Editorial policy
How we rate ingredients
Every verdict on Beauty Elixir comes from a written rule you can read, not a black box. Here's how each tool works, and where the data comes from.
Pore-clogging (comedogenic) ratings
Ratings use the 0–5 comedogenic scale popularised by Dr James Fulton's studies: 0–1 is low, 2 is mild risk, and 3–5 is pore-clogging. The scale comes from rabbit-ear tests of individual ingredients, so it is a screening tool. The finished formula, the concentration and whether the product is rinsed off all change the real-world risk. We show each ingredient's position in the list for this reason.
The clean score is the share of recognised ingredients that are neither rated 3–5 nor fungal-acne triggers. Ingredients rated 2 count as half, and known pore-clogging combinations (such as cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth-20) count as an extra flag. Unrecognised ingredients are listed separately and not scored.
Position matters. Ingredient lists run from highest to lowest concentration, and anything after roughly position 15 is usually below 1%. A 3–5 rated ingredient that far down (for example salt used as a thickener) is shown as "Low amount" and counted as mild, not as a pore-clog alert. Pore-clogging combinations only count when both ingredients are in the top 15.
Typo matching. We match misspellings only when the numbers are identical and each word starts the same way. That way "laureth-7" is never mistaken for "laureth-4".
Fungal-acne (Malassezia) flags
Malassezia yeast feeds on most fatty acids with 11–24 carbons, their esters, and polysorbates. We flag those. Fatty alcohols (cetyl, cetearyl, stearyl), squalane, mineral oil, dimethicone and caprylic/capric triglyceride are generally considered safe, and we mark them that way.
"Can I mix?" compatibility verdicts
Each pair of actives gets one of four verdicts: Great, Safe, Caution or Avoid. The verdict comes from formulation chemistry: pH conflicts, oxidation (for example, benzoyl peroxide with vitamin C) and stacked irritation (for example, retinoids with AHAs). Well-documented pairings get specific overrides, such as the vitamin C + E + ferulic acid trio. The reasoning is printed on every pair page.
Product scans
Product ingredient lists are copied from the brand's official product page. The source link and the date we checked it appear on each page. Formulas change and differ by country, so always compare with your pack.
Routines, hair porosity and spray calculator
These are rule-based and deterministic: the same answers always give the same result. Routines follow a conservative, barrier-first approach, meaning one main active, recovery nights and daily sunscreen.
What we are not
Beauty Elixir is an independent educational resource, not a medical provider. See a dermatologist for persistent acne, rashes or pigmentation, or if you are pregnant or using prescription treatments.
Sources
- Fulton JE. Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1989;40:321–333.
- Rubenstein RM, Malerich SA. Malassezia (Pityrosporum) folliculitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):37–41.
- Lin FH, et al. Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin. J Invest Dermatol. 2005;125(4):826–832.
- Rele AS, Mohile RB. Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage. J Cosmet Sci. 2003;54(2):175–192.
- European Commission CosIng database: INCI names and functions of cosmetic ingredients.
Spotted an error? Email hello@beautyelixir.in. We review corrections within a week.