Glow Recipe
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About Glow Recipe
Glow Recipe positions itself as a leading clean skincare innovator, merging Korean beauty philosophy with fruit-powered formulations designed for visible glow results. Since its 2017 founding, the independent brand has carved out a distinctive niche in the competitive skincare market through its emphasis on effective clinical actives and transparent ingredient standards that exclude controversial chemicals like PFAS, parabens, and microplastics.
The brand's sustainability journey reflects both notable achievements and clear improvement opportunities. Glow Recipe demonstrates strong environmental commitments through verified carbon neutrality and responsible packaging initiatives, while maintaining rigorous cruelty-free standards through independent certification. However, significant gaps remain in supply chain transparency, biodiversity protection, and comprehensive vegan formulation.
As an independent company competing against beauty conglomerates, Glow Recipe leverages community-driven marketing and social impact programs to build brand loyalty, though its sustainability infrastructure still requires development in areas like labor practices verification and wildlife conservation support.
The Good Stuff
Where Glow Recipe appears to be making meaningful progress. We cross-referenced these findings with multiple independent sources.
Verified Carbon Neutral Operations
Achieved certified carbon neutrality through Change Climate with disclosed greenhouse gas inventory and science-based targets to halve emissions by 2030
Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free Certification
Maintains rigorous cruelty-free standards through independent Leaping Bunny verification covering all products and supply chain partners
PFAS-Free Clean Formulations
Comprehensive exclusion of PFAS, parabens, phthalates, microplastics, oxybenzone, and synthetic dyes across product range with predominantly vegan formulations
The Reality Check
Areas where the publicly available data gets murky, incomplete, or concerning. We're transparent about the limitations of our analysis.
Supply Chain Transparency Void
No publicly available supplier codes of conduct, audit documentation, or traceability systems to verify labor and sourcing practices
Biodiversity Impact Absence
No disclosed partnerships, funding, or initiatives supporting wildlife habitat protection, ecosystem restoration, or species conservation
Incomplete Vegan Formulation
One product contains honey without verified sustainable sourcing standards, preventing full vegan brand status despite otherwise plant-based formulations
Glow Recipe's
Impact Aura
A visual representation of Glow Recipe'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 Glow Recipe's sustainability performance across People, Planet & Animals impact.
Positive Impact on People
Research Highlights
- Ingredient safety demonstrates exclusion of PFAS, parabens, phthalates, microplastics, oxybenzone, and dyes across formulations
- Social impact includes $150,000 in combined product and monetary donations to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through 2023
- Marketing integrity commitments include avoiding perfectionist language and using unretouched skin imagery in campaigns
- Labor practices lack disclosed supplier codes of conduct or independent verification systems
- Supply chain transparency shows absence of publicly available supplier traceability or audit documentation
Evidence Strength
Strong documentation for ingredient standards and social programs, significant gaps in labor and supply chain verification
Positive Impact on Planet
Research Highlights
- Carbon neutrality achieved through Change Climate certification with disclosed greenhouse gas inventory and 2030 reduction targets
- Packaging innovation incorporates post-consumer recycled plastic, recycled cartons, and soy-ink printing
- Chemical responsibility demonstrates clean formulation standards excluding PFAS, oxybenzone, and microplastics
- Biodiversity protection shows no verifiable ecosystem partnerships or habitat restoration initiatives
- Water stewardship lacks disclosed conservation programs or usage reduction targets
Evidence Strength
Excellent verification for climate action and chemical standards, notable absence of biodiversity and water programs
Positive Impact on Animals
Research Highlights
- Rigorous cruelty-free standards verified through Leaping Bunny certification across products and supply chain
- Vegan formulation covers entire product range except one honey-containing sleeping mask
- Wildlife conservation shows no disclosed habitat protection or species conservation funding
- Sustainable sourcing lacks verified standards for honey and other animal-derived ingredients
- Conservation partnerships demonstrate absence of biodiversity or ecosystem support programs
Evidence Strength
Comprehensive third-party verification for cruelty-free practices, limited documentation for wildlife impact and conservation efforts
See the Receipts
We don't just make claims—here are the official certifications that prove Glow Recipe's sustainability commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glow Recipe sustainable?
Glow Recipe demonstrates strong performance in specific sustainability areas, particularly climate action and ingredient safety. The brand achieved verified carbon neutrality and maintains PFAS-free formulations, though gaps exist in supply chain transparency and biodiversity protection initiatives.
Is Glow Recipe cruelty-free?
Yes, Glow Recipe holds Leaping Bunny certification, the gold standard for cruelty-free verification. This independent certification confirms no animal testing across products, ingredients, and supply chain partners.
Are Glow Recipe products vegan?
Nearly all Glow Recipe products are vegan, with one exception: the Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask contains manuka honey. The brand has not disclosed sustainable sourcing standards for this animal-derived ingredient.
Is Glow Recipe PFAS-free?
Yes, Glow Recipe explicitly excludes PFAS (forever chemicals) from all formulations, along with parabens, phthalates, microplastics, oxybenzone, and synthetic dyes. These exclusions are documented across their product range.
Does Glow Recipe have sustainable packaging?
Glow Recipe incorporates post-consumer recycled plastic, recycled cartons, and soy-ink printing in packaging design. The brand also offers a TerraCycle take-back program for product recycling through third-party partnership.
What is Glow Recipe's social impact?
Through the Glow for Good program, Glow Recipe has donated significant product and monetary contributions to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The brand commits to donating at least 1% of sales annually through this initiative.
Is Glow Recipe carbon neutral?
Yes, Glow Recipe achieved certified carbon neutrality through Change Climate verification. The brand maintains a disclosed greenhouse gas inventory and has committed to science-based targets to halve emissions by 2030.
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The Bottom Line
Glow Recipe demonstrates solid sustainability performance in climate action, ingredient safety, and cruelty-free practices, backed by independent certifications and transparent standards. However, the brand requires significant development in supply chain verification, biodiversity protection, and comprehensive vegan formulation to achieve holistic sustainability leadership.
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