

Our guide to evaluating clean beauty products
We believe clean beauty should be easy to understand. Finding products that align with your personal standards can feel overwhelming, especially when ingredient lists are long and difficult to interpret. That's why every product is evaluated using the same transparent rating system—to simplify the research and make comparing clean beauty products easier. Each product is reviewed for Ingredient Quality, Fragrance Transparency, Organic Ingredients, and an Overall Rating. We assign a rating of ⭐ to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for each category, then combine those ratings to determine the product's Overall Rating. Below is a breakdown of each category and what we look for when evaluating a product.
Ingredient quality is the foundation of every product review. We look for formulas that are free of high-concern ingredients and contain straightforward, recognizable ingredients whenever possible. We also consider the overall balance of the formula rather than judging individual ingredients in isolation. You can go to my Ingredients to Avoid page for more info on the types of ingredients that are potentially harmful and don't want to see in the clean beauty products we review.


We value brands that are transparent about the fragrances they use. Products receive higher ratings when fragrance ingredients are clearly disclosed or when they are fragrance-free, allowing consumers to make informed decisions based on their personal preferences and sensitivities.


Whenever possible, we favor products made with certified organic or thoughtfully sourced natural ingredients. While not every ingredient can be organic, products that prioritize high-quality organic ingredients receive higher ratings in this category.


Each product receives a one to five star rating in all three categories: Ingredient Quality, Fragrance Transparency, and Organic Ingredients. Those ratings are then averaged to determine the product's overall The Clean Beauty Lifestyle Rating, giving equal weight to each category.


