Jenny Hill
Cass Carrier:
Jenny Hill , natural beauty advocate, mountain lover, and Skynyrd fan.
1. Tell us a little about your current work and/or passion project?
I am celebrating my 10-year anniversary with Beautycounter this year as an environmental health educator and clean beauty advocate. I am more invigorated than ever before to educate, empower and inspire others to make healthier choices in their lives. Beautycounter is a mission-based company located in Santa Monica and a leader in the clean beauty space. We sell skincare, cosmetics, sunscreen & body care for the entire family. We are a certified B Corp (for people, planet, and profit), EWG Verified and do a lot of advocacy work to help change our outdated health protective laws that currently regulate the industry. This includes helping to pass 11 laws in 10 years including the most recent Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA) of 2022, marking the first meaningful update to federal cosmetics laws in more than 84 years. We are also a sustainable company and by 2025 100% of our packaging will be recycled, recyclable, refillable, reusable, or compostable.
2. What inspires you to do what you do?
After losing my beloved Mom to ovarian cancer, going through infertility, and having a son with special needs (all within 4 years), I realized that these things were not caused by genetics and that it was environmental. I have been on this journey ever since and “when we know better, we do better.”
I knew then that what we ate and put into our bodies played such an important role in living a healthy life and I’ve always been active and exercised daily. However, it wasn’t until I learned about Beautycounter that I realized what an important piece of the puzzle I was missing. Those who know me well, know how much I love to cook and how much pride I take in the healthy, real food I feed my family. However, knowing what we put ON our bodies is just as important as what we put in our bodies. After learning more about the Beautycounter movement, it completely resonated with me, and I felt passionate about educating others. I’ve always loved my products and use anywhere from 12-15 per day, although not once had I read a label or even looked at what ingredients were in my products until now.
For me it has been a slow process this past decade….buy organic, grow my own & shop local, goodbye Clorox & hello non-toxic cleaning products, 8 hours of sleep a must, drink more tea & less coffee, eat real food & less supplements, do more yoga and less cardio, drink ice-tea instead of diet coke, wine & fun only on the weekends, more almond milk & less soy, more water, only toes (and bring my own nontoxic polish) & no finger nails at the salon, hands free or home phone & no cell phone next to my ear, power it all down at night, no nitrates, no plastics & only glass, more plants & less meat, more dark chocolate and less sugar, less tv & more books, less stress & more mindfulness, no dairy, hike or walk each day with a friend (good for the soul) and now....only Beautycounter on my shelves!
3. Describe a favorite “self-care” routine/moment. I’ve really gotten into baths these past couple of years. In the past, I never took the time to stop and enjoy a bath. Now I look forward to the one night a week I allow myself a long soak in epsom salts and CBD. I took a bath every day when I was sick with Covid and could just visualize the toxins & illness leaving my body! I throw on our AHA mask and read a good book, watch a show, or scroll.
4. Name a song that revs you up and one that calms you down.
Uplifting: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Pumping up for work out or road trip: Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Calming: (the CD that was playing in my dad’s car when he died): Landslide by Fleetwood Mac - Live 1977
5. What outfit do you feel most authentically you in?
A strapless dress with flip flops. Or what you’ll catch me in most days if you bump into me around town- my workout clothes!
6. What are the “must-haves” in your bag?
In my Classic Cass, you will always find keys, wallet, Beautycounter Lip Gloss in Brûlée, Ray Ban aviator sunglasses, a brass gold cross that Lila made in Crafts that I carry for good luck, Beautycounter Hyaluronic lip balm and our Dew Skin tinted moisturizer SPF #4.
Off The Cuff:
Ocean, Mountain or Lake? I grew up camping & waterskiing on lakes, the ocean feeds my soul, but I plan to move to the mountains and live an active lifestyle in this next decade.
Beer, Wine or Cocktail? Wine but also love a good clean tequila drink
Butter Or Olive Oil? Olive Oil (by the growler from Amphora)
Tea Or Coffee? Coffee in AM & iced Tea in afternoon
Pen Or Pencil? Pen it in always!
Nude Or painted lips? Nude (or with a light gloss or balm from Beautycounter)
Newspaper, NPR or no news? NY times in my inbox and Lester Holt in the evening
Rock Or Rap? Rock (prefer soft or yacht to hard)
Dark Or Milk Chocolate? Darkest possible!
Thank you Jenny for sharing your story.
Jenny forgot to mention that she’s an amazing cook. Be sure to check out what she’s creating in the kitchen here and shop Beautycounter here. I’m a fan.