How many times have you purchased skincare because of these claims on the label?

• Dermatologist Recommended
• Clean Cosmetics
• Clinically Proven
• All-Natural

The skincare industry is booming with billions of customers all over the world and every day new products pop up on our horizon promising to change our skin.

There are miles and miles of pharmacy isles and cosmetic store shelves filled with beautifully packaged and carefully curated skincare products serving any possible skin conditions or concerns you can ever experience in your lifetime.

While variety is a spice of life it can also be extremely confusing trying to pick the one perfect products that will best serve your skincare needs.

But how do you know what to choose? Will that pretty little pink bottle with shiny gold lettering contains the magic potion of ingredients your skin needs?

First, let’s read the ingredients, right? And here comes the problem.

You see reading skincare ingredients it’s completely different from reading ingredients on a food label. Unless you are a cosmetic chemist or have special training on cosmetic ingredients what you see on the back of the label probably looks gibberish to you.

So the easiest way to make a purchasing decision is to rely on the front of the label. That’s where you see the name of the product, what it will do for your skin and any marketing claims to help you make a decision about it.

Ever since the skincare market became so overpopulated with products, companies had to sharpen their marketing skills and come up with terms that most likely resonate with their target audience.

While the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) has regulations for many areas of cosmetics such as ingredients and certain labeling regulations, generally skincare brands can use whatever marketing lingo they feel necessary to get their customer’s attention.

Many unregulated terms are often used to upsell products when, in reality, these words don’t really mean much or ultimately mislead consumers.

Here are some skincare marketing claims that don’t really mean much.

Clinically Proven

This sounds very official and one may believe there have been a series of clinical trials have been conducted in medical facilities but in reality this means that a company gave their product to some people to try it out, and those people reported that it worked about X, Y, Z percent and they saw an improvement in their skin X, Y, Z percent or whatever claims the company asked them to report on. These are not double-blind studies with official medical data to report on.

Clean Cosmetics

My first thought was ” who would want to put the dirty product on their skin”, right?

Well, the birth of this marketing term originated from a greater greenwashing tactic companies use to convince their customers that their product is more superior and more environmentally friendly than any other product out there. Companies involved in greenwashing behavior might make claims that their products are from recycled materials or have energy-saving benefits. Although some of the environmental claims might be partly true, companies engaged in greenwashing typically exaggerate their claims or the benefits in an attempt to mislead consumers.

Dermatologist Recommended

This claim can be very convincing to unsuspecting consumers because dermatologists are skin experts so if it was recommended by them it must be good. Well, this term simply means that there was one dermatologist who got paid to try out this product and endorse it for the company that is selling this product.

Did you know that traditional medical training for Dermatologists does not include any training related to skincare products, cosmetic chemistry, or skincare ingredients?
Meaning your Dermatologist will have no idea:
– How certain skincare ingredients affect the skin’s healing process
– What comedogenic ingredients are and why they should be avoided if you are acne-prone
– What makes a cosmetic formula safe for sensitive skin

While dermatologists are highly trained in diagnosing and treating skin diseases when it comes to topical skincare you may want to look for different skincare professionals.

If you are looking for a skin care specialist who has a greater understanding of skincare ingredients and can customize a skincare routine for your unique skin care needs look for a licensed esthetician in your area.

All-Natural

As people are becoming more and more health-conscious the term “Natural” has become widely popular in the field of skincare and cosmetics. It makes us feel safe and creates the impression of something that’s coming from nature. In reality, there is no official explanation of what is exactly considered to be “natural” but generally, a ‘natural’ product can be defined as something that is manufactured without synthetic chemicals, derived from plant or botanical sources, has minerals or some form of animal by-product used as a cosmetic ingredient. Since the term ” Natural” is not an official regulation many brands use this term on their product labels as a marketing tactic to target more environmentally conscious consumers.

Just because something is natural does not mean that it is safer to use. There are many botanical extracts and essential oils when used on the skin can cause severe allergic reactions and irritations. Also if something is 100% natural it generally does not have any synthetic preservatives in it which makes that product susceptible to bacteria and fungi overgrowth.

How to find skincare products that you can trust?

First of all, you must understand that certain terms and regulations that are accepted in the food industry to nourish our bodies with healthy organic foods, are not translatable to skincare.

If I want to eat an all-natural organic apple without any pesticides I can go to the local farmers market, purchase it and eat it. At the same time If I want to use something all-natural on my skin, I cannot just buy an apple, make into a paste rub it on my skin and call it an all-natural skincare product. Actually, you can but you probably won’t’ see a significant difference in your skin.

Your skin has an extremely resilient protective barrier that will prevent the absorption of certain substances. So no matter how much you are trying to rub that applesauce into your skin if the ingredients in it are not liposoluble and their molecular size is not small enough to penetrate through the stratum corneum ( the outer layer of the skin) you will not get any benefits it, regardless how natural it is.

There are many excellent, non-toxic, and completely safe cosmetic chemical formulations out there manufactured in highly regulated cosmetic labs that are absolutely safe to use on the skin and actually can contribute to significant changes in one’s skin health.

These concentrated formulations are generally sold by skincare professionals such as estheticians, dermatologists, medical spas, etc. These skincare professionals have a greater understanding of how the combination of these ingredients and skincare products work and can make an educated recommendation for a client’s skin condition.

If you are taking your skin health seriously and interested in using products on your skin that is tested and proven to be safe and effective reach out to a skincare professional who can guide you in the right direction.

Don’t rely on claims on the product label, work with a licensed esthetician or skincare professional who understands your skin’s needs and is able to customize high-quality skincare products for your skin condition that actually deliver results.

Are you ready to find products that actually deliver results and are a perfect match for your skin type?

Let’s book an appointment for a consultation and talk to a skincare expert.

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Do you struggle with acne, rosacea or other inflammatory skin conditions? Here at Envision Acne & Skin Care Center, we take a holistic approach to help you achieve your skincare goals.

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