Product Scanner - Ingredient Analysis & Safety Check
Stop buying skincare products blindly. Glowly's intelligent product scanner analyzes ingredient lists in seconds, flags potential irritants, checks compatibility with your skin type, and suggests safer alternatives. Turn your phone into a personal skincare scientist that helps you shop smarter and avoid expensive mistakes.
✨ Why Scan Before You Buy?
The average person wastes $200-400 annually on skincare products that don't work for their skin. Ingredient scanning helps you buy only what's actually compatible with your skin type and concerns, saving money and preventing reactions.
How to Scan Products
Tap the "Scan Product" button in the Glowly app
Point your camera at the product barcode or ingredient list
Review the instant ingredient analysis and compatibility score
Save products to your collection or add them to your routine
Pro Tip: Scan products in-store before buying! Read the back label under good lighting for best results. Most scans complete in under 5 seconds.
Key Benefits
🔍 Instant Ingredient Analysis
Get detailed breakdowns of every ingredient—what it does, safety profile, research backing, and potential side effects. Understand exactly what you're putting on your skin in language you can understand, not confusing chemical names.
⚠️ Allergen Detection
Automatically flag fragrances, essential oils, sulfates, parabens, or any ingredients you're sensitive to. Set your custom "avoid list" once and never accidentally buy a product with those ingredients again. Critical for sensitive skin users.
💰 Money Saver
Avoid impulse buys of products that won't work for your skin. Our users report saving an average of $300 annually by scanning before purchasing. See compatibility scores BEFORE spending money, not after regret-buying products you can't return.
🔄 Smart Alternatives
Found a product with problematic ingredients? We suggest similar products without those ingredients at various price points. Get drugstore alternatives to expensive products with comparable ingredient profiles at 1/3 the cost.
What We Analyze
🧪 Active Ingredients
Identify beneficial actives like retinol, vitamin C, niacinamide, AHAs, BHAs, and peptides. See concentrations (when listed), optimal pH levels, and whether the product's formula will actually deliver results or is just marketing hype.
Example: "This serum contains 0.5% retinol—effective concentration for anti-aging but gentle enough for beginners."
⚡ Potential Irritants
Flag fragrance, essential oils, denatured alcohol, sulfates, and other common irritants. Sensitivity warnings adapt to YOUR skin type—what irritates sensitive skin might be fine for resilient skin types.
Example: "⚠️ Contains lavender oil—may cause reactions if you have sensitive skin or fragrance allergies."
🎯 Comedogenic Rating
For acne-prone skin, see which ingredients may clog pores. Ingredients rated 0-5 where 0 is non-comedogenic and 5 is highly pore-clogging. Filter products by comedogenic rating to avoid breakout triggers.
Example: "⚠️ Coconut oil (rating: 4/5) - likely to clog pores for acne-prone skin. Consider alternatives with jojoba or squalane instead."
🌱 Beneficial Compounds
Highlight hydrating ingredients (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides), antioxidants (vitamin E, green tea, resveratrol), and skin-soothing compounds (centella, allantoin, niacinamide). See what benefits the product actually offers.
Example: "✅ Contains niacinamide (4th ingredient)—excellent for reducing inflammation and improving skin barrier. Well-formulated at this concentration."
Who Needs Product Scanning?
🌿 Sensitive Skin Warriors
Avoid painful trial-and-error by checking ingredients BEFORE buying. Flag your specific triggers and shop with confidence knowing products are pre-screened.
💼 Smart Shoppers
Compare products in-store instantly. See if expensive luxury products actually have better ingredients than drugstore alternatives. Make evidence-based purchasing decisions.
🎯 Acne-Prone Users
Check comedogenic ratings before buying. Avoid pore-clogging ingredients that trigger breakouts. Finally understand why some "non-comedogenic" products still cause acne.
📚 Ingredient Learners
Educate yourself about skincare science. Each scan teaches you about ingredients, concentrations, formulation quality, and what to look for in effective products.
Common Questions
What products can I scan?
Scan skincare products with a barcode or visible ingredient list—moisturizers, serums, cleansers, sunscreens, masks, and more. If a product isn't recognized yet, you can manually enter ingredients and we'll analyze the list.
How do you rate ingredient safety?
We analyze ingredient lists and highlight common irritants and pore-clogging risks based on ingredient properties and your skin profile. We also explain why something is flagged so you can make an informed decision.
Can it detect ingredients I'm allergic to?
Yes! Add your known allergens, sensitivities, or ingredients you want to avoid to your profile. When you scan products, we'll immediately flag any matches with a clear warning. This prevents accidental purchases of products that could cause reactions.
Does it work for all skin types?
Absolutely. Set your skin type (oily, dry, combination, sensitive, normal) and concerns (acne, aging, redness, etc.) in your profile. Product compatibility scores adjust based on YOUR specific skin—what's great for someone else might not work for you, and we account for that.
Can I scan products in stores before buying?
Yes. Scan products while shopping to make more informed decisions before purchasing. It's especially useful for avoiding ingredients you already know don't work for your skin.
Related Features
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