When I first joined Beautycounter as a consultant, I honestly hadn’t tried many of their products. After placing an order and trying several products, I knew I would repurchase a handful after just using each one once – I loved them that much.

Using safer, nontoxic self-care products is so important for ensuring we are taking care of ourselves and helping our bodies be the healthiest they can be. There are literally thousands of chemicals in the products we use on a daily basis, and the vast majority have never been tested for safety. I don’t know about you, but that freaks me out and makes me want to take control of what I’m putting on my body. I hope that this post will help you start to make the switch to safer if you haven’t already. Plus, I honestly LOVE talking about beauty, the products I use, and things I really love.

1. COUNTER+ CLEANSING BALM

What it is: A multitasking balm that removes makeup and impurities while cleansing and hydrating the skin. It can also be used as an intense overnight hydration mask, healing balm for rough parts of the body, lip balm, cuticle cream, etc. It truly is a multitasking product!!

How to use it: I use it as the first step in the double cleansing process. I apply about an almond-size amount onto my dry (fully made-up) face and massage it into my skin, making sure to get around my eyes and lashes. The balm melts from the warmth of your fingers and face, dissolving makeup. I then wipe it off with a damp wash cloth before using my cleanser.

Why I love it: This is the one and only product that actually gets all of my makeup off. After having to use makeup remover wipes and micellar water for a few months since I ran out, I am so so SO happy to have a fresh jar of the best makeup remover ever!! No more scrubbing around my delicate eye area trying to get my mascara off! The balm also feels super nice and smells good too! The original sent reminded me of sweet almond oil, but the new formula has a floral sent. 

2. COUNTER+ CHARCOAL FACIAL MASK

What it is: A nutrient-rich kaolin clay mask with activated charcoal that purifies and balances, while absorbing excess oils and drawing out impurities. It also has salicylic and lactic acids for gentle exfoliation. It helps minimize the appearance of pores, relieve congestion, and make skin smooth and polished. 

How to use it: I use this mask once a week, but it can be used up to three times per week. Apply an even layer to your freshly washed and gently dried face, and let dry for no more than 10 minutes. This is important – many people see some redness and irritation if they leave it on longer than 10 minutes (and it dries so quickly, you don’t need any more time than that). 

Why I love it: This is the best charcoal mask I have ever used! The formula is very smooth and applies very easily with my fingers. It also dries quickly, so you can use it when you’re in a hurry (literally doesn’t take longer than 10 minutes!). Assuming you don’t put too much on, it is also much easier to wash off than a lot of other masks I’ve used. Just some warm water and moderate pressure to gently wash it off. Some masks seem to take forever to rinse off, and my back ends up hurting from leaning over my sink. That is not a problem with this mask! I also love that my skin looks a lot better the next day after using it the night before. Smoother, clearer, and happier overall – it’s a win win win!

3. COUNTER+ OVERNIGHT RESURFACING PEEL

What it is: An AHA/BHA peel that you put on before bed and leave on overnight. Glycolic, malic, and lactic acids work to clear away dull surface cells while you sleep. Additionally, arginine and essential fatty acids help to soothe irritation and nourish the skin, so you’ll have a brighter and happier complexion when you wash it off in the morning.

How to use it: Apply one to two pumps of the peel at the treat step in your skincare routine (it has a serum-like consistency). For me, this is after I’ve washed and toned my face, and applied the Countercontrol All Over Acne Treatment. Wait a full five minutes for your skin to really absorb the product before applying any facial oils and/or moisturizers. Get a good night’s sleep! In the morning, wash your face as normal – you will be washing off an entire layer of dead skin cells. Proceed with the rest of your normal morning skincare routine.

Why I love it: Oh my goodness, how I love this product! Unlike traditional chemical peels, this peel does not have any harsh chemicals in it. The key here is that it doesn’t need to in order to work since you leave it on overnight instead of the typical couple of minutes. I used the first bottle and procrastinated ordering another one, and now that I finally have a new bottle I cannot believe I went so long without it. It makes my skin so soft, helps exfoliate my skin and increase cell turn over so I don’t break out as much, and overall just makes my facial skin look SO. MUCH. BETTER. My acne scars are also fading and my skin looks so much healthier.

4. LEMONGRASS SUGAR BODY SCRUB

What it is: A sugar body scrub with brown sugar, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and sunflower oils, and evening primrose in a citrus and lemongrass oil blend.

How to use it: Use to exfoliate your body by rubbing the scrub all over with your hands in the shower or bath. Rinse well and make sure to inhale the invigorating scent.

Why I love it: Wow this scrub smells amazing! It really wakes me up and makes me smile. I also love how this scrub feels on my skin. I find that some body scrubs aren’t gritty enough to make my skin soft and really exfoliate rough patches, but this one does a great job and leaves my skin moisturized and smooth. Oh and did I mention the scent? Invigorating and awakening are the best words to describe it 🙂

5. CITRUS MIMOSA BODY BUTTER

What it is: A super hydrating body butter that smells so good and easily absorbs into the skin. It’s made of shea butter, mongongo oil, sunflower oil, aloe, and chamomile to hydrate, nourish, soothe, and smooth.

How to use it: Gently rub into your skin when in need of moisture or immediately after your shower to lock in moisture.

Why I love it: The scent is hands down one of my favorites – all the citrus mimosa products! But what really set this body butter apart from others I’ve tried is that I can put it on after my shower, do my makeup, then get dressed for the day and not have to wait hours for it to soak into my skin. This formula is more nourishing and moisturizing than a simple lotion, but truly is not greasy or heavy. 

It has now been almost a full year since I first tried these five products, and I can safely say that I still love them. They are effective, smell great, and are things I get excited to use. If you’d like to purchase any of these products or explore what else Beautycounter has to offer, you can check out my website here.