Today is the day to try something new in YOUR skin care!

But how do you go about choosing a new skin cream?  Ask questions, test the cream on your skin or ask a person who is using a cream different from yours why they are using it.  The first things to consider are,  what do you want the skin cream to do and,  What ingredients are good for you?

Here are some additional questions for a basic start.

1. What is the difference between Natural and Organic?

According to Dr. Doris Day in the April 2008 issue of Health magazine:

• Natural refers to ingredients derived from plants, minerals, or algae.
• Organic describes substances grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and processed without man-made chemicals.
• Made with Organic Ingredients means that 70% or greater of the ingredients are organic content.
• USDA Certified Organic is the highest standard.  USDA Certified Organic means that 95-100% of ingredients must meet USDA organic standards for food and will soon have standards for organic cosmetics.  Look for more information about USDA Certified Organic standards.
• Most products that contain “organic” ingredients have never been through clinical trials in beauty and skin care, so their overall superior effectiveness hasn’t been definitively proven.

2. What type of preservatives are used in creams

Synthetic such as Parabens are the most commonly used preservatives in personal care products. However, Parabens are only one group of many different types of preservatives that have been shown to cause a host of skin irritations, such as dryness, redness and even breakouts.   Of the synthetic preservatives, paraben-based preservatives seem by far less dangerous, both for the skin, and for the environment, than most other types of synthetic type of preservatives.

When caring for sensitive skin, it’s important to avoid all types of synthetic preservatives especially if it is the only type used in a skin care product.

Natural preservatives are less effective for extending shelf life and protecting against bacteria, fungi, yeast and other potentially dangerous microorganisms.  Some of the natural inhibitors may actually themselves be toxic to your skin.  So it is important for you to ensure that the ingredients in the creams are right for the chemistry of your personal skin.

A combination of both types in a product is advisable.  Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference, but be informed of the ingredients in what you are buying.

3. Does the order of ingredients mean anything?

The order of ingredients indicates the ranking of the ingredients by volume.  You do not see ingredients listed as a percentage of the whole formulation, e.g. Water 25%, Aloe 45% (Not correct percentages in a particular brand of cream) because it would make the creams easier to duplicate by other manufacturers.

4. Why do some of the ingredients have the names in latin

There is great variation in the quality of the individual ingredients either in the type of plant or chemical formulation used that may have the same generic name. .  For instance, honey is not just the color you see in the stores.  Honey comes in a wide variety of colors from tan to black as tar.  It depends on the source plant or tree that the bees pollinate.  By giving its scientific name in Latin, the user can determine from research what is in the cream.  If not sure, communicate with the manufacturer.

Look on line for types of honey and see the wide difference.  Look at Vitamins C, E, & B on different brand labels to verify the wide range of composition materials for each one of these.  So if I was looking for Vit C, I would have a problem determining which may be best for me if I did not have it specified in latin what type of Vitamin C I decided on.

Be careful if you are looking for a certain well-researched ingredients: write them down, check the spelling, and be sure you are getting what you really want.  Remember also that certain ingredients may be specific to only a certain brand.

5. What is the shelf life of most natural skin care products

Most Natural Products have a shelf life of 3 -6 months depending on the type of preservative used.

6. Are all skin care products safe?

There is a huge difference between products so it all depends on the brand.  Ninety percent of the major manufacturers are careful about what is contained in their products.  Remember, legal suits are expensive and bad publicity can be a product killer.  So they are very careful.

Small companies may have ingredients that are outright harmful as a result of not having scientifically trained people formulating the products.

The best protection for any user is to be aware of the nature and quality of the ingredients.  Search for any information on the internet about the company and the ingredients if in doubt.

7. Can skin creams “cure” the problems in/on my skin.

By law, companies cannot make any claims about curing unless Okayed by the FDA.  Natural products generally do not seek FDA approval because of costs and time.  There are times when the “problem is actually cured”.  Other times, it is controlled by frequent or consistent use of the creams.

The ultimate criteria for “cures” rest in the nature of the skin problem.  Some abnormalities are just not medically or naturally curable.  This is not an attempt to be humorous but at times claiming something is “cured” depends on what the definition parameters are for a successful “cure”.  For instance, having a painful rash that is not red or itchy anymore after using a cream when a discoloration of the skin may still be evident to people.  The person may be satisfied just not to be itching and that is a success to them.

8. How long will it take to see improvement in my skin?

From 15 minutes for a softer skin; within three days for most of the different types of skin problems.  Natural ingredients may take longer.  With Synthetic ingredients, the time it takes may be quite spectacular in the amount of time there is visible results.  However, there is more danger of harmful side effects using synthetics.

My question is this; how can one expect total natural results using unnatural ingredients.

Something else to consider is the prolific amount of new technology and new discoveries that occur in the cosmetic/cosmeceutical industrty.  One will not work today may work tomorrow.  So, keep on trying to find the ultimate solution for you!

9. How can I know what the experience has been for other people using a certain products?

It is best to go to a manufacturer’s web page to see actual testimonies from real people.  Do not depend on their advertising.  Also search on google.com to see if there are any negative comments about the product or the company.

10. Is price a good guide for the quality of skin products.

Price does not guarantee the quality of the product.  It may at times be an indication of quality, but not of its effectiveness on your skin.

Now that you have a basic knowledge, start searching.  Don’t stay in a rut; your skin won’t!