Tower 28 Beauty is a cosmetics brand that has positioned itself as a champion of clean beauty. Founded by Amy Liu, who has a background in the beauty industry and a personal experience with eczema, the brand has always prioritized creating products that are gentle, non-irritating, and safe for sensitive skin. Four key elements of their ethos are their claims to be cruelty-free, vegan, dermatologist-tested, and free of known harmful ingredients.
Their product range is not extensive but consists of high-quality essentials — from lip glosses and bronzers to face sprays. Tower 28 emphasizes that their products are designed for real-life, everyday application and not studio perfection. As such, they’ve garnered a devoted following of consumers who appreciate both the brand’s focus on ‘clean’ beauty and its commitment to delivering high-performance products.
Considering the increasing consumer interest in clean beauty and ethical sourcing, it’s worth taking a closer look at Tower 28 Beauty’s claims. Are they truly a clean brand? Are their products genuinely cruelty-free and vegan? Let’s dive in and find out.
Understanding the Concept of Clean Beauty Brands
The term ‘clean beauty’ has become a buzzword in the cosmetics industry. At its core, clean beauty refers to products that are mindfully created and produced without any proven or suspected toxic ingredients. They encompass both natural and lab-made ingredients and prioritize both safety and efficacy.
Clean beauty brands promise products that are good for consumers, the environment, and animals alike. This means they must be transparent about their ingredient lists, sourcing practices, and testing methodologies. Another critical aspect of clean beauty is the commitment to cruelty-free practices, which means no testing on animals at any stage of product development.
However, as the term ‘clean’ is not legally defined or regulated by any authoritative body like the FDA, it’s often left to individual companies to define what it means for their brand. Thus, it is essential for consumers to do their own homework when it comes to understanding the claims made by clean beauty brands.
The Connection Between Cruelty-Free and Clean Beauty
Being cruelty-free is a fundamental component of clean beauty. This essentially means that the product, or any of its ingredients, was not tested on animals at any point during its creation. Brands that are cruelty-free often bear certification from organizations like Leaping Bunny or PETA, providing reassurance to consumers.
Cruelty-free beauty not only aligns with ethical animal treatment but also indicates a commitment to innovative, modern testing alternatives. In recent years, methods such as in vitro testing and computer modeling have become more prevalent, eliminating the need for animal testing while ensuring product safety.
While being cruelty-free is an integral part of clean beauty, it’s not the only factor. For a brand to be truly considered ‘clean,’ it should also exclude harmful ingredients, be sustainably sourced, and ideally, be vegan.
Tower 28 Beauty’s Claims of Being Cruelty-Free
Tower 28 Beauty asserts that they are a cruelty-free brand. This claim is backed by PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, where the brand is listed as a company that does not test on animals. This means that neither their products nor the ingredients used in these products are tested on animals.
Additionally, Tower 28 Beauty doesn’t sell its products in mainland China, a region that has mandatory animal testing requirements for imported cosmetics. This is a crucial consideration, as many brands lose their cruelty-free status when they decide to sell in this market.
However, Tower 28 Beauty has not been certified by Leaping Bunny, another reputable cruelty-free certification organization. While this does not necessarily discredit their cruelty-free claim, it is something that discerning consumers might want to know.
An In-depth Look at Tower 28 Beauty’s Vegan Claims
In addition to being cruelty-free, Tower 28 Beauty also claims to be 100% vegan. This means that their products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products. For a beauty product to be vegan, it has to be cruelty-free as well, since using animal-derived ingredients would imply harm or exploitation of animals.
A glance at Tower 28’s product ingredient lists supports this claim. Their popular products such as the SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray and the ShineOn Lip Jelly are free from common non-vegan ingredients like beeswax, carmine, and lanolin.
However, like with their cruelty-free claim, Tower 28 Beauty does not hold any formal vegan certification from reputed organizations like Vegan Action or The Vegan Society. While this doesn’t necessarily disprove their vegan claim, having an official certificate would provide an extra layer of assurance.
How Tower 28 Beauty Sources its Ingredients
Tower 28 Beauty stresses that their products are made with “non-toxic, non-irritating, good-for-you” ingredients. They have a ‘no’ list, which includes 1,300+ ingredients they promise never to use, in accordance with the European Union standards which are more stringent than those in the United States.
The brand ensures that they only use ingredients with a ‘1’ rating on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database, which means they are classified as low hazard. This commitment demonstrates their dedication to transparency and safety.
However, the brand does not give extensive information about where or how they source their ingredients. For a brand that positions itself within the clean beauty industry, more transparency in this area would be beneficial.
Professional Opinions on Tower 28 Beauty’s Claims
In general, professionals in the beauty and dermatology fields seem to support Tower 28 Beauty’s clean claims. Dermatologists appreciate the brand’s focus on sensitive skin and their avoidance of common irritants and allergens. They also applaud the brand’s use of ingredients rated ‘1’ on EWG’s Skin Deep Database.
Beauty editors and experts have praised Tower 28 for their transparency and commitment to clean formulas. However, they also note the lack of official certifications, particularly for their vegan and cruelty-free claims.
It’s important to remember that while professional opinions can provide insights, they are not definitive proof of a brand’s claims. Consumers should always do their research and decide what factors are most important to them in a clean beauty brand.
Final Verdict: Is Tower 28 Beauty Truly a Clean Brand?
Based on the available information, Tower 28 Beauty does seem to uphold their clean beauty claims. They are cruelty-free, as confirmed by PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, and their product ingredients align with their vegan claim. They are also transparent about their ingredient list and adhere to high standards of safety and non-toxicity.
However, the lack of official certifications for some of their claims and the absence of detailed sourcing information may give some consumers pause. While Tower 28 Beauty appears to be a brand committed to clean, ethical beauty, they could further solidify this reputation by gaining more certifications and being more transparent about their ingredient sourcing process.
In conclusion, Tower 28 Beauty is certainly on the right track in the clean beauty industry. As consumers, it’s crucial to continue demanding transparency and authenticity from brands, ensuring that the clean beauty movement stays ‘clean’ indeed.
