Reading and comprehending the ingredients on a skin-care product label may seem like a simple task, but unless you have in-depth knowledge about dermatology, it can actually be very challenging. Few skin-care products are completely natural, so most have complicated chemical ingredient names, and it can even be difficult to grasp the functions of simpler ingredients. Learning more about dermatology, skin types, product functions and how to decode ingredients will help you understand what you should put on your skin and why.
Step 1
Educate yourself about product claims and functions to learn more about the ingredients behind them. Different skin-care products serve different functions, including unclogging pores, tightening skin, smoothing skin, moisturizing and clearing up redness or pimples. Study the purpose of a product to understand more about why it includes or leaves out certain ingredients.
Step 2
Look at ingredient categories to understand functions that each substance serves. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common skin-care ingredients fall into two categories: humectants and emollients. Humectants work to absorb water and retain the skin's moisture, and they include alpha hydroxy acids, urea and glycerin. Emollients can be oil-based or water-based and help to smooth rough, dry skin. They include lanolin, petrolatum and mineral oils.
Step 3
Beta-hydroxy acids are another category of skin-care ingredients that sometimes work similarly to alpha-hydroxy acids but tend to be less irritating to skin. Salicylic acid is the most common beta-hydroxy acid used in skin care. It works as an exfoliant, can help to even out skin color and eliminate redness and can clear up acne-prone skin.
Step 4
Fragrances are natural or artificial substances that mask the smells of some ingredients and give a skin-care product an appealing scent. Monitor your skin closely after applying products with fragrances, and pay attention to how your skin reacts to the products. Allergies or irritation from skin-care ingredients are most commonly a result of exposure to fragrances.
Step 5
Preservatives keep skin-care products fresh and prevent bacteria, mold and other harmful substances from developing or growing in the products after they are opened. Chemical changes can take place over time in some skin-care products if they are not used promptly and stored properly, and preservatives also help to diminish the risk of that happening. Skin irritation or allergies also can erupt as a result of preservative ingredients, though that is less likely to happen with natural products.
Tips and Warnings
- Consult a dermatologist to ask questions about ingredients you don't understand. Take notice of the way different products and ingredients seem to affect your skin.
- If you notice itchiness, redness or pain after using a skin-care product, take note of its primary ingredients and discontinue use of that product.
Member Comments