Consumers are increasingly becoming more aware and well informed before they decide to buy beauty products, be it skincare, bath and body, or other cosmetic products on the market.

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Let me share with you the things you have to look for before you make any decision to purchase the products you come across.

1. The Ingredients In The Products

Natural products are considered better in the long run for health conscious consumers as they are less harmful, especially for those with sensitive skin. Natural products do not contain any toxic chemicals, such as paraben. According to a study, paraben could mimic the growth effects of estrogen on breast cancer cells. Parabens are synthetic preservatives used in foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal-care products such as deodorants, moisturizers and shampoos. Common parabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben.

2. The Presence Of Natural Ingredients That Act As Moisturizer For Your Skin

Cocoa and shea butter are perfect skin moisturizers. They contain fatty acid, which not only hydrates your skin but also heals your skin from inside, too. Shea butter nourishes skin with vitamins A, E and F. Shea butter has been clinically proven to provide skin relief, especially to those suffering from cracked skin, eczema, and itchy skin due to dryness. Besides, cocoa and shea butter, natural ingredients such as beeswax are also known to have a healing nature for your lips. Beeswax lip balm is known to have a healing and moisturising effect for dry, chapped and cracked skin on your lips. Besides, such lip balm is also able to soften your lips permanently.

3. Testing Products On Animals

There have been concerns over those skincare companies in the market which test their products on animals. It is painful to see how many of our little furry friends like guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters and mice die every year around the world. Statistics have shown that the number of animals being used for cosmetic testing are around 100,000 to 200,000 per year.

Companies engaged in animal testing are considered to be unethical. Thus, they face opposition from activist groups. The European Union (EU), Israel and India have prohibited the sale of beauty products or cosmetic ingredients which have been tested on animals. As a result of vigorous campaigns run by PETA and its affiliate organisations through various activism like petitions, public protests and email, many beauty companies have no choice but to comply with the activists’ demands. This means that if skincare products are sold to the mass market, no animal testing should be involved in the process.

4. High Price Doesn’t Always Mean High Quality

Some beauty products are priced too high and ridiculously cost over one thousand dollars just for a small bottle. Sometimes, such beauty products claim to contain specific ingredients like diamond or gold-infused ingredients, which make them stand out from the rest of the other beauty products. However, according to skin experts, pricey beauty products don’t mean value for money. According to Dr Wong-Su Ni, President of the Dermatological Society of Singapore, most people always do well on less-expensive products, followed by good lifestyle habits like applying sunscreen and not smoking. She also added that it’s the quality of the products that matters, not the price. Furthermore, there is no scientific claim which proves such luxury products are more effective than normal products.

5. The Packaging Of The Products

Attractive packaging serves a purpose for a company to brand and market the products. Good packaging also influences buyers’ behaviour and perceptions of the products, which includes colours, designs and other visually appealing qualities that attract our senses. Outer packaging is an added bonus to the products, as well as the other qualities contained in the products themselves.

_{Edited by Nedda Chaplin
Image credit:Cosmetic bottle container with green herbal leaves in small organic cotton bag on wooden background from Shutterstock}

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