Terms You Should Look Out For When Searching For Skin Products

It's essential to read the labels on the products to make sure your skin is suitable for them. For example, if you suffer from acne, some of the hydrating and oil-based lotions in a typical facial could cause your skin to break out. If you have ultra-sensitive and acne-prone skin like me, then this is even more crucial when it comes to trying out new products. As written in my first post, I would use products that cater to sensitive skin from NIKS Professional and then I would use Neo Medrol on those big pimples. Simple is usually the best when it comes to sensitive skin:)

Better choice for acne-prone skin:

• "oil-free"
• "non-comedogenic" - the ingredients have been tested and shown not to clog up pores.
• "clarifying"
• "purifying"

Terms you should be wary of:

• "dermatologically tested" - there is no standardization for this phrase and others like it, which could mean different things, and they are in no way a sign that the product does as it claims. "Dermatologist recommended" is another vague phrase, as it might only refer to one dermatologist! 

• There are no specific criteria a product must attain before it can be labelled "natural". Natural products may contain synthetic ingredients, and truly natural ingredients such as rosemary and lavender can cause reactions in some people too.

• "Occlusives" work by covering the skin with a thin film that prevents moisture from escaping, but they can cause acne and clog pores if used on the wrong skin. Varieties include "paraffin", "cetyl palmitate", "dimethicone" and "mineral oil".

• "Hypoallergenic" - It is patently untrue that products labelled "hypoallergenic" are better for sensitive skin. There are absolutely no accepted testing methods, ingredients restrictions, regulations or procedures of any kind to determine whether a product qualifies as being hypoallergenic. Given that there are no restrictions governing this supposed category that was made up by the cosmetics industry, there are plenty of products labelled "hypoallergenic" that contain problematic ingredients and that could indeed trigger allergic reactions, even for those with no previous history of skin sensitivity. 

• "Cosmeceutical" is a false advertising gimmick created by dermatologists to suggest their "cosmeceutical" products are somehow better than other products in the cosmetics industry. A quick comparison of ingredient lists reveals that there is nothing more unique about cosmeceuticals than any other cosmetics present. Plus, the FDA does not consider the term "cosmeceutical" to be a valid product class, so the term isn't regulated.

• "Noncomedogenic" is a meaningless word the cosmetics industry uses to indicate that a product is less likely to cause breakouts: the problem is no standards or regulations have been set up to describe this category.