If you’re looking to try a new skincare brand that not only uses non-toxic & natural ingredients but is also low-plastic and refillable, you have to consider Activist.
One thing that stood out to me while trying this brand out is how functional and purposeful their formulations and routines are. Their ingredients intentionally target things like inflammation, acne, or fine lines, but without unnecessary fluff. It feels luxurious and high-quality enough to give me a moment of mindfulness and self-care each day, but without the hassle of a 17-step routine or a cluttered bathroom counter.
That’s why I say this is a brand for people who have stuff to do! We want to take care of our skin, but we’re also busy!
Anyway, I hope you find this review helpful in figuring out if Activist is brand you want to try.
This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. This review is not sponsored, but the product was gifted (thank you!). As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!
My Overall Impression
I’m going to go into more detail about the specific products I tried below, but first let me tell you about what I think about Activist as a whole.
- First of all, you already know I love that it’s low-plastic and refillable! I’m not a zero-waster, but I try to reduce plastic when I can. Everything comes in glass bottles that have small plastic parts on the lid. Then you can get refills, which come in thin packs made of plastic and aluminum. (The nature of these pouches help cut back on a lot of carbon emissions and overall materials & energy.) If you don’t have one already, you can order a collapsible, 100% food-grade silicone funnel to help you easily refill your bottles. They also have a send-back program, so they will recycle pouches for you if you want. They will give you a free return shipping label to make it easy, and then they send the pouches to a specialized recycler who is able to process the materials properly.
- I really like how functional the formulations are. The ingredient lists are relatively short and minimalistic, but it seems to me like every ingredient is there for a reason—whether it’s to reduce inflammation, increase hydration, or something else.
- Similar to the point above, I like how their 4-step skincare routine (cleanser, toner, serum, and moisturizer) provides a nice ritual that feels kind of luxurious, but is also simple. I think this combo of high-quality ingredients combined with simplicity and functionality makes for a great regimen for people who want skincare that works but also have stuff to do and places to go! I think this makes their “Activist” brand name very fitting.
- I also really like how the collection is lightly scented. It gives me some pleasant, aromatic vibes, but it’s not overpowering at all. (I tend to be sensitive to smells, so I can’t handle strong scents.)
Sorry to give you spoilers, but I am definitely happy with these products, I recommend the brand, and I will be continuing to use their products. (If you already know you want to try them for yourself, use the code THEFILTERY15 for 15% off your purchase.)
By the way! There is another brand called Activist, which is focused on honey but also makes skincare products. So if you come across Activist on Amazon, that’s a different brand than the one I’m talking about here.
Is There Anything Sketchy About Their Ingredients?
These products are almost entirely free from potentially problematic ingredients. They have a list of ingredients they explicitly don’t use, but also their ingredient lists are also pretty easy to read and understand, in case in there’s something specific you want to check for.
They do their best to source from small, organic, and regenerative farms. Their oils are cold-pressed and hexane-free.
They do use few very few ethoxylated ingredients (for example, Di-PPG-2 Myreth-10 Adipate is used in the Sea to Skin Cleansing balm).
As I’ve discussed before, the problem with ethoxylated ingredients is not with the chemicals themselves but how they are processed. Because of the way they’re manufactured, they can be contaminated with small amounts of two carcinogens: 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide.
Ethoxylated ingredients are very common and difficult to avoid completely. My recommendation is usually just to try and keep them to a minimum: try not to use a lot of products with a lot of ethoxylated ingredients day in and day out.
Alright, now let me tell you what I thought of the specific products I’ve been using. At the time of this publication, I’ve been using them for about five months now.
Sea to Skin Cleansing Gel (Step 1)
This oil-based cleanser can be used as a makeup remover and/or as a standard face cleanser. The blue color comes from spirulina extract, which most people know as a “superfood” that comes with a bunch of nutrients. It also utilizes grapeseed oil and quillaja saponaria wood extract (a unique ingredient I don’t see very often!), both of which help dissolve makeup and dirt from the day.
My thoughts:
First of all, I think the blue gel is unique and fun. It kind of brings a childlike element to washing my face.
It doesn’t stay a gel though. When you start rubbing it on your face it turns into an oil, so it’s similar to other cleansing oils.
They say this cleanser is meant to “leave skin impossibly soft and dewy — never tight, never stripped” and I would say that’s definitely true.
I do have to say that I have been very slow to get on the oil cleansing train. I don’t know why—I think I’m just used to the more ‘soapy’ face washes. So even though it is taking me a while to get used to the way cleansing with oil feels, I do really like this gel! It absolutely leaves my skin feeling soft and nourished, not dry and stripped.
I have still been using a regular face wash in the shower, but then I use this Cleansing Gel in the evenings to take my makeup off and wash my face before bed.
If you’re already on the cleansing oil train, I think you’ll definitely like this.
In addition to the blue gel, they have a couple of other cleansing oil options: Deep Moisture Cleansing Balm (similar to the gel but more buttery!) and Botanical Cleansing Oil (which is more of your ‘traditional’ cleansing oil).
Healing Water Toning Mist (Step 2)
This toning mist contains a bunch of skin-friendly ingredients like:
- Licorice root to help brighten & even skin and reduce hyperpigmentation
- Cucumber, lavender, and calendula to calm inflammation and reduce redness
- Glycerin and saccharide isomerate for hydration
Several of the products (the cucumber, calendula, and lavender hydrosols) are certified organic and sourced from small regenerative farms in the Pacific Northwest.
My review:
This is my favorite of the Activist Skincare Products… I used it up so fast because I was spraying so much of it! It just feels so nice and refreshing.
Also… Random, but it tastes good! I’d noticed that when I would spray it on my face and then lick my lips a little later, and it’s sweet!
I also spray this on my underarms after my showers sometimes. I know that’s kind of random too, but I find that using a toner on my armpits helps to make my non-toxic deodorant go further. A lot of people use witch hazel, but I thought I’d try this instead. The anti-inflammatory characteristics of the cucumber, calendula, and licorice root can help to calm irritation from shaving. The lavender has natural, gentle antimicrobial properties, which can help control odor. I have been dealing with some extra irritation lately and I do think this has been helping when I remember to apply it.
Active Hydration Vitamin C+ Antioxidant Serum (Step 3)
This serum is meant to help with dullness, dehydration, and signs of aging. It’s got functional ingredients like:
- Vitamin C (for brightening and firming)
- Glutathione and peptides (for neutralizing free radicals)
- Hyaluronic acid (to plump and smooth)
My thoughts:
I’ve been trying to implement more “anti-aging” ingredients and products into my routine, which is where this serum comes in. (I put “anti-aging” in quotes because I don’t love the term and I think our culture has such a weird relationship with aging, but that’s a rabbit hole we won’t go down right now! 😆)
I really like how it’s jam-packed with functional ingredients that can help with so many different things, from redness to wrinkles.
Calming Force Clear Skin Serum (Step 3)
Although both of the serums contain some anti-aging ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid), this Calming Force one would be more fitting for folks who have acne, irritation, or redness. It’s got things like:
- Niacinamide and MSM (to help with redness and refining pores)
- A little bit of salicylic acid (to help keep pores clear)
- Licorice root (to help reduce post-breakout marks)
What I think:
I’m using both serums because that’s what’s included in their aging collection.
When it comes to the general feel of the serums, they are similar. Both of them have a texture that is soft and lightweight. Neither of them really smell like much of anything. (They’re both free from fragrance and essential oils, so any light smell is just naturally there from the ingredients.)
If you want to only use one serum, here’s a little table summarizing the differences between the two serums to help you choose:
| Vitamin C+ Antioxidant | Calming Force | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Focus/Purpose | Anti-aging, brightening, hydration, antioxidant defense | Redness, irritation, acne, barrier repair |
| Best For | Dull, dry, aging, or sun-damaged skin | Sensitive, acne-prone, or combo skin |
| Exfoliation / Clarifying | None (very gentle overall) | Mild via Salicylic Acid |
| Antioxidants | High (Vitamin C, Glutathione, SOD) | Minimal |
| Skin Texture/Barrier Repair | Strong (peptides + amino acids) | Moderate (niacinamide 5%) |
Precious Oils Active Infusion (Step 4)
This luscious, oil-based moisturizer also has some great anti-aging components to it, like coenzyme Q10, chamomile extract, and oils of grapeseed, avocado, macadamia, and jojoba.
My review:
First, I really like the smell of this oil-based serum. It’s pleasant, but light—not overpowering at all.
Overall, this oil is lightweight enough to where it keeps me moisturized while preventing my skin from over-producing oils.
I’ve been using it not only as a moisturizer but also an oil for my nightly gua sha.
This is probably my second-favorite Activist product, after the Toning Mist.
“Will it work for my skin?!”
As long as you don’t have any specific allergies or sensitivities, pretty much all of Activist’s products are suitable for sensitive skin. But beyond that, Activist has recommendations based on your specific needs:
They also have a Skin Quiz which can help you get even more personalized product recommendations.
They also have a Trial Kit you can get if you want to try out their products before purchasing a full set. The Trial Kit is $50 but then you get a $25 gift card back, which you can use toward a future purchase.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Low-plastic.
- Refillable.
- Non-toxic ingredients (many of which are natural and/or certified organic).
- A great mix of high-quality/luxury and functionality/simplicity.
- Gender-neutral.
- Scents are light & pleasant, but not over-powering.
- Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
- Vegan (except the sunscreen, which contains beeswax).
- Trial option (so you can try it out before fully investing).
- You can save 15% on subscriptions and get free U.S. shipping on orders over $100.
Potential Cons:
- Price point: It’s definitely not the most affordable brand. (My 5-product set costs $240.)
- Not totally fragrance-free. (There are no added fragrance; the scents only come from the natural, functional ingredients.)
- Not totally plastic-free. (The refill packets have plastic that aren’t easily recyclable. But they do still cut down on overall materials and emissions and they have a send-back program so they will recycle the pouches for you.)
- It’s probably not for people who are super into skincare and like fancy routines with a lot of products.
Don’t forget: if you decide you want to try Activist out for yourself, use the code THEFILTERY15 for 15% off.
