3 tips on buying beauty products

By Ria Francisco-Prieto
Philippine Daily Inquirer

I HAVE learned the hard and expensive way that there should be no rush when it comes to buying makeup.

Last week, I had to go through the same painful reminder again. This time, I swore to myself that if my time was limited, I had no business buying makeup I was not familiar with. Here are three things we should remember when purchasing our beauty arsenal:

Open the box

After asking for your shade at the counter, a sales assistant usually hands you the product in a box. It’s unwise to go straight to the cashier. Open the box to check the case and product.

I rushed to pay for my fave Guerlain Meteorites compact. When I got home, I was saddened to discover the case was broken. Since I had no time to return the product, I’m using it despite the broken container. I have no one to blame but myself since I was in a hurry. Luckily for me, it wasn’t the product that was broken but just the case.

Read ingredients

Most skin problems are due to harmful ingredients in beauty products. On your visit to a dermatologist, ask what ingredients you should stay away from. Here are the top five harmful ingredients you should avoid:

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA). Found in moisturizers, toners, cleansers and age spot removers. Potential harm: AHA are known to accelerate the exfoliation of dead skin but also makes our skin 50 percent more sensitive to the sun. It is safe if it is less than 10-percent concentrate.

Formaldehyde. Found in nail polish, shampoos, soaps and skin creams. Potential harm: This is a potentially irritating preservative which is already banned in Japan and Sweden for cosmetic use.

Propylene Glycol. Found in suntan lotions, lipsticks and other toiletries. Potential harm: Its humectant properties that keep products from getting dry has been linked to liver and kidney abnormalities. It may also irritate skin and eyes. Alternative ingredients are glycerin and sorbitol.

Check expiration date

Products are not meant to last forever. This especially applies to lotions and vitamins for skin and hair. Check expiration dates. If no expiration date is written, here is a guide:

Anti-aging and acne treatments: Three months to a year

Bar of soap: Two to three years

Bath products: Two to three years

Body lotions: Two to three years

Eye and lip pencils: Three to five years

Hairstyling products: Two to three years

Lipsticks and gloss: Two years

Mascara and liquid eyeliner: Three to four months

Nail polish: A year

Perfumes: About two years

Shaving creams: About two years