Many of us are familiar with the expression hypoallergenic. Simply put it means “Less Allergens” (An allergen is a substance that can cause an allergic reaction).
The definition" hypoallergenic skincare," as well as “Dermatologist-tested”, “Safe for sensitive skin”, “Allergy tested”, “Non comedogenic”, and “Non-irritating” might be the most understood, overused, and abused term in the skin care and cosmetics industry.
The term "hypoallergenic" indicates that products labeled as such have fewer ingredients that may irritate your skin or disrupt your skin with an allergic reaction.
The sensitive skincare products and natural makeup products are designed to reduce the possibility of an allergic response by containing relatively few or no potentially irritating substances, giving the consumer better odds or less of a risk.
It doesn’t mean they are entirely safe for you- There are no assurances - since it is not regulated in any form. Many times testing hypoallergenic skin care products to find the right one for you is simply “trial and error”. As you become familiar with ingredients and which ones cause a reaction, you can start to weed out certain products by reading labels.
Skin sensitivity can become an open door to serious skin conditions. For some people using the wrong products will give them a minor skin irritation (redness, itching), for others a reaction can be more severe and lasting. This is why it is very important to try to resolve the problem and eliminate the ingredient quickly.
Tip- You may want to try this simple skin patch test to check for a sensitivity reaction to a substance- Apply a few drops of product to the inside of a band-aid and affix to the skin of the inner forearm for 24 hours. Check for symptoms.
Test Products-It's The Only Sure Way To Know What Ingredients To Eliminate
It’s difficult to define hypoallergenic -There are no industry standards or regulations that govern the use of the term ‘hypoallergenic’.
Skin care products labeled “hypoallergenic skin care" or hypoallergenic makeup lies solely with the manufacturer making the decision. The U.S Food and Drug administration (FDA) has no particular standards that determine how cosmetics manufacturers can use the term when labeling their products.
It is important that each individual educates themselves with recognizing possible dangerous ingredients. It is up to you to check for specific allergens that will affect you and trigger a reaction.
Nowadays there are so many healthy product choices. Selecting the best non-toxic skin care product, cosmetic brands, or personal care product may be some what of a challenge, but if you have sensitive skin, there is no reason to continue using products with questionable ingredients.
Hypoallergenic Skin Care Products
Hypoallergenic skin care products are a must to try if you suffer from allergies or have sensitive skin. The fragrances, perfumes and chemicals found in most products can irritate skin.
There are many reputable skin care companies out there that have taken the steps to reduce the allergens in their hypoallergenic cosmetics and hypoallergenic skin care products.
You still have to do your homework but there is less risk of producing an allergic reaction.(Everybody is different- Choosing a hypoallergenic creams or lotion product does not necessarily mean that it is not going to have an adverse affect on your skin.)
Keep in mind, the fewer the number of ingredients in your cosmetic or hypoallergenic skin care products, the less likely you are to have a problem.
To limit your exposure to toxic ingredients in skin care products, select products with simple ingredient lists that have fewer synthetic chemicals. If you break out from it, steer clear from other products using the same ingredients.
What Ingredients May Cause Problems?
Since some companies think more of their profit margins and don’t concern themselves with our health and well-being, we as consumers must be aware of what to look for.
A wise customer will educate themselves and be aware of potentially harmful hypoallergenic ingredients in products and try to ovoid them.
Parabens are commonly used in skincare products, cosmetics and hair care products. The longer the shelf life –the more preservatives are needed.
There are plenty of other safer preservatives to use in products but because they are inexpensive and readily available, they are widely used.
Synthetically produced preservatives are the biggest culprits for causing allergic reactions, damage to the immune system, change hormone function, irritation to the skin, lungs and eyes, and some studies suggest parabens increase the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer.
Some natural preservatives to look for that are used to prevent microbial growth and spoilage are-
Mineral oil:(Liquid paraffinum,Paraffin wax, Paraffin oil,Petrolatum)
Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product that is frequently used in hypoallergenic facial skin care products and many body care products to help keep in moisture and because it' inexpensive.
It is a potential skin irritant for some people. It clogs pores, causes skin dryness, promotes acne, interferes with your skin’s natural ability to eliminate toxins, and slows down skin cell turnover causing premature aging.
Petroleum products are often contaminated with impurities that have been shown to cause cancer.
Mineral oil has been the subject of great debate over the years. Using cosmetic or hypoallergenic skin care products containing mineral oil is truly a personal choice. Imagine- One of the worlds legendary luxury beauty creams (Crème de la Mer) contains mineral oil.
Alcohols are commonly found in facial skin care products, fragrances, nail products and personal care products.
Alcohols tend to be very drying and irritating to skin. They leave the skin vulnerable to viruses and a breeding ground for bacteria and mold by stripping away the natural protective mantle. They also can cause brown spots on the skin and premature aging (wrinkling of the skin).
Synthetic Fragrance:
The simple term of”fragrance”is deceiving – Synthetic fragrances should be avoided because it provides no skin benefits and there are over hundreds of fragrances used – you have no way to know which ones are being used in your product and how toxic it is.
Exposure to fragrances can cause skin irritation, headaches, dizziness, rashes, and skin discoloration.
DEA (Diethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine), and MEA (Monoethanolamine):
These harsh chemicals are used in formulations as emulsifiers, thickeners, wetting agents, detergents, and to help stabilize the pH of a product.
They are found in cosmetics, skin creams, shampoos, soaps, facial cleansers, and almost always in products that foam.They can cause allergic reactions and long term use has been linked to liver and kidney cancer.
Propylene Glycol:
Found in skin care products, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shaving gels.
This harmful ingredient is primarily used to prevent a product from freezing or melting and to facilitate the absorption of other ingredients.
It is considered a moderate hazard in skin care products because this irritant (even in low levels of 2% concentrations) can cause irritation to skin, the eyes, and it is also suspected to cause damage to the respiratory tract and the immune and nervous systems.
Butylene Glycol:
Similar to propylene glycol. It is a petroleum derivative commonly used to make extracts from herbs and used as a colorant in cosmetics.
It is used as a humectant(a agent which attracts moisture to the skin and retains it) and also as a soothing agent in lotions.Able to penetrate skin very quickly, weaken the cellular structure and collagen protein in the skin layers
Hypoallergenic skin care can be the solution to sensitive skin.
Be a smart consumer -Learn more about what to look for and what to avoid when it comes to taking care of your skin and use this knowledge when shopping for sensitive skin care products.
Hypoallergenic skin care products are a must to try if you suffer from allergies or have sensitive skin. The fragrances, perfumes and chemicals found in most products can irritate skin.