About SkinScore

It started with a 90EUR serum.

The packaging was beautiful. The marketing promised "visible results in 7 days." The influencer who recommended it had a discount code. So we bought it.

Then we read the ingredient list. The first five ingredients were water, silicones, and fragrance. The "miracle active" was at position 23 out of 30 - meaning it was present at less than 1%. The fragrance alone had more concentration than the advertised hero ingredient.

We felt stupid. Then we felt angry. Then we built SkinScore.

The problem we're solving

The beauty industry spends 20-30% of revenue on marketing and 2-5% on R&D. That ratio tells you everything. When a brand spends 6x more convincing you to buy than actually making the product better, the system is broken.

The INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) is legally required on every product sold in the EU. It contains the truth about what you're putting on your skin. But it's written in Latin-derived scientific names that nobody can read. That's not an accident.

SkinScore translates the INCI list into plain language and scores every product from A to E across five dimensions:

  • Efficacy (30%): does it contain proven active ingredients?
  • Safety (25%): does it contain allergens, irritants, or endocrine disruptors?
  • Comedogenicity (20%): will it clog your pores?
  • Transparency (15%): does the brand disclose concentrations and certifications?
  • Skin-type fit (10%): is it appropriate for YOUR specific skin type?

What makes us different

We don't take money from brands. Not for advertising, not for "verified" listings, not for higher scores. Our revenue comes from affiliate links to retailers (which never influence scores) and optional premium subscriptions.

We educate, we don't scare. Unlike some apps that label every chemical as "toxic," we believe in context. Phenoxyethanol at 1% is safe (EU-approved). Retinol causes irritation but is the gold standard anti-ager. Dose matters. Context matters. We explain both risks AND benefits.

We source from official databases. Our ingredient data comes from EU CosIng (the European Commission's official cosmetic ingredient database), SCCS safety opinions, and peer-reviewed dermatological research. Not blog posts. Not influencer opinions.

We show our work. Our methodology page explains exactly how every score is calculated. If you disagree with a score, you can trace exactly why we gave it.

The scores that prove our independence

  • La Mer Creme de la Mer: C (67/100) - despite costing 350EUR, the formula is built on mineral oil, petrolatum, and fragrance
  • CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: A (88/100) - three essential ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, no fragrance, 15EUR
  • Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream: A (87/100) - expensive but the formula actually justifies it
  • St. Ives Apricot Scrub: contains walnut shell powder (E-rated ingredient) - micro-tears on your skin

We don't care if a brand is luxury or drugstore. We care about what's in the bottle.

Our data

  • 2,680+ products scored across 250+ brands
  • 101 ingredients with detailed safety profiles
  • Sources: EU CosIng, SCCS, peer-reviewed dermatology journals, manufacturer INCI lists
  • Languages: English and French
  • Cost: Free. Always.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or brand inquiries: contact@getskinscore.com

We read every email. If we got an ingredient wrong, tell us - we'll fix it within 24 hours.