Ingredient safety

Understand how we score ingredients, which databases we use, and what the risk levels mean.

Understanding Ingredient Safety

Our Data Sources

We cross-reference every ingredient against trusted global databases:

  • EWG Skin Deep — Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic safety database.
  • PubMed (NIH) — Peer-reviewed medical research from the National Institutes of Health.
  • ECHA — European Chemicals Agency hazard classifications.
  • NICNAS — Australia’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme.

How Scoring Works

Each ingredient receives a risk score based on:

  1. Health risk severity — How serious the potential harm is.
  2. Scientific evidence — How strong the research linking it to harm.
  3. Regulatory status — Whether it’s banned or restricted in any country.
  4. Exposure type — Whether it’s inhaled, ingested, or applied to skin.

Risk Categories

  • Hard No — Known carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, or banned chemicals. Avoid completely.
  • Caution — Linked to health concerns but risk depends on dose and exposure.
  • Low Risk — Generally considered safe with minimal concerns.

Common Harmful Ingredient Groups

  • Parabens — Hormone disruptors found in cosmetics and lotions.
  • Phthalates — Endocrine disruptors hidden in fragrances.
  • Formaldehyde releasers — Known carcinogens in hair treatments and cleaning products.
  • SLS/SLES — Harsh detergents that strip natural oils.

Visit our Ingredients Database for the full list.

Faq

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where does your safety data come from?

    We cross-reference ingredients against EWG Skin Deep, PubMed, ECHA, and NICNAS databases.

  • How are toxicity scores calculated?

    Each ingredient is scored based on health risk severity, scientific evidence, and regulatory status across global databases.

  • What does a 'flagged' ingredient mean?

    A flagged ingredient has been linked to health concerns such as endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity, or skin irritation.

  • Are all flagged ingredients equally dangerous?

    No. Our scoring system considers dose, exposure type, and cumulative risk. Some flagged ingredients are mild irritants while others are known carcinogens.

A letter from the community

Our community was founded on idea that every family deserves to know what’s in the products they bring home. We built lowtox.group so you never have to wonder again.

— lowtox.group mission