FAQs about different tools and other parts of this website.
Ingredient checker
How to use the skincare ingredient checker tool?
To copy and paste the ingredients, go to the brand’s website or a trusted online store. Look for the full ingredient list, and copy and paste it into the box.
To use the photo analyzer, you can take a photo of the ingredients on the product. The ingredient list is usually listed on the back of the packaging.
What information does the ingredient checker give?
The skincare ingredient checker tool scans the ingredients and matches them against the ingredient database. It will show all the details of the matched ingredients. These include the ingredient function and for many ingredients detailed information on the ingredients. It can tell about an individual ingredient's benefits and potential side effects.
What information does the ingredient checker not give?
It cannot tell about the benefits or irritation potential of an individual product as a whole. Why? Well, we cannot tell about the exact concentration of an ingredient solely based on the ingredient list. For example: Sodium hydroxide can be an irritant when used at a very high concentration, however in most beauty products, it is used in small amounts to adjust pH or for other purposes. The mere presence of sodium hydroxide in a product does not make it harsh. Similarly, the presence of glycolic acid in a product does not make it an exfoliator, the concentration and pH also matter.
Near dupes and near dupe finder tool
Why do we call this tool a “near dupe finder” and not a “dupe finder”?
A perfect dupe will be a product that has the exact same amount or percentage of ingredients, texture, finish, and other properties. However, for most products, we don't have the exact composition. Moreover, manufacturing processes can affect the final product. Thus, it's nearly impossible to label a product as a true dupe. For this reason, we prefer the term “near dupe” or “alternative” to “dupe”.
How does the near dupe finder tool work?
The near dupe finder tool identifies alternatives based on the match score of the ingredients and other properties of a product.
Do the alternatives or near dupes work the same way as the original product?
Near dupes have similarities in ingredients (all or some) to the original product. However, we don't guarantee or claim that they will perform as well or better than the original. We make continuous efforts to improve our tools and database. If you have any queries or feedback, please get in touch with us using the “Contact” page.
