on the face of
(idiomatic) Notwithstanding.
On the face of all the evidence, he was found guilty.
I am proud to be an American. Because an American can eat anything on the face of this earth as long as he has two pieces of bread. Bill Cosby
Love is the only shocking act left on the face of the earth. Sandra Bernhard
But what is Hope? Nothing but the paint on the face of Existence; the least touch of truth rubs it off, and then we see what a hollow-cheeked harlot we have got hold of. Lord Byron
I'm one-hundred-fifty miles off Cape Horn, both autopilots are broken, and my boat is drifting toward one of the nastiest chunks of ocean on the face of the earth. Abby Sunderland
Every dog on the face of the earth wants me dead. Bill Bryson
This is the epitaph I want on my tomb: Here lies one of the most intelligent animals who ever appeared on the face of the earth. Benito Mussolini