As I am writing this post, I am bundled up in my thickest sweats and slippers, sipping hot coffee. The thermostat inside my house reads 61 degrees. I thought I lived in Florida? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about this cool weather, rather a bit shocked that dare I say I am cold.

This morning I want to chat about a topic that I am passionate about (no, not tracking my period or collagen peptides), but that I have yet to share much about in this space — skincare.

My Skin Story

I didn’t pay much attention to my skin until I was in my twenties. Or should I say, I wasn’t carefully conscious about taking care of it. I entered this world with fair skin, dirty blonde hair, and blues eyes. From a young age, distinct freckles across my nose and cheeks were a physical characteristic that often sparked conversations about how much I looked like my mama. My fair skin inevitably got burnt to crisp every summer despite my mom’s adamance about sunscreen, and, with each summer, I gained new “sun kisses.” I remember my first visit to a dermatologist. I wasn’t much older than 12 or 13 when I had my first moles removed.

My relationship with acne started in middle school, and it persisted into my twenties. In college, another dermatologist prescribed spironolactone to help with inflamed, cystic acne. Once I realized the Rx was messing with my cycle, I said goodbye to a prescription that wasn’t right for me. Finally, in my early twenties, I started seeing an esthetician for regular facials and treatments. She shined light on skincare basics and convinced me that wearing sunscreen 365 days a year – the sun shining or not – was critical if I cared at all about saving my skin from further sun damage/pigmentaiton, wrinkles, and of course skin cancer.

And then there’s the rest of my body. Enter intense stress, anxiety, and SIBO at the end of 2015 which was accompanied by eczema breakouts that I’d never experienced before. New dermatologist, new prescriptions. This time: steroids.

I am happy to say that my skin is in a much happier state today. Gone are the days of intense inflammation and tender pimples. My eczema still has its flare-ups, but it’s under control for the most part. However, given the fair, freckled skin that I have, clear, flawless complexion doesn’t come easy. I’m not yet 30, but my freckles are muddling together, fine lines are found on my forehead, and years of fighting acne didn’t end sans scars.

I have to constantly remind myself that I will never have porcelain skin and that I need to embrace the beautiful skin that I live in; but, that does not mean I can’t strive to take the best care of what I’ve got. Enter quality, safer skin care: Beautycounter.

What is Beautycounter?

Beautycounter is a direct-retail brand – founded by Gregg Renfrew in 2013 – offering safer, cleaner skin care and cosmetic products. It is a certified B (Benefit) Corporation, which means unlike traditional corporations, it includes positive impact on people and the planet in addition to profit. Other B Corporations you may know are Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, and Toms Shoes.

Mainstream beauty products are chockful of ingredients that not only are awkward to pronounce, but if we were educated about, we probably wouldn’t want to slather on our skin. Beautycounter’s mission is to educate the public about how to avoid harmful ingredients and urge the U.S. government to pass laws to better regulate the beauty industry.

Get this: No federal regulation regarding personal care products has been passed since 1938!

Beautycounter is committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what is legally required in the United States. The European Union bans 1,400 chemical ingredients. The United States bans a whopping 30! Essentially, there is lack of regulation in the beauty industry when it comes to ingredients, and we slather them on ourselves and our families every day.

Beautycounter products do not claim to be 100% all-natural or organic, but they do exclude more than 1,500 questionable or harmful ingredients. Their high-performing, indulgent products are made mostly from responsibly sourced, plant-based ingredients and are rigorously screened to avoid potentially health disruptive ingredients on The Never List™. This list includes formaladahyde, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances, along with thousands of other ingredients that have been associated with a variety of health disturbances. If I can avoid washing my hair or moisturizering my body sans hormone-disrupting ingredients, I will.

Why I Became A Beautycounter Consultant

1. I personally care about using safer skincare products that are high-performing in order to feel my best.

If you’ve been reading my blog for any amount of time, you know that I diligently pay close attention to what I put into my body, and I have been for nearly the past 15 years. I remember chatting with a fellow nutrition classmate back in college about how she wanted to go into dermatology before she decided to study nutrition. She said something that has stuck with me ever since: our skin is our largest organ. Every day I do x, y, and z to take care of my heart, my digestive system, my immune system, my hormones, my muscles… so why wouldn’t I give my skin similar attention?

All that is to say, in the past few years, I have been much more conscious of the skin care and cosmetic products I purchase. Are all of my products 100% natural and toxin-free? Of course not… but not all of the food in my kitchen is organic and locally sourced either. As I continue to learn about nutrition and ingredients in food, I make informed choices on what ingredients I cook with. The same goes for skin care products. In a sense, I think of it as food for your skin.

As my fine lines start to multiply, I’m using products regularly to brighten, hydrate and even my skin tone. With Beautycounter, I don’t have to scour their ingredient lists to rest assured that what I’m putting on my body is a safer choice.

2. I support Beautycounter’s mission to get safer products in the hands of everyone.

It’s hard to keep up with the brands that are flooding the marketplace with natural skin care and beauty products. Do I think Beautycounter is the only answer? Most definitely not. In fact, I think there are many other brands that are doing it right to get health-friendly beauty products in consumers’ hands. What sets Beautycounter apart in my eyes is their dedication to changing legislation in the industry by actively advocating for more health-protective laws. This alone makes makes me excited to be a part of the Beautycounter movement.

3. I am motivated to have financial freedom as I explore this new season of life in Florida.

In complete transparency, if you shop Beautycounter through me, I make a commission. Consultants also receive a discount on products, which is a definite perk.

Please Note: I am not a skin care expert or esthetician; I do have access to Beautycounter training and would be happy to chat with you about your skin care needs.

Currently Loving: Volumizing Mascara | Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer | Lip Gloss in Peony

How can you learn more?

Sign-up to receive My Beautycounter Newsletter. Don’t worry, if you ever get tired of hearing about safer skin care, you can unsubscribe at any time. I won’t be offended… as long as you still subscribe to the original Nutrition Nut Newsletter.

Shop Beautycounter:

beautycounter.com/hillaryparker

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