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Science and technology have come a long way in skin care products. Cosmetic and beauty research is an interesting arena because so much folkloric knowledge is relevant. As a result, it can be difficult to determine just what works and does not work. The best skin care products use science, technology, testing and conventional wisdom to make effective products. However, many unscrupulous 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, a lot of “natural” skin care products are anything but. In fact, some of these products can actually cause serious and chronic skin problems. Here are a few things to look for that can cause a big problem when it comes to your skin care routine:

* Always check for concentrations - Some products contain extremely high concentrations of natural compounds that are not particularly good for you. For example, high concentrations of bismuth aren’t good in any type of makeup. Bismuth being a mineral which is arguably natural. However, it must undergo lots of chemical processing to achieve a cosmetic form. This processing can cause allergic reactions in quite a few people.

* Be on the look out for artificial colors - Heavily dyed products often contain lots of artificial colors. In addition, they may need additional chemicals to preserve the color and the freshness of the skin care products. Many will group artificial colors and fragrances together. In reality, however, artificial fragrances are less of an issue because they are quite derived 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.) However, Bright blues and yellows usually indicate serious levels of preservatives and chemical dyes.

* Examine 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 absorbed by your skin. This may 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. If your mineral makeup contains conventionally sized particles, they cannot be absorbed in this fashion.

Skin care products come in many shapes and fashions. We all have our personal favorites. Don’t let this cloud your judgment about the quality of your skin care products though. Always watch out for the fakes and make sure that your skin care product regimen is really the best for you.