The skincare industry is full of ambiguous marketing terms that are starting to lose their meaning. Take “unscented” for instance.  While most of us would assume that unscented means that there is no fragrance added to the formula – essential oil, artificial fragrance, or otherwise – that is not always the case.

The unscented, odorless scent is popular among the beauty store shelves. Since it is known that the ingredients that make up “fragrance” can be irritating to your skin, eyes, and lungs, unscented products are typically the choice for those with sensitive skin. But just because it smells like nothing doesn’t mean there is not some harsh chemical ingredient lurking inside. That completely odorless scent that has become synonymous with unscented is typically the work of a chemical masking agent. Think about it. How do so many products, each with a different product formulation, all smell the same? And how, if a manufacturer is using 'only plant based ingredients,' can an unscented product have an undernote scent of chemicals? If you're like us and accustomed to plant based scents, a chemical scent is like the princess and the pea - you can smell it no matter what.   read more >>

For whatever the reason, there is a good chance you know someone who just doesn’t get the “whole organic skin care thing.” We spend the majority of our days creating, talking about, and promoting non-toxic, organic personal care products, and even we have these people in our lives that just don’t get it. If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a thousand times, “my mom and grandma didn’t use non-toxic products and they turned out fine.” Yes, but they weren’t up against the thousands of synthetic chemical ingredients found in our shampoo, makeup, nail polish, or lotion like we are. But we digress…

When it comes to defending our decision to use non-toxic products, those who posed the question in the first place tend to stop listening (is ignorance really bliss?) or dismiss the notion of toxins in their products. “No, [Company X] would ever put formaldehyde in this lipstick.” Um, yeah they would and they have knowingly been doing it for years. Oh! And that Carmine they use to make it red, that's just a pound of crushed up bugs. No big deal.  read more >>

Contrary to how a product is marketed or what ingredients it contains, not all products will work for your skin type. We each have skin that is uniquely different. So, what might work wonders for one person, may not work the same way for you. Luckily, however, there are many products on the market to meet the needs of your individual skin type. Arm yourself with knowledge about your particular skin type so that you will be an informed consumer when you shop.  read more >>

We've discussed how to decipher marketing claims and how to navigate an ingredient label, but one of the most important steps of becoming your own skin care expert is understanding the ingredients themselves. There is no easy way to present a topic of such importance and scale, but below we highlight ingredients to avoid, ingredients to question, and what ingredients to look for.  read more >>

One of the most essential lessons in becoming your own expert is how to read an ingredient label. As we’ve mentioned before, marketing claims on a product do not have to tell you the whole truth, so an ingredient label is the best indication as to the safety of a product. Yet, ingredient labels are packed with hard-to-pronounce, unrecognizable names making it tough to know what you’re buying! We understand your frustration and help break down the standards and regulations behind product labeling so you can be a more confident shopper. read more >>