An ingredient score tells you about what is printed on a label. It does not record what your own face does with the products you already own. The American Academy of Dermatology says trying too many products can stress your skin (AAD).
That is the gap Oleah works on: the shelf you already own, a morning face scan, and a check of your products for any that may not belong together. Oleah does not sell skincare.
What does Yuka do?
In Yuka's own words, it "deciphers product labels and analyzes the health impact of food products and cosmetics." (Yuka) That is a label question: what is in this product.
What can't an ingredient score tell you?
A label score is the same for everyone who scans that product. It cannot see how your skin responds, what else is in your routine, or whether two of your products do the same job.
That matters, because more products are not always better. The American Academy of Dermatology, in tips from dermatologist Julie Harper, MD, says: "Trying too many products can stress your skin, worsening acne." (AAD) A score for one bottle does not help you see the whole shelf.
| Question | Ingredient score app | Oleah |
|---|---|---|
| What is in this one product? | Yes, from the label | Not its main job |
| What is on my whole shelf? | You add the products on your shelf | |
| Might any of my products not belong together? | Oleah can flag products that may not belong together | |
| What does my skin look like over time? | A morning face scan, with a check-in on day 3 and reports on day 7 and day 14 |
How do you use Oleah alongside a label scanner?
- Use a label scanner if you want to look up a single product before you buy it.
- Add the products on your shelf to Oleah. That list is the products you already own, not a score for a bottle you have not used.
- Do a face scan each morning and look at the day 3 check-in, the day 7 report and the day 14 report.
- Change one product at a time, so you can see what changed.
If a product stings, burns or makes your skin red, wash it off and stop using it. If a doctor prescribed it, ask them first. If your skin stays sore, see a pharmacist or doctor. If it blisters or swells, see a doctor today. If your lips, tongue or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, call emergency services now. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
If you want to read a label yourself, see how to read skincare ingredients. For other skin apps, see Lovi, Thea and SkinSort compared.
FAQ
What can a skincare app tell you that an ingredient score cannot?
An ingredient score reads a label. It does not keep a list of your whole shelf, a morning face scan, or a check of your products for any that may not belong together.
Is Oleah a Yuka alternative?
Oleah does a different job. You add the products on your shelf or in your routine, and each morning you take a quick face scan. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together. There is a check-in on day 3, a report on day 7, and a report on day 14. It does not sell skincare.
How do you get the Oleah beta?
The free iPhone beta is open now. Tap Download beta at oleah.skin and install it through TestFlight. There is no waitlist.
Does Oleah tell you which product worked?
No. Oleah follows visible changes in your face scans over time and helps you make sense of them. It does not prove a product caused a result. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
Where Oleah fits
Oleah is an iPhone app for the skincare you already own. You add the products on your shelf or in your routine, and each morning you take a quick face scan. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together. There is a check-in on day 3, a report on day 7, and a report on day 14. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
Oleah's job is the shelf you already own, the morning face scan, and a check for products that may not belong together. It does not sell skincare.
Related reading: how to know if skincare is working
Download the free iPhone beta. Add the products on your shelf, then take a quick face scan in the morning.
Sources
Oleah tracks how your skin looks. It is not a medical device. See a doctor about skin conditions.
