This sheet explains the ratings system I used on the charts to support my findings on how safe the paraben levels in the products were.

1. ParabensParabens
1. Environmental Working Group. Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews. 2010. Web. 08 Apr. 2010.
<http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/>.
About The Ratings Source: Skin Deep
Skin Deep launched in 2004 as a safety guide for consumers that wish to use safe and natural
products. Since launching, Skin Deep (CosmeticsDatabase.com) has grown into “the world's
largest and most popular product safety guide.”
Skin Deep Mission Statement
According to CosmeticsDatabase.com, “Skin Deep helps fuel the nationwide ‘Campaign for Safe
Cosmetics,’ a coalition of public health, educational, religious, labor, womens, environmental and
consumer groups working to protect the health of consumers and workers by requiring the
health and beauty industry to phase out the use of dangerous chemicals and replace them with
safer alternatives.”
Ratings Explained
Currently there are two pages referencing the paraben content and hazard ratings of the top
selling categories of the store. Each sheet has ratings that range from 1-3 (least concern), 4-6
(mild concern) and 7-10 (most concern). These ratings are based upon the hazard ratings given
on Skin Deep’s website.
• According to CosmeticsDatabase.com:
“All scores are scaled from 0 to 10, with 10 being ingredients and products with the
greatest concern, 0 being ingredients and products with the least concern. We assign a
score of 10 to the top 5% most hazardous products and ingredients, and then scale down
uniformly to 0 for scores lower than this.”