I spent final weekend in Charlotte, NC, experiencing the Beautycounter LEAD Conference. Here’s the recap!
My First LEAD
I’ve been part of Beautycounter for four-and-a-half years – since 2019 once I determined I had higher begin caring extra concerning the high quality of the merchandise I used to be placing throughout my physique. But this was my first LEAD Conference! We missed just a few IRL years through the pandemic, and final 12 months I couldn’t make it to Austin attributable to our household seaside journey. I knew this 12 months’s occasion could be nice, and it WAS! Watch my recap video right here.
Traveling To Charlotte
Luckily I didn’t must journey far. I drove the boys all the way down to my dad and mom’ home on Thursday night time, acquired them settled for his or her two-week keep, and on Friday drove to Charlotte to satisfy my sister at her home and take a Lyft to the JW Marriott for the weekend. Here’s the recap!
2023 Beautycounter LEAD Conference Recap
Just like blogger conferences are magical conferences of digital associates in actual life, this convention was no completely different! Brand Advocates from all around the nation flew to Charlotte for 3 days of audio system, periods, and connection.
LEAD was open solely to leaders within the firm, however now all consultants can attend. There’s additionally a digital choice for many who aren’t capable of journey.
KERF Loves Hillary
I used to be tremendous excited to spend time with (and room with!) my superb digital assistant Hillary! She’s been part of crew KERF for nearly 5 years. I’m so grateful for her! We discuss on voxer on a near-daily foundation, and whereas we predict we met at a blogger convention years in the past, this was our first time actually getting to hang around in individual.
Opening Session
The opening session began Friday at 3pm with a welcome from Beautycounter’s founder, Gregg Renfrew. Gregg stepped again final 12 months to offer area to a brand new CEO who has since left. The complete group was so glad to see Gregg again. The firm will not be the identical with out her.
Gregg reminded us why many people partnered with Beautycounter within the first place: to get safer merchandise into the arms of everybody. What drew me to Beautycounter was not simply the truth that I wanted new sunscreen and moisturizer, however that I needed to assist advocate for responsibly sourced and examined substances, transparency in perfume, and sustainable packaging.
You might purchase lotions and serums in one million completely different locations. Beauty merchandise are bought in every single place, similar to there’s a espresso store on each nook. But we all know all espresso will not be roasted, brewed, or sourced equally. Beautycounter is a B company, placing individuals and planet earlier than revenue. And our merchandise are superb – I’ve beloved utilizing them for 4+ years. By offering options for all ages and varieties of pores and skin, Beautycounter is advocating on behalf of everybody to make all magnificence clear magnificence.
At the top of the session, we had been every gifted a Countertime Regimen! A reminder that the fundamentals matter as a lot because the shiny new merchandise.
Cocktail Party
We had a cocktail get together reception for dinner that night time – full with B cupcakes!
Saturday AM
We had been up early on the lookout for espresso on Saturday morning. I had a Starbucks reward card so I headed there for espresso and got here again with some bland oatmeal for breakfast.
Day 2: Advocating For Clean
Then it was time for day 2! Our session opened with a chat from Lindsey Dahl who’s the previous Head of Mission for Beautycounter. (She now works at Ritual Supplements, which makes me need to drop the whole lot and check out them.) I belief Lindsay’s opinion on any model extra than simply about anybody! She has 20+ years of expertise advocating for safer client merchandise by way of coverage and market change. (Read extra right here.)
She spoke about what it means to be clear in an trade the place the phrase clear is completely unregulated. Maybe you’ll acknowledge a few of the manufacturers on this chart:
She additionally shared how Beautycounter’s requirements for issues like ingredient testing and sustainability (and extra) are greater than most firms who merely donate 1% to the planet (which is nice! But could possibly be higher.). No firm is ideal, however I’m very pleased with what Beautycounter has completed in its first 10 years.
Coming Soon!
And simply earlier than lunch – Beautycounter introduced an enormous new product class launch that I’m SOOOO enthusiastic about!!!
Group Lunch
We went out to lunch as a gaggle for extra bonding time <3
And then poked round within the Counter Hub the place there have been a lot of enjoyable issues to play with!
Breakout Sessions
There had been quite a lot of breakout periods on matters like skincare fundamentals, programs in your enterprise, and variety and inclusion.
I attended a session on “How To Use Inclusive Language” that was very useful with language round gender, holidays, and different numerous classes.
The Impact Scholarship
Beautycounter has a DE&I crew (variety, fairness and inclusion) and the corporate has been working to extend variety amongst model advocates for years now. At the discuss, I heard a number of advocates say that the group appears a lot completely different (extra numerous) than it did just some years in the past. One of the methods they’ve been doing that is by way of the Impact Scholarship.
The Impact Scholarship is a program designed to assist fairness efforts and broaden presence in underrepresented communities. To date, Beautycounter has been capable of welcome greater than 200 BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled Brand Advocates by way of this system.
How? Each month from the 1st-Eighth, those that determine with one of many underrepresented communities can apply for the scholarship, and if chosen, will obtain the whole lot you want to begin a clear magnificence enterprise and grow to be a Beautycounter Brand Advocate – for FREE. (That’s price greater than $1300 in product.) If you’re taken with making use of, study extra right here. I’d be completely happy to speak to you extra about it too!
My sister and I went to the room to dress up after which headed to a reception placed on by the DE&I crew.
Dinner at Caroline’s
We then went again to the resort (prompting me to vary out of heels and into flats!) and had dinner at Caroline’s Oyster Bar.
Saturday Night Fever
The get together of the night time was disco-themed, so individuals in every single place had been in sequins. Check out our disco ball! They had an open bar and handed desserts. Plus a lot of dancing!
We had numerous enjoyable enjoying on the steps as we headed again to the resort : )
Farewell Morning
Hillary and I lastly had an honest cup of espresso and scrumptious breakfast at Not Just Coffee. That yogurt bowl!
@HelloFears
We wrapped up the weekend with a session by Michelle Poler who documented 100 days of fears and is now an inspirational speaker. She left us with an additional dose of confidence. Her discuss with actually entertaining and humorous!
Beautycounter LEAD Conference: The End.
It was an epic weekend by way of and thru! The Beautycounter mission is greatest powered by individuals by way of the influence of storytelling. I heard so many tales this weekend of 100 completely different explanation why girls had been known as in to work with this firm, together with breast most cancers, changing into a mom, or dropping a mom. Everyone already makes use of private care merchandise. Maybe switching to safer is likely to be one thing you are feeling known as to do.
Whether you’re a follower who reads my posts, a first-time or loyal consumer, or a future Advocate – thanks on your assist.
