Between those long, hard-to-pronounce words and the wide variety of ingredients out there, it’s no wonder why so many of us struggle to choose skin care products that are suitable for our complexion. Wouldn’t it be great if reading your skin care product label wasn’t so hard?
It is worth the time to read a product label and understand it if you want to maintain a clean and healthy complexion. Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so you don’t want to abuse it.
Knowing what ingredients make up your skin care program will ensure you’re using products that support your skin type and target any concerns you may be experiencing.
Keep reading to learn how to properly read your skin care product label!
Search for the listed ‘active’ ingredients
An active ingredient is one that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to perform a certain function or treat a particular condition. In the skin care world, this means ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, retinol, and vitamin C.
All of these tried-and-true actives work to treat specific skin care concerns and conditions and improve your overall complexion.
Hyaluronic acid has many benefits as it helps to nourish and hydrate your skin and improve its elasticity. It is an essential ingredient for dry skin because it combats fine lines and wrinkles.
The order of listed ingredients matters
To better understand what is in a skincare product it’s important to note the order in which its ingredients are listed on the label. All the ingredients are listed in the order of how much it contains, meaning the ingredient with the highest level of concentration starts first.
The first five ingredients listed on the label make up the bulk of what is in the product. They commonly include water, glycerin, and other active ingredients used to treat the targeted skin care concern.
Remember, that the ingredients that benefit others will not always benefit you and vice versa. Evaluate your skin type before determining which ingredients are most compatible for you.
If an ingredient makes up less than one percent of the formula, it may be listed in any order preferred by the manufacturer. Pay close attention to the number of ingredients on the label and where they’re listed on the product label.
The PAO Symbol indicates the skin care product expiration timeframe
The cosmetic industry is unique compared to food and other businesses in that they use a Period After Opening (PAO) symbol rather than an expiration date label. The PAO symbol is designed to help consumers determine when their beauty products have reached their shelf life.
It tells you how long a product will remain viable after it’s been opened. Use this number to estimate the longevity of any product you currently have and any products you get in the future.
Usually, the PAO symbol will be listed with a specific number followed by the letter M, which stands for months. The symbol is usually found near the barcode on the back of the product’s packaging.
After it reaches the number of months indicated on the packaging, a consumer will begin to notice differences in the product’s texture, color, and smell. Be on the lookout for this when you purchase and use new products.
How to tell if your skin care products are Leaping Bunny Certified?
Leaping Bunny Certified skin care products are certified to be cruelty-free as they do not test on animals during the creation and testing process.
Some brands will have a few products on the market that are Leaping Bunny Certified, but not all of them. Brands take pride in being completely cruelty-free with all of their merchandise.
How do you spot a leaping bunny-certified product? You can check out their full list of products and brands that have received the certification and you can also look for the small bunny found on the packaging or labeling of the product.
Do you look at the product label when you purchase a beauty product? Please leave a comment below.
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