This post was reviewed and updated by Sarah Otto, Dermatology Nurse Practitioner and Founder of Otto Skin Goods on April 29, 2026.
With a market oversaturated with millions of products, it's difficult to know what your skin actually needs. Which product is right for you? Which ingredients should you be using? And more importantly, is your skincare safe?
In more recent years, consumers are becoming more and more interested in skincare brands using ethical practices—ones that reflect and resonate with their own philosophy and lifestyles.
At Otto Skin Goods, we formulate our products using high percentages of vitamin C, niacinamide, fruit acids, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. But what sets us apart from other skincare lines is our ability to concisely curate formulations with active and plant-based ingredients, which are independently spread throughout our line of products. We call this single note formulating—a revolutionary, responsible way to formulate skincare that gets results with low risk of irritation or allergies.
Our mission is to create skincare that simply works—ones that are gentle enough to use every day. But it doesn’t stop there. When we say “ethically made,” we mean it.
Skincare free from harsh, allergenic and sensitizing ingredients
To us, safety means not only avoiding harmful ingredients, but reducing allergy risk and correctly utilizing active ingredients. Our ingredients are vetted for potential harm, allergy, irritation, compatibility and necessary percentage—only then is an active or plant-based ingredient added to one of our products.
Otto Skin Goods is focused on blending ingredients to achieve specific results at just the right time of day. We believe that many skin issues are a result of sensitized or reactive skin, caused by harsh and improper use of both active and botanical ingredients.
Skincare with no animal testing and low environmental impact
- Our products are never tested on animals because we test them on ourselves, friends and brand ambassadors. Plus, we’re always ready to pivot, improve and update our products whenever research, science or a friendly recommendation requires us to.
- We use glass packaging whenever possible because we believe this is better for animals and the environment.
- We are careful with the selection of our ingredients and avoid anything that is either sourced unethically or harmful to the environment once rinsed off.
Supporters of slow beauty and growth.
- We hand-pick influencers and require them to actually use our products and actually like them before posting.
- We are slowly growing our social media following with thoughtful content, educational blogs and purposeful interaction.
- We choose models that represent real life, many of which are personal friends.
- We are careful with our language and try to take a positive, encouraging view of beauty and age. We are not into anti-aging, overnight results, empty promises or unrealistic claims.
If you have any other questions regarding our ethics and practices here at Otto Skin Goods, reach out to us directly by filling out the form here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is single note formulating?
Single note formulating is our approach to keeping active and plant-based ingredients spread across individual products rather than combining them all in one formula. This means you get targeted results with a much lower risk of irritation or allergic reactions—your skin gets exactly what it needs, nothing more.
Are Otto Skin Goods products safe for sensitive skin?
Yes. Every ingredient we use is vetted for potential harm, allergen risk, irritation, ingredient compatibility, and correct usage percentage before it makes it into a product. We avoid harsh, allergenic, and sensitizing ingredients by design. Our entire philosophy is built around gentle, everyday-use skincare.
Are your products cruelty-free?
Absolutely. We never test on animals. We test on ourselves, friends, and brand ambassadors. We also stay open to updating formulations whenever new research or feedback points us in a better direction.
What do you do to reduce your environmental impact?
We use glass packaging whenever possible, and we carefully vet every ingredient to ensure it's ethically sourced and safe for the environment once it washes off. Sustainability isn't a marketing claim for us; it informs our ingredient and packaging decisions from the start.
What key ingredients do you use?
Our formulations are built around high percentages of vitamin C, niacinamide, fruit acids, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants. We work with both active and plant-based ingredients, chosen for their proven results and compatibility with daily use.
How do you approach influencer marketing?
We hand-pick every influencer and require them to genuinely use and like our products before they post about them. We're not interested in paid promotions that don't reflect real experience. The same goes for our models—many are personal friends who represent real, everyday people.
Do you make anti-aging claims?
No. We take a positive, encouraging view of beauty and aging. You won't find anti-aging language, overnight miracle claims, or unrealistic promises from us. We believe in skincare that works over time, communicated honestly.
