There is a huge amount of information online and on social media about how to find the right skin care products and build a routine that works for your skin. On the one hand, this wealth of information is great, it empowers you to make decisions rather than dictate what appeals to you in the store. On the other hand, buying any kind of cosmetics can make it extremely overwhelming.
Enter OnSkin, an iPhone app that claims to be “healthy skin made easy”. There are a bunch of different tools within the app, but the most appealing part is that you can take a photo of any product or scan its barcode and then get a detailed breakdown of what’s inside and, according to the app, its security rating.
When you do this, you can find out what the ingredients are and their health effects. In some cases, you may also discover alternatives that might suit your skin better.
Personally, I’ve always been a bit wary of “clean” beauty and people wary of the “chemicals” in our products – your body is literally made of chemicals. But OnSkin seems different. It is backed by science and dedicated to the safe assessment of cosmetics, helping you decode ingredient formulas and analyze whether the product is in line with your needs and concerns.
You need to pay a subscription to use the OnSkin app, which costs $39.99/£39.99 for the year and is $0.77/£0.77 per week. Or you can enable a free trial for 3 days and then it’s $5.99/£5.99 per week. It’s not cheap, but if you’re looking to build a new skincare routine, it might be worth it.
Does OnSkin really help you better understand your skin care?
OnSkin is dedicated to educating people about the impact of cosmetic ingredients on their skin and health. To determine what works for you and what doesn’t, users are asked to fill out a short questionnaire. The application will then not only tell you what is in the products you scan, but also whether they are the right choice for you.
I feel that some of these personalized recommendations are too general, but they could be useful for anyone who does not yet know much about skin care and wants to absorb as much information as possible.
I think this application is for them — those who may not know much about cosmetics and what to look out for, but want to learn. For example, the application may be simpler than just combing through the ingredients list.
But it’s still not 100% easy or a substitute for a session with a skin care professional. When I scanned my favorite tinted moisturizer, the app told me its score was “49/100 – Not Great” without explaining why. Then it’s up to me to click on the “moderate risk” ingredients below to find out why it might not be great. Even then, you’ll want to take the time to read why the app flagged the ingredient.
So if you’re a skincare geek or desperate to become one and learn more about what’s in the products you use every day, sign up. But if you want an app that will make skin care easy, this isn’t it.