about-face
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About about-face
About-Face emerges in the color cosmetics landscape as an independent brand that balances bold creative expression with selective sustainability commitments. The brand demonstrates particular strength in ingredient transparency and animal welfare, maintaining verified cruelty-free and vegan formulations while publishing clear exclusions for controversial chemicals including PFAS compounds, phthalates, and parabens. This positions About-Face within the growing clean beauty segment, though with a focus on performance and pigment innovation rather than comprehensive sustainability.
Despite these meaningful commitments to ingredient safety and animal welfare, About-Face's sustainability profile reveals significant gaps in environmental and social responsibility. The brand operates without disclosed climate targets, supply chain transparency, or measurable social impact programs - areas increasingly expected from beauty brands positioning themselves as conscious choices. This selective approach to sustainability suggests About-Face prioritizes specific consumer concerns around ingredients and animal testing while remaining in early stages of broader environmental and social governance development.
The Good Stuff
Where about-face appears to be making meaningful progress. We cross-referenced these findings with multiple independent sources.
Verified Cruelty-Free & Vegan Standards
Independently certified through recognized third-party programs, confirming no animal testing across product development and suppliers, with fully vegan formulations throughout the entire range
Comprehensive Chemical Exclusions
Published restricted ingredient list explicitly excludes PFAS compounds, phthalates, and parabens across all products, demonstrating commitment to ingredient safety through transparent policies
Post-Consumer Recycled Packaging
Selective integration of post-consumer recycled plastic in packaging formats, including holiday gift sets, showing initial steps toward circular packaging solutions
The Reality Check
Areas where the publicly available data gets murky, incomplete, or concerning. We're transparent about the limitations of our analysis.
Climate Strategy Void
Absence of greenhouse gas emissions reporting, science-based targets, or renewable energy commitments leaves climate impact entirely unaddressed in brand operations
Supply Chain Opacity
No public supplier code of conduct, labor standards, audit summaries, or sourcing transparency disclosed, creating significant gaps in social responsibility verification
Environmental Program Gaps
Lack of water stewardship initiatives, biodiversity protection programs, or conservation partnerships indicates minimal engagement with broader environmental challenges
about-face's
Impact Aura
A visual representation of about-face'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 about-face's sustainability performance across People, Planet & Animals impact.
Positive Impact on People
Research Highlights
- Ingredient safety verified through published restricted list excluding PFAS compounds, phthalates, and parabens across all formulations
- Clean beauty positioning supported by transparent ingredient exclusion policies publicly available on brand platforms
- Labor practices disclosure remains minimal with no public supplier code of conduct or human rights policy identified
- Supply chain transparency notably absent with no audit summaries or sourcing standards disclosed
- Marketing claims for cruelty-free and vegan status substantiated through third-party verification programs
Evidence Strength
Strong documentation for ingredient safety and marketing claims, significant gaps in labor and supply chain verification with limited public disclosure of social impact initiatives
Positive Impact on Planet
Research Highlights
- Chemical responsibility demonstrated through comprehensive exclusion of PFAS, phthalates, and parabens with published restrictions
- Packaging shows selective use of post-consumer recycled plastic in specific product lines including holiday gift sets
- Climate action entirely absent with no greenhouse gas inventory, emissions targets, or renewable energy commitments disclosed
- Water stewardship and biodiversity protection lack any measurable initiatives or public commitments
- Environmental strategy shows strong chemical management but minimal engagement across other planetary boundaries
Evidence Strength
Robust verification for chemical policies, extremely limited documentation for climate, water, and biodiversity initiatives with no comprehensive environmental reporting
Positive Impact on Animals
Research Highlights
- Cruelty-free status independently verified through recognized third-party certification programs
- Complete vegan formulation confirmed across entire product portfolio with no animal-derived ingredients
- Sustainable sourcing inherently achieved through exclusive use of non-animal alternatives in all products
- Wildlife protection and conservation funding show no documented initiatives or partnerships
- Animal welfare commitment strong in product development but lacking in broader conservation support
Evidence Strength
Excellent third-party verification for cruelty-free and vegan claims, notable absence of wildlife conservation or habitat protection programs
See the Receipts
We don't just make claims—here are the official certifications that prove about-face's sustainability commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is About-Face sustainable?
Live By's assessment reveals About-Face demonstrates selective sustainability commitments, showing strong performance in cruelty-free standards, vegan formulations, and chemical transparency with verified PFAS-free and clean ingredient policies. However, the brand shows significant gaps in climate action, supply chain transparency, and environmental programs. Our analysis indicates About-Face prioritizes specific consumer concerns around ingredients and animal testing while remaining in early stages of comprehensive sustainability development.
Is About-Face cruelty-free and vegan?
Yes, About-Face maintains verified cruelty-free status through independent third-party certification programs and confirms all products are vegan with no animal-derived ingredients. Live By's research validates these claims through recognized certification databases, demonstrating the brand's commitment to animal welfare extends across product development and supplier requirements.
Does About-Face use clean ingredients?
About-Face publishes a comprehensive restricted ingredient list that excludes PFAS compounds, phthalates, and parabens across all formulations. Live By's analysis confirms the brand maintains transparent chemical policies and positions products as cleanly formulated, though independent safety verification beyond the brand's own standards remains limited.
What certifications does About-Face have?
According to Live By's research, About-Face holds verification through recognized cruelty-free and vegan certification programs. The brand maintains these animal welfare certifications but lacks environmental certifications such as climate neutral status or organic standards, reflecting their focused approach to specific sustainability areas.
Does About-Face use sustainable packaging?
Live By's assessment finds About-Face demonstrates selective use of post-consumer recycled plastic in certain packaging formats, including holiday gift sets. However, the brand lacks comprehensive packaging sustainability targets, recycled content commitments across all products, or refillable systems that would indicate a fully circular packaging approach.
How does About-Face address climate change?
Live By's research reveals About-Face currently operates without disclosed climate initiatives, greenhouse gas emissions reporting, or science-based targets. The brand shows no public commitments to renewable energy, carbon neutrality, or climate action plans, representing a significant gap in environmental responsibility compared to leading sustainability practices in the beauty industry.
Is About-Face PFAS-free?
Yes, About-Face explicitly excludes PFAS compounds including PFOA, PFOS, and PTFE across all products through their published restricted ingredient list. Live By's analysis confirms this commitment represents one of the brand's strongest sustainability positions, addressing growing concerns about forever chemicals in cosmetics.
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The Bottom Line
About-Face demonstrates focused sustainability commitments in cruelty-free standards, vegan formulations, and chemical transparency, while showing minimal engagement with climate action, supply chain accountability, and broader environmental stewardship. The brand's selective approach suggests opportunity for significant sustainability evolution beyond current ingredient and animal welfare priorities.
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