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Environmental Working Group (EWG)
NGO
USEst. 1993
Regulator Facts
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
NGO
US · Est. 1993

EWG's Skin Deep database rates cosmetic ingredients on a 1-10 hazard scale based on data availability, regulatory status, study results, and known health concerns. Scores combine data gaps (how much is unknown) with hazard ratings (how concerning the known data is). Ingredients with limited research may score higher due to uncertainty.

Jurisdiction
US
Founded
1993
Funded By
Donations, grants, consumer memberships
The Other Side
EWG has faced criticism for inflating hazard scores when data is scarce, which can alarm consumers about ingredients that haven't been shown to be harmful. Toxicologists note that the scoring conflates data gaps with actual hazard. Industry groups argue EWG sometimes cherry-picks studies. Despite this, EWG remains the most widely recognized consumer-facing ingredient safety database in the US.
Parent Organization

Accepts licensing fees from brands that use EWG VERIFIED mark