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Hi! I’m Irina, and I’m glad you’re here!

The I Read Labels for You community is built on thorough research, honesty, and transparency. Here, you’ll learn about my safety criteria, how I research ingredients and products, and how it can help you make safer choices for yourself and your family.

My List of Ingredients to Avoid

Over the past 14 years, I’ve researched hundreds of ingredients and products, from lipstick to mattresses. I’ve talked with hundreds of manufacturers, reviewed scientific literature, and traced online claims back to their original sources.

Through this work, I’ve identified ingredients that don’t align with my standards for health, transparency, and the environment and that I wouldn’t choose for my own home or body.

You’ll find the Ingredients I Avoid And Why here.

My Signature 5-Step Research Method

Product research takes time because I don’t recommend anything without looking into it as thoroughly as I can.

Just as importantly, I won’t recommend a product unless it meets my safety criteria, even if a company offers me a generous commission. That means I often turn down income in order to stay true to my standards.

My research usually includes five steps:

  1. Surveying the product industry
  2. Studying how products are made
  3. Researching ingredients
  4. Contacting manufacturers with questions
  5. Trying some products from my Best tier

Let me explain what that looks like.

Step 1: Surveying the Product Industry

I start by learning about the industry branch, the major brands, and the options available. I also pay attention to what my readers are asking about so I can focus on products that matter most to them.

Step 2: Studying How the Product Is Made

I research how products are made by reviewing available information, speaking with manufacturers, and consulting experts when needed.

This helps me understand questions such as:

  • What contaminants may form during manufacturing
  • Whether those contaminants can end up in the finished product
  • What potentially harmful by-products may be created during production

Step 3: Researching Ingredients (Sources)

Before I form an opinion on an ingredient, I review credible primary sources. Every ingredient review names the exact documents used. The sources include:

  1. EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS / SCCP) opinions
  2. Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) safety reports
  3. CosIng, the EU cosmetic ingredient database
  4. ECHA substance records
  5. U.S. FDA cosmetic ingredient guidance
  6. Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
  7. Environment Canada CEPA Schedule 1
  8. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifications
  9. U.S. National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens
  10. California Proposition 65
  11. Peer-reviewed studies indexed on PubMed
  12. COSMOS-standard
  13. NATRUE
  14. American Contact Dermatitis Society core allergen series

Every ingredient review carries a Last verified date. Here is one in full: Is Methylisothiazolinone Safe?

When a post raises a legal question, my husband Bill Webb, an attorney, reviews it. Dr. Myrto Ashe, MD, MPH, IFMCP, reviews selected posts for medical accuracy.

Step 4: Contacting Manufacturers With Questions

Oftentimes, to make a confident decision about a product, I contact its manufacturer for more information. I do this most often when I write a dedicated product review or when a label leaves important questions unanswered. By talking with manufacturers, I learn more about their practices and whether I trust what they put on the label.

Step 5: Trying Some Products From My Best Tier

This step applies to products/brands about which I write favorable dedicated review posts. I want to know whether it works in real life, whether the quality holds up, and whether I would actually buy it again.

A photo of Irina Webb of I Read Labels For You Research

My Best, Better, and Not A Fan Ranking

My Best, Better, and Not A Fan product ranking is based on ingredient research, label review, regulatory sources, and manufacturer answers. I have not personally tried every product in my Best tier. When I have used a product myself, I say so in the review or list notes.

Affiliate Relationships

If a product passes my safety standard, I may join its affiliate program after my review, not before. Some safe products have no affiliate program; I still mention them when they help you make a safer choice. Some companies offer lucrative programs for products that fail my standard; I turn those down (like Monat shampoo or Madison Reed hair dye).

What You Can Count On

You can count on a practical, step-by-step approach to safer living, not pressure to change everything at once. Eliminating every possible exposure isn’t realistic, and perfection isn’t the goal. Focus on what matters most, make changes at your own pace, and remember: small improvements add up and make a difference.

What You Can Use For Free

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How You Can Support The Website

Help keep I Read Labels for You research available by making a financial contribution. Your support helps further the mission of educating consumers and encouraging a safer, more transparent marketplace.