With so many products out there, in a wide range of prices, it’s difficult to know how to choose.
They promise all types of things: wrinkle-free, it can help sensitive skin, organically made. But how do you know what they say is what these products can really do?
"I think what a lot of people don’t always realize is that most of the claims that you see on beauty product labels actually don’t really have a real legal definition," said Jamie Kopf, Associate editor of Smart Shop Magazine.
Kopf says the terms used on products by companies can be so vague that you may think they’ll do something, but that’s not always the case.
"The first thing is just to know which terms actually do have a meaning so if those are things that you’re looking for you can look for them on labels so you’re getting something that actually has some water behind the claim," said Kopf.
Kopf suggests consumers look for these terms on products:
- organic seal because that means the product contains at least 95% organically produced ingredients
- water-resistant, The FDA suggests it has to maintain protection for at least 40 minutes underwater
- broad spectrum, has to have evidence they screen out both UVA and UVB radiation.
And, these are the terms consumers should look out for:
- sensitive skin: because it can hold different meanings by different companies
- hypo-allergenic: not defined and it does not guarantee the product won’t cause an allergic reaction
- natural: no regulatory meaning, it just sounds good
"Buyer beware and take everything with a grain of salt realize that the rest of the terms that you see whether its rejuvenating or brightening or firming or lifting or whatever else radiating, radiance or whatever it is its not really defined," Kopf concluded.
You can also email your consumer concerns to actionline@khon2.com or call weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
