Glossary snapshot
EWG Verified
Why it matters
The FDA does not require pre-market safety testing for most personal care product ingredients. Companies can use chemicals that have not been thoroughly evaluated for long-term health effects, and the term "natural" on personal care products has no legal definition. This regulatory gap means consumers are largely on their own when it comes to ingredient safety.
Good signals
To earn EWG Verified status, a product must meet three main criteria: **Ingredient Screening:** Every ingredient must score a "green" rating (1-2) in EWG's Skin Deep database, meaning it has low hazard concern based on available research.
Watch-outs
**EWG's ratings are sometimes contested.** Some toxicologists and dermatologists have criticized EWG's hazard scoring methodology, arguing it can overstate risks by treating hazard (potential to cause harm) as equivalent to risk (likelihood of harm at actual exposure levels). A chemical that is dangerous at high concentrations may pose negligible risk in the tiny amounts found in a moisturizer.
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What Is EWG Verified?
EWG Verified is a certification mark from the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on health and environmental issues. Products carrying the EWG Verified mark have been reviewed against EWG's strict criteria for ingredient safety, transparency, and good manufacturing practices. The mark appears primarily on personal care, skincare, and cleaning products.
Why It Matters
The FDA does not require pre-market safety testing for most personal care product ingredients. Companies can use chemicals that have not been thoroughly evaluated for long-term health effects, and the term "natural" on personal care products has no legal definition. This regulatory gap means consumers are largely on their own when it comes to ingredient safety.
EWG Verified fills part of that gap by providing an independent review of product ingredients against a database of health and toxicology research. Products that earn the mark must avoid ingredients on EWG's "unacceptable" list, which includes chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption.
For consumers who want to reduce their exposure to potentially harmful chemicals but do not have time to research every ingredient on every label, EWG Verified provides a useful shortcut.
How It Works
To earn EWG Verified status, a product must meet three main criteria:
Ingredient Screening: Every ingredient must score a "green" rating (1-2) in EWG's Skin Deep database, meaning it has low hazard concern based on available research. Ingredients that score higher (indicating greater potential concern) disqualify the product.
Full Transparency: The company must disclose all ingredients on the label, including fragrance components. Many conventional products list "fragrance" as a single ingredient, which can represent dozens of undisclosed chemicals. EWG Verified products must break this down.
Good Manufacturing Practices: The company must demonstrate adequate manufacturing and contamination controls.
EWG charges licensing fees for the mark, which vary by company size and revenue. Products are subject to periodic review and can lose the mark if formulations change.
What to Watch Out For
- EWG's ratings are sometimes contested. Some toxicologists and dermatologists have criticized EWG's hazard scoring methodology, arguing it can overstate risks by treating hazard (potential to cause harm) as equivalent to risk (likelihood of harm at actual exposure levels). A chemical that is dangerous at high concentrations may pose negligible risk in the tiny amounts found in a moisturizer.
- EWG is an advocacy organization, not a regulatory body. Its standards reflect a precautionary approach that goes beyond current scientific consensus in some areas. This is not necessarily a bad thing — it depends on your personal risk tolerance.
- Not having EWG Verified does not mean a product is unsafe. Many excellent clean brands have not pursued the certification due to cost, philosophical disagreements with EWG's methodology, or simply because they have not applied.
The Bottom Line
EWG Verified is a useful tool for consumers who want a quick way to identify personal care and cleaning products formulated with lower-risk ingredients. It is one of the more conservative certifications available, which makes it appealing if you prefer a precautionary approach. Just keep in mind that it represents one organization's interpretation of ingredient safety, not an absolute scientific standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EWG Verified the same as EWG's Skin Deep ratings?
Not exactly. Skin Deep is EWG's free online database that rates individual products and ingredients on a 1-10 hazard scale. EWG Verified is a separate, paid certification that requires all ingredients to score in the lowest hazard range (1-2) plus full transparency and manufacturing standards. A product can score well on Skin Deep without being EWG Verified.
Why do some dermatologists criticize EWG?
The main criticism centers on EWG's tendency to conflate hazard with risk. A substance might be classified as hazardous based on studies using high doses or unusual exposure routes, but pose negligible risk at the concentrations found in consumer products. Some scientists feel EWG's approach can cause unnecessary alarm about safe ingredients.
Does EWG Verified mean a product is organic or all-natural?
No. EWG Verified focuses on ingredient safety and transparency, not on whether ingredients are organic or naturally derived. A product with synthetic ingredients can be EWG Verified if those synthetics score well in EWG's hazard assessment.