A friend recently asked me to check out a particular beauty line she had been hearing lots of rave reviews about online. She was interested in trying a few of the products and wanted me to investigate their safety. This particular brand is not yet in the Skin Deep Database. So she reached out to me for some help deciphering whether the brand holds up to their “safe”, “non-toxic” marketing buzz words.
Taking a look at the ingredients in the product she was most interested in trying I found that it was free from parabens and sulfates as they claimed, which is good, but there were a few questionable items on the ingredient list.
A few in particular are on Beautycounter’s Never List: Retinyl Palmitate and PEG Compounds. (*You can print out a pocket sized version of BC’s Never List here.) The other questionable “ingredient” on the list was “fragrance”.
What exactly is fragrance?
It’s anyones guess really. Honestly though any company touting its reputation as a wellness brand or calling themselves a safe beauty company should not be using the word fragrance on their ingredient list. They should be transparent enough to let consumers know what they are using to scent a product.
Spotting the word “fragrance” on an ingredient list is always a red flag for me.
My friend was bummed to find out that this “safe” beauty line wasn’t all it was marketed up to be. The truth is though, that is how many of the supposed safer cosmetic companies are.
While there is a growing number of women starting to take a closer look at their personal care products and the movement toward using toxic-chemical free products is getting more attention in the media, regulation hasn’t caught up with the consumer demand for safer products. So in many ways while there are safer alternatives on the market it’s becoming harder for consumers to sift through and decipher which products are truly safe and which are just being marketed that way but don’t really live up to their hype.
Why I Chose Beautycounter
That’s exactly why I chose Beautycounter. With them there is no smoke in mirrors. Plain and simple, they are what they say they are. Toxin-free, high-performing beauty products with a totally transparent ingredient list for every single product they sell.
In addition, they’re actively working to educate consumers as well as working to effect change in the industry. Their products are EWG verified, so you don’t have to agonize over reading ingredient lists.
The Safer Beauty Tribe
Realizing how difficult and confusing it can be to source toxic-free, effective beauty products, I decided to start The Safer Beauty Tribe. Once a month tribe members receive a free monthly newsletter filled with valuable safe beauty information, everything from what ingredients to avoid and why, to simple ways to incorporate all-natural remedies.
Interested in detoxing your daily beauty routine? Click here to sign up for The Safer Beauty Tribe newsletter today! 
Tribe members also get the inside scoop on my Beautycounter promotions and deals! There’s still time to take advantage of the June promotion- when you spend $50 you’ll be entered into a raffle for a free full-size Lengthening Mascara.
Summer Beauty Essentials
In last month’s Safe Beauty Newsletter I dissected the ingredient lists of three popular cosmetics products, shared two simple ways to check a product for safety and highlighted my summer beauty essentials.
My quick summer look is – bronzer, brows, lashes, lips. Four steps and I’m out! And scarlet lip sheer is my summertime go-to! It’s the perfect red!
And if you haven’t tried Glow Shimmer Oil you are seriously missing out! This stuff is amazing as it gives your skin the perfect sun-kissed glow. With jojoba, grape-seed and sesame oil it’s also super nourishing. I use it on my face when I don’t want to wear foundation, and everyday on my arms and legs. It’s like a suntan in a bottle with zero toxic crud!
Next month’s Safer Beauty Tribe newsletter is all about face and body scrubs, the skinny on natural deodorant and four of the best anti-aging essential oils. I’ll also be offering a great giveaway for tribe members! So if you want to learn more about how to detox your beauty regimen, don’t miss out! Come join the tribe today!
Are their products cruelty free as well?