Humanrace: Everything you need to know about the skincare line from Pharrell Williams
Humanrace Skincare is a gender-neutral skincare line from Pharrell Williams – here’s everything you need to know
In 2020, Pharrell Williams (of N.E.R.D fame) launched Humanrace, a skincare brand designed to be gender-neutral and described by the rapper and producer as a “universe of products and people dedicated to the pursuit of wellbeing.”
The site adds that Humanrace believes “every individual has the potential to understand themselves better and wake up every day feeling empowered to turn good intentions into actions” and while this sounds a tad worthy, the brand is most definitely coming from a place of inclusivity. Something that has been largely lacking in beauty and grooming circles.
Here we explain more about the products and their ingredients, plus where to buy Humanrace skincare.
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Humanrace skincare
Instagram/Pharrell Williams It’s no surprise Pharrell Williams has launched a skincare range. His skin is flawless and despite approaching 50, he looks almost identical to how he did when he first became famous in the early 1990s.
The singer credits this to the fact he’s been looking after his skin since his mid-20s, thanks to support from his own dermatologist, Elena Jones. Jones was instrumental in helping Pharrell create and curate the Humanrace skincare range.
In addition to the gender-neutral, natural formulas, the packaging is made from post-consumer recycled plastic – which means it uses 50% less plastic than it would do normally – and each product has a removable inner chamber that can be exchanged for a refill.
The cap is embossed with a raised logo, which is mirrored with the brand’s name written in Braille.
Humanrace skincare products
Humanrace sells a growing range of products in both skincare and body care lines. This relatively small launch collection is deliberate. In an attempt to stop skincare from being so overwhelming, Humanrace has been curated to fulfill the most basic requirements: Prepare, repair, protect.
Pharrell is rumoured to be working on a sunscreen, too, but has not revealed any more details about this crucial skincare step.
Prepare: Rice Powder Cleanser
$32 | Buy now from Humanrace
Humanrace Humanrace’s Rice Powder Cleanser comes as a powder that you mix with water to create a milky cream. When you massage this onto your face, it gently exfoliates by getting rid of dead skin cells, using what’s known as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), alongside kaolin clay. Clay is well-known to draw out impurities and detoxify the skin.
Humanrace description: “A gentle powder-to-foam cleanser that you control with water. Packed with rice particles, fruit AHAs and snow mushroom, it leaves skin purified, balanced and brighter every day.”
How to use: Humanrace recommends wetting your hand and putting a coin-sized amount of powder into your palm. Rub your hands together to create a lather and massage in circular motions over your face. Rinse with warm water and repeat twice a day, in the morning and at night.
Buy now from Humanrace
Repair: Lotus Enzyme Exfoliant
$46 | Buy now from Humanrace
Humanrace
Once your skin has been cleansed, Humanrace recommends using its Lotus Enzyme Exfoliant to refresh the skin. It’s what’s known as a chemical peel that uses glycolic acid to further remove dead skin cells, build-up, and congestion.
This stimulates and encourages new skin cells to form, which helps your complexion look fresh and clear.
Humanrace description: “A unique, triple-acting exfoliator that combines glycolic, enzymatic and rice particles to remove dead skin cells and reveal even, more balanced skin.”
How to use: Put two-three pumps of exfoliator into the palm of your, rub your hands together and then gently massage it into clean, damp skin for about 60 seconds. Try to avoid the eye area, as the skin is more delicate and fragile, and only use two-three times a week. If you’ve not used an exfoliator before, try doing it weekly and then upping the frequency once your skin is used to it.
Protect: Humidifying Cream
$48 | Buy now from Humanrace
Humanrace Finally, to protect the skin, Humanrace sells a moisturiser made from snow mushroom extract, an organic ingredient that acts a little like hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a hugely popular skincare ingredient because it’s able to hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in moisture, which leaves the skin plump and hydrated.
Snow mushroom is growing in popularity because it’s made up of smaller particles, meaning it’s more easily absorbed into the skin.
The Humanrace Humidifying Cream also, separately, contains hyaluronic acid, plus rice water to soothe, and niacinamide to balance skin tone.
Humanrace description: “Recreating the positive effects that humidity has on your skin, this cushioning cream contains snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, soothe and lock in moisture.”
How to use: Massage the moisturiser onto clean skin, on both your face and neck, in the morning and at night.
Buy now from Humanrace
Humanrace Bodycare products
In addition to its three-step facial, Humanrace recently released a body care collection. Within this range is the Humidifying Body Cream, a body version of the skincare product, plus two “Body Bars”. Note, the brand claims these are NOT soaps – and they each offer different benefits.
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Cleanse: Reenergizing Whiteclay Body Bar
$16 | Buy now from Humanrace
Humanrace Designed to offer the same cleansing benefits as the Rice Powder Cleanser, but for your body, the Reenergizing Whiteclay Body Bar contains a natural white clay called Kaolin. This helps pull impurities from the skin and is great if you suffer from back acne or similar.
It also contains Snow Mushroom extract to hydrate the skin, and Shea Butter to leave it feeling smooth.
Humanrace description: “The Reenergizing Whiteclay Body Bar gently cleanses and hydrates the skin without stripping moisture. Featuring purifying Kaolin Clay, moisture-locking Snow Mushroom extract, and Shea Butter, this gentle, soap-free formulation leaves all skin types nourished, soothed and refreshed.”
How to use: Wet bar between your hands and massage the foam lather into the skin, or massage the body bar over the skin in circular motions. Rinse.
Buy now from Humanrace
Exfoliate: Energy Channeling Charcoal Body Bar
$18 | Buy now from Humanrace
Humanrace This body bar uses charcoal to help get rid of dead skin cells and exfoliate your body, refining skin texture without leaving it feeling dry. It has the same Rice Powder exfoliants seen in the skincare line cleanser, this body bar also uses Jojoba Seed Oil to moisture and hydrate the skin.
Humanrace description: “The Energy Channeling Charcoal Body Bar smooths and refines skin texture without stripping moisture. Featuring Charcoal powder, fine-grained Rice Powder exfoliants, and moisture-locking Jojoba Seed Oil, this gentle, soap-free formulation leaves all skin types balanced, softened, and renewed.”
How to use: Wet bar between your hands and massage the foam lather into the skin, or massage the body bar over the skin in circular motions. Rinse.
Buy now from Humanrace
Moisturise: Humidifying Body Cream
$54 | Buy now
Humanrace
Just like the Humidifying Cream in the Humanrace Skincare range, this body cream is designed to mimic the “moisturising benefits of humidity”. It contains Bakuchiol and peptides, which smooth and strengthens the skin barrier. It also uses Snow Mushroom Extract to lock this moisture and humidity in.
How to use: “Scoop a generous amount of cream onto clean skin for hydration that nourishes and soothes. Massage all over body or to any desired areas to lock in moisture. Apply morning and night.”
Buy now from Humanrace
Where to buy Humanrace skincare
You can buy the Humanrace skincare and body care lines at humanrace.com. Sadly, it’s not yet available direct in the UK or via a third-party retailer.
The Rice Powder Cleanser costs $32, Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator is $46, the Humidifying Cream is $48 or you can buy a bundled Routine Pack for $100.
Humanrace also offers subscription options, which lowers the price each time. Under the Subscribe and Save scheme, the prices are as follows:
- Rice Powder Cleanser is $28
- Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator is $40
- Humidifying Cream is $42
- Reenergizing Whiteclay Body Bar is $16
- Energy Channeling Charcoal Body Bar is $18
- Humidifying Body Cream is $54
Shop Humanrace now
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