3 Reasons To Research Your Skincare Products
The world of skincare is a big one. And chances are no matter what you’re looking for, there’s a product that meets your needs. However, there’s a lot more to skincare than a product’s purpose in your routine. This is where product research and being realistic come in.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to write a thesis on your favorite body lotion. But what you can do is familiarize yourself with common ingredients that are used and determine whether or not they’re something you feel comfortable using on your body. It’s also important that you’re well-versed in what you’re looking for.
Here are three reasons you might want to start making this a regular practice.
1. For Your Skin’s Health and Comfort
Any time you apply anything to your skin, you take the chance of experiencing irritations, allergic reactions or worsening of an existing condition.
Fortunately, knowing what to look for on the label before purchasing can help you a lot here. Keeping an eye out for terms such as hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested will help steer you in the right direction. This is especially important when you’re using a more intimate product, such as shave cream.
Keep in mind that packaging makes a difference as well. Look for products that come in tubes or other non-touch containers rather than jars. This tends to keep the product fresher, can extend shelf life and can also eliminate or lessen the possibility of contamination through touch. This is especially important when it comes to products applied to the face.
2. For Your Hormonal Balance
Did you know that your body wash or favorite makeup could be wreaking havoc on your endocrine system? It’s scary, but it’s true. Do you know what potentially dangerous ingredients might be lurking in yours?
Chances are you have heard about phthalates and parabens. These are just part of an ever-growing list of ingredients commonly found in skincare products that can have detrimental effects, particularly on your endocrine system. This is especially scary for women of childbearing age and young children.
Fortunately, the demand for products without these disruptors is growing each day and as long as you know what to look for, you can find them just about everywhere.
Committing to reading labels is a must, as is knowing what to look for in the first place. Familiarizing yourself with ingredients and product safety will be invaluable for cleaning up your routine. Now’s a good time to head to your bathroom and do a product lineup. What are your labels telling you?
3. For Your Sanity (and Wallet’s) Sake
How often have you spent more money than you’d like to admit on products that promised you the world but didn’t deliver? How often are you left feeling disappointed when all of those glowing five-star reviews must have been describing a completely different product?
It’s easy to get caught up in the pretty packaging and the promises of perfection and ease. Unfortunately, one product or even an entire system isn’t always going to be the answer to everything. The important part is to not let yourself become swayed into purchasing something just because it looks or sounds good.
Additionally, learning about your skin and how it functions will go a long way. For instance, if you have acne, visiting a dermatologist could help you determine what type you’re dealing with. This could mean the difference between treating your acne appropriately and not. This is important because treating skin conditions without a firm understanding of them first can lead to a complicated or unnecessary routine, additional irritations and excessive spending as well.
Being careful when choosing your skin care products isn’t just important, it should be an essential part of your overall routine. Whether you’re doing online research comparing the ingredients of different products, paying close attention to how your skin reacts to something new, or really getting to know your skin before committing to different products, whatever time and attention you can devote to it will be helpful in the long run.
