Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated July 20, 2018

You have questions, we have answers!

• + How do I find products?

  You can find products by scanning the product barcode, or searching our database.

  • 1. Tap the Scan button on the Home screen, or tap the Scan button in the bottom bar.
    2. Hold for a few seconds until the barcode is in focus.
    3. Ta-da!
  • • Search a product by entering a keyword (such as brand name or product name)
    • Or tap “Barcode” and enter the UPC number beneath the product’s barcode to search
• + How do I add products to list?

  On the product screen, tap the button marked “Add to List”.

• + What is "My bathroom shelf"?

  You can scan products already in your bathroom and if you save them through “Add to My Bathroom Shelf”. We’ll give you a dirty rating and alternatives to your “Dirty” products, so you can see where you can improve and how to do it. Pretty cool, eh?

• + How do I sign up?

  You can sign up by Facebook Connect or by email.

• + Where did you get your information from?

  We get our information from manufacturers, product packages, and their websites. We do our best to ensure accuracy, but can’t guaranteed due to human errors and printing mistakes. For more details please review our Terms of Service for more information.

• + How do Think Dirty rate ingredients and products?

  We cross-reference ingredient information with lists of prohibited ingredients from government and non-profit health and environmental groups. Due to lack of formal government regulations, most of these lists are guidelines only, but they are backed by scientific studies with abstracts which are available to the public. We take the health impacts of cosmetics seriously, so if there’s enough evidence showing that even a single ingredient is unsafe, it will be listed as “Dirty” on the “Dirty Meter”. The ratings are strictly based on our own interpretation; other sources could have their own opinions. For more information, please tap the Ratings box on the Product screen, or you can also review our Terms of Service.

• + Why should I trust Think Dirty?

  Think Dirty passionately believes in advocating safe cosmetics and personal care products. We are beauty / health / tech geeks who promote beauty inside and out. This project is inspired by our founder’s family history of cancer and her passion to find truth about environmental links to the disease. Within our team, we have known friends and family who are impacted by illnesses such as cancer. The mandate of Think Dirty is to bring transparency to consumers. Through the empowerment that knowledge brings, consumers have powerful voices to demand safe products that are safe for both our health and environment. We consult with advisory team of scientists to ensure the information we provide is accurate and credible.

• + Why don't you list percentage of chemicals?

  Simply those information are considered trade secrets by manufacturers. The ingredient information we can obtain is from packages, and they are not required to list percentage.

• + Why are some natural / organic brands rated not clean in your app?

  That's something you should ask them. We don't look at brand names, we only take the ingredients and match them with our sources to give you the opinions based on all studies from governments, scientific communities and non-profit groups. "Natural" and "Organic" has no legal definition, so just because a brand is called organic, it doesn't mean it's true organic. That's why reading labels by scanning is so important.

• + Why do I see so many "dirty" ingredients?

  We rate BHA / BHT, PEGs, petrochemicals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde releasing agents, siloxanes, sulfates, fragrance/parfum and non-biodegradable ingredients 10-7. Because we believe those chemicals don't belong in products we use daily, no matter how much or how little. Some may argue low percentage is harmless. Then the debate will move from whether it's safe or dangerous to how high or low percentage is dangerous. Also for those we argue low dosage is ok, they simply forget the numbers of products we use, and also didn't take into account of how each of the low dosage of controversial chemicals might react with each others. The health impact of being exposed to the chemical cocktail effect is unknown. The debate on how much toxic chemicals should be in your products is similar to arguing how much MSG should be in your food. In both cases, we believe there shouldn't be any.

• + I heard you said “eh”. Are you guys Canadian?

  Yes! Think Dirty is proudly made in Toronto. We are the Grand Prize winner of Digifest 2012, It’s a Start competition, and George Brown Gaming Incubator. Visit us if you are in town! There’s a really great coffee shop in our building!

• + I just scanned a few products and none of the show up, help!

  We are working diligently to expand our database. In the meantime, if you don’t see the products you scanned, we strongly encourage you to submit the product to our database. It only take a few seconds of your time. Plus, depending on how many you contribute, you might even earn a reward from our sponsors!

• + I love what you guys are doing, how can I give feedback? Or better yet, how can I get involved?

  Write to us with feedbacks and suggestions at questions@thinkdirtyapp.com

• + What Is Your Beauty Box Cancellation Policy?

  Monthly Rebillable Subscriptions can be canceled at any time in your Customer Portal email beneath the “Subscriptions” heading. (More information) If you’ve already been billed for this month’s box, your cancellation will take effect in the next billing cycle.
  
  3, 6 or 12-Month Rebillable Subscriptions can ONLY be canceled within the first month, but we’re able to opt you out of auto-renewal at any time. You’re also able to opt yourself out of auto-renewal within the final month of your subscription.

• + Seriously, why the name "Think Dirty"?

  Why not? Come on, we know you love it! Help us spread it by tweeting to @thinkdirty, or tagging #shopclean (or, even better, both!). If you tell us why you love us, we’ll retweet and you can even get your hands on a few of these lovelies.