Beauty Marketing Words That Mean Nothing

Some words on a box are regulated. Most are not. Knowing which is which saves a lot of money.

The usual suspects

• Dermatologically tested means testing happened under dermatological supervision. It does not say what was tested, on how many people, or what the result was.
• Hypoallergenic means formulated to reduce the chance of a reaction. It is not a guarantee and it is not certified.
• Non-comedogenic suggests a lower tendency to block pores. Useful shorthand, not an absolute.
• Clean, natural, chemical-free have no agreed definition. Poison ivy is natural; water is a chemical.

What to do instead

Read the first five ingredients, patch test, and introduce one product at a time. Three habits outperform every badge on the packaging.