Cleaner, Safer, Better

If you’ve been following me over on Instagram, you know that our family recently embarked on a major diet change. For two of our family members, it was medically necessary. The learning curve to cut out gluten has been steep (oh pizza, I miss you), but it’s something we’ve been contemplating for more than a year. Well, that and a few other changes.

As the mom of six, I’ve always been hypersensitive to what we feed our bodies (inside and out). Occupational hazard. I think if you want anything to be sustainable, you have to take baby steps to get there. A whole host of radical changes just means you’ll be eating chocolate in a dark corner on day two because you fell off the bandwagon.

For us, we started with fitness. It’s been a game changer in that we’re stronger and healthier because we make moving our bodies a priority. Next, came diet. That’s a whole other blog post, y’all! And now, as my oldest girl is about to hit high school, comes what we put ON our bodies, namely skincare and makeup.

About a year ago I started hearing about a new makeup and skincare company that pledged safer beauty, cleaner solutions, less of a carbon footprint and strong advocacy for safer products. I was intrigued. So, I did what any rational person does these days and started stalking their web presence and diving into their business model. Then, I happened upon their “never list.”

A few months ago, I bought a few Beautycounter products to try them out and see if the hype was real. Namely, their color intense lipstick (9 to 5 is one of my favorites) and eye makeup remover. I have long given up that my skincare regimen will make me look 20 again. I’m 44, y’all. I care about the safety of the products that I put on my skin (and my girls).

Then, it was the highlighter palette and Counterman for the boys and Mr. Whitaker (they have beard oil, y’all!)

I’ve been a consumer of various brands of makeup and skincare my entire life (Lancome, Mary Kay, Makeup Forever, MAC, Maybelline, Cover Girl, Clinique – all of them!). In junior high, my mom was a makeup representative for a direct sales company and I learned the importance of taking good care of your skin, using quality products and perfecting application techniques. Never in a million years did I think I’d get to do that for my own girls. And for a company that does it so much better!

I continue to be impressed with Beautycounter. Don’t worry, I won’t become that annoying friend who sends you direct messages on Facebook. I’m telling you what I’m enjoying because I love it, truly. And if you love it, sweet. You know who can hook you up. And if you love what you have (it may be a long while before I give up my Definicils mascara), then you do you.

Once a month, on the first Saturday (today!) I’ll offer free shipping to the first five people who place an order on my website. It’s all shipped straight from Beautycounter; I don’t keep any inventory! And, if there’s something you want to try, holler and I can get a sample to you. Oh, and I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate over on Instagram today – woo hoo!

You’ll likely see the occasional post over on Instagram about specials or sales, but this blog will still be home to the sassy Kathryn you know and (hopefully) love. After all, we’ve got BBQ, faith, roadtrips, raising kids and cold beer to talk about. #theimportantthings

*affiliate links are here, but if you’ve known me a while you know I only brag about things I really, really love