

The EWG has created an effective, user-friendly platform that enables consumers to take a less passive role in product safety and become proactive about their lifestyle choices. The Skin Deep Database is #winning because it is the only digital platform providing accurate, accessible information about the ingredients in our cosmetics and skincare products. Each product is rated on a scale from 0 (very safe) to 10 (potentially toxic,) and consumers are able to type in any product name and learn the truth about the ingredients.


By pooling scientific studies and regulatory statuses from 60 sources, including government agencies, industry panels, academic institutions and other credible bodies, the EWG is able to assess the potential health effects and data gaps for the majority of cosmetic ingredients on the market today.

Each ingredient name is given a unique identification number in the database and is then sorted by safety status. Every product that is added to Skin Deep from companies and consumers is carefully reviewed by the organization to identify product type, product use and composition, target demographic, and special product claims. The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization on a mission “to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment.” They use the power of information to “drive consumer choice and civic action.” The EWG’s Skin Deep Database was launched in 2004 as an online product and ingredient database that contains information about the ingredients in over 69,000 products. So if the FDA is not protecting our health from the potentially toxic ingredients in the products we rub on our skin every single day, who is actually protecting us? law, FDA does not have the authority to require cosmetic manufacturers to submit their safety data to the FDA.” While the European Union has banned 1,373 ingredients to date, the FDA has banned 8 and restricted 3. According to the FDA website, “Under U.S. Companies are not even required to test their products for safety before they hit store shelves. Did you know that the ingredients in your toothpaste, deodorant and lip gloss are not tested for safety? Most consumers do not realize that unlike food and drugs, the FDA does not regulate the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry.
