frequently asked questions

you've got questions. we've got answers.

shipping + returns

Function of Beauty currently ships to the following:

  • United States (including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands)
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • European Union (including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden)
  • Great Britain
  • Hong Kong
  • Iceland
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Korea (Republic of)
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Singapore
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • United Arab Emirates
Here’s how it works: you order, we formulate, and then we ship! This process typically takes 7-9 business days from the time the order is placed. We’ll make sure to send you a shipping notification with a tracking number via email as soon as your package ships.

International orders take a bit longer due to customs and local carrier delivery processing. Average delivery estimates from the time of purchase are:

Your order confirmation will include our best estimate of your package's arrival date. Once your order has been filled and shipped, you will receive a notification with a unique tracking link.
For Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, EU, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland: Your package will arrive at your door with no additional duties or taxes, aside from any taxes you incur at checkout.

For Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Singapore, Taiwan, and United Arab Emirates: Your package may incur additional duties and taxes upon delivery. Duties and taxes depend on your country's customs laws.

Please also note that Function of Beauty does not have any control over these charges. Customs policies vary widely, so please contact your local customs office if you would like any further information.
Sorry about that! In a few cases, the carrier takes 1-2 business days to register your shipment status. If your tracking number isn’t updating or working at all, please reach out to us as soon as possible here. We can give you the inside info!
It rarely happens (less than 1% of all orders), but if you are not completely satisfied, our happy hair specialists are on standby!
  • For new orders: Simply reach out to us here with the details of your concern within 30 days of receipt of your first order and we'll do our best to address your needs! If for some reason we feel we're unable to address your concerns with a free, one-time reformulation, we can process a full refund within 30 days of delivery of your first order. Please note, by choosing the one-time free reformulation, we will be unable to refund the original purchase order.
  • For subscription refills: You may edit or cancel your subscription plan any time before your set is billed. Please note that since all formulas are fully customized, we cannot accept cancellations, returns, or apply refunds after your order has been billed. All cancellations apply to your next scheduled delivery. If you are concerned about making sure your formula is just right, don't hesitate to contact us.
Refunds can take 7-10 days to reflect on your original form of payment.
If you received a product different from the one you ordered, we’re sorry about that! Please contact us here and we’ll be sure to get you the customized formula you wanted!
Yes, we offer free shipping around the world for subscribers. See here for details.

hair care

take the hair quiz

Function of Beauty is the world’s first fully customizable hair care brand that allows you to create shampoos, conditioners, and styling products based on your individual hair type, hair goals, and aesthetic preferences (including color + fragrance). Founded by a dream team of world-class MIT engineers, cosmetic scientists, and developers, each product is individually formulated using the latest science and technology to help ensure that your formula is every bit as unique as you. We cater to all textures of hair, from straight to wavy, curly to coily, and formulate without sulfates and parabens to ensure that customers of all ethnicities and hair types can create a formula that fits their unique hair needs!

Find your perfect formula by taking the hair quiz here!

How do I complete the hair quiz?

    We define the different categories of hair type as:

  • Straight: Hair strands tend to not have a bend or a curl. Hair Type 1.
  • Wavy: Hair has a slight bend or wave pattern; somewhere between straight and curly. Hair Type 2.
  • Curly: Hair has a definite curl, S-shaped, or loopy pattern. Can be prone to dryness and frizz. Hair Type 3.
  • Coily: Hair has a tight curl, spiral, or zig-zag pattern; tighter curls than curly hair. Sometimes known as "kinky" or "textured" hair. Hair Type 4.

    Hair structure doesn’t refer to the number of hair strands you have, but rather the thickness of each individual strand.

  • Fine: A single strand is thinner than a sewing thread. If you take a strand of hair between your fingers you don't feel anything.
  • Medium: A single strand is about the thickness of a sewing thread. If you take a strand of hair between your fingers you can feel the hair.
  • Coarse: A single strand is thicker than a sewing thread. If you take a strand of hair between your fingers you can feel a strong, thick strand.

    This is the level of moisture/oil on your scalp:

  • Dry: Your scalp might be dry or flaky. You typically wash every 3-4+ days.
  • Balanced: Your scalp is about the same a day after you wash it.
  • Oily: You feel the need to wash your hair daily.

We currently offer shampoo and conditioner, leave-in conditioner, hair mask, hair serum, co-wash, and a purple toning shampoo, all of which are fully customizable according to your hair type, hair goals, and aesthetic preferences. For more information on the individual products, please see below.

Fragrances can definitely be subjective, but we like to think we have something for everyone.

    Signature fragrances:

  • nude (p)each Top Notes: Peach nectar, mandarin, lemon zest, jasmine.
    Reminds us of: Cutting up fresh, juicy peaches on a hot summer day.
  • (pear)fection Top Notes: Pear, apple, sweet musk, subtle florals.
    Reminds us of: Biting into a juicy pear on a crisp fall day.
  • strike a (r)ose Top Notes: Rose, black currant, sandalwood, orange blossom.
    Reminds us of: A cool, modern rose fragrance with a bit of edge.
  • all (you)calyptus Top Notes: Eucalyptus, mint, lavender, rosemary.
    Reminds us of: An exhilarating hike through the misty mountain tops.
  • floret Top Notes: Gardenia, rose, sandalwood, amber.
    Reminds us of: A memory of the seasons changing and flowers growing.
  • fragrance-free Top Notes: A great option for those with sensitivities.
  • Limited edition fragrances:

  • takes two to (m)ango Top Notes: Mango, grapefruit, sandalwood.
    Reminds us of: Slicing into fresh mango, drenched in sun, with juice dripping down your hand.
  • true l(o)vender Top Notes: Lavender, Eucalyptus, Bergamot.
    Reminds us of: Relaxing in your clean sheets after a hot shower.
  • cherry bl(awesome) Top Notes: Cherry blossoms, jasmine, amber, lilies.
    Reminds us of: A romantic springtime stroll at peak bloom (subscriber only)
  • go (c)oco Top Notes: Coconut, honeysuckle.
    Reminds us of: Sunkissed skin tickling soft, warm sand.
You can give your hair care formula an extra boost by choosing up to five of our 18 hair goals:
  • Strengthen: Increase your hair's natural resilience and elasticity, stimulate healthy hair, and help protect your hair from future breakage.
  • Anti-Frizz: Nourish and soften the hair texture for a smoother appearance, while also protecting strands from added frizz, static, and breakage.
  • Color Protection: Protect your hair from damaging UV rays, prevent dulling and fading, and enhance your strands' color retention to promote long-lasting, vibrant color.
  • Curl Definition: Enhance and define your natural curls to achieve a smoother texture and improve their overall health and manageability.
  • Deep Condition: Moisturize and deeply condition your hair from the inside out to help repair damage caused by heat and chemical processing. (*Best for those with wavy/curly, coarse, dry, or damaged hair.)
  • Fix Split-Ends: Smooth, coat, and seal your split ends to create a sleek finish while also helping to prevent new split ends from forming.
  • Hydrate: Restore your hair's natural moisture balance, prevent future moisture loss, and help treat damage with an added dose of long-lasting hydration that won't weigh your hair down.
  • Replenish Hair: Replenish nutrient-depleted strands, reverse damage, and help protect your hair from environmental stressors with a unique blend of high-quality hair ingredients.
  • Shine: Enhance your hair's natural shine and luster, while also improving your overall hair health.
  • Straighten: Relax and tame unruly hair with a biolipid complex that coats each strand in a sheathing film to help naturally discipline hair even in humid conditions.
  • Thermal Protection: Moisturize and condition heat damaged hair while also protecting strands from future damage caused by thermal styling.
  • Volumize: Rejuvenate limp, lifeless strands and remove excess buildup to help inject your hair with added body and lift.
  • Lengthen: A blend of high-quality ingredients, including pea sprout extract and blue-green algae, helps promote scalp circulation and follicle stimulation for stronger, healthier-looking hair.Oil Control: Stimulate and revitalize your scalp to help prevent excessive oil production for healthier-looking hair.
  • Oil Control: and revitalize your scalp to help prevent excessive oil production for healthier-looking hair.
  • Soothe Scalp: Moisturize and energize your scalp to help relieve discomfort, reduce buildup, and prevent dry, itchy flakes.
  • Nourish Roots: Stimulate your hair roots and facilitate the transport of key nutrients to the hair shaft to promote healthier-looking hair.
  • Anti-aging: Revitalize and strengthen your hair to help prevent premature aging caused by environmental stressors, heat and chemical styling, and nutrient loss.
  • Reduce Brassiness: Deep purple pigments neutralize brassy (yellow/orange) tones to help promote brighter, more vibrant looking blonde hair, while also extending the life of your color. (*Note: This is a purple-colored shampoo, which is designed primarily for those with natural blonde, color-treated, bleached, highlighted, or gray hair.)
take the hair quiz

body care

take the body quiz

How do I complete the body quiz?

    We define the different skin moisture level as:

  • Balanced: Your skin feels smooth and hydrated.
  • Dry: Your skin might feel tight and rough.
  • Very Dry:Your skin looks dull, with possible scaling.

We offer body wash and body lotion, which are customizable according to your skin moisture, and aesthetic preferences. For more information on the individual products, please see below.

    Signature fragrances:

  • nude (p)each Top Notes: Peach nectar, mandarin, lemon zest, jasmine.
    Reminds us of: Cutting up fresh, juicy peaches on a hot summer day.
  • (pear)fection Top Notes: Pear, apple, sweet musk, subtle florals.
    Reminds us of: Biting into a juicy pear on a crisp fall day.
  • strike a (r)ose Top Notes: Rose, black currant, sandalwood, orange blossom.
    Reminds us of: A cool, modern rose fragrance with a bit of edge.
  • all (you)calyptus Top Notes: Eucalyptus, mint, lavender, rosemary.
    Reminds us of: An exhilarating hike through the misty mountain tops.
  • floret Top Notes: Gardenia, rose, sandalwood, amber.
    Reminds us of: A memory of the seasons changing and flowers growing.
  • fragrance-free Top Notes: A great option for those with sensitivities.
  • Limited edition fragrances:

  • takes two to (m)ango Top Notes: Mango, grapefruit, sandalwood.
    Reminds us of: Slicing into fresh mango, drenched in sun, with juice dripping down your hand.
  • true l(o)vender Top Notes: Lavender, Eucalyptus, Bergamot.
    Reminds us of: Relaxing in your clean sheets after a hot shower.
  • cherry bl(awesome) Top Notes: Cherry blossoms, jasmine, amber, lilies.
    Reminds us of: A romantic springtime stroll at peak bloom (subscriber only)
  • go (c)oco Top Notes: Coconut, honeysuckle.
    Reminds us of: Sunkissed skin tickling soft, warm sand.
take the body quiz

skin care

take the skin quiz

How do I complete the skin quiz?

We define the different categories of skin type as:

  • Dry: Rough, peels easily.
  • Balanced: Not too dry, not too oily.
  • Oily: Heightened sebum (face oil) production.
  • Combination: Dry and balanced in some areas, but oily in others.

Makeup usage is based on the average amount of makeup you wear:

  • None: Bare-faced beauty.
  • A little: Concealer, blush, and mascara.
  • A fair amount: Sheer foundation, concealer, blush, and mascara.
  • Full coverage: Full face, eyes, and lips - and love countouring.

We define "sensitive" as experiencing stinging, irritation, burning, redness, or tightness when using skin care products.

  • Never
  • Rarely
  • Often
  • All the time

We offer cleansers, serum, and moisturizers, which are customizable according to your skin type, makeup usage, and skin sensitivity. For more information on the individual products, please see below.

  • Fragrance-free: A great option for those with sensitivities. When we say fragrance-free, we truly mean it; we do not add anything to mask the natural scents of the ingredients.
  • (dew) you: Indulge in the rush of natural waters, with notes of cucumber and a hint of citrus for a complete refresh (100% natural). Other customers have said that it's a fresh scent that reminds them of water!

On the final page of the quiz where we recommend your regimen, next to each product name, you’ll see a small arrow. Toggle the arrow to expand the product card, where you’ll be able to edit your product format for cleanser + moisturizer, or select fragrance or fragrance-free for each product in your regimen.

You might see variations in the texture and the color of the product may vary slightly ranging from white to amber, depending on the product and the goals selected, but will not impact the odor / scent of your products in our fragrance option. Our fragrance-free option is truly fragrance-free, we do not add anything to mask the natural scents of the ingredients so the smell might vary based on your selected goals and their individual ingredients.

take the skin quiz

function with benefits

function with benefits is our membership program– it gives you the ultimate experience in customization, with perks like a welcome offer, members-only pricing, exclusive color and fragrance options, early access to deals, new product launches, and product testing! As a member, you get access to every opportunity we offer to customize your products and treat your unique hair, skin, and body needs in the most personalized way possible. 

Becoming a member is as easy as subscribing to your favorite function products. But don't worry – you're not tied down to the formula you subscribe with. In fact, we encourage the opposite – changing your formula as often as you'd like to keep your goals up-to-date with where you're at and any changes you're experiencing. Once you subscribe, you are automatically enrolled as a member and have access to all the perks for all of our custom products.

As a member of function with benefits, you’ll receive:

  • Major savings with a specific welcome offer
  • Members-only pricing throughout your membership
  • Access to exclusive colors and fragrances
  • Early access to new products + testing
  • Free shipping on all recurring orders – as always forever

We're so excited to have you join! Please reach out to hello@functionofbeauty.com, and we'd be happy to make the change for you!

Yes! Subscribe to any function of beauty product and you'll automatically be enrolled in function with benefits, and can start unlocking your perks on your first order.
All you need to do to become a member of function with benefits is subscribe to any product on your next order. Once you subscribe, you'll unlock exclusive perks like members-only pricing, and exclusive early access to new colors, fragrances, and product launches!

ingredients + sustainability

3 guiding principles keep us honest:
  1. We have a really long checklist.
  2. All of our formulations follow the European Union regulations on safe cosmetics, (which bans nearly 1400 ingredients, vs only 11 by the FDA). We’re constantly checking up to ensure our ingredients are in full compliance with the strictest standards.

    On top of that, we thoroughly check every new ingredient against 26 checklist items by 3 different departments. This screens for specific environmental and health hazards. The ingredients that make the cut are then reviewed in formulation with one another to make sure they’re safe when combined, and to safeguard the long-term health of our team in the factory.
  3. We’re picky about our ingredients.
  4. We're passionate about only using ingredients that actually help you achieve your hair goals and deliver performance without compromising safety. That’s why we use a combination of both natural and lab-made ingredients in our formulations – we know what’s natural is not always the safest or the best-performing, and what’s lab-made is not always bad or toxic.

    No matter how you customize, it's all clean:
    • Colors: all of our colors are both FDA and EU-approved for cosmetics. Plus, you can go dye-free
    • Fragrances: our expertly-blended fragrances evoke sensorial experiences while sticking to our strict ingredient list. We also offer 100% natural fragrances blended from essential oils, and fragrance-free options
    • Silicones: silicones are conditioning workhorses and have a long track record of safety, but we do offer silicone-free options for those who prefer it
  5. We don’t compromise on our values.
  6. Our ingredients are always vegan and cruelty-free. We strive to be responsibly sourced in as many of our ingredients as possible, and are always raising the bar in this area.
No, no and yes!

As a company, we are committed to creating products that use only safe, natural ingredients, wherever possible, and are continuously seeking new and environmentally-friendly ingredients. All of our products are free of sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, phthalates, and gluten, among many other ingredients. Our products are also 100% vegan and cruelty-free!
Yes, our products do contain silicones— we’re a fan of them for a few reasons. For hair, silicone helps to create that silky, smooth feeling post-use. On skin, silicone acts as a barrier— letting moisture in but blocking particles like pollutants from entering. In both cases, silicone is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, is vegan, and is known not to clog pores. For anyone who’s not a fan, though, we give the option to go silicone-free for most formulas. You can’t go wrong!
Our kraft boxes are 100% recyclable, and made with at least 30% post-consumer recycled materials. The materials are also sourced from environmentally responsible paper suppliers and are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
All orders come with pumps! They arrive loose and disassembled in the box. You can also decline to receive a new set of pumps on your order confirmation page. Feel free to use the pumps you have for as long as you’d like (Mother Nature will thank you.)

Our 16oz Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, and Body Lotion bottles are made out of Premium PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) material, which helps us (and you) cut down on virgin plastic consumption. You may notice a slight grey tint, or very small black dots on the bottles – these are very normal with PCR and do not affect your formula. Each bottle is unique and special :)

Our 8oz Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Body Lotion, and Leave-In Conditioner bottles, as well as our Mask and Serum bottles are all made of 100% recyclable PETE-grade plastic. The 8oz Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Body Lotion, and Leave-In Conditioner bottles will be transitioned to PCR by mid-2021!

Read more on our transition to PCR here.

Our caps are all made from 100% aluminum, which means, like our bottles, they’re 100% recyclable.
If there are certain ingredients that you are allergic to or wary of, you can feel free to reach out to us here for more information. We also always recommend consulting your physician first if you have any concerns.
Your safety and well-being are always our top priority. Our formulations avoid potentially harmful or toxic ingredients such as sulfates (including SLS & SLES), parabens, phthalates, triclosan, mineral oils, formaldehyde, among many others (please see below for a more detailed list). We do not formulate with ingredients banned in the EU.
First off, congratulations! And yes, our products are all safe to use during pregnancy. If you have any specific concerns though, we always recommend checking with your physician first.
All of our products are formulated to be safe; however, children may have unknown allergies and may be more sensitive to specific ingredients than adults, which is why we always recommend consulting a physician first if you have any concerns.
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your account

If you head over to your account page, you can update your account info, shipping address, payment info, and see your order history. From there you can reorder your formula or make adjustments to a past order. You can also manage your subscription and find your referral link (with an easy to fill out form to send to your friends so they’ll receive a discount on their first purchase. You'll also receive the same amount in credit if they place an order using your link!)
As a function with benefits member (FWB), you can get ongoing deliveries of your favorite personalized formulas on the delivery schedule of your choice (every 1, 2, or 3 months). It’s easy to make changes to your formula’s goals, colors, or fragrances within your account. You also get exclusive perks (think early access to new products, free shipping, and more!).

A few days before your subscription order is set to be filled, you will receive an email reminder to adjust your formula, change your delivery date, update your account details (like your address or billing info), and make any other edits to your subscription. You will be charged for your subscription when we start working on your new order.

Please note that since all formulas are fully customized, we cannot accept returns or apply refunds after your order has been processed. Any adjustments or cancellations made to your subscription after a payment has been made will not change your current subscription order and will instead be applied to the following subscription order.
You can modify your subscription plan from your account page. Under "Your Subscriptions", select "Manage" on the subscription you’d like to modify, and you’ll find the option to edit your formulation, edit the sizes of your bottles and frequency of shipments, adjust your billing information and shipping address, add or remove pumps, and choose fun add-ons like our customized leave-in conditioner!

There’s also an option to "Cancel Subscription." Please note that since all formulas are fully customized, we cannot accept cancellations, returns, or apply refunds after your order has been billed and processed. All cancellations will apply to the following scheduled delivery.

Once you have successfully canceled your subscription, you will receive an email from us confirming that your subscription has been canceled. If you do not receive this email after 24-hours, please reach out to us here so that we can help!
At this time, we’re unable to create and package multiple sets for the same order. After placing an order though, it should be simple enough to go through and place another one, as we securely save your details in your account.
If you feel like your first order of custom hair care, skin care, or body care hasn’t met your standards, let us know. We truly want to hear from you so we can improve your experience, and the experiences of others.

Reach out to us at hello@functionofbeauty.com with the details of your concern within 30 days of receipt of your first order and we'll do our best to address your needs with a free one-time reformulation.

The You x Function Contract applies to first time orders only. Orders (including subscription orders) that were not canceled before being filled do not fall under the You x Function Contract.

function in stores

Great question! You choose a shampoo and conditioner based on your natural hair type, choose up to 3 #hairgoal booster shots - then snap, pour, and shake to activate. You can find out more here, or watch this short Youtube video.
No, you don’t need to (but we always think the more the merrier!). You can buy 1, 2, or 3 - but not more than 3, as it won’t all fit and mix properly.
For best results, yes! Of course, you can add the booster shots to your current shampoo and conditioner, but we can’t guarantee luscious locks. ;-)
All 8 of the shampoos and conditioners smell like our best-reviewed fragrance, nude (p)each. Top notes are of peach nectar, mandarin, lemon zest, and jasmine, and it reminds us of cutting up fresh, juicy peaches on a hot summer day. Our #hairgoal booster shots are fragrance-free.
Unfortunately, not at this time! We are exclusively available at Target in the US. Shop online at Target.com here!
Yes, we hold ourselves up to the same standards that you know us for - vegan, cruelty-free, paraben- and sulfate-free, with a long list of no nasties. On top of that, we are also Target Clean.
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