The packaging might be pretty, but it won’t do a thing to alleviate troubled acne, reduce fine lines, smooth wrinkles, or replenish moisture and oils to dazzle your complexion. When it comes to cosmetics as with most other things, it’s what’s inside that counts.
If you feel overwhelmed by the scores of product choices available today, and the “miracles” each repute to do, becoming more familiar with terms used in cosmetology and their true meanings might be helpful in distinguishing which products are and are not right for you.
Cosmetic companies are required to accurately divulge all the contents in their products, listing them in the order of concentration, from the most to the least. Certain cosmetic terms, however, can be confusing and misleading to the average consumer; terms such as “all natural” and “fragrance-free,” for instance.
While all natural does mean that ingredients used were derived from natural sources like plants and other organic material, use of the term applied to cosmetics is not regulated by the FDA. Some cosmetic companies not concerned with accuracy or with reputation often...