 

*https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930072988 

Food  

  1. Shop local. Farmers markets not only support the community, but also help the environment by reducing the carbon footprint from shipping.  
  1. Replace non-stick with stainless steel. Although non-stick pans are easier to clean, they may be more hazardous to your health and the environment. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) are used for non-stick coating, which can release chemical fumes at high temperatures. These surface particles and toxic gases may work their way into your food and the air. Choose stainless steel or cast iron instead!  
  1. Give Meatless Monday a try. Meat production causes deforestation, freshwater use, and greenhouse gas emissions. Meatless Monday is a worldwide campaign that encourages going meat-free for just one day a week to reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and chronic illness. 
  1. Try to buy organic. Some fruits and vegetables have a thinner skin, meaning they’re at a higher risk of absorbing harmful chemicals from pesticides. If buying everything organic isn’t in your budget, prioritizing is key. Check out EWG’s dirty dozen list for fruits and veggies with the highest risk of pesticide exposure. 

Conscious Living  

  1. Take shorter showers. The longer the shower, the more water and energy resources are depleted. Pure, clean water is necessary for life: it protects wildlife, supports cities, reduces pollution, and conserves fuel resources.  
  1. Walk and bike when possible. Leave the keys to reduce your carbon footprint. Walking and biking help increase your cardiovascular function, reduce stress, and contribute to overall well-being.  
  1. Make time to meditate. Studies show that by unplugging daily and focusing on your breath, you can reduce anxiety, stress, negative emotions, blood pressure, and even change your brain function.  
  1. Use reusable shopping bags. Plastic bags are overwhelmingly destructive to the environment: they suffocate wildlife, block soil nutrients, and fill up landfills where they never decompose. An estimated 300 million plastic bags wind up in the Atlantic Ocean alone, creating one of the biggest problems for sea life. Canvas, cotton, or jute fiber are a few sturdy reusable bag alternatives. 

Beauty  

  1. Use safer sunscreen. Shield skin from the sun’s damaging rays UVA and UVB rays with a mineral sunscreen. Instead of using potentially irritating chemical filters, we use non-nano zinc oxide—a safer mineral blocker that sits on the surface of skin and bounces sun’s rays away.  
  1. Wash your hair less often. Save water, use less product, and train your hair to be less greasy. It may sound counterintuitive, but giving your hair enough time to naturally produce oils—instead of stripping them by shampooing too frequently—will ultimately lead to less oil production.  
  1. Know your ingredients. Information is one of the most powerful factors in any purchasing decision. At Beautycounter, we handpick every ingredient that goes into our products using industry-leading screening and testing procedures. You can learn more about the ingredients we use to formulate our products—and everything we prohibit—on The Never List™. 

The Clean Guide 

We’ve created a comprehensive list of brands across home goods, food products, and more that share our commitment to transparency and cleaner living. Go ahead, get acquainted—we promise we won’t be jealous. 

LEARN MORE

We’re here for you 

With products that are obsessively tested and always clean, Beautycounter is on a mission to change beauty forever. Start making small changes that have a big impact by shopping our lineup of #betterbeauty. Call it clean peace of mind. 

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#betterbeauty, Clean Living

Banish Dry Winter Skin With This Hydrating Routine

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Banish Dry Winter Skin With This Hydrating Routine

Unless you’re reading this from an ocean-side cabana (lucky!), you’re probably dealing with dry, parched winter skin. Cooler temperatures, strong winds, indoor heating, and less humidity can zap moisture, leaving skin flaky, irritated, and more likely to reflect the signs of premature aging.  Add in the intense effects of stress—and you have skin in need of some major TLC.  

SHOP SELF-CARE

Take Time to Treat Your Skin  

An indulgent night dedicated to pampering and hydrating your skin is a restful way to ease dryness and find a moment of zen. Treating yourself to high-quality, clean skin care is one of the best self-care choices you can make for yourself, your body, and the planet. This lineup of body and face products is packed with hydration and clean ingredients, because skin care shouldn’t stress you out. 

First, Set the Mood 

Whether that means drawing a bath or simply shutting the bathroom door, this first step is essential. We recommend queuing up our Songs to Soak In playlist or lighting a clean candle. 

Step One: Scrub Down 

Want to buff away the day? Look no further than our Sugar Body Scrub. Hop in the tub (or shower!) and get buttery, silky-smooth skin by sloughing off dull skin cells with this super-luxe scrub. Hydrate with sweet almond, apricot kernel, and sunflower oils, and leave skin looking supple and smooth.   

Step Two: Lock in Moisture 

Apply our fast-absorbing Countermatch Adaptive Body Moisturizer immediately after your bath or shower. Formulated with buzzy beauty ingredient squalane (a super-moisturizer derived from olives), this rich lotion will reveal radiant, hydrated skin by your morning alarm. 

Step Three: Wash Away the Day 

The harsh ingredients in some makeup removers and cleansers can strip moisture from the skin. Our nourishing Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil is loaded with vitamin E and fatty acids to reinforce skin’s moisture barrier while melting away makeup. Gently massage onto skin, let your jaw relax, and slip into a bit of zen. 

Step Four: Take Down Dry Skin 

Continue your mini at-home facial with this moisture-boosting serum. Infused with two forms of hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E, Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum belongs in every winter skin-care routine. Don’t be fooled by its lightweight texture—it packs a hydrating, antioxidant-rich boost that lasts. 

Step Five: Soften Up 

After just one use of Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream, you’ll wake up to radiant, moisturized skin, thanks to an indulgent blend of fermented sugars that optimize hydration. This supremely rich and hydrating cream deeply moisturizes, and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  

Step Six: Unwind & Indulge 

Complete the spa experience by massaging Melting Body Balm into parched skin. Argan and avocado oils hydrate and soften skin, while its intoxicating monoi scent will put you in vacation mode. You can even work it into tired soles that need serious soothing. Clean hack: It works wonders on hands and cuticles dried out by all that handwashing.  

Step Seven: Beauty Sleep 

All that’s left is getting a good night’s rest—and waking up revived, glowy, and deeply moisturized. So long, dry winter skin. 

SHOP MOISTURIZERS

Leaders We Love

Gregg’s Resolutions for the New Year

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Gregg’s Resolutions for the New Year

Let’s be honest: making the typical list of resolutions can sometimes feel, well, daunting. So, this year, we turned to our Founder and CEO, Gregg Renfrew, to share tips, tricks and advice for how she’s approaching 2021 with intention. 

We’ve included some journal prompts along the way to keep you accountable and engaged. So, grab a notebook, maybe light a non-toxic candle, brew a batch of your favorite cozy beverage, and let Gregg’s tips inspire you to make a clean start this new year.

  1. SET AN AFFIRMATION 

An affirmation is a positive word or phrase you can repeat and meditate on whenever life gets stressful. Here’s Gregg’s suggestion for getting you to your happy place: 

 “A great place to start: I’m already good enough.” 

Journal Prompt: What will your personal affirmation be this year? 

  1. BUY WITH INTENTION 

Committing to clean goes beyond safer beauty. Surround yourself with brands that share your values. Gregg’s favorites include…  

 “I love Allbirds sneakers for working out. In terms of healthy snacking, I’m super into Honey Mama’s chocolate. Seventh Generation is basically the only cleaning brand I use, and I love Rahua’s super nourishing haircare formulas (and ethical approach to beauty).”  

Journal Prompt: What are some brands you can support in the new year that share your values? Think environmentally-conscious B-Corps, BIPOC-owned brands, and local favorites that put ingredient safety first. 

Some Brands to Believe In 

The Clean Guide is a list of brands and businesses that inspire us with their commitment to transparency, quality, and integrity. Go ahead and get acquainted, we won’t be jealous. 

THE CLEAN GUIDE

  1. KEEP A CLEAN HOUSE 

Most of us are spending more time at home than ever, so why not make your space as healthy as possible? Gregg has some ideas to get you started. 

  • Take off your shoes at the door to avoid tracking in harmful chemicals, like pesticides 
  • Swap out non-stick pans whose coating could potentially leach toxins into your food 
  • Use less single-use plastic, since it just ends up in landfills and our waterways 
  • Ask yourself, “can I make this at home?” instead of buying something with unnecessary packaging  

Journal Prompt: What are two clean swaps you can make this month around your house that seem simple, but have a big impact? 

  1. LEARN SOMETHING NEW 

Gregg loves deep-diving into stories that excite and inspire. “I think everyone should read a book on a subject they know nothing about.” These picks from her bookshelf take readers everywhere from the board room to the tennis court. Want to feel like you were in the room where it all went down? Try these first-person accounts: 

  • The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company by Bob Iger  
  • No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Erin Meyer & Reed Hastings  
  • Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi 

Journal Prompt: What’s something you would love to learn this year?  

  1. AND OF COURSE, SHOP #BETTERBEAUTY 

It wouldn’t be a Gregg guide without a list of her clean must-haves. So, we tapped the ultimate clean beauty expert for her #betterbeauty favorites. Here is her personal list of go-tos—but Gregg highly suggests mixing and matching products to build a clean routine that works for you.

 

Counter+ All Bright C Serum  

“This is THE thing. It leaves my skin feeling glowy and dewy and beautiful. [It also] Perfectly layers with our Countertime line.” 

Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel 

“Literally if I could bathe in the Overnight Resurfacing Peel, I would.” 

Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence 

“I am pretty obsessed with our Countertime line. I start every single day with [this] essence.” 

Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum  

“This is a really great serum. I put this on at night.” 

Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream 

“This is the best cream ever. I have super dry skin, so for me this is amazing.” 

Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm  

“Having a self-care ritual is so important while I’m working from home. I start my day with this indulgent balm.” 

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer 

“This evens out my complexion for all those video calls, and the SPF 20 has me covered all day.” 

We suggest revisiting this post, one month from now, six months from now, and at the end of the year. Check in with yourself to see what you’ve learned and celebrate your growth. With Gregg’s guidance and your own inspired ideas, your year will be off to a clean start. 

MAKE A CLEAN START