How we check labels

1. Sources

For each product we copy the full ingredient list (INCI names) and the brand's stated details, such as headline active, percentage, skin types, size and whether it is sold as fragrance free, from the brand's own product page. The product page links to that source and shows the date it was last checked. 408 of 478 products currently have a full single ingredient list. Gift sets list ingredients per item. A few products have no published list; those pages say so and are kept out of search results until a list is available.

2. Matching ingredients

Each ingredient on a label is matched, ignoring case and spacing, to an entry in our ingredient glossary. Spelling variants of the same ingredient share one entry. 436 common or notable ingredients have a full guide with what the ingredient is, what it does in a formula and the sources used. Guides draw on the EU CosIng database and on published research and regulatory documents, cited on each guide, and are written in our own words.

3. Ingredient ratings

Each glossary entry carries one of four general ratings. They describe the ingredient in general, not how your skin will react.

• Extremely safe: Your skin barrier won’t fight you on this.
• Probably fine: Most skin shrugs this off, but if yours is sensitive or reactive, skim the full ingredient list before you click.
• Scent: It’s here for the smell. Skip it if you want scent-free, and patch-test if fragrance tends to bother you.
• Patch-test first: Use your brain, patch-test first, or prepare to look like a cooked lobster for a day.

Ratings are a general guide, not medical advice. Anyone can react to any ingredient, so patch-test new products.

4. Fragrance checks

"Fragrance free" on a product page means the brand sells it that way. Separately, we check the ingredient list for anything rated Scent: fragrance or parfum, essential oils and the fragrance allergens EU rules require on labels, such as linalool and limonene. When a product sold as fragrance free lists any of these, the product page says so. The full list is on our label findings page.

5. Picks and similar products

Picks boxes on category pages are chosen by rule from label facts only: a scent-free label with no patch-test flags, or a brand-stated skin type, with products our guides already cover ranked first. Similar products share the category and are matched on skin type, headline ingredient and scent status. Price, commission and brand relationships play no part.

6. What we leave out

• No testing, star ratings or "best" verdicts.
• No claims about results, prices or value.
• No medical advice. We point to a dermatologist for skin conditions and reactions.

7. Keeping it current

Brands reformulate. When we recheck a product, its "Checked" date changes, and any change to the facts updates the page's "Updated" date. If you spot an out-of-date label, please tell us through our corrections page.