The vast majority of skin care products have a complete list of ingredients on the label, whether active or inactive, lumped together without any distinction because the law called "The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act," requires all ingredients to be listed with the listing guidelines.
First, you need to figurout the active ingredients that you needed from the list (i will post the active ingredients list later in this blog later).Once you are satisfied with active ingredients in the list, you need to figure out if they are present in sufficient amounts. If you are in luck, the concentration may be stated on the label, but typically it isn't. As per The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, the listing begins with the ingredient present in the largest concentration (typically water, oil and other vehicles) and moves downward, often ending with trace elements. You shouldn't expect an active ingredient to be in the first or second spot, but if it is near the end of a long list, it is most likely present in a very small amount. Admittedly, some active ingredients, such as estrogens, work in trace amounts, but many require a reasonably high concentration to be effective. The position of the ingredient on the list can give you at least a rough idea if its concentration is sufficient.
There are some exceptions to the rule of descending concentrations in the listing. If one of the ingredients is classified as a drug, then the drug is listed prior to all other ingredients regardless of its concentration. A well known example is Retin A, whose active ingredient tretinoin is classified as a drug.
Patented or otherwise "secret" formulas do not need to disclose the combination of active ingredients but the company must submit an application to the FDA in order to list the alias instead of disclosing the ingredients on the label.
Colors and fragrance are typically listed last, regardless of concentration (although typically their concentration is low anyway).
Sometimes active ingredients are listed separately. For example, this is typical for UV blocking ingredients in sunscreens.
Your final step in investigating the ingredient list is to look at all (or at least the most concentrated) ingredients and make sure they are compatible with your skin. Avoid the ones to which you know you are sensitive, allergic or otherwise individually reactive. If you are prone to acne, take particular care to avoid comedogenic ingredients. Also, some ingredients have significant potential to be harmful to the skin and should be avoided even if you do not have particular sensitivity to them. Look for them at potential harmful chemicals.
There are some exceptions to the rule of descending concentrations in the listing. If one of the ingredients is classified as a drug, then the drug is listed prior to all other ingredients regardless of its concentration. A well known example is Retin A, whose active ingredient tretinoin is classified as a drug.
Patented or otherwise "secret" formulas do not need to disclose the combination of active ingredients but the company must submit an application to the FDA in order to list the alias instead of disclosing the ingredients on the label.
Colors and fragrance are typically listed last, regardless of concentration (although typically their concentration is low anyway).
Sometimes active ingredients are listed separately. For example, this is typical for UV blocking ingredients in sunscreens.
Your final step in investigating the ingredient list is to look at all (or at least the most concentrated) ingredients and make sure they are compatible with your skin. Avoid the ones to which you know you are sensitive, allergic or otherwise individually reactive. If you are prone to acne, take particular care to avoid comedogenic ingredients. Also, some ingredients have significant potential to be harmful to the skin and should be avoided even if you do not have particular sensitivity to them. Look for them at potential harmful chemicals.
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