Beautycounter | Countermatch Skincare Collection: Review

Disclaimer: The products featured were provided for review.

Recently, Beautycounter has added a brand new skincare collection to its catalogue. Boasting a "breakthrough bio-mimic technology" that adapts and provides the skin with just the right amount of hydration, nutrition, and oxygenation, the Countermatch Collection sure sounds intriguing. I've had a few weeks to fully test out the collection so to read my review of all four pieces, click......

The collection starts with the Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum ($58 CAD for 30ml). Housed in an elegant and convenient glass dropper bottle, this serum is designed to boost hydration while providing antioxidant properties. Formulated with two types of hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid), aloe juice, plum seed extract, beetroot-derived arginine (an amino acid required for skin regeneration), vitamin E, and vitamin C (specifically tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a type of lipid-soluble vitamin C believed to have a better absorption rate), the Intense Moisture Serum is runny and lightweight. It absorbs very quickly and as far as I can tell from the ingredient list, the formulation has very small amounts of alcohol and silicone (which tend to be heavily used in serums). I use at least two pumps (the dropper doesn't pick up a lot) for my entire face and after application, my skin feels immediately moisturized. The finish is a little tacky but not at all greasy.

Beautycounter | Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum & Eye Rescue Cream

Aside from the two moisturizers which I will talk about shortly, Beautycounter has included a specific moisturizer designed just for the eye area. Made with rice-derived phytic acid (an antioxidant), olive-derived squalane, shea butter, macadamia oil, aloe juice, and vitamin E, the Countermatch Eye Rescue Cream ($47 CAD for 15ml) comes in a squeeze tube that is paired with a pump dispenser. Although the eye cream looks rather solid and viscous when first dispensed, it spreads very nicely and doesn't feel heavy or greasy. It partly absorbs and partly sits atop the skin, creating a hydrating, protective barrier that gives the eye area a plump and nourished appearance in the morning.

Beautycounter | Countermatch Recovery Sleeping Cream & Adaptive Moisture Lotion

Now moving on to the two face moisturizers. First up is the Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion ($60 CAD for 50ml). Released on its own a couple months prior to the rest of the collection, this is a lightweight day lotion formulated with phytic acid, plum seed extract, squalane, shea, aloe juice, and vitamin E. Both in terms of packaging and formulation, the Adaptive Moisture Lotion is not too different from the Eye Rescue Cream. However, there must be some variation in the ratio of the ingredients as the lotion has a noticeably lighter texture. I have fairly oily skin so dryness is not something I struggle too much with. However, the Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion still makes a difference in terms of keeping my skin feeling hydrated and nourished all day. With that said, the formulation feels just a bit greasy if I'm not too careful with applying only a thin layer. For someone with normal to oily skin, this probably works just fine for the nighttime as well.

Beautycounter | Countermatch Skincare Collection

Last but not least is the Countermatch Recovery Sleeping Cream ($67 CAD for 15ml). Advertised as the night version of the Adaptive Moisture Lotion, this face cream comes in an airless press-to-dispense container. Formulated with a higher proportion of shea butter, the cream also contains phytic acid, plum seed extract, arginine, squalane, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and vitamin E. In a way, this is sort of a combination of the serum and the lotion, although there is no vitamin C in the ingredients. As expected, the cream has a heavier texture, but that's perfectly acceptable for a nighttime moisturizer. Similar to the lotion, this is very hydrating and nourishing. My skin feels completely rested and refreshed in the morning time.
Overall this is a very solid collection! The "bio-mimic" pitch may be a little far-fetched but the formulation relies on some genuinely nourishing and hydrating ingredients instead of alcohol and silicone fillers. The Rescue Eye Cream and the Recovery Sleeping Cream may be a bit redundant given their similarity to the lotion so I would recommend using just the Adaptive Moisture Lotion during the day and pairing it with the Intense Moisture Serum at night. If you are looking for a hydrating skincare regimen that's simple yet effective, then definitely give this collection a try!

Availability:
Beautycounter is available at www.beautycounter.com.