When reading the label of a beauty product, you may feel like you need a translator to figure out the laundry list of ingredients. This beginner-friendly guide can help you think like a dermatologist when considering new additions to your skin care routine.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The global cosmetics market was valued at about $500 billion in 2017Trusted Source and is expected to grow to $800 billion by 2023.
Data also shows that the average American spends an average of 23-25$ per makeup or moisturizing skin care product.
With consumers investing this much in skin care, it’s important to get the most out of your dollar. To get that return on investment, you’ll need to decipher the ingredients on the label.
You’ll also want to consider:
- how they’re used
- the amount of certain ingredients in the product
- what elements don’t mix well
Otherwise, products may be ineffective or cause adverse reactions.
Read on and get the scoop on what beauty buzzwords live up to the hype, which you can skip below.
The buzz vs. the facts
Mary Sommerlad, MD, is a London-based consultant dermatologist for Vichy. She describes skin care on social media as a double-edged sword.
“On the one hand, it’s fantastic to receive free information that’s easily accessible to a wide-ranging audience,” says Sommerlad. “However, the information gleaned is only as reliable and accurate as the person making the content.”
Sommerlad recommends getting skin care advice from verified dermatologists or brands that work closely with skin care professionals.
She also advocates for treating your skin with compassion and respect.
For Sommerlad, being compassionate toward your skin means understanding “that skin is a reactive organ that reflects our general health and well-being … and that being patient is more effective long term rather than having expectations that skin concerns can resolve within a week or 2.”
Respecting the skin means avoiding habits that can damage the skin and lead to long-term problems, like sunbathing or harsh products and procedures.
“I’d like to see people treat their skin like any other organ,” says Sommerlad. “If something isn’t right … see a medically trained doctor to get a diagnosis.”
Morgana Colombo, MD, a board certified dermatologist and co-founder of Skintap, says it’s important to know which ingredients really matter.
Social media “creates the idea that people need so much to achieve results, and a lot of time less is more,” she says.
“Many people feel compelled to use every ingredient shown to be helpful for the skin, but that’s not necessary,” says Elaine Kung, MD, a clinical assistant professor at Weill-Cornell Medical College and dermatologist with Future Bright Skin. “In fact, one or several ingredients have the ability to help many skin concerns.”
Plus, your skin is unique.
“What you need should be targeted toward your skin,” Colombo says. All the hype “is dangerous because [it] makes younger people overdo things that aren’t beneficial or necessary for them.”