Methodology — Uncoated

Uncoated is the only product scanner that scores both what's inside and what it's wrapped in. Here's how it works.

Uncoated does not claim any scientific or medical authority. All scores represent our opinion based on publicly available data and the methodology described below. They are not statements of fact about any product's absolute safety, quality, or regulatory compliance.

How We Score

Every product receives a score from 0 to 100 based on two factors: ingredient safety (primary) and packaging sustainability. Products with cleaner ingredients and less plastic score higher.

Uncoated Approved 75–100

Pretty Good 50–74

Room to Improve 25–49

Worth Switching 0–24

Help Us Score This —

Two Scores, One Picture

Most scanning apps only look at ingredients. Uncoated also evaluates packaging, because a clean formula in a single-use plastic bottle is only half the story.

Packaging Score

Rates the primary container material from best (glass, aluminum) to worst (virgin plastic). Refillable and recyclable packaging earn bonus points. Microplastics in the formula incur a penalty.

Ingredient Score

Starts at 100 and deducts points for each ingredient flagged by regulatory authorities. Higher-risk flags result in larger deductions. Microplastic ingredients carry an additional penalty.

The Composite

The composite score weights the two: 80% ingredient safety + 20% packaging sustainability. When packaging data is missing but ingredient data is available, we fall back to the ingredient score alone.

Our Data Sources

We rely on authoritative, publicly available sources — not opinions or blog posts. Every ingredient flag can be traced to a specific regulatory body or peer-reviewed classification.

U.S. FDA (openFDA)

Active and inactive ingredient lists for OTC products including sunscreens, toothpaste, and antiperspirants.

NIH / PubChem

GHS hazard classifications from the National Institutes of Health chemical safety database.

California Prop 65 (OEHHA)

State of California's list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.

U.S. EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List

EPA's list of safer chemical alternatives reviewed under the Safer Choice program.

Open Beauty Facts

Open-source product database with ingredient lists and packaging data. Licensed under ODbL — we contribute corrections back.

DailyMed (NIH)

FDA-approved drug labeling and product images for OTC products.

Community Corrections

Users can flag errors or submit packaging information. Every correction is reviewed before updating a score.

Score Confidence

Not all products have complete data. When information is missing or unverified, we tell you. A confidence badge appears on every product page alongside the date the data was last checked.

Verified — Packaging confirmed with a source and ingredients from an authoritative database.
Some data missing — Partial data available. Score may change as more information is verified.
Limited data — Only preliminary data available. Treat this score as an estimate.
Unscored — Not enough data to calculate a score. Help us by submitting product info.

Scoring Independence

Uncoated is 100% commercially independent. No brand, retailer, or advertiser can pay to influence a product's score. Every product is assessed using the same methodology regardless of who makes it. We are ad-free and funded entirely by subscriptions.

What This Is Not

Uncoated is an informational tool, not a medical or health authority. Scores reflect publicly available regulatory data and should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or a substitute for professional consultation.

Always read the physical product label before purchase. Data may be incomplete or outdated — check the "last verified" date on each product page.

Ingredient risk classifications reflect what regulatory bodies have flagged based on available research. Science evolves, and so do our scores.