Spotting Problem Skin Care Products


Science and technology have come a long way in skin care products. Cosmetic and beauty research is an interesting arena because so much folkloric knowledge is relevant. As a result, it can be very difficult to determine just what works and does not work. The best skin care products use science, technology, testing and conventional wisdom to develop products that work. However, many unscrupulous skin care creators simply take advantage of people’s willingness to believe that a product should work because it has a good name or says that it is “natural” on the label. In reality, 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 a few things to look for that can cause a big problem when it comes to your skin care routine:

* First check for concentrations - Some products contain extremely high concentrations of natural compounds that aren’t very good for you. For example, high concentrations of bismuth are not good in any type of skin care products. Bismuth being a mineral which is arguably natural. However, it must undergo a bunch of chemical processing to achieve a cosmetic form. This processing will cause allergic reactions in many people.

* Look out for artificial colors - Heavily dyed products most 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 people think artificial colors and fragrances are the same. In reality, however, artificial fragrances are much less of an issue because they often are derived from natural extracts and then chemically processed. They usually come in low concentrations and are not often major allergens. (There are, of course, exceptions to this.) Bright blues and yellows, however, usually indicate serious levels of preservatives and chemical dyes.

* What is the size of your mineral makeup powder - If your mineral makeup boasts that it has microscopic particles, back off. Mineral makeup may be great for your skin, but it is not necessarily ideal inside. Microscopic particles (nanoparticles) may be soaked up by your skin. This can result in unpleasant allergic reactions. Additionally, mineral makeup is not tested for the effects of absorption into the skin. As a result, there is not a lot of information about the long term effects of this type of unintended absorption. Mineral makeup with regular sized particles cannot be absorbed like this.

Skin care products come in many forms and fashions. Everyone has personal favorites. This should not cloud your judgment about the quality of your skin care products though. Always keep an eye out for the fakes and make sure that your skin care product regimen is truly the best for you.