Science and technology have come a long way in skin care products. Cosmetic and beauty experimentation is an intriguing 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 develop effective products. However, many unscrupulous skin care creators will simply take advantage of one’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 natural. Actually, some of these skin care products may 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 are not good in any type of skin care products. Bismuth is a mineral and is arguably natural. However, it has to 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 - Deeply dyed products often contain lots of artificial colors. In addition, they may need extra chemicals to maintain the color and the freshness of the skin care products. Many people think artificial colors and fragrances are the same. In reality, however, artificial fragrances are much less of an issue because they often are derived from natural extracts and then chemically processed. These extracts come in low concentrations and are often not major allergens. (There are, of course, exceptions to this.) Bright blues and yellows, however, usually indicate serious levels of preservatives and chemical dyes.

* Inspect the size of your mineral makeup powder - If your mineral makeup boasts microscopic particles, back off. While mineral makeup is great for your skin, it is not necessarily ideal within. Microscopic particles (nanoparticles) may be absorbed by your skin. This could result in unpleasant allergic reactions. In addition, mineral makeup is not tested for the effects of epidermal absorption. So as a result, there isn’t 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 vary in many forms and fashions. Everyone has their own personal favorites. But don’t let this cloud your judgment about the quality of your skin care products. Always watch out for the imitations and make sure that your skin care product regimen is truly the best for you.