Hey there, fellow skincare enthusiast! As far as skincare is concerned, decoding skincare labels can often seem like you need a PhD in chemistry just to understand what’s in your skincare product. Product labels tell what a product is, i.e., SPF, cleanser, serum and who it is formulated for i.e., dry skin, acne-prone skin. It can also give you more insight into how the formula came to be. And if it is organic, cruelty-free, eco-friendly, or vegan.
From deciphering ingredient lists to spotting sneaky marketing tricks, I’m pulling back the curtain on the skincare industry and giving you the inside scoop on what really matters when it comes to choosing the right products for your skin. So, get ready to become a label-reading pro and take control of your skincare routine like never before.
Why Bother Decoding Skincare Labels?
Think of skincare product labels like nutrition labels on food. You want to know what you’re putting in your body, and the same goes for your skin. These labels can tell you if a product’s the real deal or if it belongs in the trash with yesterday’s leftovers. Decoding skincare labels is crucial for nurturing healthy, glowing skin. As much as you would love to completely trust brands and influencers, you really need to get comfortable with these labels in small print, so you can decide for yourself whether or not a product is right for you.
Ingredient List
Your product ingredient list holds the secrets to its sauce. In skincare, the order of ingredients listed on the product label matters big time. Ingredients listed are in order of concentration, from the most concentrated to the least concentrated. So, if you are eyeing a moisturiser that boasts hyaluronic acid as a key ingredient, but you find it at the bottom of the ingredient list, its effectiveness is likely negligible. Pay close attention to the top 5 to 10 ingredients. You want those good ingredients at the top, where they can work their magic.
Common Irritants to Avoid
Fragrances
Fragrances make skincare products more appealing. But they are often common skin irritants. They can cause a range of skin problems, from simple irritation to more serious allergic reaction, especially for those with sensitive skin.
Certain Alcohols
Not all alcohols are harmful. Some like isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, and alcohol denat., can be drying and irritating, especially, for those with sensitive and/or dry skin.
Sulfates
Sulfates including sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are used in skincare for their foaming properties. However, they strip the skin of its natural oils leading to dryness, redness, and irritation, especially in dry skin.
Skin-Loving Superstars that Promote Healthy Skin
- Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs): these gentle exfoliants refine texture and brighten your skin.
- Antioxidants: Vitamin C, E, and green tea extract, etc., protect the skin from free radicals and environmental damage.
- Retinol: Vitamin A, helps with cell turnover, reduces fine lines and wrinkles and acne breakouts.
- Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs): salicylic acid a popular BHA. It penetrates deep into skin pores. And is a powerhouse for unclogging pores and clearing out dead skin cells and reducing excess oil.
- Sunscreen: these provide essential protection against UV rays and photo damage to the structural protein in the skin.
Decoding Skincare Labels
Certain labels on skincare can be confusing and shadier than a politician. For instance, terms like natural and organic are often thrown around, but what do they even mean. By learning to understand these important elements on your skincare product label, you can make informed choices about what you are putting on your skin.
Natural
This loosely regulated term means little. Products can be dubbed “natural” even when they are made-up of up to 50% synthetic ingredients. Also, bear in mind that natural doesn’t always mean better.
Organic
If over 95% of the ingredients come from organic farming, the product can be labelled organic. Look out for organic certification symbols like USDA organic or Ecocert to ensure the credibility of these claims.
Clean
Used to describe products that don’t contain irritating ingredients, whether they are natural or synthetic. Clean formulas are often gentle and prioritise ethically sourced components and made with the health of our bodies and the environment in mind.
Cruelty-free
The product has not been tested on animals at any stage of its production.
Hypoallergenic
It suggests that the product is less likely to cause allergic reactions. However, it’s essential to understand that it does not guarantee the product will not cause allergic reactions at all.
Non-comedogenic
The product does not contain ingredients that are known to clog pores, which indicates the chances of triggering acne. Common comedogenic ingredients include, mineral oil, beeswax, dimethicone, cocoa butter, coconut oil, stearic acid, palm oil, olive oil. Particularly beneficial for acne-prone skin.
Fragrance-free
Products that do not include any fragrance (natural or synthetic), or chemicals used to mask scent are fragrance-free. Ideal for sensitive skin.
Unscented
Unlike fragrance-free products, unscented products contain chemicals used to mask scent. Just because a product is unscented doesn’t mean it is fragrance-free.
Broad-spectrum
A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can prematurely age skin causing wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, while UVB rays burn your skin.
Vegan
A product that does not contain animal products or by-products and is cruelty-free. A cruelty-free product is not necessarily vegan.
Decoding Symbols on Your Skincare Labels
Ever wonder what those little icons on your skincare bottles mean? Being able to decipher those tiny vague symbols is not something that just happens when you grow up. Knowing what these symbols mean is just as important as understanding similar packaging information on food packages in the grocery aisle. These are universally recognisable symbols used for package labelling that provide more specific product content and safety information. Symbols indicating a product’s expiry date or whether a company adheres to strict animal cruelty-free standards appear on every skincare and beauty product you use.
Recycle Symbol (Mobius Loop)
The recycling arrows triangle also known as the Mobius Loop indicates that product packaging is recyclable. If the recycle symbol is inside a solid circle, the packaging was made from recycled material. If the recycle symbol is inside a circle and has a number percentage inside the symbol or next to it, then the packaging has been made from that percentage of recycled material and can be recycled.
Green dot
This means that the company uses a recovery and recycling organisation to oversee the management of packaging waste in an eco-friendly manner. This alone is not a guarantee that packaging is recyclable or has been made from recycled materials.
Leaping Bunny
Used internationally to symbolise cruelty-free product.
E Mark
Called the “estimated sign”. Found on products produced in the EU. It guarantees the correct volume of product. For instance, 8.8 Fl oz is guaranteed to be eight point eight fluid ounces. And the packaging prevents any altering in the amount of the content without opening or damaging it. Basically, you get what you paid for (volume-wise).
Best Before End of Date
Indicates the product will expire within 30 months from the date of production whether it is opened or not.
PAO – Period After Opening
It shows you how many months your product will remain good to use once you’ve opened it. 6 months, 12 months or 24 months are common.
UVA (in a circle)
Confirms that the product has met EU standards of UVA protection against skin cancer. If you see the UVA stamp without the circle, it means the product offers some UVA protection but has not met the recommended standard of protection.
Refer to Insert
Shows there is a leaflet with additional information inside the packaging that may contain warnings, ingredients, and proper application techniques.
Ecocert
Ecocert is an organic certification organisation based in Europe. A product with an Ecocert logo, has been inspected by the organisation and has been determined to be organic.
USDA Organic
It verifies that a farm or handling facility complies with USDA Organic regulations. It certifies at least 95% organic ingredients.
PETA Bunny
The PETA bunny on a product means the company People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) certified the product to be vegan and cruelty-free.
Certified Vegan
Certifies product is cruelty-free and contains no animal products or by-products.
The Final Word on Decoding Skincare Labels
There you have it, folks! You can now confidently pick up any skincare product without feeling like you’re looking at a foreign language. Whether you insist on buying vegan products or are passionate about organic ingredients, you deserve to be able to determine which product is right for you. So, I’ve decoded all of the skincare labels and symbols that are often stamped on your product packaging. So, you can make a more informed purchase. Now go forth and get your glow on.
