Our standard
We list products that are simple, natural and honestly tested. Being popular is not enough, and neither is a seal on the box.
What keeps a product off the list
A product that breaks any of these rules is not listed, however well it sells:
- Fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwash or anything else for your mouth.
- Artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin and the like) in anything you eat, drink or put in your mouth.
- Artificial colors or flavors.
- Unnamed fragrance. “Fragrance” or “parfum” with no breakdown, in anything that goes on your skin or hair, into the air or into your laundry. Scent from named essential oils is fine; unscented is better.
- Forever chemicals (PFAS). No PTFE or other fluoropolymer coatings on cookware, food tools or floss, no stain- or water-repellent finishes on fabric, and nothing an independent test has found PFAS in.
- Ingredients research and regulators flag, such as parabens, phthalates, triclosan, formaldehyde releasers, oxybenzone in sunscreen and titanium dioxide in anything you swallow.
- A failed test, a recall or a warning letter that has not been put right.
- Claims we cannot check when the product depends on them and the maker will not say.
How we rank what stays
The fewer ingredients the better, and the fewer chemicals the better. Within that, each category is ranked on the four or five things that matter most for it, and each category page shows them, with their weights and the research behind them. Saunas, for example, are ranked first on the kind of heat, because the long-term research is on traditional saunas; protein powders on what is in them and on independent lead tests.
Most categories share five measures: what is in it (or what it is made of), independent testing, the evidence that it works, trust in the maker, and value. Each product scores every measure from 1 to 5, with the reason written next to the score on its page, and its rating is the weighted average. A product must rate 3 or above to be listed. On each category page you can sort by our rating, by price or, for things you eat or put on your body, by the fewest ingredients.
Who tested it, and who paid
Every test on a product page is labeled by who paid for it, because a test is only as useful as the tester’s independence:
- Independent
- The tester took no money from the maker for the test: a consumer group such as Consumer Reports, a journalist, a university or a regulator. These count most. Many such testers earn affiliate income; when one also earns commission from the maker or shares its discount code, we say so next to the result.
- Paid certification
- An outside lab or program tested or listed the product, and the maker paid for it. Useful, but it only checks what that program checks.
- Maker’s own test
- A lab report or certificate of analysis the maker commissioned and published. Better than nothing; it counts least.
A seal is a floor, not a verdict. A product can carry one and still be a poor choice, so we say what each seal actually checks:
| Seal | What it checks | What it does not |
|---|---|---|
| Informed Choice, Informed Sport | Substances banned in sport. | Lead, sweeteners, or whether the label is accurate. |
| NSF Certified for Sport | Banned substances, that the label matches the contents, contaminants, and the factory. | Whether the ingredients are ones you want. |
| USP Verified | That a supplement contains what the label says, in the stated amounts, within limits for some contaminants, and dissolves. | Whether the dose or the ingredients are a good idea. |
| USDA Organic | How the crop or animal was raised and processed. | The finished product, for lead or other contaminants. |
| GOTS, OEKO-TEX | Organic fiber and restricted processing chemicals (GOTS); a list of harmful substances in the fabric (OEKO-TEX). | Everything else in the garment, and anything outside their lists. |
| NSF/ANSI water filter standards | How much of each named contaminant a filter removes, in a lab. | Anything not named on the certificate. |
| UL, ETL, CSA | Electrical and fire safety. | Materials, emissions or health effects. |
| “FDA registered”, “FDA cleared” | A registered factory; a device judged similar to one already sold. | The FDA does not approve supplements or cosmetics before they are sold. |
What people ask
Plenty of worries about products start online, with readers, health writers and influencers. We read them, check each one against tests and research, and put what we found on the product page under “What people ask”, whether the worry holds up or not. When someone who promotes a brand also owns part of it or is paid by it, we say so.
Where to buy, and prices
We list the stores we found selling each product, with the price we saw and the date, so you can compare. Every link goes to the store’s own page with no tracking code, and we earn nothing from any of them. On Amazon we say whether the seller is the brand itself, because supplements there can come from third-party sellers. Prices change often, so check before you buy.
Never sponsored
No brand pays to be listed or to be rated, and no brand can see a page before you do. When we are waiting on a maker for a certificate or a test report, the page says what we asked for and marks it “Verification pending” until it arrives. Read how we’re funded and what we refuse.
What we took off, and why
When a product stops meeting this standard, it comes off the list, and it is recorded here.
- Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream SPF 40 (Unscented) FDA’s 2022 warning letter over repeat manufacturing failures at Badger’s sunscreen plant, including a microbial failure, has no close-out, and labs found lead in three sister Badger sunscreens.
- Kuli Kuli Pure Moringa Powder, 7.4 oz Its pack carries a Prop 65 lead warning and Kuli Kuli publishes no lot results; the UC Davis tests it cites could not be found.
- Seeking Health Optimal Electrolyte (unflavored, 30 servings) Its blend of creatine, taurine and ATP gives no amounts, and NSF lists only the orange flavor; rated 2.4.
- True Moringa Ghana Dried Loose Organic Moringa Leaves Sold only as a bulk ingredient on the Ghana store, priced in cedis, with no size, certificate or test; rated 2.4.
- Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water, 750 mL glass An independent test (Greenpeace Italia) found TFA, a very short-chain PFAS, at the highest level of eight brands.
- Algae Cooking Club Algae Cooking Oil The maker names no algae strain or producer and will not say whether the organism is genetically modified; rated 2.4.
- Anzzi SaunaSpa 2-Person Infrared Cabin Sauna (SC-SS0022-2P) Its manual shows an ozone setting the product page never mentions, it gives no EMF figure, and it needs a dedicated circuit the page leaves out; rated 2.9.
- AquaTru Shower Filtered Showerhead Certified for free chlorine only; its chloramine and skin and hair claims have no listing or study behind them; rated 2.6.
- Aura Cacia Lavender Essential Oil An independent lab found 4,674 ppb of phthalates in it, and its only test is an undated one-page summary from the maker; rated 2.9.
- Babo Botanicals Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 Lead Safe Mama’s labs found lead in all three Babo zinc products they tested, up to 3,182 ppb, and the stick rated lowest of our sunscreens.
- Baja Gold Signature Mineral Sea Salt Independent labs found lead in it: 338 ppb (Mamavation) and 114 ppb (Lead Safe Mama); rated 2.9.
- California Gold Nutrition Colostrum Powder Its only test result is behind a paywall and nothing else is published; rated 2.9.
- Cobram Estate California Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil An independent lab found the most phthalates of 36 olive oils in Cobram’s Classic oil, and no test covers this bottle; rated 2.9.
- Cocofloss Delightful Mint Dental Floss Recycled-polyester fiber, a petroleum-type wax and an unnamed flavor and color; rated 2.5.
- Core Med Science Vitamin D3 2,000 IU + K2 It claims fracture and mood benefits the research does not show, carries a Prop 65 warning and publishes no batch results; rated 2.9.
- Crafti Ceremonial Organic Matcha No lead figure for a matcha, an origin stated two different ways, and an organic listing for handling only; rated 2.8.
- Culligan with MaxClear Technology Venture 3-Gallon Gravity Countertop System An independent lab found dichloromethane above the EPA limit in its filtered water, and Culligan has not explained it.
- Davids Hydroxi Whitening + Enamel Health Nano Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste, Peppermint Independent labs found lead (about 0.4 ppm) and arsenic in Davids pastes, and a Prop 65 notice and a lawsuit concern this paste.
- Dirty Labs 100% New Zealand Wool Dryer Balls Untested, its wool certification has no certificate behind it, and the one independent test of wool dryer balls found no benefit; rated 2.9.
- Dirty Labs Bio Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear Consumer Reports rated it the least effective liquid detergent it tested in 2026; rated 2.8.
- Dr. Jen’s Fluoride-Free 10% Premium Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste, Cool Mint A Prop 65 lead notice names the line, two sibling pastes tested at 175 to 200 ppb lead, and its tube is smaller than it was priced as; rated 2.8.
- Durex Real Feel Polyisoprene Condoms No ingredient list, and Durex has not said which lots are the version the FDA cleared in 2025; rated 2.7.
- Enviromedica Pastured Organ Complex Its testing rests on the maker’s word, and a liver product gives no vitamin A figure; rated 2.8.
- Express Water StreamLine Direct Connect Under-Sink Filter (USC001) Its page claims PFAS and microplastic removal its certification does not cover, and its own data sheet does not match the claim.
- Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister, Stainless Steel, 0.7 L The lid over the food is an unnamed plastic, nothing is tested, and owners report lost seals; rated 2.1.
- FreshCap Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom Powder No lab report for any of its figures, and its organic certificate could not be found; rated 2.4.
- Gaggia Classic Pro E24 Espresso Machine A brass boiler, group and valves with no lead test, a plastic tank, and one owner’s lab result showing high lead; rated 2.9.
- Grill Rescue Pro The cleaning head is aramid, a synthetic fiber, and nothing is tested; rated 2.2.
- hawos Easy Grain Mill (110 V) Sold out everywhere, with no North American safety listing, and hawos’s own page says its mills have a plastic milling chamber.
- Hestan NanoBond Titanium Skillet, 11 inch Hestan will not say what its titanium surface is, its pages contradict each other on nickel, and its “FDA-authorized” claim has no record; rated 1.9.
- HiBAR Fragrance-Free Moisturize Shampoo Bar A blue pigment next to a “no dyes” claim, two synthetic conditioners, and a citrus aroma described for a fragrance-free bar; rated 2.7.
- HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket It markets detox and calorie burn with no study behind them, its EMF certificate expired, and its own VOC report names a Prop 65 chemical; rated 1.7.
- Hooga HG24 Red Light Therapy Lamp Its output is the maker’s own unverified figure, and it has no UL or ETL listing; rated 2.2.
- InsideTracker Ultimate Blood Test and membership The highest price per marker, no Lp(a) or kidney markers, and a privacy policy that lets anonymized data reach commercial partners; rated 2.9.
- Kicking Horse Decaf Whole Bean (Swiss Water Process) No roast date, no test of this decaf, and a “pesticide free” claim we could not support; rated 2.7.
- Kirkland Signature Fish Oil 1000 mg Consumer Reports’ 2026 blind test found signs of rancidity; rated 2.5.
- Lelit Bianca V3 Dual Boiler Espresso Machine A chrome-plated brass group and portafilter with no lead-free statement, and nothing else in the water path described; rated 2.5.
- Lelit Mara X Heat Exchanger Espresso Machine A chrome-plated brass group with no lead-free statement and a plastic water tank; rated 2.4.
- Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6 quart No test of the current enamel, cadmium in red and orange colors, and lead found on the interiors of older Lodge enamel pots; rated 2.8.
- Matchaful Hikari Single Origin Matcha Called USDA organic on one page and “pesticide-free” on another, but the USDA organic listing does not name it.
- Medify MA-40 Air Purifier Its own manual and lab report describe an ionizer, and its page lists a UV light; rated 2.8.
- Misen Carbon Nonstick Frying Pan with Glass Lid, 10 inch The nitrided surface is untested and its process undisclosed, despite a “completely safe” claim; rated 2.4.
- Misenware 6-Piece Mixed Set, stainless steel containers with glass lids Still a pre-order, with an unnamed lab behind its microwave claim and no metals test; rated 2.7.
- Momentous Essential Multivitamin The maker’s own lot reports show lead above the 0.5 µg daily Prop 65 level in two of 15 lots; rated 2.6.
- Multipure Aquasource Whole-House Chlorine Filter (AQSOURCE3) Certified for chlorine, taste and odor only, at $2,450 plus $465 a year; rated 2.5.
- Naked Whey (Grass-Fed Whey Protein Powder, Unflavored) Two Prop 65 lead notices name Naked whey products, and its NSF claim could not be confirmed.
- Natural Force Organic Clean Coffee Whole Bean (Medium Roast) Sold as “toxin free” and “mold free” in every batch while its own lab reports show glyphosate.
- Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega No published lot testing, two unnamed flavors, three labeling lawsuits and the highest price per gram; rated 2.2.
- Numi Organic Chinese Breakfast Black Tea (tea bags) No published tests, a 2017 lead settlement, and fluorine found in a Numi tea bag by an independent lab; rated 2.9.
- Papaya Reusable Paper Towels Unnamed print ink, untested antibacterial and compostable claims, and about $9 a sheet; rated 2.4.
- Pillar Performance Triple Magnesium Tablets No batch results, ten other ingredients in the tablet, and a cramp claim the research does not support; rated 2.3.
- PlatinumLED BIOMAX PRO ULTRA Its page claims nearly three times the output that its own lab report and an independent measurement show.
- Ratio Eight Series 2 Coffee Maker Aluminum and an internal plastic part in the brew path behind a “plastic-free” headline; rated 2.9.
- Real Mushrooms Real Mycelium (Lion’s Mane, standardized to erinacine A) One lot tested, no starch figure behind its “no grain” claim, and not organic; rated 2.8.
- Redmond Real Salt, Fine (26 oz pouch) Independent labs found lead at 252 and 290 ppb, above the 200 ppb ceiling Redmond itself states; rated 2.9.
- Rishi Simple Brew Loose Leaf Teapot An unexplained Prop 65 lead warning, no country of origin and no test; rated 2.3.
- Rocket Espresso Appartamento TCA Espresso Machine A brass group with no lead-free statement, and PTFE gaskets in the older model’s parts list; rated 2.4.
- Rocket Espresso Bicocca Dual Boiler Espresso Machine Its tubing, pump, valves and seals are undescribed and nothing is tested; rated 2.7.
- Rocket Espresso R58 TUNE Dual Boiler Espresso Machine No material stated for any part; retailers list brass, and the older model has PTFE gaskets; rated 2.2.
- Rocky Mountain Oils Lavender Essential Oil An independent lab found 2,181 ppb phthalates in it, and its page claims pain relief and calls it non-sensitizing.
- S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 750 mL glass Independent tests have found PFAS in it since 2020; rated 2.9.
- Saalt Leakproof Cotton Brief Not organic cotton, with a polyester gusset and a polyurethane lining; rated 2.9.
- SEEN Shampoo, Fragrance Free 19 ingredients, a hair-shedding claim from an unpublished trial, and paid promoters; rated 2.6.
- Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask (FW312) Every output figure is the maker’s own, with no outside measurement; rated 2.9.
- SKYN Original Non-Latex Condoms FDA filings show an unnamed fragrance oil in its lubricant, which its ingredient list leaves out.
- Solara Suncare Go! Mineral Defense SPORT Superfruit + Aloe Sunscreen Mist, SPF 30 A spray with 21 ingredients and no independent test, and Lead Safe Mama found lead in another Solara sunscreen; rated 2.8.
- Sprite Slim-Line 2 Universal Shower Filter (SL2) Its own Prop 65 label names phthalates in the housing, and an independent test found chlorine cut by only 42%.
- Surthrival Colostrum Powder No testing named anywhere, and the highest cost per gram of immunoglobulin; rated 2.5.
- Symbiotics Colostrum Plus Capsules Its testing is the maker’s word only, and six old Prop 65 notices name its maker; rated 2.4.
- Terra Mare Bio Extra Virgin Olive Oil Called organic with no certifier named, no harvest date and no published test; rated 2.5.
- Thorne Amino Complex (Berry) A California lead warning on its own page, and weak evidence for amino acid mixes; rated 2.2.
- Thorne Basic Nutrients 2/Day B vitamins at 9 to 40 times daily needs, niacinamide over the US upper limit, and no batch results; rated 2.9.
- Thorne Daily Electrolytes (30 stick packs) 12 ingredients including unnamed flavors and stevia, and a 2025 Prop 65 lead notice names this flavor; rated 2.8.
- Thorne Super EPA No freshness data or lot report, at twice the price per gram of independently tested oils; rated 2.9.
- Timeline Mitopure Softgels Its trials missed their main goals, and a 2026 review rates the evidence low; rated 2.6.
- Vintage Tradition Totally Unscented Tallow Balm Its FAQ says sunscreen promotes skin cancer and its pages claim it heals skin conditions, with no lab test behind it.
- YIBO Matcha Whisk Set (bamboo chasen, ceramic bowl and tools) No test, origin or maker address behind its lead-free glaze claim; rated 2.0.
- Colgate Cavity Protection Fluoride Toothpaste, Great Regular Flavor Contains fluoride. We list fluoride-free oral care only.
- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Sweetened with acesulfame potassium and flavored with artificial flavor; a 2025 Prop 65 lead notice named three of its flavors.
- Tom’s of Maine Whiten Plus Deep Clean Toothpaste with Fluoride, Spearmint Contains fluoride. We list fluoride-free oral care only.
- Tom’s of Maine Whole Care Anticavity Natural Mouthwash, Fresh Mint A fluoride rinse. We list fluoride-free oral care only.