We all want our skin to look healthy and radiant. Our skincare needs vary greatly, and Beautycounter offers safe alternatives for a variety of skincare needs. Within each skincare regimen, Beautycounter uses ingredients that provide us with high performing products without toxic chemicals. Take the Skin Care Quiz to determine which regimen is right for you. Or read below for highlights of each regimen and why each is high performing, better for your skin and your body, and better for your eyes.
The value of a Skincare Regimen
A regimen is key to ensuring optimal performance and results out of your skin care products. Each product is developed with a specific purpose and is designed to work best when used in combination with the other steps in the regimen. Your skin goes through natural skin cell turnover cycles and this generally takes 3-6 weeks depending on age. This means that if you are consistent with a regimen, it is easier to keep skin clear.
Cleanse, Prep, Treat, Protect
OUR PLANT-DERIVED RETINATURAL COMPLEX
A lot of beauty brands tout retinol as a safer skin-care ingredient. But we’re not like everyone else (in fact, retinol is on our Never List). That’s why we created our plant-derived Retinatural Complex, a safer alternative – and the powerhouse ingredient – in our Countertime Collection.
Beautycounter’s plant-derived Retinatural Complex, featuring bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine rose, deliver retinol-like results without retinol’s safety concerns.
How does our Retinatural Complex work?
- It promotes a healthy skin barrier
- It visibly plumps and firms skin
- It improves resilience
The TRUTH about RETINOL
What is Retinol?
Retinoids are a family of vitamin A derivatives best known for their use in anti-aging skin-care products. Retinoids include retinol, Retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate, retinyl propionate, and the fun-to-pronounce hydroxypinacolone retinoate.
How does it work?
When retinoids – including naturally derived ones popular in cleaner skin-care lines – are used on the skin, they convert to retinoic acid. (Prescription-based products such as Retin-A and Tretinoin are synthetic forms of retinoic acid.)
Is it safe?
For us, its not worth taking a risk on retinol. Studies show that retinoic acid can have harmful side effects, including being a skin irritant and making the skin sensitive to the sun’s damaging rays. In fact, both the EU and Canada have restricted the use of retinol – the EU cites a “precautionary principle,” which means that if an ingredient has shown evidence of danger to human health or the environment, it takes preventative action (and so should you). These are some of the reason’s it’s on The Never List.
RESULTS: why we believe our plant-derived Retinatural Complex is safer than retinol – and delivers comparable results.
LIPID DEFENSE CLEANSING OIL (Cleanse step)
Cleansing, reimagined.
Inspired by Asian beauty rituals and informed by Japanese technology, this luxurious, lightweight cleansing oil gently yet effectively removes makeup and other impurities without stripping essential lipids from the skin. Rich in vitamin E, fatty acids, and our plant-derived Retinatural Complex, the formula reinforces the skin’s fragile moisture barrier for a soothed, nourished complexion.
Performance:
- Easily removes face and eye make up
- Doesn’t disrupt the skin’s lipid surface, leaving the moisture barrier intact
- Leaves skin feeling healthy, soft, and smooth, not stripped or dry
- Rinses away clean, leaving no residue, allowing skincare applied afterward to optimally absorb
- Leaves skin looking radiant, luminous, and glowing
- Skin looks brighter
- Ophthalmologist tested; safe for contact lens wearers
How to Use: Dispense 2-3 pumps into hands and massage onto dry face and eyes. Apply warm water to form light milk, then rinse.
Why is it Safer? It is made without SLES and BHT/BHA. Instead, we use sugar-based surfactants and tocopherol.
MINERAL BOOST HYDRATING ESSENCE (Prep step)
Lightweight but deeply nourishing, this milky moisturizing essence lends vital nutrients to the skin’s moisture barrier – instantly boosting hydration and radiance. Formulated with our Retinatural Complex, mineral-rich sea water, and a fermented blend of sugars, it renews and balances the skin and prips it for the treatment steps that follow.
Performance:
- Delivers a boost of hydration
- Boosts radiance
- Helps minimize the appearance of pores
- Leaves skin looking luminous
- Prepares skin to better absorb benefits of following skin care steps
How to Use: Use daily, morning and night, after cleansing and before other skin care. Pour into hand and gently press onto the face and neck with fingertips.
Why is it safer? Made without PEGs and EDTA, instead we use phytic acid and sea water
Key Ingredient Benefits:
Retinatural Complex – delivers visible benefits that are comparable to retinol, without the potential side effects.
Fermented Sugars (Biosaccharide Gum-1) – help soothe skin and slow the effects of aging by optimizing hydration.
Sea Water – our mineral-enriched deep seawater, sourced from Noirmoutier Island in France, has been proven to help restore vital nutrients and minerals to the skin while boosting radiance and minimizing the appearance of pores.
Tripeptide works to help boost skin firmness and minimize the look of lines and wrinkles, while keeping skin plump and hyrdrated.
Amino Acids help protect skin from damaging environmental stressors that lead to aging, while helping skin maintain optimal levels of hydration.
TRIPEPTIDE RADIANCE SERUM (Treat step)
True Radiance, Revealed
This transformative rejuvenating treatment visibly increases skin firmness and aelasticity, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Formulated with a powerful blend of peptides, amino acids, and our Retinatural Complex, it helps enhance the skin’s moisture barrier function to optimize hydration for a radiant complexion.
Performance Tips
- Visibly increases skin firmness
- Layers well with other products
- Increases skin elasticity
- Improves skin barrier function
- Does not leave skin feeling tacky or sticky
How to Use: Use morning and night. Massage gently onto face, neck and décolletage with upward strokes.
Why is it safer: Made without PEGs and EDTA, instead we use phytic acid and betaine
ANTIOXIDANT SOFT CREAM (Protect step)
Protective, skin-plumping moisturizer
Formulated with our plant-derived Retinatural Complex and nasturtium flower extract, this velvety, revitalizing cream works to visibly plump and firm the skin while boosting hydration. Skin is left healthy and glowing.
Performance
- Boosts hydration
- Increases skin plumpness
- Decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Layers well under makeup
How to Use: Use daily. Apply a small amount to face, neck and decolletatge, massaging gently into skin with upward strokes
Why is it safer: made without PEGs, petrolatum and mineral oil. Instead, we use shea butter and coconut-derived emollients
Retinatural Complex
Nasturtium Flower Extract – helps reinforce the skin barrier while providing potent oxygenation benefits to protect and defend skin from drying environmental stressors.
Fermented Sugars (Biosaccharide Gum-1) – this blend of fermented sugars helps soothe skin while helping slow the effects of aging by optimizing hydration for renewed skin.
TETRAPEPTIDE SUPREME CREAM (protect step)
Powerful, regenerative hydration
Supremely rich and deeply hydrating, this cream supports elasticity and visibly firms while smoothing skin texture to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. With continued use, wake up to more radiant, youthful-looking skin.
Performance
- Plumps skin
- Visibly increases skin firmness
- Does not pill when layering
- Use morning and night if you need an extra boost of hydration
How to Use: Use nightly. Massage gently into face, neck, and décolletage with upward strokes
Why is it safer: Made without PEGs, petrolatum, and mineral oil. Instead, we use shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut-derived emollients
Retinatural complex
Tetrapeptide – helps increase skin elasticity, minimize lines, boost firmness, and smooths skin surface
Fermented Sugars (Biosaccharide Gum-1) – this blend of fermented sugars helps soothe skin while helping slow the effects of aging by optimizing hydration for renewed skin
Your brightest eyes, reawakened
This high-performance eye cream revitalizes the eye area for a youthful, brighter appearance. With a targeted combination of our plant-derived Retinatural Complex and Persian silk tree extract, it reduces under-eye shadows and crow’s feet for a smooth, firmed look.
Performance
- Brightens eye area
- For an added soothing and cooling effect, put the Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream in your refrigerator before use
- Eyes area feels instantly hydrates
- Layers easily with concealer
How to Use: Gently dab or massage eye cream on with your ring finger, starting at the inner corner and working outward toward the brow bone. Never pull the skin
Why is it Safer? Made without PEGs, petrolatum and mineral oil. Instead, we use shea butter and coconut-derived emollients
Retinatural complex
Persian Silk Tree Extract – Proven in independent clinical studies to brighten the eye area, fade dark circles, diminish puffiness, and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet
The Countermatch Collection is formulated for all skin types, except those with very dry (excessively tight, uncomfortable, or cracking) or those with very oily skin (excessive oil all over the face, including cheeks, that usually requires blotting papers or oil control products). The products are also ideal for those concerned with hydration, dullness, age prevention or rough texture.
Advanced Hydration + Age Prevention
Hydrates skin
Boosts radiance
Adapts to skin’s needs
The Pure Calm Cleansing Milk is a great cleanser for all skin types, especially for those with dry or sensitive skin. It is a gentle yet effective cleanser which removes makeup and impurities without harsh surfactants that can strip away natural oils. Its conditioning formula respects skin’s balance, replenishing essential hydration so skin feels soft and nourished, never dry or tight.
Intense Moisture serum – treat
Delivers a concentrated boost of moisture for immediate and long-lasting boost of moisture for immediate and long-lasting hydration while Vitamins C and E provide antioxidant protection.
96% said skin looked brighter and healthier
93% said skin felt firmer and the appearance of fine lines were reduced.
Adaptive Moisture Lotion – protect
Helps skin adapt to modern life by adjusting moisture and oxygenation levels throughout the day. It provides 24 hours of optimal hydration.
93% said it provided instant and long-lasting hydration.
93% noticed skin felt smoother.
The Eye Rescue Cream awakens tired eyes by providing optimal hydration and reducing the appearance of shadows. The skin around the eyes is ten times thinner than facial skin and this transparency can make purple or blue under eye shadows more noticeable. This eye cream helps address this concern with betaine (derived from sugar beets) by increasing oxygenation.
Awakens the delicate eye area by hydrating skin and helping reduce the appearance of shadows for brighter-looking eyes.
100% said eye area looked brighter and fine lines looked reduced.
96% said eye area looked more awake.
Experience 24-hour hydration and smoother, youthful-looking skin with this breakthrough body lotion. Rich, yet rapidly absorbing, it softens without a trace of stickiness
Countercontrol is a powerful regimen for oily and blemish-prone skin without the irritation that can result from conventional treatments. Approximately 70% of people between 15-29 experience oily skin or moderate acne. While teens and young adults often have oily skin at acne, it can affect people of all ages and ethnicities. Additionally, as women age, adult-onset acne can occur often due to a combination of factors including menopause, medication, hormone imbalance, genetics, and stress.
Why is Countercontrol safer than conventional acne and oil control products?
Unlike conventional acne and oil control products which can strip skin of both bad and good bacteria, leaving it red, dry and irritated, Countercontrol treats the main causes of acne while maintaining skin’s healthy microflora to keep skin in balance. Additionally, Countercontrol is formulated without potentially harmful ingredients such as harsh surfactants, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur commonly found in conventional acne products.
Instead of these ingredients, Beautycounter has formulated Countercontrol with a proprietary blend called SkinBalance Complex, a combination of two extracts:
Natural salicylic acid from wintergreen helps exfoliate dead skin cells and restore the imbalance of bacteria to a healthy level
Rosebay willow helps reduce irritation and decrease sebum production.
Benefits of using the Countercontrol collection include:
- Controls oil
- Clears breakouts
- Purifies pores
- Helps prevent future breakouts
- Balances skin and keeps it comfortable
Clear Pore Cleanser (cleanse step)
Instant Matte Toner (prep step)
This mattifying toner removes residual impurities, eliminates excess oil, and minimizes the appearance of pores – all without alcohol. Alcohol-free toners are much more gentle on the skin as alcohol in toners can dry and strip skin.
All Over Acne Treatment (treat step)
The All Over Acne Treatment should be used on the entire face to help clear skin while also addressing the main causes of acne to prevent future breakouts from forming. It contains 2% salicylic acid.
SOS Acne Spot Treatment (treat step)
The SOS Acne Spot Treatment is a targeted treatment to help clear active blemishes and should only be spot-applied on breakouts. Contains 2% salicylic acid.
Matte Effect Gel Cream (protect step)
This innovative cream-to-gel formula maintains healthy moisture levels and has been clinically proven to control oil for up to eight hours. Its also a great primer for oily skin before makeup application to keep skin hydrated without the oily residue. In an independent consumer study, 96% of individuals agreed individuals agreed that skin was less oily and 93% agreed skin looked balance.
Nourishing Cream Cleanser (cleanse step)
Soothe and nourish skin as you wash away makeup and other impurities with this ultra-gentle daily cleanser. Lightweight yet deply moisturizing, the creamy formula contains witch hazel to tone skin, and coconut oil and aloe to help hydrate.
Nourishing Cream Exfoliator (cleanse step)
This gentle yet super-effective exfoliating cleanser sweeps away impurities to uncover fresh, readiant skin. Non-abrasive jojoba beads help sough off dry skin, while organic coconut oil and aloe soothe and hydrate.
Nourishing Day Cream (protect am)
Wake up your complexion with our skin-softening toning spray, made with organic rose essence, purified water, and moisturizing sodium hyaluronate. Spritz it on to set makeup or whenever your skin needs an instant pick-me-up.
Nourishing Night Cream (protect pm)
A hydrating night cream that nourishes skin while you sleep. Organic coconut oil and aloe hydrate while geranium and green tea protect against dryness.
Pamper the delicate skin around your eyes with our lightweight, soothing eye cream. Rich in aloe and organic coconut oil, the unscented formula is easily absorbed and offers an instant cooling moisture boost.
Counterman is a line of safer, results-driven skincare designed specifically for men. Featuring our breakthrough Sequioa Stem Cell Complex, all Counterman formulas help protect skin from everyday stress.
The benefit of the sequoia stem cell complex is that plant stem cells have the properties and the ability to self-renew. Also, plant stem cells never undergo and aging process but instead perpetually divide to produce new cells. Plant stem cell technology helps to increase the availability of these extracts and allows us to have consistency in our formula.
Counterman was created to address the unique needs of men’s skin while providing them with safer and cleaner products. Men’s skin is biologically different than women’s skin on many levels – therefore they require skincare designed specifically for them.
*Men’s skin is thicker. In general, men’s skin density is about 25% thicker than women’s – which is attributed to collagen density. They retain this density level for longer than women, resulting in younger-looking skin.
*Skin is tougher. Men’s skin tends to be tougher due to slower cellular turnover and constant shaving that disrupts the skin barrier.
*Skin is oilier. Men generally produce more sebum than women and tend to be shinier and more prone to breakouts.
*Pore and follicle size is larger. Not only do men produce coarser and darker facial hair, but their pore size is larger, leaving skin more vulnerable to blackheads.
Daily exfoliating cleanser to remove dirt, oil and other impurities.
Remove excess dirt and oil with every swipe.
For a close, comfortable shave.
Refreshes and cools post-shave irritation.
To groom, condition facial hair, and relieve dry skin.
Cleanses impurities and helps detoxify.
Invigorating bar soap washes away impurities.
