Good grades need good evidence.
No arbitrary stars. Six weighted factors, one overriding safeguard, and a method you can inspect.
Our editorial framework separates formula information, scientific research, and hands-on testing. A grade requires documented evidence; current brand listings are unrated.
Formula Quality25% +
Effective concentrations, formulation stability, and a delivery system that protects the ingredients.
Safety & Tolerability20% +
Sensitizers, fragrance, pH, and suitability for different skin profiles. Individual allergies still matter.
Real-World Results20% +
Quality of human clinical evidence, study size, meaningful outcomes, and independent replication.
Value15% +
Cost per milliliter relative to formulation quality. A higher price does not mean a better formula.
Usability10% +
Texture, absorption, packaging, and how the product fits into a consistent routine.
Brand Conduct10% +
Honest marketing, ingredient transparency, and substantiated claims.
The +1: evidence before arithmetic.
Any substantiated medical-claim, high-risk allergen warning, or deceptive-marketing veto caps the grade at C. A low-scoring product is never upgraded by the cap.
Each veto must be documented with evidence. An unsupported allegation is not a reason to penalize a brand.
What a grade can—and cannot—tell you
A score compares products against an editorial framework. It is not a medical certification, a diagnosis, or a guarantee that a formula will suit your skin. Ingredient evidence and finished-product evidence are different, and the review must say which is available.
We don’t treat the old 0–5 comedogenic scale as a reliable prediction for a finished formula on human skin. Individual skin response matters.
The letter scale
A+ 97–100 · A 93–96 · A− 90–92 · B+ 87–89 · B 83–86 · B− 80–82 · C 70–79 · D 60–69 · F below 60. These are editorial thresholds, not medical certifications.