So, it’s time to buy skincare products or to upgrade your skincare routine – what do you look for before making the purchase?
What you put on your skin is very important as it does make its way into your body. All too often, cosmetic brands use lots of harsh chemicals that can pose a risk to our health. That’s why before you buy a skincare product, you want to do your research on the brand, their ingredients, and their reviews.
In this article, we will explore the key things to look out for so you can make the right skincare purchase that won’t just enhance your skin, but will also protect your overall health.
Aren’t all skincare brands the same?
The price certainly doesn’t indicate that. But, don’t let the price ‘fool’ you. Just because a skincare product is expensive doesn’t mean that it’s good for you.
In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) routinely finds that cosmetics are contaminated with bacteria before they’re ever sold off the shelf. That means you could be unknowingly putting harmful things on your skin that make their way to your bloodstream, without even realizing it.
Most skincare brands have their own formulas they use to mix or create their skincare products. Although the FDA has a growing list of banned chemicals, they lack the ability to completely regulate the cosmetic or beauty industry. So, it’s entirely up to each skincare brand to determine their own stance on which chemicals they want to use and in what ratios.
What to Look Out For
You’re ready to try a new skincare product or brand, so what should you really be looking for? Again, remember, price isn’t an indicator of the safety of a brand’s products or its quality. Instead, here are the three main things to research and consider when you’re thinking about purchasing a skincare product.
Ingredients
When considering a skincare brand, make sure to visit their website and look for their ingredients lists to be sure they are not using anything that would be detrimental to your health.
Keep in mind that with the exception of color additives and a few banned ingredients, according to the FDA website, “A cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without approval from the FDA.” Again, that means that the skincare brand can determine what they want to use in their products without needing to test the products first or ensure that they are truly safe for you to use.
However, FDA regulations do prohibit the use of the following ingredients:
- Bithionol
- Mercury compounds
- Vinyl chloride
- Halogenated salicylanilides,
- Zirconium
- Chloroform
- Methylene chloride
- Chlorofluorocarbon propellants
- Hexachlorophene
So, if you see these in any ingredient list (especially if you purchase skincare products outside of the United States) beware!
Results & Reviews
As with any product, you should always check for reviews and customer comments about the product. You’ll want to look on rating websites like Google, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, as well as on the brand’s social media pages and website.
Pay close attention to any complaints made about skin irritations as a result of using the product. And, also look for before and after pictures if they’re available to see how effective the skincare product is for customers that actually use it.
If you notice that a skincare brand does not have reviews anywhere online, this is a red flag and you’ll want to proceed with caution!
Green Promise
From what goes down the bathroom sink to what we put in the ocean, the skincare products we use inevitably impact the environment. It is estimated that 14,000 tons of sunscreen make its way to the ocean and harm the coral reef every year.
Chemicals from shampoos, conditioners, and lotions like BHT, sodium laureth sulfate, and BHA have been extensively studied and found to kill aquatic species such as plankton and some fish populations. Despite effective water and wastewater treatment facilities, many of these chemicals still remain in the water supply for long periods of time.
Add to that the growing amount of plastic bottles that are produced and discarded each year, it’s important to think about the environmental footprint of any skincare brand you choose to buy from.
Why Is Open Formula A Different Skincare Brand?
We saw the rising number of chemicals being used in cosmetic and personal care items and we wanted to create a brand that would lead the ultra clean skincare movement.
We want to enhance our health, not harm it. And, with the growing numbers of skin disease and premature aging, we wanted to give people a skincare solution that they could trust and not put their health in harm’s way.
At Open Formula, we understand the impact that our skincare formulas can have not just on our customers, but on the environment. That’s why all of our ultra clean products contain only the most essential ingredients needed to prep, preserve, and protect the skin. We also never hide behind “proprietary blends” or ever try to keep our ingredients lists secret.
All of our naturally-derived, vegan formulas provide the perfect amount of skin nourishment without ever using any of the thousands of skincare ingredients known to contain carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors.
Our products are manufactured in the United States and never tested on animals. To lower our environmental footprint, most of our bottles are made from glass – not plastic – as we do our part to protect our planet.
As part of our commitment to revolutionize the skincare industry to protect our health, we reinvest all of its profits back into research and development to continue to create new, ultra clean beauty products to support the clean lifestyle.
So, if you’re looking to switch your skincare brand and want a brand you can trust that will protect your skin, your health, and the environment, then we’d love to welcome you to the Open Formula family.
To shop and save, click here to browse Open Formula’s full ultra clean skincare selection.
