There’s no doubt Beautycounter has an amazing mission — to create safe products for everyone — but my question was: Do the products really work? Keep reading for my honest opinion about the makeup I tested.

Beautycounter Makeup Review | Jessi Russell

Beautycounter Makeup Review | Jessi Russell

Thank you to Beautycounter consultant Paulina Colton for sending me products to try! Note: I am not a Beautycounter consultant and all thoughts are my own.

I’m all about testing new beauty products, but I was especially excited to try makeup from Beautycounter because of the brand’s mission to deliver safer skincare and beauty products to consumers — there’s even a Never List of ingredients you won’t find in any Beautycounter product.

Here are a couple alarming facts about the beauty industry from the company’s website:

The United States has not passed a major federal law to regulate the safety of ingredients used in personal care products since 1938.

There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don’t have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry.

If you’re like me, after reading that, you can’t help but wonder how the products you currently use are affecting your health. But I also wanted to know… Do these Beautycounter products with “safer” ingredients perform as well as my longtime favorites? Here’s a rundown of which products I loved and which ones I didn’t.

Beautycounter Makeup Review | Jessi Russell
Beautycounter Makeup Review | Jessi Russell

Beautycounter Products I Loved

Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage in No. 2: I have oily skin, so I’m always on the hunt for products that last and don’t make me look shiny by the afternoon. This tinted moisturizer aced the test! I didn’t need to add powder throughout the day to keep from looking oily. As with any tinted moisturizer, the coverage is pretty light. If you prefer more coverage, try a foundation instead.

Matte Bronzer in No. 2: I really liked this bronzer and found it easy to apply for a subtle, natural glow. Again, since I have oily skin, I like to avoid using too many shimmery products that accentuate my pores. This bronzer has a shimmer-free finish but still makes the skin look sun-kissed.

Powder Blush Duo in Bloom/Tulip: This blush was my favorite Beautycounter product I tried. It gave my cheeks a natural-looking flush. Both mauve shades in the compact I used are pretty, but I loved the look I got by mixing the two together.

Beautycounter Products I Didn’t Love

Volumizing Mascara: Unfortunately, this mascara didn’t wow me… Even with two coats, I didn’t feel like I even had mascara on my lashes. For me, this product also didn’t live up to its name, which promised to add volume. If you, like me, prefer dramatic lashes, try the Bobbi Brown Eye Opening Mascara or the Maybelline Full ‘n’ Soft Mascara instead.

Touchup Skin Concealer Pen: I didn’t completely dislike this product. It did provide good coverage under my eyes and I was happy with it when I first applied the product in the morning. But it landed on the Didn’t Love list because the concealer settled into the fine lines under my eyes throughout the day — something my favorite under-eye concealer by BareMinerals doesn’t do.

Get the Look

So, what’s the verdict? For me, the bronzer and blush were a big win! I recommend both if you’re looking for beauty products without harmful ingredients. You can click on any of the images below to shop the products I’m wearing in this post. For more tips on how to create a natural, everyday makeup look, check out this tutorial and how-to guide.