How To Read A Skin Care Label Without Getting Lost
What the small print on a jar or a bottle actually tells a shopper, and what some popular words leave undefined.
The front of a package is written to catch the eye. The back is where the useful details are. A few minutes with the small print makes comparing two products much easier.
The ingredient list has an order
In the United States, cosmetic ingredients are listed in descending order of amount, and ingredients under one percent may appear in any order at the end. Water is often first simply because many formulas are mostly water.
Some popular words have no legal definition
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that there is no federal standard for the word "hypoallergenic" on cosmetics. Words such as "natural" and "clean" are also used differently from one brand to another, so the ingredient list says more than the slogan.
Fragrance-free and unscented are not the same
"Fragrance-free" usually means no fragrance was added to scent the product. "Unscented" may mean an ingredient was added to mask a smell. Shoppers who prefer one or the other can check the list for the word "fragrance" or "parfum".
The small jar symbol
A drawing of an open jar with a number, such as 12M, is the period-after-opening symbol. It shows how many months a product is meant to be used once opened. Writing the opening date on the bottom with a marker is a simple way to keep track.
A short shopping checklist
- Read the back of the package before the front.
- Look at the first five ingredients.
- Check the period-after-opening symbol.
- When trying something new, follow the package directions and test a small area first.
This article is general information for everyday reading. It is not medical advice. For any question about your skin, talk to a dermatologist or another qualified professional.