Does your face cream really contain the miracle ingredients it claims it does? Here are some clues to deciphering the contents listed on the label
Ever wonder what you're really putting on your face? The contents of cosmetic products are no secret. They are listed on the packaging, but deciphering what they mean can be a challenge. Here are some tips.
Descending order of quantity In the United States the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires the ingredients of cosmetic products to be listed in order of quantity.
The closer to the top of the list an ingredient is, the more of it there is. In a typical skin cream, water tops the list as it usually accounts for the bulk of the contents.
In addition to water, the top half of a list is also usually made up of emollients to moisturise the skin and emulsifers (such as caprylic/capric triglyceride, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol and stearic acid), which keep the oil and water from separating and give the mixture a smooth texture.
The second half tends to include preservatives and the so-called active ingredients that claim to benefit the skin. In skin creams, they will likely be sunscreens, antioxidants - vitamin E (tocopherol) and vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) - and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). At the bottom of the list are the colour dyes and fragrances.