Frequently Asked Questions

What does Avessia do?

Avessia helps consumers understand cosmetic and personal care products by scanning the ingredient list on the label and presenting an easier-to-understand product and ingredient view.

Why does Avessia use the label instead of relying only on a barcode database?

Avessia is designed around the ingredient list printed on the product because formulations can change and third-party product records may not always reflect the exact label currently on the packaging.

Do I need to sign in to use Avessia?

Yes. Avessia uses account-based access so your scans, settings, and saved products can be managed consistently across the service.

Is Avessia free to use?

Avessia offers a free account option, with premium access available for expanded use and additional utility.

How does Avessia assess ingredients?

Avessia compares scanned ingredients with its reviewed ingredient dataset and applies your selected concern settings where relevant.

What do the product labels mean?

Avessia uses simple product-level language to support consumer choice: Better Choice, Discretion Advised, Avoid Product.

Does Avessia give medical advice?

No. Avessia is an informational consumer tool. It is not a medical, diagnostic, or regulatory service.

Does Avessia tell me what to buy?

Avessia is designed to help you interpret labels more clearly. It does not provide personalised medical advice or certify products.

Why might results change over time?

Results may change if product labels change, if ingredient data is updated, or if your selected concern settings change.

Why won't Avessia scan my product?

Avessia scans ingredient labels, not front-of-pack branding. Make sure you are pointing your camera at the panel with the ingredient list, ideally showing a heading such as INGREDIENTS or CONTAINS.

Why is my scan blurry?

Blurry scans usually happen when the phone moves or the text is too close to the camera. Hold your phone steady and give the label a little more space in the frame.

Why does moving farther back help?

It sounds counterintuitive, but stepping back often improves the scan. This is especially true for curved bottles and tubes, where a little extra distance helps the label appear flatter and easier to read.

Can Avessia scan curved labels?

Yes. Avessia's OCR can read curved labels well, provided the text is visible and reasonably clear in the image.

What lighting works best?

Bright, even lighting is best. Natural daylight or a well-lit room usually gives the clearest result.

What should I do about glare?

If the label looks shiny or washed out, change your angle slightly or move the product until the reflection disappears.

Does the label need to be clean?

Yes. Smudges, dust, water, or product residue can make the text harder to detect accurately.

Do I need to capture the whole ingredients panel?

Yes. Avessia works best when the full ingredients section is visible, including the heading and all listed ingredients.

Why doesn't scanning the front of the product work?

Because Avessia is looking for the ingredient list. The front label usually does not contain the information needed for analysis.

What if the print is very small?

Use good lighting, hold the phone steady, and avoid getting too close. A slightly wider, clearer shot is often better than a tight close-up.

What is the quickest way to improve a failed scan?

Try this:

• clean the label
• use even lighting
• reduce glare
• hold the phone still
• move slightly farther back
• make sure INGREDIENTS or CONTAINS is visible
• capture the full ingredients panel

What is "My Shelf"?

Your "Shelf" is your saved list of products you have scanned so you can revisit them later.

Are saved results fixed forever?

No. Avessia's saved product views may reflect updated ingredient data and current assessment logic over time.

What information does Avessia collect?

Avessia collects the information needed to operate the service, such as account and usage data. For more detail, please see the Privacy Policy.

How do I delete my account?

The method for deleting your account and associated data can be found here.

How can I contact support?

Please visit the Contact page and send us a message. We will do our best to help.

Where can I read the legal terms?

You can read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on this website.