How a Dermatologist Reads an Ingredient Label

A dermatologist reads an ingredient label the way a mechanic reads an engine, looking past the front-of-bottle claims to the list that actually tells the truth, and the method is simple enough for anyone to learn. The ingredient list is ordered by concentration, from highest to lowest, and most of what a product will actually do to your skin is revealed in the first several names.The first lesson is that position reflects amount. The first five or six ingredients typically make up the bulk of the product, usually water, humectants, and emollients, while actives like niacinamide or vitamin C may sit further down, where their concentration is lower. A product that advertises an active ingredient in the name but lists it near the bottom is selling the idea of the ingredient more than a meaningful dose of it.Dermatologists also scan for the red flags that skin reacts to, looking for fragrance, essential oils, alcohol near the top of the list, and known irritants. The presence of these ingredients, not the presence of impressive-sounding botanicals, is often what determines whether a product