How BeautyGuard Scores Your Cosmetics (and Why It Matters)
Many cosmetics apps give you a safety score, but few explain how they arrive at it. Some use proprietary algorithms. Others mix science with opinions. BeautyGuard is different: every score is traceable to a specific legal provision or scientific database.
Our 6-Tier Scoring System
Tier 1: Banned — Score 0
Substances listed in Annex II of EU Regulation 1223/2009. Over 1,600 compounds. If any banned substance is found, the product's maximum score is capped at 25/100.
Tier 2: Restricted — Score 60
Substances from Annex III-VI — allowed but only within specific concentration limits. These include certain preservatives, UV filters, and colorants.
Tier 3: Fragrance Allergen — Score 50
The 26 EU-regulated fragrance allergens. Not dangerous for everyone, but a real risk for the 1-3% of the population with fragrance sensitivities.
Tier 4: CIR Safe — Score 85
Ingredients reviewed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review — an independent panel that evaluates safety with full toxicological data.
Tier 5: CosIng Known — Score 65-80
Ingredients registered in the EU's official CosIng database (28,544 ingredients). Score depends on the cosmetic function — moisturizers score higher than solvents.
Tier 6: Unknown — Score 60
Not found in any database. Could be a misspelling, a proprietary blend name, or a genuinely novel compound. Flagged for investigation.
How the Overall Score Is Calculated
- Each ingredient gets its tier score
- Scores are weighted by position — ingredients listed first (higher concentration) have more impact
- Average is computed
- Penalties applied: banned ingredient → max 25, active safety alert → max 20
- Final score mapped to label: ≥75 = Good, ≥45 = Caution, ≥20 = Risky, <20 = Dangerous
Why This Matters
Other apps might say "7.5/10" without explaining why. With BeautyGuard:
- Every ingredient score links to a specific EU regulation or database
- You can see exactly which ingredient lowered the score
- The methodology is public and consistent
- No paid rankings — brands can't buy better scores