My Function of Beauty Review
I tried out custom formulas and I am a believer.
Function of Beauty is a subscription that promises personalized hair, body, and skincare that is cruelty-, sulfate- and paraben-free.
It seems like there are quite a few customizable skincare brands out there, but Function of Beauty started with totally custom hair products, and has recently branched out into skincare and body products. I had seen their display at Target before and my interests were piqued, but as someone who doesn't really think about her hair as much as she should, I always kind of kept on walking. When I took some time to browse their website and saw their newer skin and body products, I was ready to dive in. I was really impressed with how knowledgeable, intuitive, and well, FUN the signup process was! I have also fallen in love with the majority of their formulas..
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 20% off your first large hair set. No coupon needed - just use this link.
About Function of Beauty
The Subscription Box: Function of Beauty
The Cost: Each item can be purchased individually. Haircare starts at $19.99 and skincare starts at $24.99.
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 20% off your first large hair set. No coupon needed - just use this link.
The Products: Totally custom formulas for face, hair, and body.
Ships to: Mostly worldwide. Check their FAQ to confirm!
Pros & Cons
| The Pros |
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| The Cons |
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| Is It Worth It? |
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| I’d Recommend Function of Beauty If You |
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The Sign-Up Process
I found the Function of Beauty sight to be incredibly intuitive, good-looking, and fun to use. There are three different quizzes for each of the product categories offered: Hair, Face, and Body. Unlike some product questionnaires, these quizzes aren't labor-intensive or exhausting to answer. It feels more like chatting with a friend who is just curious about your goals. As we work our way through this review, I will share screenshots of each type of quiz so you can see what it looked like as I signed up on my cellphone. This brand also gets an A+ from me for being as easy to use on my laptop or my iPhone!
The Haircare Items
Here is what the hair quiz looked like:
1 of 6 | I selected: Wavy, Coarse, and Dry.
It started as pretty standard hair texture, hair goals sort of thing, but then it got really interesting! I was able to select my scent AND scent level, as well as adding a name to the bottles and even selecting the color I wanted my formula to be. At the end, there were multiple sizing and pricing options, including a genius smaller shampoo/larger conditioner option. There were also extra add-ons at the end I could select from to arrive with my new shampoo and conditioner.
My shampoo and conditioner arrived with a bottle of hair serum and a tub of hair masque I also selected. And some super cute stickers I can use in my planner or further customize my bottles with.
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There was also an insert with loads of information on my new custom goodies including a reminder of my quiz choices, ingredient lists for each product, and instructions on proper use.
Function of Beauty Shampoo
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Shampoo, $29.99 - $39.99 (8 -16 oz) OR save with a conditioner set $39.99 - $49.99
The first thing I noticed about my new shampoo was the scent! The rose-inspired selection I had made totally has some sort of nostalgic tie to Tommy Girl perfume, but in the BEST way. I had selected the extra-strength fragrance option, and I was not disappointed. In fact, it was even a little overpowering in the shower at first, but then I quickly loved it.
I made the mistake of treating this shampoo like my others, which meant an extra-large dollop in my hand. I found that I actually needed very, very little of this shampoo to get my hair all sudsy and bubbly, which means a bottle is going to last a whole lot longer than other brands I pay less for. It kind of makes the higher price of this stuff feel worth it, since I know I will get a lot more out of it than I thought. The lather effect here is intense. I felt like this formula got my scalp and roots incredibly clean without the squeakiness that usually means I have gone too far. My hair also had a sleeker texture which initially worried me because I find that when my hair feels slippery I usually have lost the wave definition I am eager to enhance on my 2A hair. I was worried for literally no reason, but we will get into that after the conditioner!
Function of Beauty Conditioner
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Conditioner, $29.99 - $39.99 (8 -16 oz) OR save with a conditioner set $39.99 - $49.99
My oh-so-cute pink conditioner also shared the wonderful scent of the shampoo. It had a thicker texture and was more suitable to a pump than the shampoo. Luckily, the team at Function of Beauty included two for me! Again, a little goes a very long way here, even with my very thick and pretty long hair. I finger combed this stuff through my hair and let it chill for about 4 minutes while I enjoyed the hot water. I then rinsed it out and, again, noticed it felt slicker than I was used to but not weighed down. I am someone who doesn't own a blowdryer, so I let my hair air dry to really see the results of this shampoo + conditioner combo. I was blown away that my hair was significantly shinier, yet the natural wave was intact and even dramatically enhanced. My other concern was that that newfound sleekness would lead to oily roots earlier, but I have been able to maintain my once every three days shampooing/conditioning regimen easily, and my hair looks better than it has in years.
Function of Beauty Hair Mask
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Hair Mask, 7.5 oz - $19.99
The Function of Beauty team sent me a hair mask to try out too. It arrived in a cute little tub and in the blue shade I selected, with the same scent as my shampoo and conditioner. It has a very dense texture, and I needed barely a scoop to get a good coating on my hair. I did avoid my scalp area, as recommended by the directions. As a once a week treatment, I left this on for 30 minutes, although you can leave it on for as little as 10. After a quick rinse, my hair was looking downright lustrous! It behaved very similarly to the conditioner but in a very amped up way and I am really pleased with the softness of my hair and the enhancement to my waves.
Function of Beauty Hair Serum
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Hair Serum, 3 oz - $24.99
Before I knew how hard I would fall in love with the shampoo and conditioner, this was the hair item I was honestly the most excited about. I really love hair oils and serums both on dry hair or on damp, towel-dried tresses. This golden serum arrived in a very minimal bottle with a pump that delivers the perfect amount each time I use it. Even though I have thicker, drier hair, I am well aware of the mess that happens when I accidentally apply too much serum. My super-soft waves turn into an oily, limp mess, and no one wants that! With that in mind, I approached this serum in a very reserved manner, pumping just a single pump into my palm, rubbing my hands together, and finger combing it through my dry hair. Immediately, my frizz was gone and my hair had a nice sheen, without looking greasy. I ended up needing about three little pumps for my wild mane, but even then I was nowhere close to using too much.
I generally prefer serums on my dry hair, but this is one that blew me away on damp hair. I used the FoB shampoo and conditioner, towel-dried, then combed a few pumps into my hair, starting a few inches down from the roots. I then twisted my hair into a loose bun, and slept on it. In the morning, my waves looked like I was some sort of beach goddess, and the shine on my hair was strikingly beautiful. I absolutely adore this stuff!
Here is what my hair looks like after about a week of F0B products:
It still has that wild look I prefer for my hair, but the waves are more defined than usual, the look is shinier, less frizzy, significantly more manageable, and way less prone to massive knots. (I do need my ends chopped off, but that is totally a 'me' issue).
Sorry for the slightly weird angle. My hair is getting too long to fit into a selfie! Time for a cut??
The Skincare Items
1 of 5 | Here, I selected dry skin, a decent amount of makeup, and rarely sensitized.
This quiz was just as easy and intuitive as the hair version and barely took me 2 minutes.
My skincare delivery arrived with my cleanser, serum, and a pot of moisturizer. Because my skin is dry, I was sent a heavier cream moisturizer, though Function of Beauty also offers lighter gel and lotion options for different skin types.
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Again, I was sent tons of helpful info on my products. My custom ingredient lists were included, as well as some info on key ingredients, correct usage, and other instructions.
Function of Beauty Jelly Cleanser
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Jelly Cleanser, 5 oz - $24.99
There are two cleanser formula options offered, and what you end up with is based on your skin quiz. I received the jelly cleanser instead of the micellar gel cleanser, which suited me just fine because the texture of the jelly reminded me of a less dense version of another one of my faves: Glossier's Milky Jelly Cleanser. This formula was super gentle and did its job very well. I was pleased with the ingredient list too, as it included a handful of my favorites: cica, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, algae extract, and more. I did select a scent for this formula, but I didn't really notice it much. I was also tickled by the absolutely gorgeous packaging in a pink to orange ombre design that reminded me of sherbert. Just like with the hair products, my moniker adorns this bottle too!
Function of Beauty Serum
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Facial Serum, 1.2 oz - $49.99
I can easily say I am obsessed with this serum. Everything about this little bottle felt magical, from the gorgeous design, perfect dropper system, the soft scent, the ingredients chosen for me, and the way the serum itself made my skin feel was a win for me. First, it is very, very cica-centered. Cica is a nickname for Centella Asiatica/Gotu Kola, a medicinal plant that I happen to love because it really helps with redness. If you are a fan of the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair line, this is the ingredient that assortment is also centered around. In addition to my favorite little plant, it also includes hyaluronic acid for hydration, soothing panthenol, and anti-aging peptides. For packing so much in, this serum also feels weightless, and plays nicely with any other formulas I layer on before or after it. I have been using this both day and night and it does wonders for my redness and overall texture. I am also happy I chose to try out the Dew scent here too, because it smells light, watery, and very fresh! It is also a 100% natural scent.
Function of Beauty Moisturizer
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Facial Cream, 1.5 oz - $44.99
The final step in my FoB skincare routine was this heavier cream. It arrived unscented and although it has some weight, it still didn't feel heavy or filmy on my face. Ingredient-wise, loads of goodness here! A quick scan of the list made it pretty clear why this cream felt so nice on my face; ingredients like camellia seed oil, squalane, cica (hello again, beautiful), hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E are dreams for dry skin like mine. This cream absorbed well, left my face feeling calmed and softer, and sealed in my serum and hydration for me overnight. This was a perfect weight for both day and night for me, and I loved my custom formula. Again, it is worth also mentioning the incredibly stunning packaging here. Honestly, some of the prettiest product packaging I have ever seen, and it enhances the experience of the wonderful cream inside just by feeling so special, thoughtful, and beautiful.
The Body Items
1 of 4 | I selected dry skin here.
The body quiz was the shortest of the bunch but I still left it feeling like I had a hand in helping this brand customize formulas just for me!
My set arrived with a pump that I chose to use on the lotion and more cute stickers!
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I also received another super useful info packet with ingredient lists, special ingredient call-outs, and instructions.
Function of Beauty Body Wash
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Body Wash - $29.99 for 16 oz OR buy a set for $19.99 with lotion.
If you are a fan of lavender, you are going to LOVE the Function of Beauty lavender scent! It is a true herbal lavender with a creaminess that I loved. Even Will liked this scent. I know this because I caught him smelling like this body wash and made him confess to trying it out too! Like the other formulas from this brand, I needed a lot less of this than I expected, especially when I combined it with a loofa. It was a beautifully sudsy and fragrant experience that left my skin soft, clean, and smelling wonderful! Because it has ingredients like sunflower seed oil and glycerine, that hydration lasted for hours after I was out of the shower.
Function of Beauty Body Lotion
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Body Lotion - $29.99 for 16 oz OR buy a set for $19.99 with body wash.
The final piece of my Function of Beauty journey is their body lotion. It arrived in the same dreamy lavender scent as my body wash, and helped seal in all the moisture from my shower. Sunflower seed oil is another featured ingredient here, combined with argan oil, squalane, and capuachu butter. I thought this formula was excellent. It provided everything I want out of a body lotion: extreme hydration, fast absorption, improved texture, and a velvet finish. I also noticed that it didn't break my legs out after a shave, which is pretty unusual for me. I typically have to rely on oils on my legs for hydration, because most lotions give me irritated, red bumps for some reason. Not this stuff! My legs were happy, soft, and smooth!
The Verdict
I am actually kind of shocked at how much I loved these products from Function of Beauty. I already plan on purchasing my hair formula after my current bottles run out. I have never really cared about shampoo and conditioner, but the improvement I saw in my hair's appearance, body, texture, and strength make the price more than worth it for me, especially since these bottles will last me so long. I was also super impressed with the skincare items, and particularly with my custom serum. What a little dream! The serum and cream will easily be a repurchase for me and likely also the cleanser once I run out of my Glossier jelly. The body wash and lotions were both incredibly hydrating, smelled amazing, and left my skin clean and feeling really soft and cared for. The fact that Will was willing to sneak from both is another ringing endorsement because he is actually pickier than I am about body products. Function of Beauty is an incredibly easy brand to fall in love with for so many reasons and I find myself excited to see what new products they launch in the future. If you want to feel like you have a team of scientists literally custom creating your next batch of products with your needs and goals in mind, while also being incredibly selective about ingredients, packaging, and their imprint on the beauty industry I highly recommend giving them a try. You might just discover you actually do care about your shampoo!
ACTIVE DEAL: Get 20% off your first large hair set. No coupon needed - just use this link.
What did you think of Function of Beauty? Have you ever tried a custom formula before?
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