How do I find the best skin care products?

Read! Read! Read! Internet blogs are a great way to find information from women who don't know you and are willing to share their experience with the products they have used. They also aren't getting paid for their information. Friends mean well, but what works for them may not work for you. Dermatologists all seem to agree on Neutrogena and Aveeno as good brands for all skin types. Department store lines such as Clarins offer samples to try and train their beauty advisors on the functions of the skin as well as their products.

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The best tip that I can give is to read labels and educate yourself by doing research on products that you plan to purchase.

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Read the ingredient labels on your products, and don’t believe everything you read online or in the consumer press; if in doubt, ask your esthetician. Don’t follow every new fad which comes out, or you will be putting combinations of ingredients on your face that may do more harm than good.

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You do not need to break the bank in order to have the right products for your skin type and skin tone.

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Look for brands that are organically preserved using Rooibos, Green Tea, White Tea or Pomegranate Extract. Look for brands that avoid unnecessary chemicals and are toxin-free. If you are looking online at products, make sure that they have a glossary and know their ingredients. Use brands that are affiliated with organizations that are dedicated to organic, natural and full disclosure. For instance, the Organic Trade Association, Green Products Alliance and American Botanical Council. See if they have signed the Truth in Labelling Pledge with the Natural Ingredients Resource Center or the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Pledge. Also stick with brands that use pure, unadulterated essential oils to scent their products.

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Avoid the disappointment of buying a skin care product that ends up producing very little result: read the back of the package label! The back label lists all active as well as  inactive ingredients in a product: The active and main ingredients are usually listed first. These are the ingredients that come in the highest concentration and to be listed as an active main ingredient, a concentration of 1% or greater is needed, but this isn’t always the case. If an ingredient falls near the end of the ingredient list, it is usually present in a very low concentration and may not be effective. So for example, if your favorite Vitamin C serum has Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid listed towards the middle or the end of the ingredients deck, it may not be packing as much of a punch as you'd like. Buyers beware... The inactive ingredients listed are used for some other purpose than the product's main intent. They may be used to preserve the product, increase shelf life, enhance its color or its fragrance. Spend a little time reading the labels, and know what you are really putting on your skin! Gail Humble MD

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