Beautycounter Founder Gregg Renfrew Gives Us a Lesson in Polished Beauty
When eco-minded entrepreneur Gregg Renfrew learned about the lack of regulation in the cosmetics industry, she rolled up her sleeves and went to work, launching her clean beauty line, Beautycounter in 2013—and starting the Never List, an inventory of more than 1,500 potentially harmful chemicals the company won’t use. (In contrast, the FDA bans only 11 of them.) Since then, she’s lobbied Congress to increase oversight and enact the bipartisan Personal Care Product Safety Act, all while running a company that’s created nearly 30,000 commission-based sales-consultant jobs across the country. To look polished while lifting up women and making the world a safer (and more radiant) place, the mom of three wears timeless pieces, like a Stella McCartney blazer, with jeans and “a little surprise”—say, an animal-print heel or statement necklace. “I want women to be confident in their skin,” she says, “whether that means feeling sexy on Friday night or beautiful on Sunday morning.”
Here's she tells us about some of her must-haves.
[SHOP: Jessica Alba's Favorite Products]
Her Essentials
“I’m anti–fast fashion. I try to be mindful of buying pieces that last.”
BeoPlay H8i headphones, $399, .
“They come in the perfect beige. I’ll put them on and zone out to everything from Snoop Dogg to Fleetwood Mac to my all-time favorite, U2.”
Stella McCartney Ingrid jacket, $1,095, www.net-a-porter.com.
“I love her aesthetic, and her commitment to the environment and sustainability.”
Loren Stewart Disk & Toggle front-closure necklace, from $400, www.net-a-porter.com.
“I haven’t taken it off since buying it a few years ago. I layer other jewelry on top.”
Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee, Grand Central Publishing, 2017; $27, indiebound.com.
“I’m a voracious reader. I can’t wait to dive into this novel next.”
Beautycounter Sheer Lipstick, in Twig, $32, beautycounter.com.
“It’s my daytime lip and cheek color.”
[Safe Beauty: We Rounded Up the Best Natural Sunscreens for Everyday Use]
Benjamin Moore paint, in Old Navy and Calm, benjaminmoore.com.
“We used Old Navy as an accent at the office. Calm, an off-white, has been my favorite wall color for I can’t remember how long.”
Madewell Northside vintage tee, $14.50, madewell.com.
“This supersoft shirt is a staple in my wardrobe.”
Côte No. 25 Nail Polish, $18, coteshop.co.
“Nail polish is like an accessory to me, and this is one of the cleanest brands out there. I always wear this color on my toes.”
Beautycounter Cleansing Balm, $80, beautycounter.com.
“I have very dry skin and travel all the time. I use it as a cleanser to make my skin feel dewy, or leave it on overnight for extra moisture.”
AYR The Bomb Pop jeans, $245, shopbop.
“I probably have 20 pairs of jeans and particularly like AYR’s fit and washes.”
[WASH: Denim Care Tips to Maintain Your Favorite Jeans]
Corroon Camo Big Daddy tote, $500, corroon.com.
“This is a great catchall for the plane. It holds everything—shoes, handbag, laptop—and then some.”
LSA Lotta cake and cheese dome, $98.74,
“I put cookies and cakes in here. It’s chic and multipurpose.”
Tulips
“They’re my go-to centerpiece.”
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, $30, astorwines.com.
“To unwind, I’ll blast music with my family and maybe have a glass of this wine.”
Sam Edelman Patti ankle-strap sandals, $120, samedelman.com.
“I love leopard-print shoes—sandals, pumps, anything.”
