CosmeticLens: Ingredient Scan · FAQ

CosmeticLens is an information-reference scanner for cosmetic ingredient labels. Point your camera at any ingredient list (INCI) and it reads the ingredients, then flags the ones that match your sensitivity profile — fragrance, preservatives, alcohol, acids, retinol, and more. It never tells you whether a product is "safe" or "suitable." It shows you what it reads; the decision is always yours, based on the actual label.

CosmeticLens uses on-device vision plus a backend LLM to read the ingredient list on the package. Ingredients stream in card by card, each with a risk level and its position in the list — ingredients listed earlier are usually present in higher concentration. It works best on clearly printed INCI labels. It is far less reliable on blurry, low-light, curved, or handwritten labels, and it can miss processed or derived ingredients. Every result carries a disclaimer — please verify against the actual label. CosmeticLens is a clue, not a verdict.

It is a profile you fully control: your skin type, life stage, and up to 12 avoidance categories — fragrance, preservative, alcohol, acid, retinol, essential oil, sulfate, silicone, colorant, PEG, paraben, and salicylic acid. When you scan, any ingredient that matches your profile is flagged clearly as the results stream in. The profile is never behind a paywall — it is yours from day one, and it stays on your device.

No. CosmeticLens will never call a product "safe," "suitable," or "pregnancy-safe." It is an information companion, not a medical or safety verdict. AI can misread a label or miss a derived ingredient, so the result is a starting point — not a conclusion. The decision is always yours; verify against the actual product before you use it.

CosmeticLens helps you read a label faster, but it is not a substitute for professional advice. If you are pregnant or have a serious skin condition: • Treat the scan as an extra check, never the only check. • Read the actual ingredient label on the product. • When in doubt, ask a dermatologist or pharmacist.

Tap any ingredient to see its INCI position, its function, and a plain-language note. You can also see whether the risk comes from an authoritative database or from AI inference — shown as a source label on each ingredient. Position matters: an ingredient near the top of the list is usually present in higher concentration than one near the end.

Your sensitivity profile and scan history stay on your device. When a scan needs identification, the label image is sent to our backend LLM over an encrypted channel for inference, and the image is not stored after the request completes. No ads, no data selling. Only optional, anonymous analytics.

The free tier includes a limited number of scans each day. CosmeticLens Pro unlocks unlimited scans, available as a monthly or yearly subscription — the yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. To cancel: open iOS Settings → tap your Apple ID → Subscriptions → CosmeticLens Pro → Cancel. Your Pro features remain active until the end of the current billing period.