Your Problem:
I
have very sensitive skin and have been told that I should use only
hypoallergenic products. I have used some that state that they are
hypoallergenic and yet I breakout and then some that state 'nothing'.
Am I safe? What do you recommend?
Our Solution:
There
have been many schools of thought where hypoallergenic products are
concerned. The following excerpts from the US Food and Drug (FDA)
website, I have found to be quite informative.
“Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim produce
fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetic products. Consumers with
hypersensitive skin, and even those with normal skin, may be led to
believe that these products will be gentler to their skin than
non-hypoallergenic cosmetics”.
However,
according to the FDA, “There are no Federal standards or definitions
that govern the use of the term hypoallergenic. The term means whatever
a particular company wants it to mean. The term
"hypoallergenic" may have considerable market value in promoting
cosmetic products to consumers on a retail basis, but dermatologists
say it has very little meaning”.
They
continue, “Consumers concerned about allergic reactions from cosmetics
should understand one basic fact: there is no such thing as a
"nonallergenic" cosmetic--that is, a cosmetic that can be guaranteed
never to produce an allergic reaction."
A practice that I find very helpful is a basic patch test. Before using
any cosmetic product on the face for the first time, test a bit on a
small area. Leave this on for a few hours. This will tell if you have a
reaction to the product or not.
Finally, never apply any makeup to bare skin. Always wear your moisturizer. This acts as a protective barrier for your skin.
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