Beautycounter is a clean beauty brand that proactively excludes any known harmful or questionable ingredients from their products, and tests both raw materials and end products for contaminants like heavy metals. They are transparent with their ingredients and testing, and publish a Never List of ingredients they never use to formulate their products. Beautycounter is a Certified B Corporation, Leaping Bunny Certified, and vigilantly test products for contaminants like heavy metals. They also prioritize sustainability and environmentally preferred materials. Furthermore, Beautycounter sets goals such as eliminating unit cartons, launching the first refillable product, avoiding virgin plastic in a minimum of 30% new launches and repacks, and seeks 100% recycled, recyclable, refillable, reused, or compostable packaging by 2025. The company advocates for more health-protective legislation and has helped pass laws requiring manufacturers to disclose harmful chemicals in children’s clothes, toys, and personal care products. They also supported the Microbead Free Waters Act which prohibits the manufacturing and distribution of personal care products containing plastic microbeads.
However, there are some downsides to Beautycounter makeup and skincare. Some of their products contain phenoxyethanol, synthetic colorants, and few organic oils and extracts. Synthetic colorants can be contaminated with traces of heavy metals and petroleum contaminants. Compared to mineral pigments, some synthetic colorants have higher limits for lead, arsenic, and mercury. Beautycounter makeup and skincare could use more organic plant oils and extracts to reduce exposure to pesticides. It is also worth noting that Beautycounter is not an organic brand.
