• VEGAN & CRUELTY FREE

    We are proudly certified cruelty free by Leaping Bunny, and all Activist products are ingredients are 100% vegan, aside from the sunscreens, which contain responsibly sourced organic beeswax.

  • HIGH-PERFORMANCE ACTIVES

    We use green chemistry and high-quality, lab-purified active ingredients to make our formulas effective. You'll find antioxidants like vitamin C and niacinamide, plant extracts like licorice root and bisabolol (chamomile), and minerals like MSM and zinc.

  • NO ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS

    We don't use ingredients that are contaminated with chemicals that may disrupt your hormones, including phthalates, parabens, and dioxins. We properly protect you and our products with preservatives that are proven to be safe and effective.

  • NATURAL BOTANICAL EXTRACTS

    We consciously choose high-quality suppliers and ethical growers. Our organic floral waters are sourced from small regenerative growers in the Pacific Northwest, and our cold pressed botanical oils are produced without hexane.

  • Our philosophy

    • Our standards are based on clinical studies that show the effectiveness and safety profile of each ingredient.
    • The clean beauty world contains some fear mongering, and we're not about that. For example, not all synthetic ingredients are unsafe; that includes synthetic fragrances.
    • Our goal with scent is to create a sensory experience without irritation or exposure to toxins.
    • While essential oils are nice in rinse-off products like cleansers, safe synthetic fragrances are preferred in leave-on products such as a face oil, like Precious Oils Active Infusion.
    • The synthetic fragrances we use appear in tiny parts per million and meet EU and IFRA safety standards.

  • Activist is free of:

    • Artificial colors
    • BHT (butylated hydroxytulene) and BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)
    • Chemical sunscreens (benzophenone, PABA, avobenzone, homosalate and ethoxycinnmate)
    • DEA (diethanolamine) and cocamide DEA
    • Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
    • Hydroquinone
    • Lanolin
    • Mineral oil
    • Nanoparticles
    • Parabens
    • Phenoxyethanol
    • Phthalates
    • Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and propylene glycol
    • Silicones
    • Sulfates
    • Talc
    • Triclosan

Frequently asked questions about our ingredients

Do your products contain essential oils?

Essential oils help add joy to skincare. But they can also cause sensitivity if they're used above certain concentration levels or left on the skin for too much time.

That's why we use them at a safe amount and only use them in two of our cleansers. They're only on your skin for a minute or so, and they make washing your face so much more enjoyable before you rinse them off.

We have an EO-free cleanser option, too: Deep Moisture Cleansing Balm.

Is Activist safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding?

When it comes to pregnancy and breastfeeding, experts caution against a multitude of ingredients, the vast majority of which we avoid.

There are two ingredients we do use that may warrant some caution for pregnancy and breastfeeding: salicylic acid and sodium salicylate, which we use at a concentration of 0.5% in our serums and toning mist. These chemicals are similar to aspirin, which is commonly avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

About 5 mg of sodium salicylate or salicylic acid is applied to the skin when someone uses 1 mL of serum. That’s the amount applied, not absorbed; actual systemic exposure would be much lower due to incomplete skin penetration. It's a myth that everything you put on your skin goes directly into your bloodstream, but it's still possible for very tiny amounts to reach the bloodstream. You should weigh this risk with your doctor.

We also use essential oils in other products, never exceeding 5%.

Is Activist gluten free?

None of our products contain gluten, wheat, barley, or rye as ingredients, and they do not contain intact gluten proteins. Our formulas are considered gluten-free as cosmetic products, and they are appropriate for the vast majority of people who avoid gluten, including those with celiac disease when used topically.

Some ingredients in skincare are produced through fermentation or chemical synthesis using plant sugars (most commonly corn or sugarcane, and less commonly wheat). When wheat is used at that stage, gluten proteins are removed during processing, and the final cosmetic ingredient does not contain gluten. Because of this, we cannot certify that every raw material is sourced exclusively from non-wheat feedstocks, even though the finished products do not contain gluten or gluten proteins. This limitation applies to nearly all skincare brands unless they specifically source allergen-certified raw materials.

If you have an extremely high sensitivity or react to trace derivatives despite the absence of gluten proteins, we recommend patch testing and proceeding cautiously, or discontinuing use if you notice any symptoms.

Do you use preservatives?

Yes. Where needed, we do use antimicrobial preservatives. (Products that don't come into contact with water, like our face oil, don't need antimicrobial preservatives.)

We use eco-safe preservatives that are rated 1 by the Environmental Working Group for safety to our bodies and environment.

For more Information, please read our blog post about preservatives.

Do you have another question?

Please contact us so we can answer it.