Brand Rating:

Versed Skin

Average

6/10

Score 6/10

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

Leaping Bunny

FSC Certified

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Avoid) to 5 (Top Choice).
See how we rate.

Rated: May 04, 2026
Category: Beauty care
Subcategory: Skincare

Overview:

Sustainability 5.1/10

Non-toxicity 7.0/10

Versed Skin is a digitally-incubated mass-market clean skincare brand founded in May 2019 by Katherine Power (Who What Wear, Merit Beauty) under Clique Brands' beauty incubator Offspring Beauty.

Highlights:

Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty-free
100% vegan
Brand-stated net-zero greenhouse gas emissions since launch
Brand-stated 100% offset of carbon emissions associated with shipping

Sustainability

score : 5.1/10

Packaging

The brand has structurally embedded packaging sustainability into product development since founding, with public per-product disclosure of PCR content, recyclability, and waste footprint metrics that exceed typical mass-market beauty transparency. All cartons, e-commerce mailers, and PR packaging are made using 100% FSC-certified paper. The brand discloses Sustainable Product Attributes per product including recyclability percentage, PCR content percentage, country of origin, and Waste Footprint metrics calculated for each product.

Despite the President's statement about "leadership in the sustainability space with the highest percentage of PCR in our category,” the catalog is primary-plastic-dominant rather than transitioning to predominantly glass, aluminum, or compostable primary packaging.

Ingredient Sustainability

Versed's ingredient sustainability profile is meaningful in what the brand includes (parabens, sulfates, 1,350+ banned ingredients per EU clean standard, synthetic fragrance), with notable highlights including CITES-certified bakuchiol sourcing for the endangered plant species and reef-safe mineral-only sunscreen formulation.

The brand has been transparent that bakuchiol "can become endangered when overharvested" and uses CITES-certified sourcing to ensure use "doesn't negatively impact the plant species' survival." The reef-safe mineral sunscreen positioning is structurally meaningful for marine ecosystem protection. The Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen uses zinc oxide as the active sunscreen agent, structurally distinct from chemical UV filter systems (oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate) that have documented coral reef and marine ecosystem concerns.

However, the catalog includes substantive petrochemical-derived synthetic chemistry across formulations. The Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm contains Synthetic Wax, which is "created from fossil fuels such as natural gas" per third-party ingredient databases. The Doctor's Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask contains Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, a petrochemical-derived synthetic polymer that is poorly biodegradable. The Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum contains Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, Isohexadecane, Hexylene Glycol, all petrochemical-derived synthetic ingredients.

The brand has stated it sources from "ethical suppliers,” nut has not publicly disclosed specific supplier identities, supply chain transparency frameworks, or third-party verification of ingredient sourcing beyond the CITES bakuchiol example.

Energy Use & Carbon Footprint

Versed's energy and carbon profile is anchored by brand-stated net-zero greenhouse gas emissions since launch, 2,600 tonnes of UN-certified carbon offsets purchased in 2020, 100% offset of shipping and marketing emissions, leadership of the CodeRed4Climate campaign with 200+ beauty brands advocating for climate policy, and structural integration of climate considerations into product development.

The combination of operational emissions reduction and offsetting represents combined approach to climate action. The 2,600 tonnes UN-certified offsets is structurally distinct from self-issued or unverified offset claims. The brand offsets 100% of carbon emissions associated with shipping orders and marketing packages. The brand has stated commitment to "working towards becoming Climate Neutral Certified.” As of late 2025, Climate Neutral Certification status for the brand is not confirmed in primary sources reviewed. The brand has not published quantitative Scope 1/Scope 2/Scope 3 emissions disclosure separate from offset purchases.

Waste Management

The per-product Waste Footprint metric disclosed alongside Sustainable Product Attributes is distinct from typical mass-market beauty disclosure. Per-product waste accountability supports consumer-informed decision-making at the SKU level. The Target store recycling partnership for empty packaging take-back provides accessible recycling pathways for the substantial portion of the brand's customer base who shop at Target stores.

The brand has not implemented a refill program at any meaningful scale across the core catalog. The brand has not pursued Plastic Negative or Plastic Neutral certification. The brand has not implemented a brand-level take-back program for empties beyond the Target retail partnership. There is no published partnership with TerraCycle, Pact Collective, or comparable take-back infrastructure for Versed-specific empties.

The brand has not featured upcycled byproduct ingredient lines despite the catalog's substantial plant-derived ingredient content (where byproduct sourcing from food industry is available.

Business Model

The brand has venture capital backing through Sonoma Brands Capital and $11.6M Series A funding, creating growth-oriented commercial pressure. Venture capital investment typically requires growth trajectory and exit strategy that operates in tension with slow-consumption commitments.The catalog has expanded substantially since 2019 launch with 19 products to current 60+ SKUs across multiple categories. The 2023 expansion to Asia-Pacific and 2025 expansion to skincare-infused makeup category represent ongoing commercial expansion. The commercial expansion is in tension with slow-consumption restraint despite the brand's commitment to evergreen products.

Non-toxicity

score : 7.0/10

Versed's ingredient toxicity profile is one of the strongest among mass-market clean skincare brands. The catalog is built on EU clean standard formulation excluding 1,350+ ingredients with documented health concerns, structural avoidance of parabens, sulfates, and synthetic fragrance, fragrance-free positioning across many products, and dermatologist-tested formulations.

The brand's fragrance-free positioning across many products is consequential for human health. Synthetic fragrance is one of the most documented sources of allergic reactions, sensitization, and irritation in cosmetics. The reef-safe mineral sunscreen formulation (Guards Up Daily Mineral Sunscreen) using zinc oxide as active sunscreen agent avoids the chemical UV filters (oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate) that have documented endocrine disruption concerns and reef toxicity. Zinc oxide is the most well-tolerated mineral sunscreen active for sensitive skin.

However, multiple formulations include ingredient categories with specific toxicity considerations. The Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm contains essential oils including Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, plus the documented allergens Eugenol and Limonene. Eugenol and Limonene are EU-regulated allergens that must be disclosed when present above 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products. While Day Dissolve is rinse-off, the essential oil sensitizer content is notable for a brand positioning around sensitive skin tolerance.

The catalog uses Polysorbates across formulations. The Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum contains both Polysorbate 80 and Polysorbate 20. Polysorbates can carry trace 1,4-dioxane contamination from the manufacturing ethoxylation process. 1,4-dioxane is a documented human carcinogen. The brand has not disclosed 1,4-dioxane testing transparency for its Polysorbate-containing products despite formulating to EU clean standards.

Social Responsibility

score : 5.7/10

Fair Labor

Versed's fair labor profile is anchored by manufacturer Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) including requirements for safe and fair labor with fair wages, prohibition of forced labor and underage labor, prohibition of hazardous work environments, and comprehensive anti-discrimination protections. The brand has not disclosed Fair Trade Certified manufacturing facilities at the factory level. No SA8000, Fair Wear Foundation, Ethical Trading Initiative, or BSCI certifications have been pursued. The brand has not published wage transparency, manufacturing partner identity, or detailed supply chain disclosure. Brand-level workforce data (employee count, benefits structure, demographic representation) is not publicly disclosed.

Animal Welfare

Versed's animal welfare profile includes Leaping Bunny third-party cruelty-free certification (the gold-standard cruelty-free verification with independent supplier chain audits), 100% vegan formulations across the entire catalog with no animal-derived ingredients, structural commitment to not selling in markets requiring animal testing, and reef-safe mineral sunscreen formulation that protects marine ecosystems including marine animal habitat.

Community Engagement

Versed's community engagement is anchored by leadership of the CodeRed4Climate industry coalition advocacy with 200+ beauty brands, structural integration of community feedback into product development through proprietary data, commitment to consumer education through ingredient transparency materials, and access to broader Clique Brands community-building infrastructure. The brand has not joined 1% for the Planet specifically. The brand has not published a structural percentage of profits committed to charitable giving. No long-term partnerships with specific nonprofit organizations are publicly disclosed beyond CodeRed4Climate (which is a campaign rather than an ongoing partnership).