Have you ever had skin irritation from a skincare product?

In the skincare world, where dazzling packaging and marketing claims can dazzle us, it's crucial to know how to decode skincare labels. These labels hold the key to achieving your dream of radiant, healthy skin.

Let's embark on a journey to demystify skincare labels and empower you to make informed choices.

Understand Ingredient List

Skincare labels use scientific terms, like the INCI code, that might make it confusing but there are global standard names and makes it easier to research your ingredient. Confused about an ingredient use - https://incidecoder.com/ for ingredient information.

Understands Actives 

Many skincare companies promote active ingredients as the main value proposition like Vitamin C, Niacinamide. It is important to know what this 'Active' does and what it does not.

Moreover, it is very important to understand the side effects of this 'Active' and the percentage at which it is used.

More is not always good when comes to Actives as high amounts may cause sensitivity on prolonged use or to already sensitive skin.

Know the order of ingredients

Ingredients are listed in the decreasing order of their concentration. So checking the order helps you know what is your product largely made of. 

Memorize regular culprits

Toxins are added to skincare to reduce cost and/or enhance the touch and feel of the products. Some commonly used toxins in skincare are – Sulfates, Parabens, Benzene, Alcohols (ethanol, methanol), Mineral Oil, Paraffin Wax, Oxybenzone, PEGs, Formaldehyde, DEA, Talc, Phthalates, Mercury and Zinc. Avoid a product using these in the future.

Focus on instructions

It is important to read the usage instructions of your skincare products before applying them or layering them with other products. Some products are best used at night due to higher absorption or sun-sensitive actives. Also layering products with incompatible 'Actives' can do more harm than good. For example, if you are using a Toner, Face Serum, or Facial Moisturizer all at the same time, it is important that either they do not have very volatile 'Actives' in them or these 'Actives' are compatible with each other.

Understand the claim

Claims on skincare products like Natural, Organic, Clean, Cruelty-Free, and more are often confusing and at times take advantage of assumptions a user may make while buying them. Instead of going with the claim, look for the certification provided for that claim on the product.

Expiry

Expiry date could also be confusing at times, as some companies will list expiry date, some best before, some will call out expiry when opened, and more. Read the information carefully to understand the relative shelf life of the product that you are going to buy as there is nothing worse than an expired product on your face.

Hope this information is of use to you. Do let us know if you would like to know any specific information by writing to team@oriveorganics.com

At Orive we believe in transparency and we do that by ensuring we mention all the above on our label. Also by making clean skincare with super ingredients that are clinically tested and Ayush (Ayurveda) Approved.