How to Use the EWG Skin Deep Database to Check Your Products

The Environmental Working Group launched Skin Deep in 2004 to close a major data gap. Most personal care products enter the market without government safety approval. The FDA does not require cosmetic ingredients to be reviewed before sale, except for most color additives. This means a body wash, lotion, or shampoo can contain chemicals with limited public toxicity data. The Environmental Working Group built Skin Deep to match product labels and ingredient lists to peer reviewed studies. It gives each product and ingredient a hazard score from 1 to 10. A score of 1 is low hazard. A score of 10 is high hazard. The goal is to show what the label does not say.

The stakes are real. Skin Deep now rates more than 90,000 personal care products and nearly 9,000 ingredients. Many everyday items include fragrance blends, preservatives, and surfactants linked to skin irritation, endocrine disruption, or developmental harm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) biomonitoring data has detected phthalate metabolites in more than 90 percent of Americans tested. That does not prove harm by itself. But it shows how common exposure is. Skin Deep helps you see which products may be driving that exposure. You can check a label before you buy or after a product is already in your bathroom.

This guide explains how to use the database step by step. You will learn what the scores mean, how to search, and where the tool falls short. You will also see how to apply Skin Deep alongside our guide to toxic chemicals in personal care products. You do not need to be a chemist. You just need a few minutes and your product label. The process is surprisingly simple once you know which buttons to click. We will cover common questions at the end to help you avoid confusion. The tool is free and mobile friendly, so you can use it in the store. This habit can reduce your daily chemical exposure without a complete routine overhaul.

What Is the EWG Skin Deep Database?

The EWG Skin Deep database is a searchable online index of personal care products and cosmetic ingredients. It connects the chemicals on product labels to data from toxicity literature, government reports, and academic studies. A product page shows its overall hazard score, a breakdown by ingredient, and a list of health concerns for each ingredient. The database covers categories like shampoo, deodorant, sunscreen, makeup, baby care, and toothpaste. It also covers some household items, though its focus remains personal care. The main goal is to make chemical safety research readable for shoppers.

EWG launched Skin Deep in 2004 because cosmetic regulation in the United States is thin. The FDA has banned or restricted only 11 cosmetic ingredients. By comparison, the European Union has banned or restricted more than 1,600 ingredients from cosmetics. That gap means a product can be legal in the U.S. but not allowed elsewhere. Skin Deep scores ingredients using hazard data regardless of legal status. This gives American shoppers a more precautionary view.

The database is free and does not require an account. You can search by product name, brand, or ingredient. Each product receives a score from 1 to 10. Lower scores indicate lower hazard, while higher scores suggest stronger evidence or more serious endpoints. The score is not a risk assessment of the final product. It is a hazard screen that weighs ingredient data. This distinction matters. A product with a score of 7 may still be sold widely. Skin Deep is designed to flag concern, not to ban anything.

How Do EWG Hazard Scores Work?

The hazard score is a 1 to 10 rating. EWG says a score of 1 to 2 is low hazard, 3 to 6 is moderate hazard, and 7 to 10 is high hazard. These ranges reflect the strength and consistency of the evidence. The score combines multiple data streams. EWG looks at whether an ingredient is linked to cancer, developmental or reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies, or irritation. Ingredients with robust studies showing harm receive higher scores. Ingredients with limited data can also score high because of data gaps. EWG often assigns a higher score when there is not enough safety information.

Each product score is a weighted sum of its ingredient scores. The database shows a color coded bar. Green means low hazard. Orange means moderate. Red means high. You do not need to memorize the scale. You can focus on the top number and the first few high concern ingredients. But a low score is not a guarantee of safety. A high score is also not a diagnosis. It means the weight of evidence raises concern. The CDC biomonitoring studies have detected cosmetic related chemicals such as phthalates and parabens in human urine. Detection alone does not prove disease. But it does show that what we apply to skin can enter the body.

For some chemicals, the hazard score reflects workplace exposure or high dose animal studies. That is a valid critique. Skin Deep does not estimate the actual absorbed dose from using one product once. It is not a risk calculator. If you want to compare it to drinking water standards, the EPA sets health advisory levels for some contaminants. Skin Deep does not set legal limits. It is a screening tool based on hazard identification. You still have to decide your own tolerance. Our guide to best water filters for PFAS removal explains a similar hazard reduction mindset for water.

How Do I Look Up a Product or Ingredient?

Open the EWG Skin Deep database online. Type the product name, brand, or ingredient into the search bar. You can also browse by category, such as shampoo or sunscreen. The search will return matching products. Click the one that matches your label and package size. Each product page includes the full ingredient list as entered by EWG. It also shows the overall hazard score and sub scores for specific concerns.

If you cannot find your exact product, search the ingredient names instead. Take a photo of the product label with your phone. Then type in one or two ingredients that sound unfamiliar or that appear near the top of the list. Ingredient labels list chemicals from highest to lowest concentration. The first five ingredients usually make up most of the product. Searching those can reveal the most relevant hazard signals. You can also use the database’s ‘Build Your Own Report’ feature if you have an ingredient list not already in the system.

The mobile experience works well in a store. Many shoppers check a product before buying. Enter the name while you are in the aisle. The page loads with the hazard score and high concern ingredients. This helps you compare two products side by side. You can also cross-check with our guide to non-toxic baby products if you are shopping for children. That guide applies Skin Deep data to common baby items.

How Should I Interpret a Product Score?

Do not panic over a score of 4. Many everyday products fall in the moderate range. Start by reading the ingredient concerns. The database lists whether concern is high, moderate, or low for each endpoint. For example, one fragrance ingredient may score 8 because of allergy and endocrine disruption. Another may score 4 because of limited data. The overall product score can hide one bad ingredient. That is why you should scan the ingredient list, not just the final number.

Compare scores within the same category. A shampoo with a score of 3 is likely better than one with a 7. But a lipstick with a 3 may still have lead or fragrance allergens. Use the score as a filter. Set a personal cutoff. Many families choose to avoid products with scores above 5 for daily body care. Others only avoid products above 7. There is no universal rule. Your exposure adds up across lotion, soap, makeup, and laundry detergent. We cover lower hazard home routines in our guide to non-toxic cleaning products that work.

Pay attention to data gaps. Some ingredients are marked with ‘Data: Limited.’ A low score with limited data may not be reassuring. EWG sometimes assigns higher scores when safety studies are missing. That is a precautionary approach. If a product has a low score but you see ingredients with limited data, consider alternatives with more established safety records. The database also links to references. Click through to see if the concern is based on human, animal, or in vitro studies.

What Are the Database’s Limitations?

Skin Deep is not perfect. Some scientists criticize its hazard scoring. A hazard identifies whether a chemical can cause harm under some condition. Risk includes the dose and route of exposure. Skin Deep does not calculate your personal risk. It weighs hazard data. This can make a chemical look worse than daily use suggests. The database also depends on ingredient labels, which may be incomplete or changed. Some brands list ‘fragrance’ without revealing the full chemical mixture. That means the score may miss hidden fragrance chemicals.

Another limit is the data source. EWG pulls from government and academic literature, but studies vary in quality. Some ingredients have dozens of studies. Others have almost none. EWG sometimes uses a higher score to reflect data gaps, which not all toxicologists agree with. The FDA often refers to skin absorption data and exposure estimates when evaluating cosmetic safety. Skin Deep does not attempt that same full risk assessment. It is a screening tool, not a definitive safety verdict.

You should also avoid treating Skin Deep as the only source. Use it with product labels, brand reputation, and your own health needs. For example, if you are pregnant or caring for an infant, you may want to be more strict. Our guide to non-toxic cleaning products guide can help you apply stricter standards. No single database has all answers.

How Can I Build a Safer Personal Care Routine With Skin Deep?

Start with the products you use most often and that stay on your skin. This includes moisturizer, sunscreen, deodorant, foundation, and body lotion. Rinse-off products like shampoo and body wash have shorter contact time. Leave-on products may have a bigger influence on daily exposure. Search each one in Skin Deep. Note the hazard score and the top concern ingredients. Aim to replace one product at a time. You do not need to throw everything away at once.

Use our guides to speed up the switch. We have compiled comparisons for best non-toxic laundry detergents. Even though laundry is not personal care, it shows the same pattern. A lower hazard product should perform well and cost a fair price. Fewer toxic inputs across your home lowers your overall burden. The same logic applies to any product that touches your skin or your clothes.

Make a simple shopping rule. Before buying a product, search Skin Deep. If the score is 7 or higher, look for an alternative with a score of 3 or lower. If you cannot find one, consider making a DIY version using basic ingredients like castile soap or shea butter. Keep a list on your phone. This small habit can reduce your exposure to ingredients of concern over time. It also sends a signal to brands that consumers check labels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should You Remember?

• EWG Skin Deep is a free database that rates more than 90,000 personal care products and nearly 9,000 ingredients.
• Hazard scores range from 1 to 10. Treat 1 to 2 as low, 3 to 6 as moderate, and 7 to 10 as high.
• FDA oversight is limited. Only 11 cosmetic ingredients are banned in the U.S., so use Skin Deep as an extra screen.
• Search by product or ingredient. Check the ingredient list, not just the final score.
• Note data gaps. A low score with limited data is not the same as proven safety.
• Build a routine by replacing one high scoring product at a time with a lower hazard alternative.

This article is for general information only and is not medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Chemical-safety claims and product choices should be verified against current scientific research and the guidance of relevant agencies (EPA, FDA, EWG, CDC). Always follow manufacturer instructions and consult a qualified professional for health or exposure concerns.