Educated Mess is chemist-founded skincare built for real life. Cosmetic chemist Alex Padgett spent years formulating for brands you've heard of, watching innovative ingredients get passed over because they were too hard to market. Catherine Chick came from sales, obsessed with skincare, and knew there was a better way to get those formulas into your hands. Together, they built a line of clinically proven formulas that do exactly what they say.

Because there's work to do, people to see, places to go, and plenty to think about that isn't skincare. We obsess over the science, so you don't have to. Our formulas are effective when you use them and forgiving when life gets in the way. Educated about what goes in the bottle. Realistic about everything else.

Yes. Every Educated Mess formula is independently tested by third-party labs, because you shouldn't have to guess if something works. You can see the full results on our Clinical Studies page.

We formulate with sensitive skin in mind from day one. Golden Hour was tested on people with self-perceived sensitive skin, and Flash Freeze gets its cooling kick from menthyl lactate, a gentler cousin of menthol that cools without the irritation. That said, every skin is different. If you're new to a product, we always recommend a patch test first.

Our products are made in the USA with global materials.

Yes, we accept returns within a specified period. Please review our return policy for more details

They did! Our bestsellers have a new look, but the proven formulas you love are the same. Freeze Frame is now Flash Freeze, and Sake Bomb is now Sake Silk.

Yes. We never test on animals. 

We're honest about where we are and clear about where we're going. Our serums now use an airless pump that collapses inward as you dispense, so almost nothing gets left behind. Sake Silk uses a sealed piston that pushes the formula forward, so nothing pools at the bottom. We've also partnered with rePurpose Global to help recover hard-to-recycle plastics, and our empties recovery program with PACT Collective is coming soon. Read more on Skin Isn't Deep Enough.

You can shop our full line at educatedmess.com. 

Yes! US orders over $75 ship free.

Orders are currently arriving within 7 to 10 business days. We ship Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. Orders placed after Friday at 12:00 PM CST will ship the following week.

We ship within the US via USPS and UPS. 

• Economy - 4+ business days
• Standard - 3-4 business days
• Express - 1-2 business days

*Note: these timeframes do not include processing times

Pick what works best for you at checkout. Have a preferred carrier or mailer? Just email us at hello@educatedmess.com and we'll do our best to make it happen.

Not right now but stay tuned. We're currently shipping within the US only because something exciting is on the way. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok to be the first to know where to find us.

Yes. We are able to ship to PO Boxes through USPS. 

You'll get an email with a copy of your order at checkout, then a second email with tracking info once it ships. Still have questions? Email hello@educatedmess.com and we'll give you an update.

Once a package is marked as delivered, it's out of our hands and with the carrier. Occasionally, USPS marks a package as delivered a little before it actually arrives, so please allow up to 3 business days for it to show up. If it still hasn't arrived after that, please reach out to USPS or UPS directly to file a claim. We're happy to help with any order details you need along the way!

We're sorry! Please keep the box, packing materials, and items, then email hello@educatedmess.com with your order number and photos of the damage. We'll take it from there.

Email hello@educatedmess.com as soon as possible. If your order hasn't shipped, we'll do everything we can to cancel or adjust it. If it's already on its way, you can refuse the delivery and we'll refund you once it's returned, or reach out for a return label.

You have 30 days after receiving your order to request a return. Start one through our self-service returns portal or email hello@educatedmess.com. Once approved, we'll send a prepaid label and instructions. Items sent back without a return request first can't be accepted. Full details are in our Refund Policy.

Choose subscribe at checkout, pick how often you want your favorites delivered, and we'll handle the rest. You'll save 10% on every subscription order. One less thing to remember.

Check out our guide on identifying skin types, available in our blog section, to find products perfect for you.

Anytime. Log in and head to Manage Subscription, or use the link in your order confirmation email. See our Subscription Policy for details.

Yes! Build your routine and save with our Bundle + Save sets.

We're always up for meeting new people who get it. Send us a note at pr@educatedmess.com. 

Please reach out to pr@educatedmess.com.

We love that you want to bring us to your shelves! We're not offering wholesale just yet, but it's on our radar.  Email hello@educatedmess.com and we'll add you to our list to hear first when wholesale opens up.

Email hello@educatedmess.com anytime.