Brand Spotlight: Humanrace

Source: Unsplash

If you had access to a radio in 2013, you have heard the voice of Pharrell Williams. “Happy,” from his album Girl and featured in Despicable Me 2, has more than 1.5 billion streams on Spotify and also won a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance. But Pharrell doesn’t just make people Happy with his upbeat singing. He is also the founder of Humanrace, a highly-reviewed minimal skincare line released in 2020. The clean, vegan, cruelty-free and fragrance-free line contains 5 products for the face and 3 products for the body.

Routine Kit ($110)

Rice Powder Cleanser ($36)

This daily powder cleanser is the first step of Humanrace’s original product lineup. The first ingredient is kaolin clay, which absorbs excess oil from the skin. The cleanser is also packed with moisturizing ingredients like snow mushroom extract, sugar cane extract and glycerin. This cleanser has 4.9 stars, and reviewers rave that it leaves their skin feeling soft and refreshed, not stripped of moisture. There are only two one-star reviews on the brand’s website, both of which mention that they never received their product. 

Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator ($46)

The next step in the Humanrace routine is exfoliation. This exfoliator utilizes three different exfoliants: 8% glycolic acid, fruit enzymes and micronized rice particles. This combination uses both chemical, enzymatic and physical exfoliants to achieve smoother, brighter skin. Humanrace recommends using this exfoliator 2-3 times per week. Also included in the formulation are moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, apple extract and panthenol. The exfoliator has 4.8 stars, and reviewers mention that it leaves their skin rejuvenated and glowing. This product also has two one-star reviews, one of which claims that the exfoliator has not improved the quality of their skin.

Humidifying Face Cream ($52)

Now for what I consider the most important step in any skincare routine: moisturizer. Inspired by the hydrating effects of humidity, this cream uses snow mushroom extract, niacinamide, glycerin and hyaluronic acid to moisturize and leave skin glowing. Recommended for use morning and night, the cream has 4.8 stars. Reviewers say it absorbs into their skin quickly, without leaving a greasy feeling. They also say it is great for sensitive skin, and that a little goes a long way. Negative reviews mention failure to receive the product.

7D Gel Facial Set ($85)

7D Retrograde Gel Cleanser ($44)

The 7D skin products highlight the 7D hyaluronic acid, which Humanrace claims to provide optimized moisturization that penetrates the skin layers. Along with vitamin B and apple fruit extract, the 7D hyaluronic acid allows the cleanser to clean the skin while maintaining hydration. The cleansing gel has 4.8 stars, and reviewers enjoy that it is gentle, refreshing and effective. The only negative reviews about this product are about the price.

7D Mystifying Gel Moisturizer ($58)

The 7D hyaluronic moisturizer offers a lighter gel alternative to the Humidifying Face Cream, while delivering hydration deep into the skin. The 7D hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and pseudoalteromonas ferment extract formulation prioritizes skin soothing and moisturization. The moisturizer has 4.8 stars, with reviews highlighting its refreshing and rejuvenating qualities. Negative reviews do point out that the moisturizer might be too light for winter use and that it pills under makeup.

Bodycare Routine Kit ($88)

Humidifying Body Cream ($54)

Like its face cream alternative, the Humidifying Body Cream works to deeply nourish the skin in an effort to recreate the effects of humidity. The ingredients list includes familiar hydrating friends like glycerin, panthenol and snow mushroom extract. The formulation also includes bakuchiol, which firms the skin and reduces hyperpigmentation, and peptides that help strengthen the skin barrier. The body cream has 4.7 stars. Reviewers love how a little bit of the cream goes a long way, and how it sinks into the skin. 

Reenergizing Whiteclay Body Bar ($16) and Energy Channeling Charcoal Body Bar ($18)

The brand’s two body bars are soap-free body cleansers that aim to clean the skin without stripping it of moisture. The reenergizing bar features kaolin clay to purify the skin and snow mushroom extract, glycerin and shea butter to moisturize. The energy channeling bar uses charcoal powder and rice powder to exfoliate, and jojoba seed oil to moisturize. The white bar can be used daily, while the exfoliating black bar can be used 2-3 times per week. The Reenergizing Whiteclay Body Bar has a perfect 5 stars, with reviewers loving that it lathers easily while being gentle on the skin. The Energy Channeling Charcoal Body Bar has 4.5 stars, and reviewers found their skin renewed and moisturized. 

While Humanrace’s products are clearly well-loved by the reviews, my favorite part of the brand is the dedication to sustainable packaging. The plastic bottles are made from at least 51% post-consumer recycled landfill plastic, and are designed to be refillable, which further reduces plastic usage. The brand also worked with its manufacturer to reduce plastic use in production, which is a really important aspect of the beauty industry that often gets overlooked. 

While most cosmetics brands target women, Humanrace markets across gender identities, with a diverse range of models featured on the product pages. Several male reviewers point out that this brand is their first foray into skincare, and the modern green packaging appeals to an androgynous aesthetic.

I have two big issues with this brand: lack of sun protection and the prices. The brand had a mineral sunscreen line that dropped in July 2022, however the products are no longer sold on the Humanrace website. Hopefully a new and improved sunscreen will return to the brand soon. As far as cost goes, I am not expecting the prices to go down any time soon. The high price tag of Humanrace products and other sustainable brands excludes a significant population of potential customers. For information on budget-friendly clean and lower-waste products, come back next week, when I’ll be diving into some drugstore clean beauty options!