EU Cosmetics Regulation
Legal authority
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 is the legal authority for ingredient restrictions and permitted conditions in the EU.
Read it on EUR-LexScience & method
Klarify.
More insight, fewer assumptions.
Evidence-led product transparency. Understand what a cosmetic product contains, what the science actually says, and what the marketing label cannot tell you.
01 / The scoring philosophy
Exposure over fear.
In the beauty tech space, most apps operate on a flawed premise: presence equals danger. They scan an ingredient list, see a chemical name, and flag it as hazardous, regardless of whether it makes up 50% of the formula or 0.05%. We built Klarify to challenge this.
The foundational rule of cosmetic toxicology, as defined by European regulators, is that safety is strictly driven by exposure (Risk = Hazard × Exposure). The safety of an ingredient relies entirely on the concentration used, the type of formulation, and how it is applied.
Because of this, Klarify's Transparency Index is exactly that — a measure of a brand's honesty, formulation clarity, and marketing truth. It is not a fear-based safety score. We do not destroy a product's score simply because it uses a highly researched, legally permitted ingredient that sounds intimidating in a vacuum. The index is today an AI-based reading of the label and the product's claims, not a validated safety rating.
02 / Context without fear
Handling "less safe" ingredients.
If an ingredient is considered controversial, why not just penalize it? Because true transparency demands nuance.
Take preservatives like parabens: frequently demonized by popular ingredient-scanning apps, yet repeatedly evaluated by the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and found to be safe under strict, specific exposure limits. Penalizing a 0.14% concentration of a legally permitted, highly effective ingredient ignores the gold standard of European regulatory science. It also inadvertently encourages brands to use newer, less-studied alternatives that often cause higher rates of allergic reactions.
Instead of hiding behind a bad score, we give you context. If a product contains an ingredient that is legally safe but heavily monitored or excluded by "Clean Beauty" retailers, we flag it on our Ingredient Watchlist. You get the power of informed consent without the manufactured panic.
03 / The label reality
Position versus concentration.
Klarify separates marketing claims from formulation physics. List order cannot reveal exact percentages, as those are legally protected trade secrets, but it does support a cautious reading of relative placement.
If a brand markets a "miracle botanical" but it appears at the very bottom of the list after the standard preservatives, it is likely present only in trace amounts. Klarify points out the gap between a prominent marketing claim and where the ingredient actually sits, marking this clearly as an inference, not a measured concentration.
04 / Established sources
Different sources. Different roles.
We anchor our insights in official regulatory frameworks. Different sources serve different roles in our engine:
CosIng
European Commission database
It helps us identify ingredient names, functions, and references to restrictive annexes. A CosIng entry is informative — it is not proof of approval or safety.
Visit CosIngSCCS
Scientific opinions
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety assesses specific complex substances. When a relevant reference is retrieved, Klarify links to the actual scientific opinion, whose conclusions cover only the uses and concentrations it addressed.
About the SCCS and its opinionsCIR (US)
Complementary perspective
A complementary American perspective for ingredient assessments, not an EU authority. Klarify can show references retrieved from CIR's partly available index; a missing match does not mean no assessment exists.
Visit CIR reportsNote: source data is retrieved separately from the AI-generated interpretation. Our model reads the label, but it is strictly restricted from creating or inventing regulatory references. A retrieved reference covers the substance and use it addressed — it does not mean the whole product has been verified.
05 / Clear limits
An informational aid. Not a certification.
Klarify is an informational aid, not a product safety certification, personalised medical advice, or a substitute for the safety assessments required by law.
An ingredient list is a map of a formula, but it is not enough to establish the definitive safety of a finished product or predict exactly how your unique skin barrier will react. Product information can be incomplete, sources change, and automated interpretations can make errors. We provide the regulatory facts and the structural context, but for personal medical questions, always consult a healthcare professional.