Anyone who wants to live more consciously today will soon come across handy tools that can help with this. The Yuka app is one of them. You scan a product and immediately get a score — from 'excellent' to 'bad'. Sounds handy, right? But as with everything that is presented in black and white, there is often much more gray between the lines.
At Self, we are in favor of transparency, but also of nuance. And that nuance is what we miss in the Yuka app. We would like to explain why.
Yuka is a French app that became popular because it allows you to quickly and easily scan the ingredients of food and personal care products. You receive a score based on the "safety" and "healthiness" of the ingredients. The app uses its own evaluation method, based on public scientific sources.
Many people use the app to gain a better understanding of what they're buying. It's a great initiative. But... what if your product gets a lower score even though it doesn't actually pose a risk?
At Self, we work with a small, carefully considered range of ingredients. Each ingredient is carefully chosen based on what it does for your skin—not on how it scores on paper.
A good example? Essential oils. We use these in minute doses, with a well-considered purpose: for their soothing, caring, or protective properties. We always consider sensitive skin—our products are even suitable during pregnancy or for baby skin.
However… Yuka immediately gives a lower score if a product contains any essential oils at all , regardless of the dosage or combination with other ingredients. The nuance is missing. An ingredient is labeled "risky," even when used in a harmless concentration.
In other words, a product that is actually safe and effective still gets a 'poor' or even 'bad' label. And that doesn't feel fair.
Onze producten scoren goed – héél goed – maar toch halen sommige geen 100/100 in de Yuka-app.
Dat betekent niet dat ze minder goed zijn: al onze producten zijn dermatologisch getest voor de gevoelige huid en zorgvuldig ontwikkeld met milde ingrediënten die de huid niet irriteren.
We hebben er alvast een paar voor jullie gescand:
— Deodorant: 72/100
— Serum: 100/100
— Body wash: 65/100
— Facial oil: 100/100
We understand that as a consumer, you're looking for guidance—a way to understand ingredients and claims. But it's also important not to get fixated on a single score or app. An ingredient isn't often good or bad in itself—it all depends on its composition, concentration, and the final product.
Yuka views each ingredient as a standalone element, without seeing the bigger picture. But skincare isn't a sum of "good" and "bad" ingredients—it's the synergy between all the components that makes the difference.
At Self, we want to communicate honestly about our formulas, without causing fear or confusion. We don't use hormone disruptors, irritating preservatives, or synthetic fragrances. Our products are designed to care for even the most sensitive skin.
So if you scan our products and they don't get a perfect score, know that this says nothing about their safety or effectiveness. It says everything about how narrowly some systems view what skincare truly is.
Ask questions. Read up on the subject. And know that you can always contact us with any questions or feedback. Because transparency is important, as long as it's done with nuance and care.
Love,
Team Self
