Close your eyes and take a moment to imagine your daily morning or nightly routine. Think about the face wash, body wash, hand soap, shampoo, lotion, foundation, or whatever product you put on your body. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup or you don’t have a strict skincare regimen, you are probably still applying many products to your body’s largest organ: the skin. A majority of the products that sit on the shelves of CVS, Ulta, and Sephora are filled with harmful chemicals that put our planet and our bodies at risk, but how are we supposed to know that?
Unfortunately, the FDA in the U.S. does not have the power to remove these harmful ingredients from the products we use, so companies continue to put these chemicals in their products; however, Beautycounter does not. In fact, they promise not to.
Beautycounter, founded in 2013 by Gregg Renfrew, is a clean skincare and cosmetic brand that’s mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. The company goes far beyond just selling people cosmetics– it’s also a sustainable movement that works towards educating the people.
Here are 5 eco-friendly facts about Beautycounter!
- Its Successful Recycling and Composting Programs
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According to Beautycounter’s 2019 Social Mission Report, they had an estimated 76% of HQ waste diverted from landfills through their recycling and composting programs.
- Its Consumer-Friendly Packaging
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By using glass packaging from North America (instead of plastic) they have saved an estimated 38% of water/fossil fuel use on one of their product lines, and their “consumer-friendly” recycling labels allow customers to properly throw away and recycle the products.
- Its Support for the Natural Cosmetics Act
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The company supported the Natural Cosmetics Act, which was the first bill to fight against greenwashing in the beauty industry in the U.S. Not only that but Beautycounter’s founder, Gregg Renfrew, was the first “clean beauty CEO” to serve as a witness at a hearing on cosmetic reform in Congress.
- Its Efforts for Environmental Safety Standards
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The company’s “Blueprint for Clean” is a list of twelve safety standards that any partner who works with them must abide by. The blueprint includes things like unparalleled safety screening, 100% ingredient transparency, responsibly sourced raw materials, sustainable packaging, environmental footprinting, and awarded product performance.
- Its Eco-Friendly Ingredients
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Finally, the company’s most well-known attribute is the “Never List,” which is a list of 1,800 harmful and banned ingredients that the company promises not to put in their products.
Over the past several years, Beautycounter has proved to be much more than a natural tube of lipstick or a safe face wash– they are changing beauty standards, saving the environment, and educating people about what they put on their bodies. Now, I challenge you to look up the ingredients that are in the products you use every morning or night– and you may consider using Beautycounter.
Disclaimer: Her Campus St. Law U is neither sponsored by nor affiliated with any brands or companies mentioned in this article.