How we score
PlainBody rates personal-care products on what is actually in them, with one transparent rubric applied to everything. The point is not to scare you. It is to separate real, cited concern from marketing, in both directions.
The PlainScore
Every product earns a score out of 100, built from three parts. We show the breakdown on each product so you can check the math.
- Concern 55 points
- How much genuine, evidence-backed concern the ingredients carry, weighted by how much of each is likely present (its place in the list) and whether the product stays on the skin or rinses off. Concern above a low level is reserved for real hazards: established sensitizers and irritants, EU-restricted actives, formaldehyde-releasers, and fragrance allergens.
- Transparency 20 points
- Whether the full ingredient list, and any fragrance, are actually disclosed. An undisclosed fragrance blend hides its allergens, so it costs points.
- Formulation restraint 25 points
- Needless irritant or allergen load for the product type. A clean, purposeful formula scores well without any free-from theater.
Where our concern ratings come from
Every rating is cited to authoritative reviews: the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, the EU CosIng database, and the FDA. We do not use EWG-style hazard scores, which the scientific community has widely criticized. When the evidence says an ingredient is fine, we say it is fine, even if the internet has decided to fear it. Parabens, most sulfates, silicones, fatty alcohols, and mineral oil are good examples.
Our network
PlainBody and SerumTruth are run by the same independent team. The two sites share a method (evidence over hype) but score different things, and neither score is ever influenced by the other, or by any brand. Where a product or an active appears on both sites, we link the two reads: PlainBody covers whether anything in it is genuinely worth avoiding; SerumTruth covers whether the formula is likely to work. Visit SerumTruth ↗.
What we do not do
We do not call ingredients toxic or dangerous as if it were settled fact. We do not sell fear. This is cosmetic information about ingredients and their appearance-level effects, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for a doctor or dermatologist. If you react to a product, patch test and talk to a professional.
Think we got a rating wrong? Tell us: hello@plainbody.com. Updated July 2026.