Scoring methodology
Full transparency on how SkinScore rates every product. Five dimensions, weighting, data sources, and grade thresholds explained.
SkinScore Methodology v1.0 · effective 12 April 2026 · scores recalculated monthly · Updated July 25, 2026
Five dimensions, one score
Every product is analysed across five independent dimensions. Each dimension produces a 0-100 score, then a weighted final score is calculated.
| Dimension | Weight | What we measure |
|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | 30% | Presence and position of proven actives (retinol, niacinamide, vitamin C, AHA/BHA, ceramides...) |
| Safety | 25% | Absence of harmful ingredients (allergens, endocrine disruptors, EU-restricted substances) |
| Comedogenicity | 20% | Pore-clogging risk based on the 0-5 comedogenic scale of each ingredient |
| Transparency | 15% | Full INCI disclosure, concentrations published, certifications (vegan, cruelty-free, organic) |
| Skin-type fit | 10% | How well the formula suits the declared skin type (dry, oily, combination, sensitive, normal) |
Grade thresholds
85-100
70-84
55-69
40-54
0-39
Why these five dimensions
A skincare product does not reduce to a single number. A vitamin C serum can contain a highly effective active (grade A on efficacy) while irritating sensitive skin (grade C on skin-type fit). A moisturiser can be ultra-transparent about its composition (grade A on transparency) yet contain a known allergen (grade C on safety). Reducing a product to a single score would hide these nuances. Each of our five dimensions is graded independently, then aggregated with a fixed weighting set by our editorial team in 2026. The weights reflect what matters most for long-term skin health: proven-active efficacy (30%) above all, followed by regulatory safety (25%), comedogenicity (20%), then transparency and skin-type fit.
A concrete scoring example
Take CeraVe Moisturising Cream. Its INCI list declares five ceramides in positions 4, 8 and 11, niacinamide in position 9, hyaluronic acid in position 13, no fragrance, no comedogenic oil in the first third. On our grid: efficacy 87 (ceramides and niacinamide are both clinically proven), safety 92 (no EU-listed allergens, preservatives are minimal-risk), comedogenicity 85 (caprylic triglycerides at risk 0-1), transparency 82 (full INCI but no declared concentrations), skin-type fit for dry skin 95. Weighted final score: 0.30×87 + 0.25×92 + 0.20×85 + 0.15×82 + 0.10×95 = 88, grade A. Same product evaluated for oily acne-prone skin: skin-type fit drops to 60, weighted score 85, still grade A but at the lower end.
Data sources
Our scores are not opinions. Every ingredient is evaluated against four primary verifiable sources, and every aggregation is documented on the public ingredient page.
- EU CosIng - Official European Commission database (30,000+ cosmetic ingredients, CAS numbers, functions, Annex restrictions) · ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
- SCCS - European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (safety opinions updated every 2 to 4 years per ingredient) · sccs.ec.europa.eu
- Peer-reviewed dermatology research - PubMed, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, British Journal of Dermatology, randomised clinical trials only · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Manufacturer INCI lists - Read directly from packaging and official technical datasheets. No data supplied privately by the brand is used.
Independence
SkinScore does not accept payment from brands to influence ratings. Our revenue comes from affiliate links to retailers (which never affect scores) and optional premium subscriptions. No brand can buy a better score.
What we deliberately do NOT score
A SkinScore product score does not judge packaging, marketing, perceived fragrance, texture, or brand reputation. These are subjective elements that vary per user. We also do not score geographic origin, independent versus corporate status, or packaging sustainability. These criteria deserve evaluation but belong to separate frameworks (B-Corp, 1% for the Planet, LCA environmental). Conflating composition with ethics blurs the purchase decision. Our scope is strict: will this formula work for your skin, without putting it at risk?
Editorial governance and updates
Every score is entered by a first analyst, then reviewed by a second before publication. The four pen names on the editorial team (Dr. Elena Voss, Dr. Sarah Chen, Marc Severin, Lina Park) each cover a specialty. No score is published without double validation. Weighting grids are frozen for 2026 and will be reviewed publicly in Q1 2027 if the data warrants. We publish a changelog on our news page every time a major methodology update ships.
As soon as a manufacturer changes the INCI (and therefore the product label), the score is recomputed within two weeks. If you own a product with older packaging, refer to the update date shown on the product page. The typical recomputation window, measured across the 2,699 catalogue products, is 10 days.
Independence
SkinScore does not accept payment from brands to influence ratings. Our revenue comes from affiliate links to retailers (which never affect scores) and optional premium subscriptions. No brand can buy a better score, a position in the rankings, or placement in the Dupe Finder. Our codebase is open to audit for any journalist or researcher on written request.
Stated limitations
Our scoring is based on declared ingredients, not exact concentrations (rarely disclosed by brands). INCI order gives a relative indication · the higher an ingredient appears, the higher its concentration · but two products with the same ingredients in the same order may have different concentrations. A 10% vitamin C serum and a 20% one will share the same INCI rank but have very different efficacies.
We also do not evaluate galenic stability, the crystalline form of an active, encapsulation, particle size, or interactions on application (skin pH, layering order). For products sensitive to these factors (peptides, retinoids, L-ascorbic acid vitamin C), always read the manufacturer's instructions in addition to the score.