Science and technology have come a long way in skin care products. Cosmetic and beauty testing is an intriguing arena because so much folkloric knowledge is relevant. As a result, it can be very difficult to determine just what works and does not work. The finest skin care products use science, technology, testing and conventional wisdom to develop effective products. However, many unethical skin care creators simply take advantage of people’s willingness to believe that a product should work because it has a good name or says that it is “natural” on the label. In reality, many “natural” skin care products are anything but. In fact, some of these skin care products can actually cause serious and chronic skin problems. Here are some things to look out for that will cause a big problem when it comes to your skin care routine:

* Check for concentrations - Some products contain extremely high concentrations of natural compounds that aren’t very good for you. For instance, high concentrations of bismuth are not good in any type of makeup. Bismuth being a mineral which is arguably natural. However, it must first undergo lots of chemical processing to make it to cosmetic form. This processing will cause allergic reactions in many people.

* Always look out for artificial colors - Heavily dyed products often contain lots of artificial colors. Plus they may need extra chemicals to maintain the color and the freshness of the skin care products. Many will group artificial colors and fragrances together. In reality, however, artificial fragrances are much less of an issue because they often originate from natural extracts and then chemically processed. They come in low concentrations and are often not major allergens. (Of course there are always exceptions to this.) Bright blues and yellows, however, usually indicate very high levels of preservatives and chemical dyes.

* What is the size of your mineral makeup powder - Don’t use it if your mineral makeup boasts microscopic particles. While mineral makeup can be great for your skin, but its not necessarily ideal inside it. Microscopic particles (nanoparticles) may be soaked up by your skin. This could result in unpleasant allergic reactions. Additionally, mineral makeup has not been tested for the effects of epidermal absorption. As a result, there is not a whole bunch of information about the long term effects of this type of unintended absorption. Mineral makeup with conventionally sized particles cannot be absorbed in this fashion.

Skin care products come in many shapes and fashions. Everyone has personal favorites. Don’t let this cloud your judgment about the quality of your skin care products though. Always watch out for the imitations and make sure that your skin care product regimen is truly the best for you.