With so many skincare brands and products all over the place, it’s easy to make wrong choices. And the result of bad decisions in skincare can be pretty unpleasant: rashes, skin irritation, acne, chemical burns, you name it. This isn’t something anyone wants to endure.
The wrong beauty product may not lead to any harm but simply may not be suitable for your skin tone. You don’t want that as well. Therefore, there is every reason to be cautious and conscious about every beauty purchase you make, whether it’s for hair or skin.
Sadly, we are in an age where beauty influencers make us jump on the bandwagon of any latest product because they look so lovely. That doesn’t always turn out to be the best way to choose because these things aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. What works for Rihanna may not work for you. Fact!
Ok, it isn’t easy to keep track of those ingredients to know what chemical compositions to look out for in skincare products. However, there are even simpler ways to choose the right skincare products.
Below are tips for choosing the right skincare products any time, any day.
1. Know your skin type
Probably the first tip to choosing the right skin care product is knowing your skin type. This goes for any beauty product you’re buying. There are different hair types, just as there are skin variations. While some hair porosity varies, so are some skin types more sensitive.
Typically, your friend may comfortably use a particular lotion that ends up causing you skin irritation. So you want to be careful about using whatever someone recommends or uses.
Also, note that because a product irritates your skin doesn’t necessarily mean it is terrible. It just may not be for you. Someone with oily skin will need something different from a person with dry skin.
Below are some tips for determining what skin care product to go for according to your skin type.
Oily skin: If you have oily skin, find products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid), hyaluronic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. Your skin gets oily when there is excessive sebum production. These ingredients serve to control sebum production, and hyaluronic typically hydrates only dryer parts in need of moisture.
Dry skin: Lotions containing lactic acid and shea butter are best for dry skin. They work to keep the skin hydrated and even induce exfoliation, helping you look more radiant.
Sensitive skin: Shea butter, Aloe vera, and oatmeal are great for sensitive skin. They are natural moisturizers, and they don’t make you feel uncomfortable.
Understandably, you may not yet know your skin type. Very few people do. By chance, some people choose what works for them even when they don’t know what they’re buying and what they’re buying it for.
To be sure, it’s worth visiting a dermatologist near you.
2. Opt for clean beauty
The need to be eco-conscious as a means to saving Mother Earth has infiltrated deeply into the beauty industry. But it’s not all about saving the planet; it’s also about using safer products.
Your skin is the largest organ but one of the most delicate parts of your body. Sadly, many beauty products contain synthetic ingredients that cause one harm or another when used for long.
To address that problem, the clean beauty movement encourages consumers to be mindful of what they are putting on their skin and body, to identify safe, healthy products and reject those that are toxic and carcinogenic. The clean beauty movement promotes the use of products made entirely of clean, natural ingredients that are not only effective but also give you peace of mind. Blended carrot extracts, avocado, banana, honey are some natural ingredients that are highly beneficial to skin and hair.
Shops that have delved into the beauty movement are most often the sort of places you want to get your beauty products from as they serve to promote good health while looking ravishing.
3. Don’t always follow the trend
We easily fall prey to social media ads, but not without reason. Imagine a product well-packaged and bearing the face of a famous social media influencer; you’re bound to get interested. This is not to say that you’d be wrong to desire such products, but you only need to be cautious about your purchase.
Don’t buy because everyone else is moving in that direction or because it’s the latest in town. Use it only if it meets your skin’s requirements and contains the right ingredients.
4. Watch out for certain ingredients
Generally, experts would recommend going for beauty products that contain fewer ingredients. This will help ensure you know and understand each of them.
Below are some great ingredients to have in skincare products:
Glycerin
Vitamin B3
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
The following are ingredients to steer clear off
Parfum/Fragrance
Sulphates
Formaldehyde and their releasers
Parabens
5. Do not be afraid of long list ingredients
Although beauty experts will often recommend products with fewer ingredients, that doesn’t particularly mean that those with longer lists are harmful.
When looking for anti-aging products, you’d most likely see them with long lists. It’s simply because many things are required to work in harmony to achieve that effect.
If you find products like that, but you’re unsure of the ingredients (those long compounds can be daunting, to be honest), don’t hesitate to search them on Google or ask your beautician whether they’re good for you.
6. Do a patch test
A patch test is simply the act of testing the product on a small hidden area of your skin, such as the inside of your forearm. In that case, you won’t be left with an irritated face if the product turns out to be bad for your skin. Only that little area would get burnt, and hardly anyone would notice it.
Don’t forget to do this when using a new product for the first time. It will save you a whole lot of grief.
