Let's face it. Some words are there to impress you; others mean more. But you don't need a decoder ring to understand the labels on skin, hair, and face products. Here, find an explanation of 13 confusing beauty terms.
Clinically Proven
What It Means: The manufacturer has conducted some testing of the product in a clinical setting, like a lab.
What It Doesn’t Mean: That anything significant has been "proven."
Best For: Someone willing to do her own digging, like researching independent data about ingredients.
Hypoallergenic
What It Means: The product has a low chance of causing allergies.
What It Doesn’t Mean: It has been tested for all allergies. "There's no way to prove it won't cause a reaction in some people," says Howard Murad, a Los Angeles dermatologist.
Best For: People with sensitive skin or a history of allergic reactions.
Long-WearingWhat It Means: Generally found on makeup packaging, this term refers to the product's staying power.
What It Doesn’t Mean: Waterproof. "Long-wearing" means it lasts longer under normal circumstances but still may not survive swimming or crying.
Best For: Times when you don't want to touch up your makeup.
Broad-Spectrum
What It Means: Found on sunscreens, it tells you the product protects against both ultraviolet A and B rays.
What It Doesn’t Mean: That you're fully covered. No matter what the label says, no sunscreen blocks out 100 percent of harmful rays.
Best For: Everyone. Broad-spectrum is the best protection available.
Brightening
What It Means: The product contains temporary brighteners, like mica, or ingredients that help even out skin tone.
What It Doesn’t Mean: Lightening, a term regulated by the FDA. A cream can't claim it will "lighten" the skin or dark spots unless it contains the chemical hydroquinone.
Best For: People with mildly uneven skin tone.
Fragrance-Free
What It Means: The product has no noticeable smell and usually contains no added artificial or chemical fragrances.
What It Doesn’t Mean: It's totally free of added substances, like botanical extracts, that mask the smell of the basic ingredients.
Best For: Sensitive, allergy-prone skin.
Firming What It Means: Contains ingredients that help plump up skin for a fuller look.
What It Doesn’t Mean: Dramatic results. Chances are any "firming" effects you see will be subtle and not permanent.
Best For: Skin that lacks elasticity.
Lifting
What It Means: The product helps repair sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.
What It Doesn’t Mean: Miracles. "The only thing that can really lift is the plastic surgeon," says Annet King, director of training for the International Dermal Institute.
Best For: Mature skin.
Detoxifying
What It Means: Helps skin look radiant by expelling toxins from cells.
What It Doesn’t Mean: Purification. It's hard to prove that products can eliminate whatever is actually "toxic" to skin.
Best For: Dull, oily, or acne-prone skins.
Noncomedogenic
What It Means: Contains no ingredients known to clog pores or cause acne.
What It Doesn’t Mean: It definitely won't cause a reaction or be irritating in other ways.
Best For: Those with acne-prone skin and anyone concerned with clogged pores.
Dermatologist-Tested
What It Means: A dermatologist tested the product.
What It Doesn’t Mean: It's approved and endorsed by a dermatologist. "The implication is that the dermatologist liked it, but you don't know that," says Murad.
Best For: People who don't necessarily need a doctor's approval.
RestructuringWhat It Means: Found on hair-care labels, this word implies the product will restore hair to its natural structure — before it was damaged with styling and chemical treatments.
What It Doesn’t Mean: That you can permanently restructure hair. This is a temporary fix that will leave hair looking and feeling healthier.
Best For: Anyone who damages her hair on a regular basis with heat styling and coloring.
Oil-Free
What It Means: The product doesn't contain mineral oil, plant oils, or lanolin, which can clog pores and irritate skin.
What It Doesn’t Mean: That it won't cause a reaction. Be careful that something more irritating — like menthol, eucalyptus, or camphor — hasn't been substituted to help the product glide on easily.
Best For: People with oily skin who don't want to look shiny by lunchtime.
And that’s all! Hope that helped you guys in understanding product labels just that little bit more. :)
Information from realsimple.com.
Images from Google.
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