Beautycounter Sidenote: A Quick Hello

If you know me well and live close enough to my Los Angeles home, you already know that I've taken a deep interest in a new beauty company of late. I never in a MILLION years would have thought of myself as someone who reps a skincare line, but I've found this one to be incredibly different from any other I've crossed. I'll spare you the details about how I discovered Beautycounter, but we crossed paths a little over a year ago when I was researching safer sunscreens. At that time, I knew most over the counter sunscreens were riddled with toxic, potentially carcinogenic, ingredients, but I had no idea until discovering Beautycounter that the ENTIRE skincare industry (we're talking everything from shampoo to lotion to cosmetics) has not been regulated in the U.S. since 1938.  That means not a SINGLE law has been passed to protect consumers since Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office as President. If that doesn't shock you, consider the fact that the European Union has banned over 1400 chemicals deemed unfit for use in skincare products over the course of a few decades — the United States has banned eleven. ELEVEN CHEMICALS. 11 out of 1400 (at least!) chemicals that have been proven to be harmful to humans when applied to the skin. Some are carcinogenic, others are hormone disrupting — and still others are allergy inducers. And we are allowing companies to throw them willy nilly into the products we apply to our (and our kids') skin every single day. Ignorance is bliss, I know — and I totally get it if you hate me for telling you this. But my motto is: you can't run from every damn thing that's been proven to give you cancer — but you can make better decisions based on what you know. Beautycounter is a company that has made a point to sell ONLY products that have been proven to to be safe as rated by the EWG (Environmental Working Group), a third-party non-profit whose mission is to safeguard human health and the environment. Not only that, but Beautycounter also has a dedicated internal staff devoted to changing U.S. regulations for the skincare industry so that other companies can be held to the same standards they've set for themselves. Every so often on Heart of Happy I plan to post a "Beautycounter Sidenote" to highlight a product that I love and explain why it's worked for me. Because, truly, even though the backbone of this company is safety, it also makes a point to ensure all products are as effective as any other high quality brand, if not more. And I can speak from experience—after using this line my skin has never looked healthier. I'll save my gush-moments for individual product highlights, but for now I'd love to share this limited promo, which ends in just 3 days, June 30. If you know anyone who's expecting, perk up those ears: Beautycounter partnered up with Serena & Lily to present a new baby gift basket for all of you who are welcoming tiny faces into the world! It includes Beautycounter's baby wash, soothing balm, and baby oil as well as an incredible little basket and Serena & Lily style blanket, sleeper, and a knotted hat. I mean, I'm jealous of this welcome basket and I don't even have baby fever, yet. It's all being sold for $195 on Serena & Lily, but if you use the code XXK-2MD-Q24-N5W at check out, you get 20% off! That's $39 in savings. The only downside to buying this is that every other new-ish mom you know is going to wonder why you didn't do something as cool for them—but there's always a retroactive gift?! More good vibes to follow! xo,