3 Confusing Makeup Labels
Labels. Companies use the labels on products to bring our attention to something about their product that may make them better or different from their competitor's products. In the beauty industry, sometimes the labels are misleading and you think you are getting benefits that might not really be important.
Let's take a look at three common labels placed on beauty brands and find out if they are truly important.
Cruelty-Free
This moniker is meant to indicate that no animal testing has been done on the product. However, the FDA has not approved a legal definition of the label. In practice, a brand could use this label whether it is true or not.
Again, in practice, the label is usually used to indicate that the final product has not been tested on animals. However, this does not translate to the individual ingredient level. The final product of the mixture of ingredients may not have been tested on animals. But, the individual ingredients may have been tested before they were combined to make the product.
Ophthalmologist Approved
This label sounds very appealing for eye care products. And, certainly "Dermatologist Approved" may have the same appeal for skincare products. However, there is no standard by which these doctors are approving the product.
If a company is able to have one doctor say that they like the product, the label could be put on the box. However, this does not translate to the safety or effectiveness of the final product. It could be that a doctor has stated that a particular ingredient is good for the eyes or will not harm the eyes. But, the ingredient is used at a higher concentration in the final product which does irritate or cause long term damage to the eyes.
This labeling technique is misleading at best.
Paraben-Free
Parabens are ingredients used to extend the shelf life of many beauty products. They prevent and reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and mold in products. Therefore, the product will last longer both on the shelf and in your makeup bag.
Parabens are a popular ingredient used in makeup because they are gentle, non-sensitizing, and effective at preventing the degradation of the products. They are also approved by the FDA to be safe for use in beauty products.
However, they are believed to disrupt hormone function by mimicking estrogen. And, the use of parabens has been linked to both breast cancer and reproductive issues. Too much estrogen in the system can stimulate the growth of breast cell division and the growth of tumors.
So, why am I putting Paraben-free on this list when it sounds like a good thing not to have in makeup. Well, this one is a case of smoke and mirrors. Consumers will recognize the label of Paraben-free as being a better product to purchase. This may cause them not to scrutinize the ingredient list where other toxins may be hiding.
Just because a product is paraben-free does not mean that it is clean or that the other ingredients in the product are not toxic to the delicate tissues of the eyes. Don't be fooled by the fat-free label that is hiding a sugar-laden ingredient list. Sugar will make you fat faster than fat any day of the week.
Conclusion
Most of the labels on beauty products are not approved by the FDA. There are no standards needed to pass in order to place one label over another on a particular product.
Labels are misleading and can disguise a product, which could have potentially harmful or toxic ingredients. Instead of relying on labeling when choosing a product, always go to the ingredient list. Here you will find the truth about the individual ingredients making up the product.
And, if you would like to skip the label and ingredient list reading, you can choose products, which have truly been optometrist approved instead. In my CLEAN makeup manual course, there is a list of makeup, which is clean and safe for use even in the most sensitive of eyes. Check out the course here and be on your way to have whiter, brighter eyes that are no longer irritated by your makeup.
