Dos and Don’ts when Choosing a New Cosmetic Brand
Interestingly, most people are more mindful of what they put in their bodies but most people don’t pay attention to what they put on their bodies. This is where skincare comes in handy! Our skin being the largest organ in the body and the protector of other organs, it should be properly taken care of.
The cosmetics industry provides a wide array of skincare products to either treat a variety of skin problems or to enhance the appearance of the skin. While there are cosmetic brands that deliver the promise of protecting the skin, there are those with harmful chemicals that increase the risk of skin problems, including skin cancer. The fact that neither cosmetic products nor their ingredients are reviewed or approved by FDA before being made available to buyers make ignorant use of such products an act of cheating death. So, how do you choose a new cosmetic brand in the over saturated market? Read on.
Do’s when choosing a new cosmetic brand
1. Investigate unregulated claims
Such claims as natural, fragrance-free, dermatological tested, hypoallergenic, etc, are all too common in cosmetic brands. Many of these claims on washes, lotions and perfumes are just that – claims. Before being fooled into believing that a cosmetic brand is indeed what it claims to be, it is vital to investigate the claim, especially if it is an unregulated one.
The term organic is a regulated claim in its use, but only in several countries. Its application, however, often allows gaps and loopholes in a skincare product’s ingredients. This allows suspicious synthetic ingredients and chemicals in. So, it is crucial for you to investigate whatever claims made by a cosmetic brand to find out if it is regulated, investigated or substantiated by the regulatory authorities before buying.
2. Read labels and choose only those ingredients you recognize
Cosmetic companies have gone far and wide to amass ingredients they think are best for skin care. Some of those ingredients may be familiar to you, but there are those that you may not have a clue about. Before buying a new cosmetic brand, it would be great if you took a few minutes of your time to read the label(s) so that you can identify the ingredients used. Choosing brands with ingredients that you know nothing about could end up hurting you, but a few more minutes researching about the ingredients on Google won’t.
3. Take not of the preservatives used
On the same note, it is important to check the preservatives that a cosmetic brand purports to use on their products. While preservatives are essential in lengthening a product’s shelf-life, there is still a huge spectrum of both natural and synthetic preservatives that have been proven to be hazardous. Cosmetic brands that use preservatives such as benzyl alcohol (linked to contact allergy), phenoxyethanol (known to depress the central nervous system) and parabens (associated with tumors in the breast and skin) should be avoided.
Don’ts when choosing a new cosmetic brand
1. Going for brands that do not fully disclose their fragrance ingredients
Fragrance – one little word on the list of ingredients, but it can contain dozens of chemicals such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are associated with cancer, disorders of the central nervous system and birth defects. Fragrance manufacturers keep their formulas secret claiming that its confidential business information. Even those that purport to use natural ingredients in the fragrances may not have told the whole truth. Woe unto you if you go ahead and purchase brands that do not fully inform you of the fragrance ingredients they use.
2. Choosing brands that have petroleum-derived ingredients
Many commercial cosmetic brands contain petroleum derivatives, i.e. from crude oil. Examples are mineral oil (a.k.a paraffinum liquidum), petrolatum (a.k.a petroleum jelly), propylene glycol, etc. There are 3 main reasons why many people choose such brands – one, they cost way less, two, they are abundant, and three they are highly durable. Sounds like a deal that is too good, doesn’t it? Well, it’s far from good. Note that not all cheap brands are bad, but not all expensive brands are good either.
Customer reviews may help a great deal in helping you choose the most ideal cosmetics brand. However, you may have a hard time finding reviews for new cosmetic brands. Therefore, the best thing is to keep in mind the above dos and don’ts to avoid any nasty surprises in the near or distant future.
