While turning 60 was not among my “top five challenges” last year, it did spark some urgency to streamline my values and shape a new sense of purpose. I’ve been a greenie long before sustainability was a household word and climate change a real and recognized thing. Ten years ago I discovered a little book that opened my eyes to all I could accomplish with six household staples. Vinegar, salt and baking soda are a bit harsh and limited for a skincare routine, regardless of your age. I spent the following decade sampling scores of beauty treatments and products at the expense of my health, values and budget, and guess what? None of them worked.

Giving up on “tried-and-true” snake oils, I turned my focus to skincare and makeup products that don’t test on animals. Not only did this journey lead me to a broad and complicated definition of “cruelty free,” but my research unveiled the appalling disregard for human health and safety within the cosmetic industry—especially in the United States. Enter Beautycounter.

Founded in 2013 by Gregg Renfrow, Beautycounter not only pioneered clean beauty, but continues to push the envelope with a mission to get safer personal care products into the hands of everyone. What’s more, their products perform well—I can see a visible difference in the appearance of my skin since I switched to Beautycounter a year ago. And of course, that makes me feel better, from the inside out.