Comparison

Yuka vs Think Dirty: Which Product Scanner Is Better?

Two of the best-known product scanners compared: how Yuka and Think Dirty score products, where each is strong, and their shared blind spot.

How they work

Yuka scores food and cosmetics out of 100 from a huge database and is popular worldwide. Think Dirty rates cosmetics on a 1-10 “dirty meter” and is well known in North American clean-beauty circles.

Where each wins

The shared blind spot

Both give a single universal verdict based on their own criteria. Neither answers the question that matters most for sensitive skin: does this contain my specific trigger? A green or low-dirt score can still hide your personal allergen.

If your concern is a specific trigger

Reading a label by eye, or using a free ingredient-checker, will tell you what is in a product. What it will not do is check it against the specific ingredients you react to.

To close that gap, a personal-list app like ClearaScan lets you save the ingredients you react to once and scan any product to flag only your triggers. It also keeps a Reaction Journal for flare-ups, a shared Care Circle so family or carers can scan for you, and a Trusted Products list for items you have cleared, and it is currently in early access. (Disclosure: our editor co-founded ClearaScan, and we are not paid to mention the others.)

The verdict

For a general score, Yuka edges it on coverage; Think Dirty suits cosmetics-focused users. For your triggers specifically, a personal-list tool answers the question neither score does.

More comparisons

Clearya vs Yuka: Shopping Alerts vs Product Scores

Clearya flags concerning ingredients as you shop online; Yuka scores products you scan. Here's how the two differ and which suits how you shop.

Cosmily vs Skincarisma: Routine Builder vs Allergen Flagger

Both analyse skincare ingredients, but for different goals. Here's how Cosmily and Skincarisma differ and which fits sensitive skin better.

EWG Skin Deep vs ClearaScan: Hazard Scores vs Your Own List

EWG Skin Deep rates products on a hazard score; ClearaScan checks against your personal triggers. Here's how they differ, and the UK angle.

INCI Decoder vs ClearaScan: Encyclopedia vs Personal Scanner

INCI Decoder explains what every ingredient is; ClearaScan tells you whether a product contains your triggers. Here's how they compare.

A note on this content. The Sensitive Skin Lab publishes general educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity, consult a qualified dermatologist or allergist. Product formulations and labels change without notice, so always check the ingredients on the product itself.