Should You Trust the Yuka App?

Written By Mia Sanasi

Over 60 million people scan their skincare with Yuka — but how much should you really trust that little coloured score?

What is Yuka?

Yuka is a free app that scans product barcodes and rates them based on ingredient safety. It analyses every ingredient against scientific research, potential health risks, and regulatory data — then delivers a simple score out of 100.

What Experts Say It Does Well

  • Transparency made easy: Yuka can be genuinely helpful — especially for anyone who wants to better understand what's inside their skincare products. When you scan an item, it breaks down every ingredient and highlights potential risks in plain, accessible language.

  • Backed by sources: The app cites scientific references for its ratings and translates complex regulatory policies into everyday consumer language — research that would otherwise take hours to do yourself.

Key Criticisms from Dermatologists & Scientists

CRITICISM 01: It oversimplifies toxicology

For biochemist Mollie Kelly Tufman, this is Yuka's central flaw — it leads users to shortcut the toxicology process entirely. "It's not just about whether an ingredient is present — but how much, how it's used, and on what kind of skin."— Mollie Kelly Tufman, Biochemist

CRITICISM 02: Scores reflect ingredients in isolation, not the full formula

Cosmetic chemists point out that Yuka's ratings assess individual ingredients rather than how a product performs as a complete, formulated whole. "The best product is one that's well-formulated, stable and suits your skin, not necessarily the one that gets a perfect rating on an app."— Cosmetic Chemist, via Hypebae

CRITICISM 03: A "red" ingredient isn't always dangerous

A flagged ingredient might be completely harmless in the small concentration used in a given formula. Dose, delivery method, and skin context matter enormously — nuance the app simply doesn't capture.

CRITICISM 04: Recommendations may not suit your skin

Yuka can suggest "healthier" alternatives that aren't appropriate for your skin type — and are sometimes not even remotely similar in purpose to the product they replace.

CRITICISM 05: Dermatologists actively warn against relying on it

Dermatologist Dr. Dray posted a widely-shared TikTok declaring the app "not to be trusted," collaborating with science communicator Lab Muffin Beauty Science to break down its methodological shortcomings.

CRITICISM 06: The system can be gamed

One personal care brand owner discovered that by reducing ingredient transparency — removing voluntary disclosure statements — their product received a higher score. It's a telling sign of a fundamental flaw in Yuka's methodology.

The Bottom Line

While Yuka can be a helpful starting point for spotting potentially concerning ingredients, beauty experts are clear: don't discard a product because it scores low, and don't let the app make decisions for you.

"Context matters far more than a red, yellow or green icon."

A product with an "excellent" score may be completely wrong for your skin type. And no algorithm replaces personalised, professional advice — especially if you have sensitive, reactive, or condition-prone skin.

In short: Yuka is a decent awareness tool, not a substitute for dermatologist guidance. Use it to ask better questions — not to make final decisions.

Mia Sanasi