Before cosmetic labeling went into effect in 1977, if we went out to buy a jar of cream or a bottle of foundation, we had no way of knowing what ingredients were included in the product. Until then, I, for one, naively accepted the notion that just about everything in the cosmetic industry was a justifiable trade secret. I still remember the curiosity surrounding the “prized” ingredients that Dr. Erno Laszlo put in his famed beauty preparations, originally prescribed only for his equally famed clients. Laszlo died in 1974, and I never did get to find out what the ingredients were in his original formulas because by 1977 when beauty companies were first required by law to disclose, or list, ingredients in their products, Laszlo’s company had been taken over by Pond’s.
However, even though I was genuinely curious, I must admit that when ingredients were first listed on cosmetic products, I found the labels very confusing and difficult to read. I had never heard of most of the ingredients and I had no idea of what they might be. By then, however, I was less naive about the cosmetic industry and the laws that govern it, and I knew that cosmetics were not like drugs and didn’t have to be tested for safety before being marketed. I decided that if I was the only person watching out over my skin, I had better know more about what I was using on it. After all, I reasoned, if I could take the time to read a sweater label to find out if it was all wool or a synthetic blend, I could manage to take the time to read a cosmetic label and learn more about the ingredients listed on it. Obviously, this is a pitch for you to do the same thing.
As a consumer, you have the right to know what you are buying. Reading a cosmetic label will help you act on that right. You will be able to make comparisons between products and will be better able to evaluate what you are buying and decide for yourself if it is worth the price. Have you ever wondered if there was a real difference between a product manufactured by a private label company and a similar one manufactured for an expensive cosmetic line? Take a look at the ingredients. Do they look the same? If they do, you might be wise to save money with the more inexpensive products. Have you had allergic reactions to many cosmetics? Check the labels. Is there a common ingredient in the products that gave you trouble? If so, you know what to avoid in the future. If you have oily, breakout skin, you can save yourself money, time and aggravation by reading the labels to make certain that you are not being sold a product that will irritate your skin type. And if you have dry skin, it’s easy to make certain that you are buying a product that will cater to your skin’s needs. Do you want to buy only products that have no known toxins or carcinogens? Well, you can only be certain of that by reading the ingredients yourself.
I won’t kid you: When you first start, attempting to decipher the ingredients on a cosmetic label can be a bit tedious. But once you get the hang of it, you will be an infinitely better prepared cosmetic consumer. Remember, also, that the more you know about cosmetic ingredients, the less likely you are to be hyped by exaggerated claims about the ways in which various products perform.
