Under the Hood: CertClean’s Assessment Process

When you pick up a beauty product labeled "clean", "natural" or “organic”, what guarantees do you actually have? In an industry with little regulatory oversight over these labels, these terms often mean whatever brands want them to mean—leaving you to decipher ingredient lists that read like complex chemistry formulas.

This regulatory gap is precisely why third-party certification matters.

At CertClean, we don't just take a brand's word that their products are "clean.". CertClean’s certification program’s rigorous assessment process analyzes every ingredient against a comprehensive database of over 1,400 harmful chemicals—providing you with verification you can trust, not just marketing promises.

The Science of Safety: How Our Assessment Works

What happens when a product undergoes CertClean certification? Let's pull back the curtain on the evaluation process:

Phase 1: Initial Documentation Review

Every assessment begins with brands submitting complete ingredient lists using standardized INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names—the universal language of cosmetic ingredients. This standardization ensures nothing can hide behind proprietary or creative naming conventions.

Phase 2: Preliminary Screening

The assessment team conducts an initial review to verify that all ingredients are properly documented and standardized. This crucial step prevents manufacturers from disguising problematic ingredients behind alternative names.

Phase 3: Comprehensive Compliance Screening

Each ingredient is systematically cross-referenced against our database of restricted substances. This includes, but not limited to:

• Endocrine disruptors that can interfere with hormonal balance
• Carcinogens with potential links to cancer development
• Reproductive toxins that may affect fertility
• Persistent environmental pollutants

Phase 4: In-Depth Ingredient Assessment

Certain ingredients require additional scrutiny and require brands to provide additional information to ensure compliance.

Phase 5: Final Certification Decision

After thorough evaluation, brands receive a report indicating which products meet our strict standards. Only those free from all restricted ingredients earn CertClean certification.

Why Our Process Stands Apart

The beauty industry's self-regulation leaves significant gaps—many "clean" claims are based on arbitrary standards or selective ingredient exclusions. CertClean's approach is different:

• Comprehensive: We screen for over 1,400 potentially harmful substances, far exceeding most brands' internal "banned lists"
• Independent: As a third party with no financial interest in product sales, the assessments remain unbiased
• Evidence-Based: The CertClean Standard or restricted substances list is updated based on emerging scientific research

The Results: Verified Safety You Can Trust

With over 2,000 products currently certified, CertClean has established itself as the leading verification program in clean beauty. When you see our seal on a product, you can be confident that:

1. Every single ingredient has been reviewed against stringent safety criteria
2. The product is free from all 1,400+ restricted substances
3. The certification is current and valid, as brands must maintain compliance

For your next beauty or skincare product, look for the CertClean seal—it represents a assurance that what you're putting on your skin meets the highest safety standards. Because when it comes to products you use daily, "probably safe" isn't good enough. You deserve certainty.

While safety is essential, we understand that performance matters too. This is where CertClean’s Clean Beauty Awards comes in. This annual program evaluates hundreds of clean beauty products for their effectiveness through rigorous testing by our panel of 98 clean beauty advocates and experts. Unlike the Certification Program that focuses on ingredient safety, the Awards spotlight products that deliver exceptional results— after all, the product needs to work!

Together, these two programs offer you the complete package:

• The Certification Program answers: "Is this product free from harmful ingredients?" See CertClean certified products here.
• The Clean Beauty Awards answers: "Does this clean product actually work well?" See the Award program’s Process here and see the list of award-winning products here.

Continue your clean beauty journey and discover the 2025 Clean Beauty Awards Ultimate Guide for the full list of finalists and winners in over 20 categories, plus coupon codes!