Why We Choose Frosted Glass for Your Skincare

At aos Skincare, we believe that every detail matters, from the ingredients we choose to the way we present them. This is why all of our products (with the exception of sunscreen) come in glass jars and bottles. Packaging is not just a container, it is part of the product experience and plays a key role in preserving the efficacy of the formulas you trust for your skin.

Protecting the Integrity of Your Skincare

We hear a lot of feedback about how beautiful our packaging is and it's more than beautiful, it's functional. Most skincare ingredients are sensitive to light, heat, and air. By using frosted glass, we reduce the amount of light that reaches your products, helping maintain their potency and effectiveness for longer. Your carefully crafted botanical serums, oils, and creams stay fresh, active, and ready to deliver the results you expect.

What About Light Degradation? Isn't amber or blue glass better?

It's true- amber, cobalt blue and dark violet glass block more UV rays than clear or frosted glass. Why do we choose frosted glass than? Read on to learn about the damages that are being done with cobalt and amber glass production.

Our labels, made with a mix of recycled paper and hemp, are opaque and block the majority of light, so your products are well protected from light degradation. That being said, we strongly recommend storing your skincare in a cabinet, drawer or other place where sunlight can't get to it (most modern light bulbs emit zero to very smalls amounts of UV rays - that's why you don't get a "sunburn" indoors at home!).

Glass is Better for the Planet

Our commitment to sustainability also guides our packaging choices. Glass is infinitely recyclable and reduces the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans. We choose frosted glass instead of colored glass, such as amber, cobalt blue, or violet, because colored glass often requires the use of toxic chemicals.

For example, a glass manufacturer in Portland, Oregon, was named a "toxic hotspot" and was subject to numerous class action lawsuits for the pollution created by their use of colorants like arsenic and cadmium. Read more about this.

In addition, cobalt used to color blue glass is frequently mined under unethical conditions in Africa and China. To learn more, watch this video about the horrors of cobalt mining in the DRC. None of the glass container manufacturers that we've contacted are able to confirm that they don't obtain cobalt from these awful sources.

Our frosted glass is created by either sandblasting or exposing clear glass to hydrofluoric acid. Since hydrofluoric acid poses both health and environmental risks, we do our best to obtain frosted glass that has been sandblasted. Most of our glass is etched in the United States, which is good because the environmental standards here are more stringent than other countries like China, that do a lot of glass manufacturing.

Frosted glass packaging gives us a safe, sustainable, and ethical way to protect your skincare. Choosing glass aligns with our philosophy of Full Circle Beauty, where every step of our skincare process, from seed to bottle to recycling empty containers, is designed to create more beauty in the world.

Why Glass is Better for You

Plastic packaging can pose hidden risks. Certain plastics may leach hormone-disrupting chemicals like BPA, BPS, or phthalates into products, especially when exposed to heat or sunlight. Did you know that several essential oils degrade plastic as well? We've found that out the hard way. Many of our products contain essential oils and although the percentage rarely exceeds 1% in the finished formula, we think you can never be too careful! By choosing glass for the majority of our products, we eliminate this risk, giving you a safer, cleaner way to care for your skin.

Packaging as Part of the Ritual

We love the feel of our glass jars and bottles. Holding a beautifully crafted jar or bottle feels luxurious and intentional, turning your daily routine into a mindful moment of self-care. Packaging is not just functional, it is part of the experience, reflecting the care and attention that goes into every product we make.

Choosing frosted glass is one of the ways we ensure that your aos Skincare experience is safe, effective, and beautiful, from the first touch to the last drop. Every detail, from formulation to packaging, embodies our commitment to Full Circle Beauty, creating more beauty for you and the world around you.