The topic is simple and yet important because a wrong product that is unsuitable for your skin can cause undesirable results. Are you a user preferring products based on advertisements or the products fame? Then this article is for you.
Let it be your day care cream, night cream, sunscreen, tanning products, face mask or treatments or exfoliation or moisturizers, how well do you know your skincare product?
In this article, we shall discuss few important points that might help you get a right skincare product.
1. Know Your Requirement
Make a note of your skin concerns, analyze deeply and make a list of your possible skin issues, let it be acne, aging skin, blemishes, blackheads, dark spots, dark circles, eye puffiness and eye bags, skin dryness, fine lines & wrinkles, skin inflammation, excess oil, skin discoloration, dull skin, lose of flexible and compact skin, skin pores or chapped lips.
Product name along with the sub names / sub titles, tells you what the product is intended for. Make sure, whether the product satisfies what you are looking for. For example, if your skin concern is dryness, sun burns and aging appearance the below mentioned product suits you the best.
You can avoid using many products a day and restrict yourself only to a day care cream that includes moisturizer, sunscreen and nourishment to skin. Exactly speaking, “know your requirement and get your product apt for your skin type”. For example you don’t need a product with anti-aging or wrinkles, fine lines formula at younger age.
2. Product Suitable for Your Skin Type
The product manufacturers themselves make a note on the product, if it is unsuitable for any particular skin type. There is a great connection between your skin type and what you are using on your skin. The image below, shows the manufacturer/brand’s note on skin type and impression of the product after application.
You may be allergic to any of the ingredients used for its formulations. To have a better understanding, know your skin type and choose product accordingly. Check out your skin type.
3. Analyze the Ingredients Deeply
In general a skincare product is made of fragrances, emollient, preservatives, aqua, oil and main ingredients for achieving the product benefit (e.g. aloe as after sun, Citric Acid as cleanser, Shea Butter as moisturizer and many more). The image below, shows the list of ingredients used for a product formulation.
Here are few ingredients that are commonly used in formulating a skincare product.
Imagine an ingredient is of organic based or inorganic based, chemical or plant based it has a specific nature; you can study the nature of those ingredients to judge your product.
The only thing is the ingredients are subjected to various processes and testing to obtain an easy use skincare substance. But that doesn’t alter the ingredient’s nature to a larger extent. In simple words, “a quick study on ingredients used, helps know our product better”.
Water/Eau/aqua
Water is a natural cleanser but using only water for cleaning skin, has few limitations. Although using water on face brings a refreshment and freshness, it can neither dissolve and remove facial impurities nor remove excess oil. Almost all the skincare products include water as one of their ingredient.
Fragrance/Parfum
These ingredients are mostly used for pleasant smell of the product, and it can be of organic or chemical based. Some products doesn’t publicize the fragrance ingredient used and simply refer it as “Fragrance/Parfum”
Examples include Lavender (natural) and diethyl phthalate (inorganic).
Sodium Benzoate
A best preservative, that ensures the product’s effectiveness for long time. It can also be used as a fragrance ingredient. Sodium Benzoate is less harmful, but it has the tendency to react with Ascorbic Acid to form carcinogen, which is relatively harmful to skin and body.
Glyceryl Oleate
Glyceryl Oleate is an emulsion (enables the product substance to be evenly applied onto the skin) and also conditions skin.
Mineral Oil/Huile Minérale
Mineral oil is used in cosmetics to protect skin from sun, to avoid sun burn and discoloration. Usage of oils mostly blocks the tiny skin pores and causes irritation.
Disodium EDTA
Improves the absorption of other ingredients contained in the product through the skin.
Citric Acid
Citric acid has skin exfoliation properties and renews skin cells. It really helps skin to stay fresh, clear and healthy
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide is used for cleansing skin. It is a known alkaline substance used to maintain pH levels of the entire product.
Shea Butter
Heals skin, guards and provides moisturizes, has anti-inflammatory property and cures skin allergy.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Organic Aloe Juice/ aloe Vera)*
Best as after sun, has anti inflammatory property and cures acne.
Glycerin
Best emollient and ensures a healthy, hydrated and soft skin. Glycerin suits all skin types and protects skin from acne, infections and anti aging symptoms.
Theobroma Cacao Seed (Cocoa) Butter
Cocoa Butter contains healthy fat that guards skin and retains moisture for a long time. It also conditions skin and enhances skin flexibility. It can diminish skin scars, wrinkle marks and any other marks on skin.
Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado Butter)
Just as the Cocoa Butter,Avocado Butter hydrates and nourishes the skin.
Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil
Rosehip oil improves skin rejuvenation, skin elasticity and skin penetration capacity. Rich in fatty acids and Vitamin A it hydrates skin and nourishes skin
Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C)
Ascorbyl palmitate protects skin from sun and fights free radicals.
Ethyl Alcohol (Grain Alcohol)
Safe for all skin types and it is a gentle antimicrobial agent for skin.
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf (Rosemary)
It has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Also reduces fine wrinkles and acne. It stimulates collagen production and guards skin.
Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel)
Witch Hazel is a well known ingredient for acne cure. The ingredient itself is an astringent that can shrink the skin pores, heal black heads and soothe skin irritation.
Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid improves skin complexion by brightening, and scrubbing away the dead skin cells and paving way for the development of fresh skin. Glycolic Acid is an powerful ingredient by itself and it can treat blemishes, uneven skin tone and aging signs.
Green Tea Extract
It is a powerful antioxidant, has excellent anti-inflammatory property, and protects skin from UV Rays of sun
Benzoyl Peroxide
It is an anti bacterial and anti-inflammation ingredient. Hydrates skin and cures early aging signs and symptoms.
Unsafe Ingredients:
Here is the list of unsafe ingredients that are harmful to the skin. These cause irritation or disturbances or alter the state of the normal balanced skin, and for some skin types, these ingredients do not cause any impacts.
Parabens; Oxybenzone; Carbon black; Triclosan and triclocarban; Alcohol based; Phthalates; Ethanolamine compounds; Retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinoic acid and retinol; Petrolatum / Petroleum jelly; lead; Polyethylene; Benzophenone; Hydroquinone; Formaldehyde; Sodium lauryl sulphate/ sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS); 1,4-Dioxane; Fragrances; Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA)/Ethanolamine (ETA); Dyes: colors prefixed by “CI” and a five digit number; Mineral oil; P-Phenylenediamine; Aluminum salts.
4. Don’t Skip “How to Use” Instructions
The instruction on “how to use” is very much important and necessary, because it tells when to use the product and how frequently it can be used on skin a day and many more details. Following the instructions helps to obtain a maximum benefit from the product. The below image shows the usage instruction of a skincare product.
These instructions include the product suitable or unsuitable for any skin type and cautions if any. It may also include the suggestions, whether the product can be used with any other product or use of moisturizer or serums or any lotions before or after the use of a particular product.
5. Check the Products Validity Period
Checking the date of manufacture and expiry date of a product is the most essential part. Because we don’t normally use makeover products often and prolonged use without noticing the expiry date poses risk to our healthy glowing skin.
Problem arises while using make over products like lipstick, eye shadows even if we use it on regular basis, its reaches it expiry date and we don’t normally note or remember it.
It is insisted to buy a skincare product, considering the below mentioned points:
- Do you use it on regular basis or weekly or occasionally?
- Check for expiry date and be alarmed to finish it off within that period, or make a remainder of its expiration date
- Choose makeover products smaller in size, so that you use it only within the suggested period.
- Be sure not to use a product after the expiry date.
- Don’t choose a product without its manufacturing and expiry date; it is a must that a standard skincare product should have both.
May be this simple formula helps better:
Size –> usage calculation (daily / weekly / twice a week / thrice a week) –> expiry date
Conclusion:
This is the world where even natural fruits and vegetables are manufactured, conditioned and made ripen using chemical / harmful methods. We cannot blindly trust a skincare product, hence proper analysis and reviewing the products helps in choosing the right one.