Facetheory Review: Affordable Skincare That Really Is Worth The Hype

AD info | These products were sent to me by Facetheory with no obligation to post. As always, all opinions are my own.

If you’re someone who finds navigating the world of skincare a bit tricky, Facetheory might just be the brand for you. With their straightforward skincare products, it’s easy to build a routine that works for you. Their Skincare Quiz will even help you get started!

A few months ago I was fortunate enough to be sent over a few skincare bits from the Facetheory team. This is a brand I’d heard a lot about, through Instagram reviews and ads, but I’d never actually tried any of their products. I think sometimes when you see a brand promoted so much it can put you off buying! But I was actually really intrigued about their skincare selection, especially since I’d seen so many glowing reviews, so I decided to give it a shot.

Here’s how I got on with four of their products: the Vitamin C Cream Cleanser, the Aventhra Moisturiser, the Pink Clay AHA Mask and the Ocuwake Eye Cream.

A quick intro to Facetheory

Facetheory is a UK-based skincare brand that was founded in 2015 by Jamie Shuker. The philosophy behind the brand is that good skincare should be clean, affordable and accessible, which is why all Facetheory products are fairly-priced, paraben-free and chock full of powerful actives.

Sustainability is a massive part of Facetheory’s mission too. Their skincare offering is completely vegan and cruelty-free, and they’ve phased out single-use packaging for their products. You’ll notice that nearly everything comes in a glass jar or aluminium tube. They’re also B Corp certified so you know this is the real deal!

Vitamin C Cream Cleanser C1

This is the product I was most excited to try. A cleanser in a jar – how could this possibly work?

For a second cleanser, this has a texture like nothing else I’ve tried. It’s rich and thick, making it feel more like a moisturiser than a cleanser. That said, this rubs into the skin much like any other gel cleanser. It doesn’t really foam up but you do get the sensation that this is really cleaning the skin and removing any dirt or makeup that may be leftover from your first cleanse.

The Facetheory Vitamin C Cream Cleanser is packed with nourishing oils that are high in oleic acid: apricot kernel, sweet almond and avocado (to name just a few). It also contains a few other moisturising ingredients, like glycerin, and of course the star of the show: stabilised vitamin C.

I wouldn’t say the vitamin C content is enough to provide dramatic brightening results, especially given that this is a wash off cleanser. But Facetheory states that the vitamin C in this formula is supposed to prevent future environmental damage, so I don’t think immediate changes in the skin are necessarily the name of the game here.

I really like this cleanser and find it to be sufficiently gentle for my temperamental skin. It never leaves my face feel tight or dry, and I always feel super refreshed after I use it. It’s definitely one I will repurchase!

Aventhra Moisturiser M2

The Facetheory Aventhra Moisturiser is probably one of my favourite products that I’ve tried this year. For the past couple of months I’ve been using it almost exclusively, as both my morning and evening moisturiser.

It’s thick and almost solid in the jar, but once it touches the face it melts into a smooth, buttery cream. This means it doesn’t feel sticky, heavy or greasy on the skin.

When I first applied it, I was actually really surprised that it feels so moisturising yet weightless at the same time. It’s really hard to find intensely nourishing moisturisers that don’t feel like they’re sitting on top of the skin rather than absorbing!

The Aventhra Moisturiser contains emollients like shea butter and cocoa butter which are great for soothing and softening dry skin. You’ll also find oat kernel flour in here – a finely ground powder that’s rich in beta glucan and other skin-calming natural actives. Add vitamin C and a handful of plant oils into the mix, and you’ve got a moisturiser that both hydrates and brightens the skin.

I’ve got the scented version which has a delicate citrus smell, but you can skip out on this if your skin is sensitive to fragrance. The unscented version contains all the same ingredients, except the mandarin peel oil.

Pink Clay AHA Face Mask MK1

I have a love-hate relationship with clay masks, so I was a little apprehensive about trying this one.

My combination skin can be really sensitive at times and I often find that clay masks can push it over the edge. There are very few clay masks that I’ve used and decided to repurchase! So, imagine my surprise when I tested the Facetheory Pink Clay AHA Face Mask and found that I actually really liked it!

This mask contains clays like kaolin, montmorillonite and illite which draw out oil and impurities from the skin. Ordinarily these can be drying and somewhat irritating for sensitive skin. What I love though, is that any dryness caused by the clays is offset by plant oils (jojoba, rice bran, olive, argan, pomegranate etc.) and other moisturising ingredients like shea butter and panthenol.

Since I’ve stopped using physical exfoliants, it’s been tricky to find products that remove excess oil without stripping the skin completely. Fortunately, I think this one does just that.

My skin feels smoother and my pores (especially the ones around my nose) look much less noticeable when I use this. I don’t tend to apply it all over my face, just in the T-zone where my skin tends to be oiliest, and this is what seems to work best for me. This way I can avoid areas of skin that are more sensitive and prevent dryness or irritation.

Ocuwake Eye Cream EYE1

This is one of Facetheory’s newer launches, and their first eye care product I believe! It’s formulated with a bunch of plant oils that are rich in fatty acids, such as argan, jojoba and rice bran. It also contains plant extracts, like chamomile and liquorice, that are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. This is how it soothes and moisturises the under-eye area but the big question is, how does it deal with fine lines and dark circles?

The Ocuwake Eye Cream relies on three main ingredients to brighten the skin and improve elasticity under the eyes: vitamin C, hexylresorcinol and Meiview. Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of the last two, here’s a quick rundown! Hexylresorcinol is a compound that has been shown to lighten dark spots and reduce age spots. Meiview is a bacterial ferment extract that improves microcirculation (blood circulation in smaller blood vessels) and encourages collagen production.

This is a lovely product to use – it’s rich and creamy, and feels super moisturising under my eyes. I can’t say that I’ve seen a massive difference in terms of dark circles though. It’s been just over a month since I started using this, so it could just be that I need to give it some more time. I definitely think the longer you use this the better the results will be!

For fine lines, however, I do feel like I’ve seen some improvement – even if this is just down to me actually making an effort to keep my under eyes moisturised!

Overall thoughts

I put off buying from Facetheory for the longest time but I really wish I’d tried these products earlier. Though I loved all of these, the Vitamin C Cream Cleanser and the Aventhra Moisturiser are the winners for me. I honestly wasn’t expecting to like these as much as I did – they’ve now become staples in my routine.

Edit: I’m now on my fourth jar of the Aventhra Moisturiser and I’m almost tempted to get the subscription! It’s a really great option for sensitive skin that’s also acne-prone. I know it won’t irritate my skin so I keep going back to it time and time again.

Where can you buy Facetheory products?

All of the products in this review can be purchased directly through the Facetheory website.

Unsure about purchasing? Facetheory has a 365 day returns policy, meaning that if you’re unhappy with your order, you have 365 days to return your products for a replacement or refund.

Would you try anything from Facetheory? Let me know which Facetheory skincare products appeal to you most!