Most people who are prone to breakouts are adamant about only wearing oil-free foundation and concealer because they think oil will make their acne worse. And now many beauty companies are making oil-free versions of just about everything -- even blush and eyeshadow -- to target these women. However, most dermatologists agree that having "oil-free" emblazoned across the label is mostly a marketing trick.
In fact, if you turn over your bottle of oil-free foundation, you may very well find oils on the list of ingredients. Companies substitute synthetic oils for natural versions in order to call the product oil-free -- and the irony is that many of the synthetic oils are actually more likely to irritate your skin.
"The key is looking for the word 'noncomedogenic' or 'nonacnegenic' on the label," explains Washington D.C. dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, MD. These terms indicate that the product will neither clog pores nor cause breakouts. While acne sufferers tend to avoid all oils, Tanzi stresses there are certain oils that are actually beneficial. Tea tree oil kills bacteria, and lavender oil is an antiseptic with anti-inflammatory properties.
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Just because you see SPF doesn't mean you're safe
It's fantastic that so many companies are adding sunscreen to makeup -- we can all benefit from more daily SPF. But there are two very different kinds of sunscreen ingredients -- chemical and physical -- that work in opposite ways. Physical sunblock acts as a barrier on your skin to reflect UV rays. Meanwhile, chemical ingredients absorb UV rays and create skin-damaging free radicals.
"I'm a big advocate of physical sunscreens," says Tanzi. "My number one choice is zinc oxide, followed by titanium dioxide." If you're prone to breakouts, titanium dioxide may exacerbate them, but zinc oxide is an excellent choice.
Even if your makeup contains zinc oxide, you shouldn't rely on it as your only form of sun protection. Dermatologists recommend applying a teaspoon of SPF 30 or higher to your face -- and no one should be wearing that much foundation. The ultimate regimen is an antioxidant serum, followed by a teaspoon of sunscreen, and then a little makeup.
"Oil free!"
"100 Percent Natural!"
"Long-lasting!"
Chances are you've seen these phrases on makeup labels -- and maybe you've even been persuaded to buy something because of one of these claims. Unfortunately, most of them don't mean much -- and even the ones that are technically accurate can be misleading.
That's partly because the FDA does not regulate what goes into cosmetics. And while there are guidelines for labeling, there's no review process in place. Most industry experts believe that's a good thing; if smaller brands had to jump through the FDA's countless hoops, most would never even make it to market, let alone succeed. But the lack of regulations also means that the responsibility then falls on consumers. It's our responsibility to see through the label lingo and understand what we're putting on our faces.
We talked to experts -- from dermatologists to manufacturers -- to find out what we really need to know when reading a makeup label. Most of the valuable information isn't on the front or anywhere in the product's name -- that's mostly marketing language created to get us to buy the product.
If you want to truly understand what goes into a formula, the list of ingredients is the best place to start -- and you may want to take a chemistry course before you begin. Here, we're decoding what the claims on makeup labels really mean to make it easier to understand what you're really putting on your skin.
