To benefit from product details, you can use various resources to learn about the ingredients or materials used in the products. Here are some ways to do so:
-
EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database: This database reviews every product to identify its type, use, composition, target demographic, and special product claims. It also evaluates the ingredients and rates each product on factors calculated from nearly 60 integrated toxicity, regulatory, and study availability databases.
-
Yuka - Food & Cosmetic scanner: This free mobile app allows you to scan the barcodes of food and personal care products and instantly see their impact on your health. It provides a rating and detailed information to help you understand the analysis of each product. When a product has a negative impact on your health, Yuka also recommends similar but healthier alternative products. The app also provides easy-to-understand blurbs of information regarding why an ingredient is bad or good.
-
Better Health Channel: This website provides information on how to read food labels to choose healthier foods. It explains that if an ingredient makes up less than 5% of the food, it does not have to be listed. Likewise, any compound ingredients that make up less than 5% of the product can just be listed as the compound ingredient rather than all of its own ingredients. The website also provides information on the nutrients listed in the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) and how to use it to choose healthier products.
-
EWG VERIFIED®: This program focuses on clean, conscious, and ethically sourced products with full transparency in ingredient labeling. It complies with EWGs strict standards and policies, and its products are reviewed to ensure that they meet the criteria.
-
Think Dirty® Shop Clean: This app is the easiest way to learn about the ingredients in your beauty, personal care, and household products. You can scan the product barcode and Think Dirty will provide you with information about the ingredients and their potential health impacts. The app also provides ingredient preferences that allow you to track ingredients or allergens you want to avoid when browsing products.
It is important to note that some products may not list all of their ingredients, and some products labeled as "green" may not necessarily be safer. Therefore, it is recommended to do a little research on the product from a reliable source, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys list of products that meet its Safer Choice requirements for cleaning and other needs.
