Reading Product Labels
Here’s the thing: I have a Ph.D. in chemistry… and I still find it hard to read product labels.
And yet, so many of us — especially women — are told, “Just read the ingredients.”
But the reality is: these labels weren’t written to be read.
They’re full of long, unfamiliar words that are hard to pronounce, let alone understand. And then we’re left asking, Is this bad for me? Is this one of those ingredients I’m supposed to avoid?
It’s confusing. It’s frustrating. And honestly, it shouldn’t be this hard.
Why It Feels So Complicated
In the U.S., chemicals don’t have to be tested for safety before they’re added to products. The way it works here is “innocent until proven guilty” — for chemicals.
So brands can put almost anything in your deodorant, lotion, or body wash until research shows harm — and even then, it can take years to regulate. Meanwhile, the burden falls on you to figure it out.
That’s not right. And it’s not sustainable.
A Tool That Actually Helps: The CLEAR App
Luckily, there are a few tools that can support you in this process — and one I’ve really come to appreciate is the CLEAR app.
Here’s how it works:
You scan the ingredient label (just take a picture)
The app reads the text and pulls up every single ingredient
It breaks them down and flags anything that might be toxic, allergenic, or concerning
I tried it on a few products — one deodorant had just a mild alert for a generic ingredient. Another had several flagged ingredients, and the app showed me exactly what they were and why they were flagged.
It doesn’t just say “bad” or “good” — it gives you actual context so you can make the call.
This Isn’t About Fear — It’s About Access
I'm not here to scare anyone. I'm not here to tell you to throw everything out and start over.
What I am saying is: you deserve access to clear, honest information about what’s going on your body.
You shouldn’t have to be a chemist to protect yourself. And until policy and regulation catch up, we need tools that help fill in the gap.
Apps like CLEAR won’t fix everything, but they do give you something powerful — knowledge.
And that knowledge helps you take back some of the control that the industry’s tried to take away.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever looked at a product label and felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone. That feeling is valid — and it’s also not your fault.
What matters most is feeling like you have a choice.
And that you’re making decisions based on facts, not marketing, and not fear.
