How cosmetics and personal care products are rated
A cosmetic has no nutrition facts, so it's rated on what it's made of: the ingredient list printed on the pack.
How the score is set
- Each ingredient gets a risk level: none, limited, moderate or high.
- Each risk is grouped by concern — endocrine disruptor, carcinogen, allergen, irritant or pollutant — so you can see why an ingredient is flagged.
- The riskiest ingredient sets the ceiling: a high-risk ingredient caps the score at 24, a moderate one at 49.
- A product is scored only when at least half of its ingredients are rated.
Reading the result
The product page lists the ingredients with their risk colors. A low score usually comes down to one or two ingredients — tap them to see which concern they fall under.
FAQ
- Why does a cosmetic show no score?
- When fewer than half of its ingredients have a rating, Novaz shows the ingredient list without a score rather than give an unreliable one.
- Does a high-risk ingredient mean the product is unsafe?
- Not necessarily. Cosmetics sold legally meet the rules where they're sold. The rating reflects concerns raised in research, so you can decide what you're comfortable with.
Scan it before you buy it
Novaz: Food & Cosmetic Scanner scores food and cosmetics from 0 to 100, shows why, and suggests better picks from the same shelf — no ads, no account.
Download on the App Store