A moisturising face cream acts as a protective barrier for the skin, keeping it hydrated and healthy. Although the need for a facial moisturiser sometimes raises confusing questions, most experts recommend using one every day. Alongside proper nutrition and stress management, the Mayo Clinic says that "a moisturiser that suits your skin type and makes your skin look and feel soft" is an essential part of your skin care routine.
What is your skin type?
A proper skin care routine includes daily moisturising and sun protection to fight free radicals and protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends moisturising your skin after bathing, while it is still damp, to lock in moisture.
Depending on various factors, including genes and more controllable factors such as diet, your skin type falls into one of five categories. The most common skin type in women is combination skin. It is important to know your skin type to make sure you use the right products on your face. Very dry skin will probably not benefit from a water-based product; drier skin will appreciate richer moisturisers that retain as much moisture as possible.
Identify your skin type:
- Dry skin (benefits from a richer, oil-based moisturiser)
- Oily skin (benefits from water-based moisturisers)
- Mature skin (benefits from oil-based moisturisers that help retain moisture)
- Sensitive skin (benefits from a moisturiser with soothing ingredients such as aloe vera that will not irritate the skin)
- Normal/combination skin (benefits from a lighter, water-based moisturiser)
If you are not sure about your skin type and want to choose the right moisturiser, you can do a simple test. All you need are a few torn pieces of thin tissue paper and a few minutes of your time. By pressing the paper to different areas of your face, you can determine your skin type based on how much oil the paper absorbs.
FDA cosmetics guidelines
How is an expensive, beautifully packaged product different from a $10 one on the shelf of your local pharmacy? Sometimes not by much. Do not assume that price determines quality – the ingredients are what matter. A good moisturiser protects you and contains no harmful ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate cosmetics strictly, which makes it hard to know which products are suitable for your face. Although cosmetics do not need FDA approval to go on sale, there is one golden rule: the FDA requires manufacturers to list ingredients on the label "so that consumers can make informed purchasing decisions". Still, reading an ingredient list can be as hard as deciphering ancient Greek. Understanding ingredients helps you know what is in the bottle or jar before deciding what is worth putting on your face and what is best avoided.
Fragrance-free and unscented
Fragrance-free usually means exactly that: no fragrance has been added to the product. However, even fragrance-free products are not always scent-free. A natural ingredient or essential oil that acts as a fragrance may not be listed as such. Many fragrances are synthetic and can mask substances that cause skin reactions and allergies. Unscented products may also contain fragrance: to mask unpleasant chemical smells, they may include additional synthetic fragrances that can cause allergic reactions. Many "natural" ingredients can also hide on ingredient labels, disguised as fragrances.
Active and inactive ingredients
Simply put, active ingredients are what make a product do what it is designed to do. A moisturiser that blocks UV rays may contain titanium dioxide, which acts as the main sun protection ingredient. Inactive ingredients help too, but in this case they do not fight the sun's rays. Inactive ingredients help create the final product, whether it is a tablet, liquid or cream.
Non-comedogenic
A product with this term on its label claims not to clog pores or to be oil-free. Essentially, this means that while the product helps break down excess oil, it will not strip your skin of moisture.
Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic refers to a product that causes fewer allergic reactions in users. However, seeing this word on the packaging does not guarantee greater safety compared with products that are not labelled hypoallergenic. Because cosmetics guidelines are not strict, manufacturers can claim a product is hypoallergenic without the FDA requiring them to back up the claim. So what can you do? If you have reacted to skin care ingredients in the past, check the product label for allergens – the FDA requires manufacturers to list all ingredients on the packaging.
Natural and organic
Natural products use ingredients derived from plant sources (and may or may not use chemicals). Organic products are said to contain ingredients grown without chemicals, pesticides or artificial fertilisers. Unfortunately, because of loose FDA guidelines, many products have misleading labels, and natural and organic products are not necessarily better for your skin.
To avoid confusion and understand what is what, you can read the following overview of USDA guidelines for certified organic products:
- 100 percent organic: this is optional, but these products may use the USDA Organic Seal; products with this seal must use only organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt).
- Organic: products labelled "organic" contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients (excluding water and salt) and may use the "Organic" seal; the remaining ingredients must come from approved non-agricultural products or non-organically produced agricultural products.
- Made with organic ingredients: contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients but may not use the USDA Organic Seal; the main front panel may list "up to three organic ingredients or 'food' groups".
- Less than 70 percent organic ingredients: these products may not use the organic seal or the word "organic" anywhere on the main packaging or front panel (organically produced ingredients may be listed).
- Broad spectrum: this means that the product blocks both UVB and UVA rays from the sun. Although not all moisturisers contain sun protection, many products now offer this two-in-one formula. If your moisturiser does not protect against the sun, apply the moisturiser first and then sunscreen.
Parabens
Parabens are preservatives that give cosmetics a longer shelf life. On labels you may see the parabens most commonly used in cosmetics: methylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben, all of which are considered "safe for use in cosmetic products at up to 25 percent" according to the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR). Parabens, used in a wide range of beauty and skin care products, have been studied for possible health risks because of concerns that they mimic oestrogen, which in turn could cause cancer. Because parabens are not on the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) list, they may still be included in products labelled organic.
At present, the FDA says that parabens do not pose a serious health risk that would justify removing them from cosmetics. Based on research, the FDA states: "Although parabens can act similarly to oestrogen, they have been shown to have much weaker oestrogenic activity than the body's naturally occurring oestrogens." According to the CIR, parabens are considered safe at concentrations of 0.01 to 0.3 percent in cosmetics or care products.
Phthalates
Phthalates are found in many products – from perfumes, lotions and deodorants to toys and food packaging – and have raised concerns about possible health risks, including impaired fertility. Growing public concern has led to progress in testing and regulating their use. A 2008 follow-up study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that parts of the cosmetics industry had reduced the use of phthalates in their products. This widely used and widely studied chemical has mostly been tested on rodents and in limited human volunteer studies. According to the American Chemistry Council, the findings suggest that phthalates are more likely to cause cancer in rodents than in humans. Reports from the U.S. National Toxicology Program found that the risk to human reproductive and developmental health from six of the seven phthalates it reviewed is "minimal".
#face cream, #face creams
https://www.healthline.com/health/cosmetic-safety/healthy-facial-moisturizers
Our recommendation. For daily facial care, choose Eubos Hyaluron day face cream with SPF 20 – hyaluronic acid moisturises the skin and SPF filters protect against UV rays.
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