The human skin is the biggest of our organs. However, when we treat our skin with cosmetics, there are cosmetics ingredients which are dangerous to our health. Although it is important that cream soaks in quickly, shower gel smells pleasantly and shampoo cleans our hair, all the skin and body care products have to be sensitive to our skin. Although good smell and look are important, chemical and non-natural ingredients in cosmetics should be kept to a minimum. Laws have been established throughout the last years which facilitate the reduction of harmful ingredients. Certain ingredients in cosmetics are defined according to the INCI, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients. These specifications are valid for Europe. Therefore, ingredients on cosmetics packaging of makeup or natural cosmetics are printed in English. This international publication duty makes sense, as there is a quite extensive list of more than 1,200 cosmetics ingredients which are harmful and forbidden. It is vital to keep this list in mind when purchasing skin care products for babies, children and teenagers who have an extraordinary sensitive skin. Cosmetics ingredients are presented in the order which is dominated by the amount contained in the product. Consumers can make use of an online dictionary of cosmetic ingredients. ^

 

Strict legal obligations are of utmost importance for people who suffer from an allergy and are extremely dependent on the honest declaration of ingredients of their skin care products. A consumer cannot always consult an international cosmetic ingredient dictionary. However, every 10th user of cosmetics faces skin problems. Especially allergies are encountered frequently. Lots of allergies are caused by fragrances. Then, it is often not known which scent agent exactly causes the reaction as reactions usually do not appear directly after the first usage, but might develop over several weeks or months. There are more than 2,600 ingredients which are known to cause allergies. If a consumer encounters skin or health problems, one should use cosmetics to a lower extent. Information on the products packaging can give you hints on ingredients which one could look up in a cosmetic ingredient dictionary. A careful approach to new cosmetics or cosmetics which men and women use for the first time, is to abide by the recommendations on the packaging. This often includes the recommendation to test new cosmetics such as cream, lotion or deodorant before first use at non-visible parts of the skin.