The Ingredient Lab

The Ingredient Lab

Know Exactly What's On Your Skin

Science-based ingredient transparency for New Zealand and Australia. No hazard scores. No fearmongering. Just peer-reviewed evidence in plain language.

Who we are

What is The Ingredient Lab

We are a free, independent resource that translates scientific research, toxicology and regulatory data into clear, evidence-based analysis of personal care products and their ingredients.

We help people understand what is in the products they use, what the research actually says, and why concentration and context change everything.

No safety scores. No fear-based language. No affiliate links. No brand sponsorships.

These are not aspirations. They are binding commitments.

01
Scientific integrity over simplicity.

If the evidence is nuanced, we present the nuance. We would rather be honest and complex than wrong and simple.

02
Transparency of method, not just of ingredients.

Our methodology is as public as our results. Every assumption is documented and open to scrutiny.

03
Independence from commercial influence.

No brand partnerships, no affiliate commissions, no advertising. Revenue comes exclusively from user subscriptions.

04
Respect for the research.

Every analysis represents hundreds of hours of upstream scientific work. We cite properly, acknowledge limitations, and never extract a headline while ignoring its caveats.

05
Empowerment over fear.

We do not use alarming language to drive engagement. An informed consumer is not a frightened consumer.

Evidence engine

The architecture layers

SkincareHaircareDeodorantsSunscreenOral careBody careMore categories will follow.
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Get early access

Sign up for early access when the evidence engine goes live.

No spam and no sharing. One message when it launches, and nothing else.

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In development

Product reviews are on the way

We are building an evidence engine designed to deliver structured, ingredient-by-ingredient safety analyses of personal care products available in New Zealand and Australia, with plans to expand further.

Each product review breaks down every listed ingredient across seven concern categories, with evidence quality ratings and full source citations. Where the research is uncertain or incomplete, we say so.

Open now

Read the research

While the product engine is being completed, our science library and lab notes are open and growing. Each article is sourced from peer-reviewed literature and regulatory assessments, with every claim cited inline.

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Science

Deep dives into research studies, regulatory frameworks, and the evidence behind common claims.

Read the science →
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Lab notes

Observations, methodology notes, and findings that don't fit neatly into a product card.

Read lab notes →
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Methodology

How we assess ingredients. Our evidence hierarchy and concern categories.

See methodology →

Latest from the lab

Lab notes·Accountability·2026
The Talc Files: the powder we trusted, and the question it never quite answered

A fifty-year scientific argument, a multi-billion-dollar legal fight, and a 2026 retraction inside The Lancet over undisclosed industry ties. The full, sourced history, and what it does and does not prove.

Read the note →

Lifting the research

For researchers

Every analysis on this platform is built on the work of researchers who design studies, collect data, and publish findings that most consumers never see. We know firsthand how much effort, time and rigor goes into a single paper. Our job is to make sure that work reaches the people it was meant to help.

We name researchers in our articles, cite them inline, and link to their original publications. We do not summarise away authorship or reduce years of work to a data point in a score.

If you are publishing or working on research in toxicology, cosmetic science, dermatology, or personal care safety that you believe could benefit consumers, we would like to hear from you. We can offer you space to talk about your research in our Science section and ensure your findings reach an audience beyond the journal paywall.

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science@theingredientlab.org

Tell us about your research. We read everything.

Behind the lab

Built by a researcher, not a marketing team

The Ingredient Lab was founded by Koni Espinoza-Iversen, an engineer and researcher with a background in microbiology, analytical chemistry, and manufacturing cosmetic raw ingredients in New Zealand.

This is not a lifestyle blog or an affiliate platform. It is a research tool, built to the same sourcing standards you would expect from a regulatory submission.

Koni Espinoza-Iversen
Founder · Engineer & Analytical Chemist · Ingredient Researcher

Why this platform

Different from every database you've already tried

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Concentration-aware analysis
We don't just flag ingredients for being present. We interpret their position in the INCI list to estimate likely concentration — because sodium bicarbonate at 30% behaves very differently to 1%.
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We reward transparency
When a brand voluntarily discloses more than NZ law requires — like brands individually declaring six EU-listed fragrance allergens — we flag that as a positive, not just another concern.
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No scores. No fear.
We don't reduce complex toxicology to a single number. We give you the full picture: what the evidence says, what it doesn't say, and what that means at the concentration in your product.
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NZ & AU products
We focus on products available on shelves across New Zealand and Australia, with plans to expand to other markets.
"We don't score products. We give you the full picture — what the science says, what it doesn't say, and what that means at the concentration in your product."
Koni — Founder, The Ingredient Lab
PhD Fellow · Engineer & Analytical Chemist · Ingredient Researcher

Stay updated

New analyses, when they're ready

No spam. When we publish a new product analysis or science summary, you'll hear about it. That's it.

No commercial incentives. Subscription-funded only.

Contact

Get in touch

Questions about our methodology, a correction to an analysis, or a brand enquiry? We read every message.

Or email us directly: science@theingredientlab.org