Learn Your Labels

Being label-literate can help you find beauty products that will be beneficial for your skin. Many products are packed with harmful ingredients that can be drying, irritating, and pore-clogging. Knowing what to look for on the back of the bottle will ensure your skin gets the products it deserves.

High-Low

Ingredients are listed from the highest to the lowest amount of each ingredient. If a beneficial ingredient or compound is at the bottom of the list, you are not getting much of it, and you will not get much benefit. If a label lists alcohol in the first three ingredients, you may opt for another product.

Look For The Symbols

An open-jar symbol tells you how long the product will last after it has been opened. The symbol will have 6M, 12M, and so on. The M means months. If you struggle to remember how long you’ve had a product, you may want to use a permanent marker to write the date when you open the product.

Check The Expiration Date

The expiration date will be attached to the batch or lot number on the bottom of the product. Make sure the product isn’t expired before purchasing.

Bunnies

A bunny on the label tells you that the product is cruelty-free, so no animal testing or animal products are used.

Vegan

If the label says it’s vegan, it’s vegan. You won’t find any sneaky ingredients. For a company to claim vegan status, it has to prove itself to oversight boards and regulatory administrations.

Latin

Don’t be surprised if you come across Latin on your beauty labels. Those Latin terms are names for botanical ingredients. Lavender will be listed as Lavandula angustifolia, Chamomile will be listed as Matricaria Chamomilla or Chamaemelum Nobile (German and Roman Chamomile). Pro tip: Avoid chamomiles if you have a ragweed allergy.