My Plans During the Pause
June 5, 2024
Before I share my 3 favorite things this week, I want to share a vulnerable update. As many of you know Beautycounter is on a prolonged pause. The past few weeks since that happened have been a whirlwind with the last days of school, dance recitals, renovating a house, all while trying to research new opportunities to serve you.🤪 I needed time to process everything and it has been tough, but nothing tops losing my mom. In the hard moments I have learned I am resilient, I will keep going and serving you, and I will never give up. Here is a video sharing my heart and how I plan to move forward in the interim of Beautycounter's closure and why I have made this decision. If you would rather read than listen to me (you may be like my children in that respect) I have a few words below as well.
I have sat down to write this so many times but just couldn’t find the words. I knew I needed a week at my “laughing place” in Hilton Head to reflect before I could speak on what Beautycounter has meant to me and what it continues to mean to me. My oldest was 3 months old when I was sitting in her room rocking her and realized I couldn’t go back to my daily pediatric practice as a nurse practitioner. My husband walked in and saw tears in my eyes as I told him. I said, “I don’t know how we will do this financially but I can’t leave her. I feel like I am supposed to stay home with her.” It was one of those moments in life you will never forget. He looked at me and said, “Then we will figure it out. It seems pretty clear this is what you feel lead to do.” So I proceeded to make hard phone calls as I walked a way from a dream career of over 10 years in pediatric practice.
One month later I decided to partner with Beautycounter after learning that many of the brands I was recommending and prescribing to my patients contained harmful endocrine disrupting chemicals. Some could even exacerbate the eczema or skin conditions we were trying to treat because of the preservatives being used. A friend reached out to me asking me to research this brand and give her my thoughts after joining my Natural Healthy Navigator Facebook Group. When I started this work 10 years ago, no one knew what “clean beauty” meant. People didn’t understand the need or value. I received a lot of “no’s” which was hard for this recovering people pleaser. But I just knew what I was doing and sharing was important. I knew it had lasting impacts on our health and the future health of our children.
Slowly but surely my team started to grow. People (you all🥰) began to listen and support the work we were doing by placing orders and voting with their hard earned dollars. They started referring their friends and family to me. People that originally told me no came back asking to lock arms and join as an advocate with us. All of a sudden this voice of 1 turned into a voice of over 1,000. I learned that my voice mattered. I learned I couldn’t worry about what others thought, I just had to share information that could impact the health and longevity of my friends and family. If you know better, you do better.
While doing this important work, lifelong friendships were made. I got to work with the most incredible women from all walks of life and careers. We learned together, grew together, and created a community we couldn’t walk away from because the doors of Beautycounter closed for a bit. The work we started isn’t finished. In fact it’s just getting started. We are now helping to educate other brands we are researching. We are helping our clients find their beloved products and finding swaps as they need them. Our education and advocacy continues. My work continues and the community of women I get to do life with every day has decided to stay together. As one of my dear teammates broke down in tears on one of our calls, I watched her mom walk in and hug her and I thought how much I wanted the comfort of my mom in this loss. We didn’t build these businesses alone, we built them with the support of our families and friends. Beauty will rise from the ashes. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support, thank you for shopping for your loved ones through me. Thank you for buying your holiday and hostess gifts with me. Every dollar spent mattered and created a lasting impact on our world. No one is doing exactly what Beautycounter did, but there are a lot of companies doing great things and I’m partnering with those brands, like Shaklee, to continue to serve you in the interim. It would be my honor to continue to have that opportunity. It is not a one stop shop like Beautycounter, so I will continue to be a resource for all aspects of healthy living and safer swaps.
Quick Note on Shaklee and I'll share more in subsequent emails:
💊They invented the first multi-vitamin.
🌱They were the very first company ever (EVER) to go carbon neutral!
🚫They not only have EWG Verified skincare, but their products are tested against 350 contaminants before, during, and after production.
👵🏻They've been around for 68 years. I love the longevity and stability. They have customers across all demographics but haven't broken into younger demographic … until now.
🔬Science backed and clinically tested. They have a Landmark 10 year study on their supplements with proven health benefits.
🫧They offer safe cleaning products and detergents for your home.
💞They stand by their products (only .02% are returned) and have an empty bottle guarantee!
💦Favorite Countermatch Swap:
Try Shaklee YOUTH Moisture Lock Day Cream: Rehydrate, revitalize, and refresh. Quenches thirsty skin, replenishes hydration, and protects skin from moisture loss. This soothing, refreshing facial moisturizer has a cloud-like texture and works with your serum to seal in potent actives for maximum benefits.
💛Favorite Brightening or Balancing Oil Swap:
Try Shaklee Pomifera Rose: Anti-Aging Serum and Complete Moisturizer: An antioxidant-rich essential oil face serum and moisturizer. Pomifera oil is a potent source of antioxidants, omega-6, and bioactives that has been clinically tested to improve the appearance of age spots, deep and emerging wrinkles, and fine lines. Pomifera Rose uses Pomifera oil and essential oils to deliver impressive results from simple ingredients that are kind to your skin and the planet. This lightweight serum can be used on its own to soften, smooth, and hydrate or can be incorporated into your existing routine to help you glow your best.
I add a few drops to my BB Cream with SPF in the AM and the Light Night Cream in the evenings – just as I did with the facial oils.
💪🏻Favorite Body Line Swaps:
Try Shaklee Revitalize Body Wash: A Creamy, Ultra-Nourishing Multivitamin Body Cleanser. Soothing botanicals, antioxidants, vitamins, and omega fatty acids revitalize the skin with nutrients and oils, leaving you feeling clean and replenished with a youthful, healthy glow. Super luxurious, clean scent.🥰
Shaklee Restore Body Serum: A Firming, Nutrient-Rich, Age-Defying Body Treatment. This silky serum helps slow the breakdown of collagen and protect against premature aging caused by free radicals with a patent-pending polyphenol blend, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide for younger, firmer-looking skin with better tone and texture.
Shaklee Nourish Body Lotion: A Luxurious, Long- Lasting Multivitamin Body Moisturizer. Seal in hydration with coconut and shea butter in an ultra-moisturizing lotion infused with antioxidants from a patent-pending polyphenol blend to help support the skin barrier and keep your skin looking younger and feeling smoother.
I actually prefer the Shaklee version of all three of these! My skin feels so hydrated in the morning. They are available in this Body Ritual Trio bundle for less.
