Spotting the Fakes in Skin Care Products
Science and technology have come a long way in skin care products. Cosmetic and beauty research is an intriguing arena because so much folkloric knowledge is relevant. As a result, it can be difficult to determine just what works and what doesn’t work. The best skin care products use science, technology, testing and conventional wisdom to make effective products. However, many unscrupulous skin care creators will simply take advantage of one’s willingness to believe that a product should work because it has a good name or says that it is “natural” on the label. Usually, many “natural” skin care products are anything but. In fact, some of these skin care products can actually cause serious and chronic skin problems. Here are some things you need to look for that can create big problems when it comes to your skin care routine:
* Look for concentrations - Some products may contain very high concentrations of natural compounds that are not particularly good for you. For instance, high concentrations of bismuth are not at all good makeup. Bismuth is a mineral which is arguably natural. But, it must undergo lots of chemical processing to achieve a cosmetic form. This process can cause allergic reactions in many people.
* Always look out for artificial colors - Heavily dyed products often contain lots of artificial colors. In addition, they may need additional chemicals to preserve the color and the freshness of the skin care products. Many will group artificial colors and fragrances together. In reality, however, artificial fragrances are much less of an issue because they often are derived from natural extracts and then chemically processed. They come in such low concentrations that they are often not major allergens. (There are always exceptions to this.) But bright blues and yellows usually indicate serious levels of preservatives and chemical dyes.
* Inspect the size of your mineral makeup powder - If your mineral makeup boasts microscopic particles, back off. While mineral makeup is great for your skin, it is not always ideal inside it. Microscopic particles (nanoparticles) can be absorbed by your skin. Which may result in unpleasant allergic reactions. Additionally, mineral makeup is not tested for the effects of absorption into the skin. So as a result, there isn’t a whole bunch of information about the long term effects of this type of unintended absorption. Mineral makeup with conventionally sized particles cannot be absorbed in this fashion.
Skin care products come in many forms and fashions. Everyone has their own personal favorites. But don’t let this cloud your judgment about the quality of your skin care products. Make sure that your skin care product regimen is truly the best for you and always keep an eye out for the fakes.