Hi my beautiful readers! This is your bestie and your favorite beauty writer Carly J. Quaye over here. I’m here to share with you some common terms we usually find on skincare product labels we use everyday. Getting to know these terms can help you determine whether the product is safe, and can work best for you or not. Hoping you enjoy this post as much as I do! 

If you like reading skincare products labels, then I’m your big sister! Knowledge is power. Reading labels on beauty or skincare products help in broadening your knowledge about the ingredients used in the products, how to correctly use the products, or everything you need to know about what you’re going to use on your skin.

Get familiar with these clear definition for most of the common terms found on your skincare labels and see how you can personally benefit from them.

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FRAGRANCE-FREE

Meaning of “fragrance-free”.
 
You might be confused if you notice a smell despite a product being labeled as fragrance-free.
The term actually mean (either no synthetic or natural) perfume have been added with the specific purpose of giving a product a nice scented smell or aroma. Not that it contains no smell at all.
skincare terms

NON-COMEDOGENIC

“Comedogenic” means- “Substances that  cause comedone or block pores. Comedogenic products cause breakouts on the skin.

A non-comedogenic substance is one that does not have the potential to block or clog pores in the skin. You can also put it this way: Noncomedogenic products likely helps us avoid skin pore blockages and other unwelcome signs of acne that may result. As simple as that. Take notes: This might not be true all the time with certain products.

DERMATOLOGICALLY TESTED

Dermatologically tested mean dermatologists have examined or evaluated the products and consider the products to be safe for the skin. Not only that, but products are well tolerated by the users who have applied it on their skin and in most cases did not cause any bad reactions.

skincare terms

CRUELTY-FREE

If you see a product that has a label with “cruelty-free”, it means the final products and its ingredients have not been tested on animals. 

However, note that cruelty-free doesn’t mean the products have no animal derived ingredients. Products labeled as vegan include all plant-derived ingredients and no trace of animal ingredients.

HYPOALLERGENIC

Hypoallergenic means that the product is unlikely to cause any allergic reaction or the product contains few allergy-producing substances known as allergens. 

However, as per FDA, there has been no assurance to consumers that this actually was the case.  

Do more research on what ingredients work best for you and wouldn’t cause any allergy.

While the FDA may not regulate skin care terminology, there are a number of organizations who’ve taken it upon themselves to step in. Such companies create a set of standards that a brand must adhere to in order to receive a certified stamp. For example, the Leaping Bunny stamp ensures a product is cruelty free and the NATRUE certification indicates a product is natural and organic.

Carly Quaye

“BROAD SPECTRUM” IN SUNSCREENS

A sunscreen labelled as broad spectrum protects you from both types of UV light: UVA & UVB.

UVA rays are the ones that prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots. UVB rays cause sunburn.

Over-exposure to both can lead to skin damage or skin cancer.

“PH BALANCED”

Our skin’s natural pH is around 5.5. In terms of skincare, pH balanced implies that the manufacturer has formulated their products to a target pH level. 

The chosen pH value typically meets criteria that is not extremely acidic or basic, it’s close to the skin normal pH and it gives the product great performance.

Do let me know in the comment session if I have missed something! 

XoXo, Carly