The Makeup Edit from Counter (Formerly Beautycounter Flawless in Five)

Updated May 17, 2026

I’m still loving my current skincare routine (mostly Oliveda, reviewed here), but Counter just sent me a bunch of products to try, so I’ll report back if I still like them. I’m especially excited to try the Cleansing Oil, Skin Twin Foundation, and Sheer Genius Lipstick, since they were some of my favorites before Beautycounter shut down.

One of the biggest updates with the Beautycounter to Counter relaunch is the makeup starter set. It used to be called Flawless in Five. Now it’s called The Makeup Edit, and it’s been reworked to fit the new Counter lineup.

Here’s the short story: it’s still six makeup essentials at a discount, designed to be applied in about five minutes. The biggest change is the lip product. The set used to come with Beyond Gloss, but now you pick a Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick instead.

I’ll walk through what’s in the set, what I love, what I’d skip, and whether it’s worth it.

I also love Crunchi makeup, which is another clean brand that’s super high-performing. Read my Crunchi makeup review here.

A little backstory

I tried dozens of makeup brands and products for years (and spent hundreds of dollars in the process), but I never had a routine I actually liked. So I’d buy yet another product, hoping it would be the one. My goal was to look natural and put together. Not overdone. And I needed it to be easy.

It took a while, but I finally found a tinted moisturizer I loved (from an Instagram follower) at Beautycounter. I was hooked. I started trying the rest of the line and it checked all my boxes. Plus, it was cleaner beauty.

Back then, I bought one product at a time and built a routine over months. Now you can just grab the set and skip the trial and error.

What’s in The Makeup Edit

The whole idea is six products, five minutes, a flawless natural look. As a mom who also runs her own business, five minutes is about all I have for makeup most days. Here’s what you build:

1. Tinted Moisturizer or Foundation
2. Concealer
3. Lipstick
4. Blush
5. Mascara
6. Brow Gel

The set is $176. If you bought the six products individually, you’d spend more, so the savings are real. I don’t buy the set anymore since I purchase a la carte, but if you need a full routine and a product overhaul, this is a great place to start.

There’s also a smaller option called The Complexion Duo that’s just the foundation and concealer for $74.70. It’s a good option if you want to test the base products before going all in.

Now let’s get into each product. These photos are from the old brand (obviously) so I’ll snap new photos once I get them!

What’s included in Counter’s Makeup Edit?

Skin Twin Hydrating Foundation OR Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

You have two options for your base. The first is full coverage: Skin Twin Foundation, and the second is sheer coverage: Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer.

Skin Twin Hydrating Foundation

The Skin Twin Foundation is full-coverage and comes in 27 shades. It goes on smooth, lasts all day, and somehow stays lightweight. Not cakey. Not greasy. With 27 shades, your odds of finding a match are pretty good.

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer

The Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer was my gateway product. Out of all the tinted moisturizers I’ve tested, this wasn’t my personal favorite as it left my skin a little dry. That said, if you have combo or oily skin and you like sheer coverage, you’ll love this. Plus, it has SPF, which is a huge win.

Dew Skin only comes in 8 shades, but the formula is forgiving since it’s so sheer. It blends in nicely (no neckline), and as long as you’re close to your skin tone, you’ll be just fine.

Skin Twin Creamy Concealer

Next up, the Skin Twin Creamy Concealer. There are 20 shades, so you can really find your match with the Shade Finder.

This concealer is creamy and breathable. It goes on smooth, feels light, and still gives medium to full coverage. It also has knotgrass extract to help skin look firmer over time. Skincare and makeup in one.

I like that it’s easy to build for more coverage when I need it.

Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick

This is the new one in the set. The old Flawless in Five included Beyond Gloss. The Makeup Edit swaps it for Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick, and I’m into it.

I’m a big fan of lip color to finish a look. Sheer Genius is sheer (as the name suggests), so you get pretty color without a heavy lipstick feel. It’s conditioning, so your lips don’t dry out. If you want a finishing pop of color that doesn’t feel like a commitment, this is it.

Cheeky Clean Cream Blush

I really love this cream blush. It gives a pretty flush of color and blends easily. It also stays hydrating all day, which is important for me since I have dry skin. To apply, tap your finger into the blush, then tap the apples of your cheeks and blend up toward your temples. (Here are more cream blushes I love.)

There are 8 shades, and Counter will recommend one based on your foundation. My personal favorites are chai and paloma.

Think Big All-In-One Mascara

Think Big has rave reviews, but I don’t use it since it smudges on me, but every oil-soluble mascara smudges on me (I can only wear tubing mascaras). If most mascaras smudge on you too, this one probably will.

But, that said, it’s dark, bold, lengthening, and high impact.

Brilliant Brow Gel

Filling in my eyebrows is essential for me (especially as I age and my brows are getting lighter) and the Brilliant Brow Gel is like mascara for your eyebrows.

It’s weird at first to see your brows filled in. But it really does help your eyes pop since brows frame your face. And as we age, our brows get thinner and lighter, so a little tint goes a long way.

Brush it through, starting from the middle (not the part nearest your nose, that gets too dark). The gel holds your brows in place and the color tints them just a little. There are 4 shades. I’d pick something close to your hair color.

Is The Makeup Edit worth it?

Maybe. It depends on what kind of makeup person you are. If you only want one or two items, I’d buy them separately and skip the set.

But if you don’t want to think about a whole routine, and shopping for makeup feels overwhelming, then yes. You’ll get all the basics for a simple, pretty look. A few honest notes on the products though:

1. Mascara: I personally don’t like it, but lots of people love it. The test? If most mascara smudges on you, this one probably will too. You’ll have better luck with a tubing mascara.
2. Foundation: This was actually the first foundation I ever liked, and I still use it years later. It’s in my regular rotation, but it’s not my number one of all foundations.
3. Tinted Moisturizer: I loved Dew Skin for years, but as I’m nearing 40, I prefer ILIA Skin Tint since it’s more hydrating.
4. Concealer: I loved this for years, but now I prefer the heavier coverage from Tarte Shape Tape. If you want light to medium that’s easy to blend, you’ll like Skin Twin.
5. Lipstick: This is the new one, and I think it’s a real upgrade over the gloss the set used to come with.

I’m a bit of a makeup junkie, and I’m constantly trying different brands. If that sounds awful to you, the Counter products are absolutely solid, and you’ll like them. Well, except maybe the mascara. I’ve warned you.

Shop The Makeup Edit here.

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