Function of Beauty
Function of Beauty is cruelty free, vegan, made with clean ingredients, and a packaging innovator.
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About Function of Beauty
Function of Beauty operates as a direct-to-consumer personalized beauty brand that has carved out a distinctive position in the haircare market through its customization technology and clean ingredient approach. The company's proprietary quiz-based formulation system allows customers to create tailored hair, skin, and body care products, differentiating itself in an increasingly crowded beauty landscape through mass customization rather than mass production.
The brand demonstrates strong performance in product safety and ethical formulation, with comprehensive ingredient vetting protocols and third-party verification for cruelty-free and vegan standards. Function of Beauty's sustainability efforts center primarily on packaging innovation, achieving a significant environmental milestone by transitioning to 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and eliminating hundreds of thousands of pounds of virgin resin annually.
As an independent company founded in 2015, Function of Beauty has scaled rapidly to major retail partnerships while maintaining its core commitment to personalized, clean beauty formulations. However, the brand's sustainability profile reveals a focused approach that prioritizes product-level improvements over broader environmental and social impact programs, presenting opportunities for expanded sustainability leadership as the company continues to grow.
The Good Stuff
Where Function of Beauty appears to be making meaningful progress. We cross-referenced these findings with multiple independent sources.
Comprehensive Vegan Formulation Standards
All hair, skin, and body care products maintain zero animal-derived ingredients with third-party verification ensuring complete vegan compliance across the entire product line.
Post-Consumer Recycled Packaging Innovation
Partnership with Amcor delivers 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles for standard sizes, eliminating approximately 350,000 pounds of virgin plastic resin annually while maintaining premium packaging quality.
Expert-Reviewed Ingredient Safety Protocols
Rigorous ingredient vetting process includes toxicologist review, compliance with strict US and EU regulations, and exclusion of 45 problematic ingredients commonly found in conventional hair care products.
The Reality Check
Areas where the publicly available data gets murky, incomplete, or concerning. We're transparent about the limitations of our analysis.
Climate Action Initiative Void
No disclosed carbon emissions data, science-based climate targets, or renewable energy commitments, representing a significant gap in environmental accountability for a growing beauty brand.
Supply Chain Transparency Deficit
Absence of independent supply chain audits, labor practice disclosures, or supplier transparency initiatives beyond basic ingredient safety verification.
Conservation Impact Absence
No evidence of water stewardship programs, biodiversity protection initiatives, or wildlife conservation partnerships despite operating in ingredient-intensive beauty manufacturing.
Function of Beauty's
Impact Aura
A visual representation of Function of Beauty's positive impact
across People, Planet and Animals
Each colored area represents the brand's performance in that sustainability category. The size and intensity of each blob corresponds to their score—larger, more vibrant areas indicate stronger performance.
Our Research
Key findings from our comprehensive analysis of Function of Beauty's sustainability performance across People, Planet & Animals impact.
Positive Impact on People
Research Highlights
- Ingredient safety protocols include review by expert toxicologists and compliance with strict US and EU cosmetic regulations
- Product formulations exclude 45 commonly problematic ingredients through comprehensive banned-ingredient list
- Marketing claims align with verifiable certifications including sulfate-free, paraben-free, and vegan formulations
- Labor practices and supply chain transparency lack independent verification or public disclosure
Evidence Strength
Strong documentation for ingredient safety and product formulation standards, with significant gaps in labor and supply chain verification
Positive Impact on Planet
Research Highlights
- Packaging innovation achieves 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles, eliminating approximately 350,000 pounds of virgin resin annually
- Partnership with Amcor demonstrates measurable environmental impact through premium-grade recycled materials
- Chemical responsibility includes comprehensive ingredient vetting and toxicologist review for safety compliance
- Climate action initiatives remain undisclosed with no published carbon targets or emissions data
- Water stewardship and biodiversity protection programs show no evidence of implementation
Evidence Strength
Excellent documentation for packaging sustainability and chemical safety, with complete absence of climate and environmental stewardship programs
Positive Impact on Animals
Research Highlights
- Independent cruelty-free verification through recognized third-party certification programs
- Complete vegan formulation across all hair, skin, and body care products with zero animal-derived ingredients
- Comprehensive no-testing policy extends to raw materials and supplier relationships
- Wildlife conservation and habitat protection initiatives show no disclosed partnerships or funding
Evidence Strength
Comprehensive third-party verification for cruelty-free and vegan standards, with gaps in broader animal welfare and conservation support
See the Receipts
We don't just make claims—here are the official certifications that prove Function of Beauty's sustainability commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Function of Beauty sustainable?
Function of Beauty demonstrates strong sustainability performance in specific areas, particularly vegan formulations and packaging innovation using 100% post-consumer recycled materials. However, the brand's sustainability approach focuses primarily on product-level improvements rather than comprehensive environmental programs, with notable gaps in climate action and supply chain transparency.
Is Function of Beauty cruelty-free?
Yes, Function of Beauty maintains independent third-party verification for cruelty-free standards through recognized certification programs. The brand's no-testing policy extends comprehensively to raw materials and supplier relationships.
Are Function of Beauty products vegan?
All Function of Beauty hair, skin, and body care products are completely vegan with zero animal-derived ingredients. The brand maintains third-party verification for vegan standards alongside its cruelty-free certifications.
What makes Function of Beauty's packaging sustainable?
Function of Beauty has transitioned to 100% post-consumer recycled PET bottles for standard product sizes, eliminating approximately 350,000 pounds of virgin plastic resin annually. This partnership with Amcor represents a significant environmental impact reduction in beauty packaging.
Does Function of Beauty use clean ingredients?
Function of Beauty maintains comprehensive ingredient safety protocols including expert toxicologist review and exclusion of 45 problematic ingredients commonly found in conventional hair care. Products comply with both US and EU cosmetic safety regulations.
What sustainability certifications does Function of Beauty have?
Function of Beauty holds third-party verification for cruelty-free and vegan standards through recognized certification programs. The brand also meets 'Clean at Sephora' retailer standards but lacks broader environmental certifications for climate or social impact.
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The Bottom Line
Function of Beauty excels in product-level sustainability through comprehensive vegan formulations, cruelty-free verification, and innovative packaging using 100% post-consumer recycled materials. The brand's sustainability approach remains narrowly focused, with significant opportunities for expansion into climate action, supply chain transparency, and broader environmental stewardship programs.
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