Brand Rating:

Tower 28

Poor

4/10

Score 4/10

The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:

Certifications

FSC Certified

PETA Cruelty-free & Vegan

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Rated: July 10, 2025
Category: Beauty care
Subcategory: Skincare

Overview:

Sustainability 4.0/10

Non-toxicity 7.0/10

Tower is a clean beauty skincare and cosmetics brand.

Highlights

• Use of PCR materials in packaging

• Vegan and Cruetly-free

Sustainability

score : 4.0/10

Packaging

Tower 28 uses plastic packaging for nearly all their products. They use at least 50% PCR material for this packaging. Secondary packaging is made using FSC certified paper and is printed by a carbon-neutral certified printer that uses plant-based inks instead of the standard, petroleum-based alternatives. Shipping boxes are made from 98%+ recycled paper.

Ingredient Sustainability

Tower 28 uses a high percentage of petro-based, non-biodegradable ingredients in their formulations. Their SOS FaceGuard™ SPF 30 Sunscreen is reef safe (meaning it uses a mineral active ingredient that does not harm marine life), but nevertheless incorporates several non-biodegradable, petro-derived ingredients that accumulate and harm aquatic life. The brand is not clear about the sourcing of palm-derived ingredients, which if not sourced sustainably, contribute greatly to deforestation and habitat destruction.

Energy Use and Footprint

There is little to no information available regarding efforts to measure, reduce, or offset emissions across the supply chain.

Waste Management

There is little to no information available regarding efforts to mitigate waste in production or on the consumer side.

Business Model

Tower 28's business model includes a mostly evergreen selection and limits products that are seasonal or trend driven, but slow consumption practices or multi-purpose products are nevertheless limited.

Non-toxicity

score : 7.0/10

Tower 28 positions itself as a clean brand designed for sensitive skin, and many of its formulations are streamlined and fragrance-free. The brand highlights exclusions such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, essential oils, and added fragrance. It also holds National Eczema Association certification for several products.

However, some ingredients across Tower 28's makeup range may raise flags for those adhering to stricter clean or non-toxic standards. These include FD&C dyes (e.g., Red 27 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Red 6 Lake, Red 28 Lake), which are synthetic petroleum-derived colorants permitted by the FDA but associated with allergic reactions and behavioral sensitivity in children. These are often excluded by strict non-toxic standards due to contamination risk with heavy metals like lead or arsenic unless rigorously purified.

Most of Tower 28's base and skincare formulations avoid high-risk ingredients such as parabens, PEGs, formaldehyde-releasers, and undisclosed fragrance blends. That said, some of the color cosmetics rely on ingredients that are generally considered safe under FDA regulation but would not meet the stricter thresholds of EWG Verified or MADE SAFE.