Evereden’s guide to understanding clean beauty certifications

Evereden is redefining multi-generational skincare with science-backed, plant-based skincare for mom, baby and kids. Made by Moms in Medicine™.

The cosmetics product landscape can be full of confusing jargon, complicated formulations, unethical manufacturing practices, and inconsistent regulations. For example, while the European Union has banned about 1,400 harmful ingredients found in cosmetics, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned only 12 of them.

Here are five certifications you should pay attention to when choosing skincare for your family.

1. EWG VERIFIED

Products that are EWG VERIFIED™ meet the Environmental Working Group’s three standards for consumer health:

Avoids harmful ingredients on EWG’s “Unacceptable” list.
Provides full formulation transparency on the label, including fragrances ingredients.
Follows and develops good manufacturing practices.

2. MADE SAFE

MADE SAFE®, a program of the not-for-profit Nontoxic Certified, is the first American nontoxic seal for personal care and household products. Their team of scientists scrutinizes the molecular makeup of each product before it passes certification, making sure that neither the product nor its byproducts impact human health.

3. USDA CERTIFIED BIOBASED PRODUCT

The USDA Certified Biobased Product label assures consumers that the product contains a USDA-verified amount of renewable biological ingredients, which replace fossil fuels like petroleum, commonly found in skincare. It lists the percentage of biobased ingredients in each product to help promote awareness of and demand for renewables. All products must submit test evidence to earn the label.

4. NATIONAL ECZEMA ASSOCIATION (NEA) SEAL OF ACCEPTANCE™

The NEA Seal of Acceptance™ helps consumers recognize products that are safe for eczema or sensitive skin. The criteria include a list of known irritants to avoid and testing on sensitivity.

5. THINK DIRTY’S DIRTY THINKER’S CHOICE AWARD

Think Dirty® helps consumers identify potential risk with personal care products, focused exclusively on chemical composition of formulations. The scientists and experts on the Chemistry Team and Advisory Board evaluate every ingredient for Carcinogenicity, Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity and Allergenicity & Immunotoxicity. Products are rated based on the overall ratings of the ingredients.

Every year, Think Dirty® users nominate and vote for their favorite clean beauty products—all of which must pass Think Dirty®’s standards first. Beauty products that win a Dirty Thinker’s Choice Award are not only safe in formulation, but also beloved by discerning consumers like you for their results.