Though often overlooked, your skincare routine is as good as your choice of skin care products. High-quality skin care products are safe and effective for the skin. They improve the appearance and texture and protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun and environmental pollutants. They also reduce risk of skin cancer and other health conditions.
Low-quality products cause more harm than good. They clog skin pores and cause breakouts. Unfortunately, choosing the right product can prove challenging, especially in the currently flooded skin care products market. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing a skincare product.
Table of Contents
1. Know Your Skin Type
Skin type is an important factor when choosing the best skincare product. If you’ve had a bad experience with a reputable skincare product before, chances are you picked the wrong product for your skin type. You should be more cautious if your skin is sensitive and acne-prone. Oily skins can handle numerous products and ingredients that can cause breakouts and irritation to sensitive skin types.
2. Check the Ingredient Content
The ingredient profile is also important when choosing a skincare product. Unfortunately, most people don’t have time to read through the endless ingredients listed in most products. Ensure that you purchase skin care products with the following ingredients:
- Glycerin
- Hyaluronic acid and ceramides
- L-ascorbic acid or vitamin C – A powerful antioxidant, stimulates collagen production and reverses UV damage
- Tocopherol, or vitamin E – Has similar effects to vitamin C
- Retinol – Stimulates collagen production and skin cell turnover
- Niacinamide or vitamin B3 – Controls oil production while hydrating the skin
As you read through the primary ingredient list, pay close attention to the order. As a rule, you should prioritize the first five ingredients, which account for about 80% of the product composition. Most manufacturers list ingredients in order, starting with those with the highest concentration to the lowest.
If an irritating ingredient is among the top listed, avoid that product. Similarly, you should avoid skin care products with parabens, sulfates, fragrances, and formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers.
3. Natural isn’t Always Better
While familiar words and ingredients in the product may be convincing, it doesn’t mean the product is better. For instance, poison ivy is a natural ingredient, but it shouldn’t be used on the skin carelessly. Some people develop allergic reactions, even to these natural essential oils.
You should also be cautious with products that use “natural” and “organic” in their ingredient list. Some malicious companies use these terms for marketing. Natural and organic products aren’t regulated and lack specific industry standards. Other companies label their products as natural but only refer to one or two ingredients.
Always Do a Patch Test
While you can find a quality product by adhering to the tips above, a patch test can help in product elimination. The test can help you determine if the product has ingredients that can irritate the skin, cause allergic reactions, or clog skin pores.
Endnote
Using quality skin care products improves your skin texture and appearance and prevents premature aging. While quality products are slightly pricey, they are certainly worth the price.
