There are many products available on the market that advertise oil-free, but be careful with these assertions. Let me give you a little perspective. A product that advertises oil-free simply means that it supposedly contains no oil and therefore won’t clog your pores, but this notion is inaccurate and too simplistic. There are numerous ingredients that cause clogged pores that don’t sound like oils. In fact, there are many cosmetics that aren’t in liquid form that contain wax-like thickening agents that are responsible for clogged pores. Even a moisturizer formulated for someone with dry skin can prompt oil production and breakouts for oily skin types. Whenever a product resembles a cream or lotion-y consistency, rather than a fluid one, it’s likely to contain ingredients that’ll aggravate your pores.
Furthermore, many products that advertise to be oil-free are often labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. This gives the illusion of clog-free results, which is untrue at times. If it is clog-free, it isn’t due to the labels because there is no approved or regulated standard for non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. In fact, all you really need to be labeled as such is get the approval of any dermatologist. That could be a friend or someone who has a financial interest in promoting the product. There’s no test or rigorous review the product must go under.
Almost every ingredient used in skincare products other than water can have a negative effect. It really depends on your unique skin and how it reacts to the ingredients. There are other factors such as how it’s formulated and its concentration levels of the ingredient. Ingredients are listed in order of concentration. So if a potentially clogging ingredient is listed toward the end of the list, it’s probably not going to aggravate your pores, as it’s in its lowest concentrations. On the other hand, it could be problematic if it was the second, third, or fourth ingredient on the list. But it really depends on your skin’s reaction. Just because an ingredient could cause breakouts doesn’t mean it will. It also depends on how the product is applied, what it’s used for, and for how long it’s exposed to your skin. For example, a cleanser applied on your skin for a brief period versus a moisturizer that’s left on your skin for most of the day will have varied exposure risks and reactions. Many lists that provide ingredients that are harmful don’t account for these essential details.
After reading all of this, I imagine this discouraging information is offering nothing but bleakness. This message isn’t meant to unmotivated anyone, in spite of how unhelpful this information seems. Unfortunately, with more information often comes more questions than answers such is the case with this. It certainly wasn’t my intent to make others feel helpless and more confused, but I think it’s important to be informed. And sometimes being informed means being confused. But at least now we aren’t diluted.
My suggestion is to ask for samples before committing to any product line, preferably two weeks worth of samples so that your skin has enough to react to the product. Some sales representatives may feel uneasy giving you a large amount of samples, so what you can do is go to more than one department store and ask for the same sample until you accumulate an adequate amount. It’s a little ghetto, but that’s what samples are for. And when you consider how much they expect consumers to pay, I believe we have a right to make an informed decision before spending so much money. And if that means taking advantage of samples, that’s what I’ll do. Always ask before purchasing small samples. You never know generous someone behind the counter might be. When you find success with some of them, familiarize yourself with the ingredients, and look for those ingredients in the future. But let me reiterate that what it’s used for, how long it’s on your face, and its concentration levels determine how the ingredient will react. If a moisturizer with a certain ingredient works wonderfully for you, it’s a good bet that a cleanser with that ingredient won’t irritate your skin unless it interacts negatively with another ingredient. Another practice I incorporate is to consider the consistency. Generally speaking, the thicker the product, the more likely it is to cause breakouts. So for oily prone skin, I recommender gel or serum products. They’re generally pumped with water, not heavy emollients.
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