Last Updated: September 11, 2024
Published: March 8, 2023
This content is written for informational purposes only. All opinions are my own. View our full disclaimer policy.
If you are like me and are just starting on your clean beauty or clean eating journey, you have probably heard of the Yuka app. It has especially started to gain popularity in the beauty world. Since I downloaded it, I have been using the app consistently for over 4 months now, and I am excited to share my honest Yuka app review in regards to the clean beauty portion.
Summary:
What is the Yuka App?
If you are not familiar, Yuka is a mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play that allows you to scan your cosmetics and food products’ barcodes to find out how the ingredients affect your health. They also provide recommendations for products that rank “Bad” or “Poor” so you can find cleaner alternatives.
The ratings are as follows:
- Excellent: (75 to 100)
- Good (50 to 75)
- Poor (20 to 50)
- Bad (0 to 25)
Is the Yuka App Legit?
If you have been hesitant about downloading the Yuka app, there are a few things you should know:
- Zero Ads: There are zero ads when you are using this app due to the incredible owners of the app, who are fully responsible for the funding.
- No Sponsorships: You can also have peace of mind because they do not have any paid sponsorships for the products they show.
- Ingredients Score: The score is solely related to the ingredients within the products.
The Yuka app is a great way for you to start getting a better understanding of your cosmetics and skincare products and start incorporating cleaner ingredients into your daily life. However, as is typical with most apps, I have found it is not always 100% accurate, so if you are ever hesitant about the results of the Yuka app, I highly recommend reaching out to a healthcare professional for guidance.
By the way, the barcode scanner is super legit, it will start scanning everything in the aisle if you give it a chance! lol
What Type of Beauty Products Does it Rate?
- Cosmetic Products
- Skincare Products
Cosmetics & Skincare Products
The most shocking ingredients I have come across on the Yuka app in my cosmetics and skincare have to be the endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. The fact that there were some products I used religiously for years and years that had potential carcinogens attached to them was a complete eye-opener. As you can imagine, I was skeptical at first, as it can be scary to realize the products you have faithfully used for years and years can potentially be harmful to your health. The biggest shocker was finding a body wash that was clean enough for me to feel comfortable using.
It is super beneficial to take what Yuka rates and research the ingredients yourself because sometimes they can say a topical beauty lotion ingredient cannot be ingested, and since it would never be ingested, you may be able to use this product without having to worry about that specific ingredient.
In the cosmetics rating, they also take into account if the ingredients can be a potential irritant or allergen, which can be super helpful for people, especially those with sensitive skin.
My Cons of the Yuka App So Far
- Conflicting Ratings of Products: I have come across some products with conflicting ratings. For example, one product rating would be 100/100, and then the same exact product pops up later on in the search that is rated something like 12/100.
- Duplicate Products: Sometimes I find the same product various times in the same search, which can be confusing. Ensure to focus on if the product comes in a different scent or flavor, as it most likely has varying ingredients and ratings.
- Recommendations: Sometimes the recommendations are not relevant enough. For example, I have desperately been trying to find a clean body sunscreen, but whenever I scan or search for a body sunscreen the recommendations are all face sunscreens. As I find them to be very different, it can be frustrating to find a good alternative.
- New Products: When a new product comes out, it takes time for the Yuka app to add it to its database, and you may miss out on the product being sold out if you want to review the rating before purchasing.
The Paid Plan Benefits for Beauty Products
- Offline Usage
- Search the Database Without Barcodes
After my initial Yuka app review, I decided to upgrade to the Paid Plan version of Yuka, which now allows me to not only scan product barcodes offline but also search for products that I do not have access to their barcodes. Upgrading to the paid version of the Yuka app changed my online shopping game. I cannot recommend upgrading enough. I can now shop online without having to worry about scanning barcodes.
The paid version of the Yuka app is called “open pricing”, as you are essentially donating directly to the Yuka team. You can download for as little as $10 per year up to $50/year.
Follow Along With My Clean Beauty Journey
Ever since I downloaded the app, Yuka has been my new favorite shopping buddy! I have even been able to make connections with people in almost every store I use it in. From scanning cosmetic and skincare products in Ulta to sunscreen in Target and the frozen food aisle in Trader Joe’s, I have had people ask me what I have been using. Getting the conversation started with our fellow peers is a great way to spread the news about this app.
Thanks to Yuka, I have found one of my newfound favorite passions, which is really focusing on what products I have been using on my skin and what I have been eating. It has truly been an eye-opening experience doing my Yuka app review over the past months, and I hope you download the app and take a chance on it!
Check out my Yuka approved products series:
Last Updated: September 11, 2024
Published: March 8, 2023
This content is written for informational purposes only. All opinions are my own. View our full disclaimer policy.
If you are like me and are just starting on your clean beauty or clean eating journey, you have probably heard of the Yuka app. It has especially started to gain popularity in the beauty world. Since I downloaded it, I have been using the app consistently for over 4 months now, and I am excited to share my honest Yuka app review in regards to the clean beauty portion.
Summary:
What is the Yuka App?
If you are not familiar, Yuka is a mobile app available on the App Store and Google Play that allows you to scan your cosmetics and food products’ barcodes to find out how the ingredients affect your health. They also provide recommendations for products that rank “Bad” or “Poor” so you can find cleaner alternatives.
The ratings are as follows:
- Excellent: (75 to 100)
- Good (50 to 75)
- Poor (20 to 50)
- Bad (0 to 25)
Is the Yuka App Legit?
If you have been hesitant about downloading the Yuka app, there are a few things you should know:
- Zero Ads: There are zero ads when you are using this app due to the incredible owners of the app, who are fully responsible for the funding.
- No Sponsorships: You can also have peace of mind because they do not have any paid sponsorships for the products they show.
- Ingredients Score: The score is solely related to the ingredients within the products.
The Yuka app is a great way for you to start getting a better understanding of your cosmetics and skincare products and start incorporating cleaner ingredients into your daily life. However, as is typical with most apps, I have found it is not always 100% accurate, so if you are ever hesitant about the results of the Yuka app, I highly recommend reaching out to a healthcare professional for guidance.
By the way, the barcode scanner is super legit, it will start scanning everything in the aisle if you give it a chance! lol
What Type of Beauty Products Does it Rate?
- Cosmetic Products
- Skincare Products
Cosmetics & Skincare Products
The most shocking ingredients I have come across on the Yuka app in my cosmetics and skincare have to be the endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. The fact that there were some products I used religiously for years and years that had potential carcinogens attached to them was a complete eye-opener. As you can imagine, I was skeptical at first, as it can be scary to realize the products you have faithfully used for years and years can potentially be harmful to your health. The biggest shocker was finding a body wash that was clean enough for me to feel comfortable using.
It is super beneficial to take what Yuka rates and research the ingredients yourself because sometimes they can say a topical beauty lotion ingredient cannot be ingested, and since it would never be ingested, you may be able to use this product without having to worry about that specific ingredient.
In the cosmetics rating, they also take into account if the ingredients can be a potential irritant or allergen, which can be super helpful for people, especially those with sensitive skin.
My Cons of the Yuka App So Far
- Conflicting Ratings of Products: I have come across some products with conflicting ratings. For example, one product rating would be 100/100, and then the same exact product pops up later on in the search that is rated something like 12/100.
- Duplicate Products: Sometimes I find the same product various times in the same search, which can be confusing. Ensure to focus on if the product comes in a different scent or flavor, as it most likely has varying ingredients and ratings.
- Recommendations: Sometimes the recommendations are not relevant enough. For example, I have desperately been trying to find a clean body sunscreen, but whenever I scan or search for a body sunscreen the recommendations are all face sunscreens. As I find them to be very different, it can be frustrating to find a good alternative.
- New Products: When a new product comes out, it takes time for the Yuka app to add it to its database, and you may miss out on the product being sold out if you want to review the rating before purchasing.
The Paid Plan Benefits for Beauty Products
- Offline Usage
- Search the Database Without Barcodes
After my initial Yuka app review, I decided to upgrade to the Paid Plan version of Yuka, which now allows me to not only scan product barcodes offline but also search for products that I do not have access to their barcodes. Upgrading to the paid version of the Yuka app changed my online shopping game. I cannot recommend upgrading enough. I can now shop online without having to worry about scanning barcodes.
The paid version of the Yuka app is called “open pricing”, as you are essentially donating directly to the Yuka team. You can download for as little as $10 per year up to $50/year.
Follow Along With My Clean Beauty Journey
Ever since I downloaded the app, Yuka has been my new favorite shopping buddy! I have even been able to make connections with people in almost every store I use it in. From scanning cosmetic and skincare products in Ulta to sunscreen in Target and the frozen food aisle in Trader Joe’s, I have had people ask me what I have been using. Getting the conversation started with our fellow peers is a great way to spread the news about this app.
Thanks to Yuka, I have found one of my newfound favorite passions, which is really focusing on what products I have been using on my skin and what I have been eating. It has truly been an eye-opening experience doing my Yuka app review over the past months, and I hope you download the app and take a chance on it!
Check out my Yuka approved products series: