The beauty industry is full of marketing schemes and deceptive practices that could potentially cause more damage to hair/skin or simply empty your wallet with no added benefits. Reading labels is extremely important, as some products may contain harmful ingredients.

What ingredients to look out for

Have you ever invested in an extensive skincare routine only to find that it worsens your skin, or does little to help? I can say I have. This is a common issue that highlights the need to understand which ingredients are beneficial and which are harmful. Let’s explore some key ingredients to consider:

Effective Ingredients:

• For Dry Skin: Manjista, Triphala, Tulsi, Licorice, Sesame Oil, Aloe Vera
• For Sensitive Skin: Usheero, Turmeric, Papaya
• For Anti-Aging: Rose Root, Carrot, Ginkgo Biloba, Neem, Tamarind (rich in Vitamin A and antioxidants
• For Hair Issues (Dandruff, Lice, Scalp Problems): Amla, Brahmi, Aloe Vera, Tulsi, Henna
• To Promote Hair Growth: Shikakai, Amla, Basil, Ayurvedic Herbs, Ginger, Rhizome Extract, Lavender Oil 

Herbal cosmetics offer several advantages: they're often hypoallergenic, compatible with all skin types, cruelty-free, and generally free from parabens and harmful chemicals which may cause irritation especially for sensitive skin. They can also be more budget-friendly.

Harmful Ingredients to Avoid:

• Silicones: Found in many shampoos and conditioners, silicones coat the hair, creating temporary shine but can build up over time leading to dryness and breakage. Use a clarifying shampoo if you use products with silicones.
•  Parabens: Common preservatives that can cause irritation. Even products labeled “paraben-free” might still contain other harmful preservatives, like formaldehyde, that can cause skin irritation.
• Sulfates: These lathering agents strip hair of natural oils, potentially causing dryness and irritation.
• Alcohols: Some can dry out skin and hair. Avoid bad alcohols such as Ethanol, Isopropyl, Propanol, Benzyl Alcohol, and SD Alcohol 40. Good alcohols include Cetyl, Stearyl, Cetearyl, and Behenyl Alcohol.
• Added Fragrances: High concentrations can be irritating, although they may smell pleasant.
• Mineral Oil: A less expensive type of moisturizer that can lead to dryness with repeated use and only offers a temporary fix. Opt for more effective oils.

These ingredients are especially common in hair care products and important to watch out for. For skincare, a good tip is to keep your routine simple and skip unnecessary products like toners, face masks, and eye creams. Face moisturizer will suffice for under eyes. It’s also important to keep in mind that ingredients on a product label are listed in descending order, starting with the ingredient that has the highest concentration.

Marketing and Deceptive Practices

Marketing has shifted to fit people’s preferences for natural cosmetics, leading to misleading labels and tricky advertising strategies.

Watch out for claims such as:

• "All natural" or "100% natural"
•  "Organic"
• "Contains antioxidants"
• "Made with real fruits"
• "Preservative free"
• "Free from" or "clean beauty" claims

Types of False Advertising:

• Fraud: Intentional deception.
• Falsity: Inconsistent or incorrect claims.
• Misleading: Creating a false impression about a product’s features.

An example of this would be L’Oreal’s claim that their Génifique Youth Code Products targeted a users’ genes to provide anti-aging benefits. L’Oreal claimed that these products were “clinically proven” to stimulate the production of youth proteins and created younger looking skin in just seven days. These results were claimed to work for only a specific percentage of users. However, these claims were not backed by reliable, scientific evidence, and L’Oreal was charged by the FTC and prohibited from making these claims unless well-supported

False claims can also include hiding or misstating ingredients, exaggerated health benefits, and use of terms like “best” or “perfect.” Although there are regulations for false advertising, companies still sometimes evade them.

If you want to file a complaint for deceptive practices in English or Spanish, visit FTC’s Fraud Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

Sources

Sathyaseelan, Sathyabama, et al. “Cosmeceuticals: A Transit State from Synthetic to Natural.” Indian Journal of Pharmacology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8 Mar. 2024, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11001171/#R6.

Bijauliya, Rohit Kumar, et al. “A Comprehensive Review on Herbal Cosmetics: International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research.” IJPSR, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 1 Dec. 2017, ijpsr.com/bft-article/a-comprehensive-review-on-herbal-cosmetics/?view=fulltext.

Rathee, Priyanka, Renu Sehrawat, Pooja Rathee, Anurag Khatkar, Esra Küpeli Akkol, Sarita Khatkar, et al. “Polyphenols: Natural preservatives with promising applications in food, cosmetics and pharma industries; problems and toxicity associated with synthetic preservatives; impact of misleading advertisements; recent trends in preservation and legislation.” Materials, vol. 16, no. 13, 3 July 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134793.

Howell, Mark. “17 Dangerous Ingredients to Avoid in Hair Care Products.” Consumer Notice, LLC, Consumernotice.org, 31 Jan. 2023, www.consumernotice.org/products/dangerous-hair-care-ingredients/.

Nuseir, Mohammed T. “Impact of misleading/false advertisement to consumer behaviour.” International Journal of Economics and Business Research, vol. 16, no. 4, Sept. 2018, p. 453, https://doi.org/10.1504/ijebr.2018.10016066.

Liu, Henry, and Staff in the Office of Technology. “L’Oréal Settles FTC Charges Alleging Deceptive Advertising for Anti-Aging Cosmetics.” Federal Trade Commission, 3 July 2014, www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2014/06/loreal-settles-ftc-charges-alleging-deceptive-advertising-anti-aging-cosmetics.