How We Score Your Products
No hidden algorithms, no mysterious calculations. Here's exactly how we analyze every cosmetic product to give you the truth about what you're putting on your skin.
The SkinCosmo Scoring System
We don't play favorites. We don't accept sponsorships. We don't sugarcoat the truth. Every product gets the same rigorous analysis using our comprehensive scoring system that evaluates five key areas: safety, efficacy, formulation, sustainability, and product attributes.
Our analysis combines ingredient science, clinical research, and real-world testing data to give you scores you can actually trust.
The Five Pillars of Our Scoring System
🛡️Safety Score
This is where we get serious about protecting your health. We analyze every ingredient for:
- •Known allergens and irritants (especially EU-listed allergens)
- •Hormone disruptors and endocrine system impacts
- •Carcinogenic potential and long-term health risks
- •Skin conditions that should avoid specific ingredients
- •Cumulative effects of multiple ingredients
Score 8.5-10: Excellent - Minimal risk factors
Score 7-8.4: Good - Low risk factors
Score 5-6.9: Fair - Moderate concerns
Score 3-4.9: Poor - Significant concerns
Score 0-2.9: Avoid - High risk factors
⚡Efficacy Score
Does it actually work? We evaluate each active ingredient based on:
- •Scientific evidence and clinical studies
- •Ingredient concentration and bioavailability
- •Synergy between active ingredients
- •Formulation stability and penetration enhancers
- •Proven benefits vs. marketing claims
Score 8.5-10: Excellent - Highly effective
Score 7-8.4: Good - Effective
Score 5-6.9: Fair - Moderately effective
Score 3-4.9: Poor - Limited effectiveness
Score 0-2.9: Weak - Minimal benefits
🧪Formulation Score
How well is it made? We assess the quality of the formulation:
- •Ingredient compatibility and stability
- •pH balance and skin barrier compatibility
- •Shelf life and preservation systems
- •Penetration enhancers and delivery systems
- •Texture, spreadability, and user experience
Score 8.5-10: Excellent - Superior formulation
Score 7-8.4: Good - Well-formulated
Score 5-6.9: Fair - Adequate formulation
Score 3-4.9: Poor - Basic formulation
Score 0-2.9: Basic - Poor formulation
🌱Sustainability Score
Environmental and ethical impact matters. We evaluate:
- •Environmental impact of ingredients and packaging
- •Ethical sourcing and fair trade practices
- •Cruelty-free and vegan certifications
- •Reef-safe formulations (for sunscreens)
- •Waste reduction and recyclability
Score 8.5-10: Excellent - Highly sustainable
Score 7-8.4: Good - Sustainable practices
Score 5-6.9: Fair - Moderate sustainability
Score 3-4.9: Poor - Limited sustainability
Score 0-2.9: Basic - Poor sustainability
Product Attributes Analysis
Beyond the scores, we analyze specific product attributes that matter to different skin types and preferences. These are marked as True, False, or Uncertain.
Safety Attributes
- Alcohol-free: No drying alcohols (SD Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol)
- Fragrance-free: No synthetic fragrances or aromatic compounds
- Paraben-free: No parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, etc.)
- Sulfate-free: No sulfates (SLS, SLES, etc.)
- EU-allergen-free: No EU-listed allergens
- Fungal-acne-safe: No malassezia-feeding ingredients
Skin Type Attributes
- Oil-free: No oils, butters, or heavy occlusive ingredients
- Silicon-free: No silicones (dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, etc.)
Our Strict Certification Standards
We're extremely strict about certain certifications because the beauty industry has a long history of making false claims. Here's how we verify:
🐰Cruelty-Free Certification
We only accept official certifications from:
- •Leaping Bunny - The gold standard for cruelty-free certification
- •PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals certification
We do NOT accept self-claimed cruelty-free status. Cosmetic brands have a documented history of claiming to be cruelty-free while still testing on animals or selling in markets that require animal testing (like China). If a brand doesn't have official certification, we mark this as "uncertain" or "false" depending on the evidence.
🌊Reef-Safe Certification
For sunscreens and products with UV filters, we apply the same strict standards:
- •Official certifications only - No self-claimed reef-safe status
- •Ingredient analysis - We check for reef-harmful UV filters
- •Brand practices - We verify the brand's environmental commitments
If we can't verify reef-safe status through official channels, we mark this as "uncertain" rather than making assumptions.
🌿Vegan Certification
Vegan status requires the same level of verification:
- •Official vegan certifications - We require proof, not claims
- •Ingredient analysis - We check for animal-derived ingredients
- •Uncertain ingredients - Some ingredients (like glycerin, stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, retinol, and fragrances) can be animal or plant-derived, so we mark these as uncertain
If we can't definitively verify vegan status through official channels, we mark this as "uncertain" to be completely transparent.
How We Gather Our Data
Our scoring system combines multiple data sources to give you the most accurate analysis possible:
User Inputs
- Product ingredient lists from users
- User-reported experiences and reactions
- Community feedback and reviews
- Real-world usage data
Scientific Analysis
- Clinical studies and research papers
- Ingredient safety databases
- Regulatory agency reports (FDA, EU)
- Dermatological research
Product Analysis
- Comprehensive ingredient databases
- Formulation chemistry analysis
- Brand transparency research
- Certification verification
Company Analysis
- Brand ethics and practices
- Environmental commitments
- Animal testing policies
- Supply chain transparency
Ready to see how your products score?
Start analyzing your cosmetics with SkinCosmo today.