Reverse Aging WITHOUT Risks
Seriously Folks, This IS the REAL DEAL...
Beautycounter has done it again! After 3 years in the making Beautycounter is defying aging without toxic ingredients! They have developed an extremely effective yet SAFE alternative to Retinol.
Let's look back years ago to my skincare routine...I was using a combination of our former Rejuvenating Anti- Aging line and the Countermatch line and seeing amazing results with my skin. When our current anti-aging line, Countertime, launched years ago- I was somewhat annoyed because I didn't want to change up my skincare routine. But in order to report back to my clients, I decided to temporarily go all in and yield an honest opinion. Well, needless to say, I have been using Countertime since it launched in July 2019. I am in LOVE. It really makes me happy to just wash my face! Silly I know, but those of you who like a good skincare regimen understand me! It really works. My skin is glowing on a whole 'nother level.
Several of my friends that were using Retinol products claim that Countertime works even better than their previous retinol regimens!
WHAT'S THE SCOOP ON RETINOL?
Retinoids are a family of vitamin A derivatives best known for their use in anti-aging skin-care products. They do work at reducing fine lines, wrinkles, pores, hyperpigmentation, and increasing collagen synthesis.
Retinoids include Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Linoleate, Retinyl Propionate, and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate. In my opinion (and Beautycounter's) these should be avoided in all over the counter products. You may have heard of some of the common Prescription retinoids...Isotretinoin (Accutane), Adapalene (Differin), Tazarotene (Tazorac), and Tretinoin (Retin-A).
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 Beautycounter, it’s 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). Beautycounter has a list of over 1800 questionable or harmful ingredients that they will not allow in formulation of any of their products. These above reasons qualify Retinol as part of The Never List. Beautycounter believes that the plant-derived Retinatural Complex is a safer alternative than Retinol—and delivers comparable results.
Bakuchiol...Welcome to the safer, non-irritating, non-sensitizing, non-carcinogenic, non-teratogenic (not harmful to the embryo or fetus), non-toxic alternative that is scientifically proven to be just as effective for anti-aging as Retinal is. Since I am a Speech Pathologist, I also have to throw in that bakuchiol is pronounced...buh-COO-chee-y’all ! I still have to practice- it doesn't roll off the tongue easily.
Bakuchiol is derived from the babchi flower seed. It is used in Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. It is also referred to as Psoralea Corylifolia, or Bu Gu Zhi.
This plant has been used for centuries in other countries to reduce inflammation and treat a number of skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema, leukoderma/vitiligo, and leprosy (Alam, Khan, & Asad, 2018).
When used in skincare, bakuchiol has been ALSO shown in the scientific literature to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, even skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation, minimize the appearance of pores, make skin look and feel firmer, give skin a bright, glowing, radiant look, reduce redness and inflammation after sun exposure, and even reduce the severity of acne (Alam et al., 2018; R. Chaudhuri, 2015; R. K. Chaudhuri & Bojanowski, 2014; R. K. Chaudhuri & Marchio, 2011; Dhaliwal et al., 2019)
So the skinny is... It boasts the same results as Retinol with NONE of the RISKS.
However, when Beautycounter formulates products, they not only make great products with great ingredients- they go to great depths to make sure the products they create are high performing and superior to others on the market.
Hence, enter Swiss Alpine Rose (Rhododendron ferrugineumeum). The Swiss Alpine Rose protects us from daily environmental stressors. This flower grows in extraordinarily challenging conditions at the highest altitudes in the Alps, protecting itself remarkably well against dehydration. When used in skincare regimens, it inhibits age-related oxidative damage. It is a powerful antioxidant and the perfect match to Bakuchiol!
What makes Countertime products so special?
I thought you would never ask! Retinatural Complex, of course...which is composed of Bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine Rose. These are two powerful and exotic natural plant ingredients are found in the totally groundbreaking age-prevention and age-reversal line called Countertime from Beautycounter. Every single product in the skincare line contains Retinatural Complex.
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Bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine Rose extract, combine to make Retinatural Complex - In short, as discussed above, they provide all of the anti-aging benefits of retinol with NONE of the concern or harm.
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Tripeptide and tetrapeptide - Each type of peptide has a specific function to address some sort of structural issue with the skin. For example, the tripeptide in this line very specifically targets vertical lines and wrinkles. Our bodies use peptides as messengers and they tell the skin when there has been damage that needs to be healed. When you apply exogenous peptides (i.e. in skincare) they kind of trick your skin into thinking there has been an injury that needs to be healed, which is why they stimulate collagen synthesis and even hyaluronic acid production.
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Amino acids - Help protect skin from damaging environmental stressors (weather, pollution, UV exposure, etc.) that lead to aging, while helping skin maintain optimal levels of hydration.
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Fermented sugars - Help soothe skin and slow the effects of aging by optimizing hydration. Dehydrated skin causes prematurely aged skin.
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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. It also has six times the free-radical scavenging power of Vitamin C! (Jung et al., 2003)
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Nasturtium flower extract - Reinforces the skin barrier, provides potent oxygenation, and protects the skin from drying environmental stressors. (Jakubczyk, Janda, Watychowicz, Łukasiak, & Wolska, 2018)
“The company was founded on me wanting to get safer products into people's hands...But at the end of the day, a woman is going to pull out her credit card for performance.” said Gregg Renfrew, the Founder of Beautycounter.
AND here’s the BEST part…
Not only are the ingredients safe, but they are HIGH PERFORMING! We all know that even if something is better for us but does not perform, we will not use it more than once!
Need More Reasons to Get Rid of Retinol?
An FDA study conducted at the National Center for Toxicological Research found that retinoids, including retinol, promote tumor formation when the skin is exposed to UV radiation (but it is still not banned from being used in the US!). It also found that retinol and other retinoids also have the capacity to cause devastating birth defects by contributing to excessive daily vitamin A intake and are NOT safe to use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. (National Toxicology Program, 2012). The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database rates Retinol as a 9 as one of the most dangerous ingredients allowed into products. Other clean skincare companies are guilty of “greenwashing” (using deceptive language to make the consumer believe that the product is safe and non-toxic) yet their products contain retinol! For me any "clean" companies using Retinol or a derivative in their products don't get my stamp of approval. Just like supplement companies don't get my stamp of approval if they use artifical sweeteners.
Introducing The Countertime Regimen
$266 Includes the basic 1-4 steps detailed in previous picture with the Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream (am cream). The Regimen does NOT include the Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream.
$276 Includes the basic 1-4 steps detailed in previous picture with the Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream (pm cream). The Regimen does NOT include the Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream.
Introducing The Countertime Collection
$422 This Collection includes ALL of the Countertime products (yes, the Countertime Eye Cream too!). These products are ALL full size. This is the best deal for sure. As purchased seperately, these products would be $424.00.
What's Your Skin Type?
Do you have any idea what skin care products would work best with your skin type? Feel free to fill out this skin care questionnaire so I can help you determine which products are best for your skin!
Farewell for Now...
I am here if you need me. Let's be honest, if you are trashing your body- only so much good skin care will help! I love helping others achieve their wellness goals and I believe your inside health is just as important as your outside! With my wide range of background experience from a Speech Pathologist & Trained Herbalist to Professional Speaker & Coach- I am confident I can help you! Let me know if you need anything at all.
Cheers to Safer,
Dana
