Harmful Ingredients to Watch Out For in Skincare Products

Paying attention to what to consider when choosing skincare products forms the foundation of one of the most personal investments we make in our health and well-being.

With hundreds of products on the shelves promising brighter, smoother, and healthier skin, understanding the scientific facts behind these promises is becoming increasingly important.

Our skin is a living and delicate shield that protects us from all the negative effects of the outside world; this shield, which we call the skin barrier, keeps moisture in while letting harmful bacteria and toxins out.

However, behind these colorful and attractive packages, there may be ingredients hidden that can disrupt the skin's delicate balance and do more harm than good.

Using a product without proper knowledge can gradually erode the skin's barrier, leading to dryness, chronic irritation, acne, increased sensitivity, and even premature signs of aging in the long term.

Therefore, knowing what we put on our skin and ceasing to treat ingredient lists on labels like a foreign language, thus becoming an informed consumer, is the most critical step on the road to healthy skin.

Read product labels.

Perhaps the most important thing to consider when choosing skincare products is the art of reading product labels.

When you pick up a skincare product, the key to its success is usually found in the ingredient list, often printed in small print on the back – the INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients).

This list arranges all the ingredients in the product from highest to lowest concentration. This rule gives you a strong clue to understanding the formula:

• The First Five Ingredient Rule: The first 5-6 ingredients on the list make up approximately 80% of the product's formula. These components determine the product's main character, texture, and primary effect. If you see a potentially harmful or useless substance for your skin (e.g., drying alcohol or just fillers) in these early ingredients, the product may struggle to deliver on its promise.

• 1% Limit: Ingredients with a concentration below 1% in the ingredient list do not have to follow the ordering rule and can be placed at the end of the list in a random order. Therefore, an ingredient being at the end does not necessarily mean it is very ineffective; some active ingredients (such as peptides and retinol) are quite effective even at very low percentages.

• Understanding Symbols: The small symbols on labels are also important. For example, an open jar symbol with "6M" or "12M" written on it (PAO - Period After Opening) indicates how many months the product can be safely used after opening.

Don't be afraid of the incomprehensible chemical names; once you learn a few key harmful ingredients and a few key beneficial ingredients that are good for your skin, reading labels will become a habit and even an enjoyable game of detective work.

Key Content Groups to Avoid and Why

Although thousands of different types of content are available on the market, some groups are frequently highlighted by experts due to their potential harms. Here are some of the most common:

• Sulfates (SLS and SLES): Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are harsh cleansers used, particularly in facial cleansers, shower gels, and shampoos, to achieve that rich lather we love so much. Due to their strong oil-dissolving properties, they strip the skin not only of dirt and excess oil, but also of essential lipids and natural moisturizing factors that make up the skin barrier. As a result, the skin becomes excessively dry, tight, flaky, and irritated. Because the skin barrier is weakened, the skin becomes more vulnerable to external factors and allergens.

• Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, etc.): These are very effective preservatives that extend shelf life by preventing bacterial and fungal growth in products. However, there are scientific concerns that they may mimic the estrogen hormone in the body (xenoestrogen) and potentially disrupt hormonal balance. Although this issue is still controversial, many brands have shifted towards "paraben-free" formulas and started using alternative preservatives such as phenoxyethanol in response to consumer demand.

• Synthetic Perfume/Fragrance (Fragrance/Parfum): This single word, innocently appearing as "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredient list, is actually an umbrella term used by brands to keep their formulas secret, and can be a cocktail of hundreds of different chemicals. Chemicals that can disrupt hormones, such as phthalates, may also be hidden within these cocktails. Synthetic fragrances are one of the most common triggers for contact dermatitis, skin allergies, sensitivity, redness, and even migraine headaches.

• Drying Alcohols (Alcohol Denat, SD Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol): These types of alcohol are frequently used in toners and acne products formulated for oily skin. They instantly dissolve excess oil, leaving a fresh, matte feeling and allowing for faster product absorption. However, this immediate effect is an illusion. In the long term, they destroy the skin's protective barrier, completely stripping away natural oils and severely drying the skin. This excessive drying creates a vicious cycle where the skin produces even more oil to protect itself, potentially worsening acne problems.

• Mineral oil and petroleum derivatives (Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum): These ingredients, obtained from refining petroleum, prevent moisture loss (TEWL) by forming a waterproof film layer on the skin's surface. Because of this property, they can act as a protective barrier for very dry skin. However, this "plastic wrap" effect also prevents the skin from breathing. It can clog pores, trapping sweat, dead skin cells, and bacteria inside. This creates a breeding ground for blackheads and pimples (comedones), especially in acne-prone skin.

Important Considerations Based on Skin Type

When choosing skincare products, considerations include general guidelines as well as the specific needs and sensitivities of your skin type.

Every skin has different needs and reacts differently to certain ingredients.

• Acne-Prone and Oily Skin: Ingredients with a high potential to "comedogenic" pores are your biggest enemy. Comedogenicity is generally rated on a scale of 0-5 (5 being the most clogging). You should avoid high-rated ingredients such as coconut oil, cocoa butter, wheat germ oil, mineral oil, and lanolin. Looking for the "non-comedogenic" label on products is a good starting point.

• Sensitive and Allergic Skin: This skin type has a very low reaction threshold. Its biggest enemies are synthetic perfumes, colorants, drying alcohols, and even some natural essential oils (such as lavender, peppermint, and citrus oils). Whenever possible, you should choose hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and minimalist formulas.

• Dry Skin: Harsh cleansers containing sulfates and drying alcohols completely destroy the already weak barrier and meager moisture of dry skin. These ingredients cause the skin to become even tighter, itchy, and flaky. Avoid these moisture-stealing substances and opt for moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin.

• Mature Skin: With age, skin thins, dries, and its barrier function weakens. Therefore, anything that dries and irritates the skin (alcohols, sulfates) makes fine lines and wrinkles more visible. Mature skin especially needs gentle, restorative, and barrier-strengthening formulas, as harsh ingredients that can lead to chronic inflammation can accelerate collagen breakdown.

What is "Clean Cosmetics"? What are the Safe Alternatives?

"Clean Beauty" is a beauty philosophy that consciously removes controversial ingredients from its formulas that are considered harmful to human health and the environment.

Although there is no legally regulated definition, it generally describes products that do not contain substances such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic perfumes, and mineral oil.

So, what can be used as an alternative to this content that is deemed harmful?

• Gentle Cleansers: Instead of sulfates, use sugar and coconut-based, gentle surfactants like Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, and Lauryl Glucoside that do not disrupt the skin's natural structure.

• Natural Moisturizers and Barrier Protectors: Instead of mineral oils, use ingredients naturally found in the skin such as Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Squalene, Ceramides, Shea Butter, and Jojoba Oil.

• Skin-Friendly Alcohols: Instead of drying alcohols, use "fatty alcohols" like Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, and Behenyl Alcohol, which soften and moisturize the skin instead of drying it out.

• Safe Preservatives: Preservative systems considered safer than parabens, such as phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate.

Conclusion

In short, what matters when choosing skincare products isn't about memorizing complex chemical names, but about developing conscious awareness and a kind of "skin literacy." By making it a habit to read labels, you can go beyond marketing promises and better understand what your skin truly needs and what is harming it.

Remember, not every product that's expensive or popular is right for you. Taking these conscious steps can be the most enjoyable part of your journey, finding the cleanest and most effective formulas that best suit your skin.

Visit Polente Natural's skincare products page to discover options formulated with ingredients good for your skin and learn more about what to consider when choosing skincare products.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does a product being labeled "natural" or "organic" mean it's free of harmful ingredients? No, it's not a guarantee. The term "natural" can be used misleadingly for marketing purposes because it's not legally regulated. While organically certified products are a more reliable option, even some natural essential oils, like lavender and tea tree oil, can cause serious allergies and irritation on sensitive skin. It's always safest to check the ingredient list (INCI).

2. Are all types of alcohol on the ingredient list harmful? Absolutely not. While "bad" and short-chain alcohols like Alcohol Denat and SD Alcohol dry out the skin, "good" and long-chain fatty alcohols like Cetyl, Stearyl, and Cetearyl Alcohol are beneficial, waxy components that help moisturize, soften, and improve the texture of the product.

3. Are silicones (like dimethicone) harmful to the skin? This is a highly debated topic. Silicones give the skin a silky, smooth feel and blur pores. They create a barrier on the skin, preventing moisture loss. While considered non-comedogenic, some argue that this barrier traps sweat and bacteria, potentially leading to acne. It's a matter of personal preference; some skin types love silicones, while others don't.

4. Does an ingredient being at the end of the list mean it's harmless? Usually yes. Because ingredients are listed from most concentrated to least concentrated, the concentration of an ingredient at the end of the list is usually very low (typically less than 1%). Except for substances that can cause irritation even in very low percentages, such as perfume or some preservatives, ingredients at the end of the list are unlikely to cause significant harm to the skin.