- What it does: One of the largest and most established independent safety directories for personal care products.
- How it works: It rates over 150,000 products and individual ingredients on a scale of 1 to 10 (low to high hazard) based on toxicity, regulatory data, and available research.
- Best for: Finding a standardized health hazard score for mainstream and independent beauty products alike. Consumers can also look for the “EWG Verified” seal for a quick stamp of approval.
What it does: A highly readable, user-friendly breakdown of skincare and cosmetic ingredient lists.
How it works: Users can search for a specific product or paste a raw list of ingredients. The platform decodes the text into layman’s terms, categorizing each component by its function (e.g., antioxidant, emollient, superstar) and rating its potential for irritation or clogged pores.
Best for: Demystifying complex cosmetic formulation labels without academic jargon.
- What it does: A mobile app and browser extension that provides real-time ingredient analysis while shopping online or in-store.
- How it works: As you browse major e-commerce platforms (like Amazon or Sephora), Clearya automatically screens product components against official toxic chemical registries from scientists and regulators worldwide, flagging potential endocrine disruptors, allergens, or banned substances.
- Best for: Automated safety alerts directly while shopping, plus finding vetted alternatives.
What it does: An ingredient analyzer that scores beauty and hair care formulations based on two separate parameters: safety for human health and safety for the planet.
How it works: Users paste an ingredient list into the free analyzer tool. It flags items like silicones, parabens, and microplastics that may be safe for human skin but pollute waterways or harm ecosystems.
Best for: Evaluating both personal health and broader environmental toxicity.
Transparent & Ethical Fashion Resources
What it does: The premier global directory for assessing the sustainability and ethics of fashion brands.
How it works: It uses an intuitive 5-star rating system (“We Avoid” to “Great”) to grade thousands of apparel companies based on their publicly verifiable impact across three core pillars: People (worker safety, fair wages), Planet (carbon footprints, water use, microplastics), and Animals (sourcing of wool, leather, fur).
Best for: Quick, robust brand comparisons and verifying sustainability claims before buying clothing.
What it does: An alternative, highly detailed UK-based research platform covering high street, designer, sportswear, and outdoor clothing brands.
How it works: It scores companies out of 20 points based on deep-dive investigations into human rights abuses, supply chain transparency, toxic textile treatments, and corporate tax avoidance.
Best for: Deep, critical exposés on larger corporate structures and finding specific guides for outdoor gear and footwear.
What it does: A curated discovery platform and directory designed to amplify honest, sustainable apparel brands.
How it works: It vets small and established brands through a strict criteria framework looking for verified organic certifications, local manufacturing, circularity models (recyclability), and fair trade operations.
Best for: Discovering independent, aesthetic brands that utilize premium, earth-friendly materials like 100% natural fibers.
Parabens
What they are: Inexpensive synthetic preservatives used to prevent bacterial growth in liquids and creams.
Why avoid them: They are known endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen in the body, which can interfere with hormone regulation.
Commonly found in: Lotions, foundations, shampoos, and body washes.customers our experience matters.
Phthalates (DEP, DBP, DEHP)
What they are: Plasticizers often hidden under the generic term “Fragrance” or “Parfum.” They are used to make plastic flexible and help scents stick to the skin longer.
Why avoid them: Linked to hormonal disruption, reproductive toxicity, and developmental issues.
Commonly found in: Perfumes, nail polishes, hair sprays, and scented body lotions.
Synthetic Fragrance / “Parfum”
What it is: A legal loophole allows brands to list a proprietary blend of chemicals simply as “Fragrance” to protect trade secrets.
Why avoid it: A single “fragrance” listing can contain dozens of unlisted complex synthetic compounds, many of which are major triggers for contact dermatitis, respiratory allergies, and asthma.
Commonly found in: Almost all conventional beauty products, even some labeled “unscented” (which may use masking fragrances).
Sulfates (SLS & SLES)
What they are: Synthetic surfactants or foaming agents that create a heavy, satisfying lather.
Why avoid them: They are highly aggressive cleansers that strip the skin and hair of their natural protective lipids, leading to severe dryness, eczema flare-ups, and scalp irritation.
Commonly found in: Shampoos, body washes, face cleansers, and toothpastes.
Triclosan & Triclocarban
What they are: Harsh antimicrobial and antibacterial agents.
Why avoid them: Heavily linked to thyroid hormone disruption and the rise of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.” They are also highly toxic to aquatic life.
Commonly found in: Antibacterial soaps, deodorants, and whitening toothpastes.
Coal Tar Dyes (CI + 5-digit number, e.g., CI 19140)
What they are: Synthetic colorants derived from petroleum or coal processing used to tint cosmetics bright colors.
Why avoid them: Heavy metals can remain as contaminants in these synthetic dyes. Many are recognized skin irritants and are subject to strict regulatory restrictions due to historical links to systemic toxicity.
Commonly found in: Bright lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushes, and artificially colored shampoos.
Ethanolamines (MEA, DEA, TEA)
What they are: Ammonia compounds used as emulsifiers and foaming agents to blend oil and water or to adjust the pH level of a product.
Why avoid them: They can react with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients in a formulation to create nitrosamines, which are highly potent carcinogens. They are also notorious for causing contact allergies and skin irritation.
Commonly found in: Creamy and foaming products like foundations, concealers, hair dyes, shaving creams, and sunscreens
Ethoxylated Ingredients (PEGs, Polysorbates, Sodium Laureth Sulfate)
What they are: Synthetically processed compounds where ethylene oxide is added to a chemical base to make harsh ingredients milder or to help water and oil mix. (Look for terms ending in -eth or containing PEG or Polysorbate).
Why avoid them: The manufacturing process (ethoxylation) can leave behind trace amounts of 1,4-Dioxane, a known human carcinogen, and unreacted Ethylene Oxide, which is highly toxic. Because these contaminants aren’t added intentionally, they won’t appear on the ingredient list, making it a critical “blind spot” for consumers.
Commonly found in: Shampoos, liquid body washes, chemical exfoliants, and spray-on cosmetics.
Formaldehyde & Formaldehyde Releasers (DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea)
What they are: Preservatives that slowly release low levels of formaldehyde over time to kill bacteria.
Why avoid them: Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and a severe skin allergen that can cause chronic rashes and blistering.
Commonly found in: Hair smoothing treatments, nail polishes, eyelash glues, and conventional liquid soaps.
Mineral Oil & Petrolatum
What they are: Byproducts of petroleum refining used to lock moisture into the skin.
Why avoid them: While effective occlusives, poorly refined petrolatum can carry polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are linked to toxicity. Environmentally, they rely on non-renewable fossil extraction and coat the skin, often trapping dirt and clogging pores for acne-prone skin types.
Commonly found in: Lip balms, heavy moisturizers, and ointments.
Chemical UV Filters (Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Avobenzone)
What they are: Ingredients that absorb UV radiation to prevent sunburn.
Why avoid them: Oxybenzone and octinoxate readily absorb through the skin into the bloodstream and act as endocrine disruptors. Furthermore, they wash off into oceans and cause catastrophic coral bleaching, harming marine ecosystems.
Commonly found in: Conventional sunscreens, chemical-based SPFs, and daily moisturizers.
Silicones (Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone)
What they are: Synthetic polymers that give products a slippery, velvety finish and create a temporary smoothing effect.
Why avoid them: Certain cyclic silicones (like cyclopentasiloxane) are flagged for potential toxicity and bioaccumulation. From an environmental perspective, they do not biodegrade easily, washing down the drain and building up in aquatic environments.
Commonly found in: Primers, foundations, hair serums, and conditioners.
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