June 2016

If you are looking for a way to look up the ingredients in your skin care products, this may be a good place to start. These are a few resources that I use to look up cosmetic ingredients as I like to be able to recognize the what each ingredient is and it's purpose.

What's in your skin care products?

For instance, you go grocery shopping and look at the ingredients for ice cream: milk, cream, eggs - sounds good! Why not do the same for cosmetics? After all, you are going to put it all up on your face, right? Once you recognize the most commonly used ingredients you will be able to say "Oh, this is a preservative" or "Oh, this has Vitamin C in it." You can even take it a step further: When faced with two similarly priced products, you can compare the ingredients and make a more informed purchasing decision based on your skin's needs.

DHC Skincare & Ingredients Glossary

I am adding this one above Paula's Choice because of how user friendly it is. All of the ingredients are on one page so it is easier to look up ingredients while shopping around. It does not contain the research or sources that the other ingredient databases have, but it gives you exactly what you need when you are searching for something quickly.

Paula's Choice Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary

This is my go-to database when I am shopping around and come across an ingredient I don't recognize. You will find most ingredients you are inquiring about here so it is kind of a one stop shop for information. I also appreciate how sources are cited for many of the ingredients listed so you can use it as a springboard for further research.

COSDNA

I don't use this site often, but I really should. You can search by the ingredient or by the product and it's cool because say you want to buy something with Green Tea Extract in it - you can search by the ingredient and it will list products that contain Green Tea Extract. When you search by product you are taken to a breakdown of ingredients in the product where they are ranked for: Acne, Irritant and Safety. If you are very acne prone, you can check to see if a product you are considering contains common acne triggers. This database contains a lot of user submitted information so it is constantly growing.

EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database

This database does not go into much detail about what the particular ingredient is used for like Paula's Choice, but it does provide a list of the basic functions of the ingredient as well as alternate names that the ingredient may go by. It also brings to light any concerns that may be associated with the ingredient and lists sources.

Examine.com - Your Unbiased Source on Nutrition and Supplements

This database does not have an extensive list of cosmetic ingredients, but the ones they do have are easy to understand. They even take things a step further and summarize various scientific studies and provide sources as well. The database is more for nutrition / supplement ingredient information rather than cosmetic information.

National Center for Biotechnology Information

This is one of my favorite sites to go to if you enjoy reading research material. Since I like to DIY serums, I come here to read about the effectiveness of certain ingredients such as L-Ascorbic Acid and Niacinamide. I like to learn how the experiments were performed and what the results were.

In the end, if you just want a quick go-to database where you will find a majority of the ingredients you are looking for; I would recommend checking DHC Skincare & Ingredients Glossary or Paula's Choice Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary first; then check the product out on COSDNA for acne triggers / irritants if that is an issue for you. I will continue to update this post if I come across any other databases that I have found to be useful.

It is often difficult to find products that work with my Oily / Combination / Acne Prone skin and it took a long time to get to where I am today. Now that I have gotten the acne under control, my biggest concern is skin texture, enlarged pores and of course, anti-aging.

It's a slow process - as it should be!

The first step is the Patch Test Phase. This is a very important step because you will need to monitor your skin closely. During this time, please continue all other products that you are currently using. These factors must remain constant in order to accurately determine how your skin will react to the new product. Select two patch test locations. One reactive and one non-reactive. For example, my reactive area is my right cheek where I break out very easily. My non-reactive area is my chin because I never break out there. If my chin has a reaction then I'll know something is wrong.

I've had my share of product blunders and I wish I could fully convey how absolutely important it is to observe VERY closely during the patch test phase. One little white head is your skin telling you to slow down. One mistake can cause months or even years of trouble. Even though I went through a long and painful experience with this; I did learn a lot: Listen to your skin. Don't get hung up on the product itself, and don't try to make it work - I don't care how pretty the packaging is! If you would like to read more about my experience and how I learned to listen to my skin Click Here.

If you put a new product on your skin and it turns red, burns, etc. wash it off immediately! This product is not right for you.

PATCH TEST PHASE

Week 1: Apply New Product ONCE a day on Tuesday and Friday.
Week 2: Apply New Product ONCE a day on Tuesday and Friday.

If you got through the patch test phase without any negative effects such as irritation, itchiness, white heads, acne, etc. Then continue the transition.

TRANSITIONING

Week 3: Apply New Product ONCE a day on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
Week 4: Apply New Product ONCE a day on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.
Week 5: Apply New Product ONCE a day, every other day.
Week 6: Apply New Product ONCE a day, every other day.
Week 7: Apply New Product ONCE a day, every day.
Week 8: Apply New Product TWICE a day (if applicable).

If you are replacing a product currently in your routine you will need to alternate the new product and the old product and then slowly phase out the old one. For instance, if I am replacing my moisturizer that I use nightly; I will continue to apply it every night except for the two days in the Patch Test Phase where I will apply the new moisturizer.

I've said this time and time again, but skin care is a lot like your diet. If you completely change your diet over night then you are in for a lot of tummy troubles. Transition slowly and observantly - your skin will thank you for it!