Checking Ingredient Lists Is Easy, Thanks to These 11 Websites

Think Dirty App

The Think Dirty app helps you to understand how "clean" ingredients really are. It is so important to understand your ingredients, according to dermatologist, Dendy Engelman, MD. "The reason this is so important is because a significant percentage of what is applied to the skin can get absorbed into the bloodstream. So, we must know what we are putting on our skin for health and safety reasons," she says. "The truth is, many cosmetic products do not require FDA approvals. So what we are left with are thousands of companies and people putting inaccurate or exaggerated information on their products and sites. For example, a product may contain an ingredient that is widely marketed but contains such a small concentration of the active that it actually doesn’t offer any benefits."

Unlike other ingredient databases, Think Dirty focuses exclusively on the chemical content of the products in question. All you need to do is scan the product barcode and Think Dirty will give you easy-to-understand information on the product—including its ingredients and cleaner options that are available.

CosDNA

Analysis of IT Cosmetics CC Cream.

It might not be the prettiest website, but CosDNA has a great database of popular beauty products. Search for the one product you want and you'll find a list of its every ingredient. CosDNA rates each ingredient for function, UV, acne irritant, and safety. The value of these is listed from zero to five—the lower, the better (i.e., the less chance that irritation or acne will occur from using it). The safety index is then listed from one to nine, with the lower number meaning the ingredient is considered to be a low hazard. It's also worth noting that there are so few "perfect" products out there, meaning there often needs to be an element of compromise.

Skincarisma

Analysis of IT Cosmetics CC Cream.

Skincarisma is a super-easy-to-use website that not only lists a product's ingredients but also breaks them down into what they're actually doing for your skin, plus the suitability for each skin type. It then tells you if the product containsparabens, alcohol, or sulfates. Keep in mind who has sourced the information, though, and remember that for every research paper stating that an ingredient is harmful, there are probably another three stating it's completely safe. Unlike other ingredient checkers, Skincarisma also has a section where you can paste the ingredients, meaning they don't necessarily need to have the product in their library for you to analyze it. So handy.

Environmental Working Group

EWG analysis of COOLA sunless tan.

EWG's Skin Deep database currently contains information and online hazard assessments for over 74,000 products. Staff scientists compare the ingredients on product labels and websites to information in nearly 60 toxicity and regulatory databases. EWG gives a low, moderate or high score on concerns like a product's overall toxicity and its ability to cause cancer, developmental or reproductive harm. Whilst this can be somewhat terrifying (i.e., if you find a high score on cancer for your favorite mascara), it's worth bearing in mind the amount of that ingredient that's actually in the product as opposed to what is needed to reach such toxic levels. EWG is also a good tool to find information on a company or brand's stance on animal testing.

CodeCheck app

Another app that uses barcodes to quickly scan and analyze products is CodeCheck. It provides transparency regarding the ingredients in everyday beauty products and also some foods. Not only does the app rate possible effects on your health, but it also gives information about how a product's ingredients and packaging affect the environment. Keep in mind, that as much as all of these apps and websites are useful when it comes to checking ingredients, citing as many sources as possible is always important. "Don’t be afraid to take your time and thoroughly go over a product and weigh your options. At a base level, you should avoid ingredients like propylene glycol, butylene glycol, petroleum, plastics, parabens, and FD&C color pigments," says esthetician, Heather Nicole.

CosmEthics app

By reading the barcode of any beauty product, CosmEthics helps consumers make educated choices. For every product scan that triggers some type of personal alert, such as an allergen alert or toxin alert, the user is provided with an alternative option. Another interesting feature is that the user is the one who determines the safeness of their products by setting their own standards that the app adheres to.

Beautypedia

Initially created by Paula Begoun of Paula's Choice, Beautypedia is a website that cuts through the hype of products in order to offer insights on ingredients. The results are compiled by research teams that share scientific research to objectively review skincare and makeup formulations. Paula's Choice Ingredient Dictionary is also useful if you want a rundown of what an ingredient is, what it does, and whether or not it's harmful or irritating to the skin. "FDA regulations stipulate that ingredients be listed on the label by order of 'predominance,'" says dermatologist, Kenneth Howe. "That means the ingredients present in the highest concentration come first, with the rest following in descending order. So if you’re sensitive (but not allergic) to a certain chemical, and it’s one of the first ingredients listed, it’s better for you to avoid that product. If, on the other hand, the offending ingredient is one of the last items listed, it might be OK on your skin."

Detox Me app

Detox Me is a lifestyle app that helps guide consumers to make healthier purchases in many different areas of their lives. The app is not limited to beauty products but expands into cleaning supplies, clothing, food, and more. You're able to scan barcodes, decipher ingredient labels, and choose better alternatives all from your phone. "The ingredient with the highest concentration in the product is the first one mentioned on the label (you'll notice the first ingredient mentioned is usually water), and the other ingredients continue by order of descending concentration," says Dr. Engelman. "It can take some time, but consider researching the other ingredients on the label and familiarize yourself with them. Don’t forget to look at what is not included, this will help you easily narrow down a brand that is dedicated to transparency and using non-toxic products."

SkinSafe app

SkinSafe is another app where you are able to evaluate your beauty products so that you're able to make the best decision. Due to their comprehensive skin product ingredient database, you’re able to keep your skin free from irritants, and allergens. You're also able to make purchases directly through the app.

INCIDecoder

An "inci" (pronounced inky) is the professional term for the item listed on the back of the ingredient list, you may hear people refer to the label as the inci list. These are the scientific terms that are hard to identify. For example, Hyaluronic Acid isn't always listed as Hyaluronic Acid, sometimes it can be Sodium Hyaluronate. Decode the inci's on your beauty label using INCIDecoder. You can search for an inci and the website will give you all of the information you need on the ingredient. You can also search by product. "But the main difficulty in reading labels is the blizzard of chemical names. You basically have to Google each one to identify its function. After a while, you’ll know a lot of the main players (fragrances, preservatives, emulsifiers etc) but at first, it can be pretty daunting. You’ll have to be determined," says Dr. Howe.

Yuka App

The Yuka App scans cosmetic and personal hygiene products and provides a detailed data sheet of what ingredients are included in the product and how safe each ingredient is to use. According to the latest scientific research, each ingredient has a risk level attributed to it depending on its possible side effects on one’s health and/or the environment. Every product is given an overall score out of 100. The higher the score is, the safer the product is to use on your skin.