FaceTheory: Serious about skincare and sustainability

Image source: FaceTheory website

It was nearly a year ago to the date when I first recommended FaceTheory as an effective and sustainable skincare line because of its quality ingredients, minimal plastic, and reasonable price point. I loved the brand then, but I love the brand even more today thanks to a sustainability glow up for the product containers. The thoughtful redesign shows the company is serious about reducing their carbon footprint and their commitment to phase out single-use plastics.

Cleansers and moisturizers now come in aluminum tubes instead of glass jars, and most caps are now aluminum instead of plastic. Compared to glass, aluminum requires less energy to recycle, has a higher recycling rate (76% vs. 33%), and being lightweight, requires less energy for transport. It's also less prone to breakage, especially if dropped on a tiled bathroom floor by wet, slippery hands.

Liquidy* things like serums, toners, and oils continue to come in recyclable glass containers. Glass weighs more than plastic, but unlike plastic, it doesn't leach toxic chemicals, has a higher recycling rate (33% vs. 5-6%), is infinitely recyclable, and doesn't contribute to the plastic pollution crisis. Lids, pumps, and pipets are either aluminum or plastic with glass, silicone, or plastic components. (Product images on the website do a good job showing the materials, but the section for container details doesn't always call out when plastic is used.)

After using the products for over two years I remain an avid fan. The product line is extensive, and the website has a handy Skin Quiz to help you find the products that suit your needs, whether you want a simple routine or want to take things to eleven.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOO5S4vxi0o

FaceTheory checks all the boxes that make it my sustainable skincare standard:

• Certified B Corporation (why this is a big deal)

• Highly recyclable product packaging and plastic-free shipping materials

• Carbon neutral shipping

• Skin-friendly, carefully sourced ingredients that are free from phenoxyethanol, parabens, silicone, and alcohol

• Certified vegan and cruelty-free: PETA approved, Leaping Bunny approved

• Concentrated, multifunctional formulas: You use less so they last longer

• 20% off discount for key workers and students; everyone else can get 20% off their first order. Ongoing, you can subscribe to save 15%, and build your own bundle to save 30%.

• Free shipping on orders of $50 or more

• 365-day money-back guarantee and free returns labels

  
  

Image source: FaceTheory website

In case you're curious, these are the products I use on the daily and buy on repeat:

• Glow-C Cream Cleanser: Gently cleans without over stripping.

• Glow-C Rebalancing Toner: Keeps both me and my husband from getting flaky.

• Peptide Firming Eye Cream: Every day, every night, always and without fail.

• Bakuchiol Firming Daily Moisturiser: Just the right amount of moisture for day.

• Peptide Firming Night Cream: A bit more luxuriant for night, but not too much.

• Lipabalm Nourishing Lip Treatment: Excellent non-plastic swap for the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask so I don't wake up with chapped, flaky lips.

• Glow-AHA Refining Body Cream: Possibly my favorite product. A friend called it "leather conditioner" (in a good way).

• Blusher with Ultra-Pigmented Gel Formulation: Sheer, buildable colors blend beautifully, and no need for a brush makes it great for travel. I'll never go back to powdered blush. (Currently not available, but expected back soon.)

  
  

One more thing: Sunscreen

Image sources: Raw Elements website (L) and Badger website (R)

The last step to any daytime skincare regime should be sunscreen, or your efforts will be for nothing. For reasons unknown to me, FaceTheory doesn't offer sunscreen so I searched elsewhere to fill this gap. My favorite finds have been Raw Elements Tinted Face Moisturizer SPF 30 and Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Tin SPF 40. Both products come in recyclable tins and provide broad spectrum protection using reef-friendly, mineral-based formulations. Neither go on chalky or leave you with that weird "covered in sunscreen" feel, and neither contain toxic chemicals, including those often used in sunscreens, such as oxybenzone, phthalates, parabens, bisphenol A, methylisothiazolinone, and retinyl palmitate.

*Yes, liquidy is a real word, although it's only recorded use was during the Middle English period (1150—1500) and it has since become obsolete.

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This article was originally published Aug 16, 2023.