GET TO KNOW: EWG's Criteria

EWG's research team has worked hard to develop a strict set of standards to be followed by all products that bear the EWG VERIFIED^® mark.

The EWG VERIFIED^® mark demonstrates to consumers that a product meets our strictest criteria. Download the full criteria document here.

EWG's criteria are based on a variety of health standards:

• Products must score a "green" in EWG's Skin Deep^® database.
• Products cannot contain any ingredients on EWG's "Unacceptable" list, meaning ingredients with health, ecotoxicity and/or contamination concerns.
• Products cannot contain any ingredients on EWG's "Restricted" list, which do not meet the restriction set by authoritative bodies and industry institutions.
• Products must follow standard ingredient naming guidelines.
• Products must fully disclose all ingredients on the label, including ingredients used in fragrance.
• Product manufacturers must develop and follow current good manufacturing practices.
• Products must follow the European Union's requirements for labeling fragrance allergens.
• Products must follow the European Union's labeling guidelines for nanomaterials used in cosmetics.
• Product labels must indicate an expiration date or a "period of time after opening."

* Criteria do not concern sun protection efficacy.

Companies with products bearing the EWG VERIFIED^® mark must:

• Commit to submitting all reports of product problems or serious adverse events to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and to EWG.
• Agree that EWG has the right to perform random product testing to ensure that all products meet the provisions outlined in EWG's Criteria.
• Understand that EWG's Skin Deep^® is dynamic and that the scoring system may change. They must understand that EWG's "Unacceptable" and "Restricted" lists will be reviewed annually and updated as needed, with a phase-in period to allow companies to comply with updates to maintain usage of the EWG VERIFIED^® mark.