Useful mobile apps to evaluate cosmetics

There are many mobile applications that offer to guide consumers in their purchases. Here is a selection of those that we find most relevant.

All these apps offer a rating of the products, that being said, each one has its own specifications and it is important to keep in mind that the list of ingredients does not give all the information; the distinction organic, natural or synthetic for an ingredient is not necessarily displayed, the term perfume does not give any indication on its components etc. They all allow, with some variations) to like or bookmark and share the products you like. They all allow, with some variations) to like or bookmark and share the products you like.

The mobile applications of UFC Que Choisir: QuelCosmetique and QuelProduit

UFC Que Choisir is a mine of information for consumers and a key player in the analysis of consumer products. It monitors, protects and informs. It is totally independent and not for profit.

In 2018, UFC Que choisir launched the mobile app QuelCosmetique which in 2020 became QuelProduit. QuelProduit covers both food, household and cosmetic items while Quel cosmetique covered only cosmetics. Both apps are still available but it is likely that Quel Cosmetique will eventually disappear.

The differences between the two applications
The products of QuelCosmetique are included in QuelProduit, the interface is a little different but the same information is available
An important difference is that (for now) QuelProduit gives the list of ingredients in INCI format (international nomenclature of cosmetics ingredients) while QuelCosmetique translates them into French which is still much more convenient.

What's interesting:
The applications propose an analysis of toxicity according to the type of population which is very relevant because an ingredient can be safe for a type of population and to be proscribed for another. The types are toddlers (0-3 years), pregnant women, children and adolescents (3-16 years), adults.
The specifications are clear and precise.
- the UFC considers human health toxicity; it does not take into account the environmental issue.
- the UFC classifies ingredients as undesirable only if solid studies show unambiguously their harmfulness.

The two applications of UFC Que Choisir constitute a solid and reliable basis for analysis in terms of toxicity of ingredients and therefore of products. Only the sensitive or undesirable ingredients are explained in a text.

The product analyses are available online on the UFC Que Choisir website.

The famous mobile app with the carrot! A totally independent project founded in 2016/2017, it is the "historic" app that initiated a small revolution in the way people shop and look at brands...
initially designed for the analysis of food products, Yuka has expanded to include cosmetics and hygiene products.
The application is simple and clear and the specification is explained on their site, their sources are clearly identified
The application is based on the Nitriscore reference for food products (nutritional qualities, presence of additives, biological dimension) and on the compositions for cosmetic products.
Only the ingredients that raise questions are detailed.
Yuka's independence is ensured by the paid version of the app, which offers more extensive possibilities (possibility to search for a product without scanning the barcode, scanning accessible offline, customization of the app).
The price to support their initiative varies from 10 to 50€/year depending on your desire and your financial capacities.
Manufacturers can send Yuka information about their products but no collaboration or service is possible.
The website presents Yuka (history, team, specifications etc) but does not allow any product search. For analysis, you need the mobile app.

This app is only dedicated to cosmetics.
This application is very complete and user-friendly. A space of the site is dedicated to the explanation of the application (functioning, algorithm, limits etc). There is a description for each ingredient and a French translation of the INCI name. The products can be bookmarked and you can "like(r)" or "dislike(r)" them, share them etc. It is possible to search by ingredient, by age, by product type etc. An interesting option is the registration of restrictions in the profile (e.g. only consider products without PPG or PEG) synthetic polymer, silicone)

That said, the analysis system is not as clearly explained as for the UFC Que Choisir's mobile app and we regret that INCI Beauty does not quote its sources more. The rating is managed by algorithms and is independent of any subscription or contract.
The registration of products can be done by professionals and consumers and is completely free of charge.
The application was created by the company touslesprix.com (price comparator that offers companies a pay-per-click indexing service). INCI Beauty offers subscriptions to consumers to have no advertising and to professionals to put ads and have access to statistical analysis of product consultations.

INCI beauty website provides a lot of information and it is possible to search for ingredients, but access to the analysis of a product requires the mobile application.