How it Works - 100 Point Breakdown

  • Ingredient Safety - 50 Points

    What’s in it


  • Packaging & Materials - 20 Points

    What it touches

  • Exposure Risk - 15 Points

    How often it’s used

  • Transparency & Disclosure - 10 Points

    How clearly it’s explained

  • Long-Term Waste Impact - 5 Points

    What happens after use

Sources We Reference

  • Environment Working Group (EWG)

    Ingredient hazard assessments and exposure considerations for personal care and household products.

  • European Commission (Cosmetic Regulations)

    One of the most comprehensive and precautionary cosmetic ingredient regulatory frameworks globally, including restrictions and bans not currently enforced in the U.S.

  • National Institute of Health (NIH)

    Toxicology data, chemical profiles, and peer-reviewed research used to understand ingredient properties and potential risks.

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

    Ingredient status, safety guidance, and regulatory oversight for cosmetics and personal care products in the United States.

  • California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (Prop 65)

    Identification of known carcinogens and reproductive toxins used as an additional screening reference.

How We Use These Sources

These resources inform — but do not solely determine — our evaluations. When data is limited, conflicting, or evolving, we apply more conservative scoring, particularly for products used daily or in direct contact with the body.

Scores reflect our evaluation at the time of review and may change as formulations, materials, or scientific guidance evolves.

*Important Note on Sources & Disclaimer*

Pure Shelf is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any of the organizations referenced on this page. These publicly available resources are used solely to inform our independent product evaluations and provide transparency into how our standards are developed.

The Clean Product Standard is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Product scores reflect our assessment at the time of review and do not replace guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.