Melissa Hebeler / E!There's more to being a makeup maven than meets the eye.
Besides working with beautiful pigments and long-lasting formulas, Gregg Renfrew, founder and CEO of Beautycounter, makes certain her products uses as many certified organic and natural ingredients as possible. What does a day in the life of this trendsetter look like? Read on to find more—plus, her sage beauty advice.
What was your first job?
When I was in college, I wanted to go on Semester at Sea—so my mom told me I could go, but only if I paid for it myself. So my best friend and I started a cleaning company on Nantucket over summer break to help pay for it—and it covered the entire cost and then some. After I graduated college, I started in the sales training program at Xerox selling printers in the fashion district in NYC.
What is a typical day like for you?
Get up early (5:30-6 a.m.), make my organic Earl Grey tea with almond milk, work out (yell at husband as I try to work out and he's not making breakfast), two-second shower, hair in ponytail, make breakfast and lunch for my three kids, get kids to school, drive to work taking my first call of the day in the car.
Tell us about your office décor.
My interior designer friend Antony Todd has been helping with my office—we moved into these new offices in February, and it's still a work in progress but I feel like it's a true reflection of my style.
What inspired you to launch Beautycounter?
After watching An Inconvenient Truth, I became impassioned with the environmental health movement. I began the change with everything in my house—but when I looked for beauty products that were high performing and safe for my health, I saw a huge void in the marketplace, so I decided to create them myself.
What's the best part about your job?
Knowing the impact we are having on so many people's lives and knowing we are truly bringing high performing and safer products into the marketplace every single day.
What makeup trends are you loving right now? And which do you wish would go away?
As someone who believes in highlighting the natural beauty within each of us, I love that we're trending in an all-natural direction as women.
Name three beauty products a girl should have on her at all times:
Water (water and more water), Beautycounter Cleansing Balm and an eyebrow pencil.
What beauty tips did your mom tell you growing up? And what beauty advice will you pass on to your daughters?
You are what you eat. Don't smoke—it will give you wrinkles. I wish she had told me, which I'm trying to pass onto my daughters, is to stay out of the sun. And if you're ever in a pinch, you can use lipstick on your cheeks.
What's the most daring career risk you've ever taken?
The first, moving to Hong Kong by myself to work on Wall Street. And my most recent, trying to convince the world that we can make high-performing products that are safer for your health.
Who are some of your career heroes?
Mickey Drexler, my friend Lela Ros, Candice Kislack
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Stick with your gut.
If I wasn't doing this job, I would… be a rock star.
My favorite lipstick shade is… Beautycounter Lip Sheer in Twig.
List five things that are on your desk right now… Native Union phone, my iPhone, pictures of my kids, Beautycounter Lustro Face Oil, my toothbrush.
My favorite Instagram account is… India Hicks.