How To: Read Your Skin Care Packaging
We are taking a deep dive into decoding and translating packaging lists to help you make informed beauty decisions, by the end of this blog you will be able to read a product from front to back, top to bottom!
The Ingredient List
Ingredients in skincare are listed from their highest to lowest concentration within the formula i.e. the first ingredient listed is the highest concentration and the last on the list has the least. It is important to take notice of all ingredients listed as some ingredients may be small in quantity but high in concentration, we also suggest taking the time to read the entire ingredients list to look out for anything your skin may be sensitive to.
Editor’s tip: If you are ever in doubt about ingredients in your skincare patch test the new product before using it. A patch test is when you take a small amount of the product and test it on your skin (somewhere like the back of your hand, not the face) wait to see how your skin reacts. By testing the product prior to using it regularly you will know if your skin has a good or bad reaction.
Certification Identification
If you are wanting to purchase organic skincare it is important to look for the certification mark to ensure you are getting what you paid for! When the product is certified organic it means that it has met the strict requirements of an industry body.
Some great products to start with are Peggy Sue and Everescents.
Expiration Dates
Had the same mascara for years? Or what about the exfoliant that has been sitting in the back of your cupboard for god knows how long? We have been there and are guilty of hanging onto products a little too long.
It is important to pay attention the expiration dates. The product ingredients may begin to change once the product surpasses its expiration date. You can find the expiration date sitting next to the batch number.
Cruelty Free
We like our products cruelty free, look for the bunny rabbit or bunny ears symbol on your product packaging – this indicates the product is not tested on animals.
We love these cruelty free brands Nak, Vani-T, Glow by Beca and Davroe.
Shelf Life
Look for the image of an open jar with 6M, 12M or 24M or the hourglass symbol to indicate how many months shelf life the product has once opened. The hourglass symbol indicates that the product has a lifespan of less than 30 months. It is time to go through those bathroom cupboard ladies!
Recycled packaging
We love clear skin and a clean environment. Some incredible brands have stepped up and made the change to recyclable packaging, just look for the three arrows turning to form a triangle (also known as the Mobius loop).
Enjoy, love the Hair Gang Team xo
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