Skincare products are in everyone’s home and there are so many promising products for everything that can appear on or under your skin. It gets very interesting when choosing products based on what products promote, skin typing, over-hyped products, the ingredients used, and what you think your skin needs. Every bottle we see, seems like it is reassuring in making all the blemishes, redness and dry/oiliness fade away, and that we have to have it. That indeed, is not always the case, bottles are designed to be loud and attractive to capture our attention, here are 3 secrets skincare brands don’t want you to know and how to avoid falling for something you don’t need.
1. Angel Dusting
Angel dusting or fairy dusting is a deceiving practice cosmetic brands use to mislead the consumer into purchasing their products. It is the action of using limited amounts of an active or powerful ingredient in a overpowering patch, just so they can list it on the ingredients list, but it does nothing to your skin. That is overall bad because most likely they are using that ingredient to promote and sell their products, but if it has very small traces of the active ingredient then it is a lie, it will not change or benefit your results.
How to tell if angel dusting was used in your everyday products. It is very simple, look at the ingredient they are promoting on the front of the bottle (Vitamins, Acids, Plant Power Infusion, Retinoids, ect.) then look at the ingredient list on the back, pay attention to where that ingredient is located on the list. If near the top (first 5 to be exact) then that product was not angel dusted, If it is near the bottom, (last few) then angel dusting was used and there is very small amounts of it in that bottle (less then 2%). If that product is working for you, chances are your skin is loving something else, if it’s not working for you, don’t go hating that ingredient for lack there of.
2. Dermatologist Recommended
Dermatologist recommended, #1 Dermatologist recommended, Dermatologist tested, Dermatologist approved, and all other Dermatologist claims are all misleading the costumer into trusting that product a bit more and buying without hesitation. But, what does it all really mean, “NOTHING” it is an empty promise, a way brands gain trust for returning costumers.
Usually, all it takes for these claims to make it on the label is an approval of one dermatologist that most of the time, is part of the brands team. There are a few ways the doctor will test the product, one is scan over the ingredients and be okay with what is being used, and at that moment the product is dermatologist recommended. Another is they can do a patch test either on one person, ten people or more and we will never see the results. More ways are done for the company to use this label, as long as a dermatologist is involved in the process, then the claims are “technically” true.
This is different from brands or products your dermatologist recommends for you, seeing a doctor when needed is perfectly fine.
3. Bottle Claims
When you try new products, you tend to get very intrigued by the claims the label promises to do and most of the time when used right and combined with other products that will treat any specific issue your skin is dealing with, you will see very positive results. For the most part, using one product with a strong claim and expecting results is like drinking ocean water (will not quench your thirst), will not give you the results you crave for your skin. So, when wanting to try new products for a skin problem focus more on the ingredients rather the claims.
Brightening, strengthening, hydrating, glow, clarifying, smoothing, toning, clearing, correcting, purifying, tightening, firming, resurfacing, repairing, plumping, rescuing, nourishing and many more claims, are all power words that lead you into purchasing that product thinking that it is one step closer to saving your skin. Like I said, when used correctly you will see amazing results, but depending all on one product to magically clear up, or smooth your skin ASAP is setting yourself up for disappointment. I always recommend you see an esthetician, dermatologist, or skincare specialist to look into your skin and give you exactly what your skin needs, for best results financially and long term.
There it is, 3 secrets skincare companies do not want you to know, I’m sure there is more, I’m working on digging them out and sharing them on here. As for now, knowing that what is on the front of the label is all for show and all it is doing is just calling out for you to take home the bottle, know to always look on the back.
