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The EWG rating system—developed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG)—is a scale that rates the safety of personal care product ingredients based on their potential health, environmental, and toxicity risks.
🧪 What Does the EWG Do?
EWG is a nonprofit organization that reviews scientific literature and public databases to assess the hazard level of ingredients in beauty, skincare, and household products.
They created the EWG Skin Deep® Database, where users can search or scan products to see how safe they are, ingredient by ingredient.
🔢 EWG Rating Scale:
| Rating | Meaning | Color Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Low hazard | 🟢 Green |
| 3–6 | Moderate hazard | 🟡 Yellow |
| 7–10 | High hazard | 🔴 Red |
These ratings consider potential issues like:
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Cancer risk
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Allergies and immunotoxicity
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Developmental or reproductive toxicity
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Irritation (skin, eyes, lungs)
✅ What to Know:
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A low EWG score doesn't automatically mean a product is "clean," but it typically avoids ingredients with strong links to health risks.
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EWG also gives products an “EWG Verified” seal if they meet its strictest criteria.
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The system is helpful for identifying controversial or harsh ingredients, but not every ingredient with a higher score is harmful at typical use levels (context matters).
⚠️ Limitations to Be Aware Of:
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EWG ratings are often conservative and don’t always account for formulation or concentration.
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Some critics say the system can be overly cautious or confusing for consumers without scientific background.