COUNTERTIME DELUXE MINI SET
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These are the exact same Countertime minis as the limited-edition ones that are being sold individually on the site right now -- but in a full set and at a better deal! If you want the full Countertime line in mini sizes, this is the way to go right now.

Back in the day sunscreen wasn't a thing. In fact I remember putting on baby oil with iodine in it to get a nice tan. 😳😱😲 YES, I know that's shocking. But we just didn't understand how dangerous the sun could be to your skin. However we still need sun in healthy doses, for the wonderful Vitamin D. We need vitamin D for our immune health and bone health, but in safe doses. So let's not get burned. Use sunscreen during peak hours 11 am - 2 pm when you are more likely to get burned. 

In the past fews years, I've learned much more about sunscreen and safe choices. Here are some things to be aware of when choosing sun protection for you and your family!:

1. What are we protecting against anyway?

UVA Rays: These rays contribute to premature aging of the skin as well as skin cancer.

UVB Rays: These are the rays that cause painful sunburn as well as skin cancer.

Blue Light: Found in the sun as well as technology (which we're all in front of ALL the time!), blue light can cause signs of aging in the skin. (No, thanks!)

2. How much SPF do I need?

There's much less variation in SPF than I once thought. For example:

SPF 15 blocks 93% of UV rays
SPF 30 blocks 97% of UV rays
SPF 50 blocks 98% of UV rays

In fact, the FDA is concerned that claims of excessively high SPF values give users a false sense of protection, leading to overexposure to UVA rays that increase the risk of long-term skin damage and cancer. They've even suggested capping ratings at 60 SPF.

3. What's the difference between a chemical sunscreen and a mineral sunscreen?

CHEMICAL SUNSCREEN:

Chemical sunscreens protect the skin from UV rays by scattering the rays. There's concern that this process can cause free radicals, harming our skin cells.

Chemical sunscreens typically contain oxybenzone, which is the chemical banned in places like Hawaii and Key West because it can damage coral reefs. It also isn't great for us! Oxybenzone disrupts our hormones, accumulates in our bodies, and is allergenic. Hard pass.

​MINERAL SUNSCREEN:

Mineral sunscreens use a physical barrier to block the UV rays from penetrating our skin. They're definitely the safer option between the two -- both for your health and our oceans.

 And I'm not talking about Great White's song from the 80's. Yes it a good song to run down memory lane. But I'm talking about getting bitten up while you're hanging outside by the pool, having a dinner with family and friends, doing yard work, gardening or even on a hike. 

Those nasty bumpy itching or stinging bites. UGH!!! Plus some folks out there have bigger reactions to those bites based on the histamine levels in their bodies. YES, you can have more histamine in your body not related to those dang seasonal allergies. However that is a conversation for another day. Stay tuned for that one. 

There are many options to control those pesky bugs. From having a fan outside with you blowing them away to using bug repellent. Those of a certain age will remember the days trucks would drive around spraying DEET to keep those inconvenient bugs away. Since that time many reports and studies have been done on DEET, because of the concern about its neurotoxicity, ability to melt plastic and its greasiness. Neurological symptoms such as seizures have been reported in infants exposed to DEET. Note that recent studies are saying in low doses it is safe. As for me, I'll stay away from it for now. 

Options: 

• Picaridin is a synthetic chemical made to mimic piperine a compound  found in black pepper. It has been used in Europe and Australia. It has been shown to be as effective as DEET without all the nasty concerns. 
• Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is a great alternative to repel mosquitoes up to 6 hours
• Natural Alternatives as shown below

If you do get bit try applying tea tree oil on the bite. Tea tree oil is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and usually no-irritating.  Also pure lavender oil can be used. My favorite way to take the itch out of a mosquito bite is to put a dap of Beautycounter's Charcoal + Mask, just a tiny bit stops the itching almost immediately. 

This mask was originally released as part of Beautycounter's holiday collection, which usually means it's a speciality product that will only be available during the holidays. The response to this product was overwhelmingly positive, hence why it's has been brought back as a staple product. 
I finally tried it this month and was blown away by the effects of this mask. In a short ten minutes you can have soft smooth skin. Many has said it makes your skin as soft as a                          (insert your own adjective and noun). I tried it by myself and with my teen. We both loved how well our faces felt afterwards. 

In a short 10 minutes this mask will make your dull tired skin feel smooth as baby's skin, full of bounce and be more radiant.
The Reflect AHA Effect mask contains: 

• Glycolic Acid: The smallest AHA molecule, it absorbs easily into skin, effectively removing dead skin, leaving a brighter complexion.
• Phytic Acid: Helps exfoliate buildup on skin to reduce dry, flaky skin leaving a more even complexion.
• Bamboo Particles: A gentle physical exfoliator derived from the stems of bamboo.
• Saccharide Isomerate: An ultra-hydrating sugar-based moisturizer that combats dryness while soothing skin.

Are you ready to try this mask now? Grab one here. On the fence I have a limited supply of samples. Message me here to try a sample. I only ask that you report back to me with your results. 

Every year, Beautycounter makes the tough decision to remove a few products from our line. They're always products that aren't best sellers, and they're eliminated to make room for more products coming soon (a good thing!!).

Still, some of these are favorites of mine (and I know many of you love them, too), so I wanted to be sure to share this list in case you wanted to grab anything before it's gone.

Some products will be gone for good, while others will be replaced with updated versions. Those new versions are TBD timing-wise, though, so stock up now if you have any favorites on this list:

• One-Step Makeup Remover Wipes
• Counter+ No. 2 Plumping Facial Oil - my favorite  (The Brightening Facial Oil is a good alternative for this one, as is the Glow First Priming Serum.)
• Counter+ No. 3 Balancing Facial Oil (This will be gone for good in this packaging, but the same formula with a new name will be released down the road. If you love the Balancing Oil, stock up now because we aren't sure when the new version will be available.)
• Retractable Foundation Brush. 
• All Counterman Products
• Color Outline Eye Pencil (These will be replaced eventually, but not anytime soon.)
• Countertime Adaptive Body Moisturizer
• Color Intense Lipstick (These will be back at some point.)
• Color Define Brow Pencil (These will also be back after some tweaks.)​

For those who receive Beautycounter emails, you may have read this in a recent email from Beautycounter HQ, but I wanted to be sure to address it as well.  Effective February 1, you'll see an increase of about 10% on pricing for all Beautycounter products. Please know that this is a carefully considered increase, and it's to account for rising production/material costs due in large part to the pandemic and the strain it's put on so many industries.

Two quick notes about this increase and ways to avoid it:

• If you need any products in the next couple of months, go ahead and buy them by the end of January and you'll bypass that increase. Remember to attach your purchase to the New Year New Skincare pop up so you have the opportunity to win the host rewards.
• Lots of our products are available for auto-replenishment, which launched last summer. (You can read about that program here, and see all the products included in this program! Look for the "Subscribe, Save 5%" option under a product, which means it's eligible. You'll get 5% off the first time you use auto-replenishment on that product, and 10% on any subsequent auto-replenishment of that item!)

*Another way to save even MORE on all of your Beautycounter purchases is to join as a consultant. You'll receive a 25% discount on all personal orders that way! Some teammates and I hosted a call last week on what being a consultant looks like, and you can check out that replay here if you're interested.

Shop the sale here!

This sale makes it the perfect time to stock up on a few faves you might be running low on as well as a great time to try something you've been eyeing (maybe a fun new lip color (my fave is sheer genius) or our luxurious body polish, for example!).

As a heads up, brand new products (like our new Think Big All-In-One Mascara and Lid Glow Cream Shadow) are excluded from the sale (although they're both amazing, so you might want to add them to your cart anyway...). Sets, collections, and bundles, as well as last chance items, are also not eligible for the 15% discount.

The sale runs today through Monday, August 16.
Oh, and if you're a Band of Beauty member you just might have a credit to apply to your order as well. Remember your credit will show up as a payment option at checkout, or you can always reach out to me to check in on your credit amount. As a member, you'll get free shipping if your order totals $100 or more, too (saving you an additional $6.95). Yay!!

And if you are not a Band of Beauty member check out the benefits here. 

This past week I join the Beautycounter Team. It was a natural fit for me. I have always been interested in the natural health and wellness world since I was young. So when I discovered Beautycounter and their clean products, that performed well, it seemed to fit my life and goals. Especially since our skin is our number 1 detoxifying organ. It was a not a big leap for me to make the choice to start using products that are free of over 1,800 chemicals.

The first time I tried Beautycounter products was last summer. It so happened to be at the same time I tried ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD). My skin looked amazing and I felt amazing. I wasn't entirely sure - why my skin looked so amazing. I attributed to fact that I had just been fasting. However fast forward to this winter. I again did the ProLon FMD I felt amazing, however my skin looked good just not as good as when I was using Beautycounter products. So I decided to try the set I tested in August 2019,  Countertime Collection. OMG, my skin started looking better and feeling better. Then when I added in another round of ProLon, boom there you have it my skin looked the same as last August. LOL So I am a happy happy girl. I also love  that Beautycounter is a certified B Corporation, which means safer products, sustainability, charitable giving, advocacy and transparency. Overall I feel this will be a good fit for me and my business of better living through feeding our bodies real food and paying attention our bodies. 

Let me know if I can help live better in the skin you're in.