With so many skincare products vying for your attention (and your money), how do you know which ones are right for you? The most expensive products aren’t necessarily the best.

To find the right skincare products, do your research and read the product label carefully.

Five things to look for on any skincare product label:

Active ingredients- Ingredients are listed in descending order to 1 percent, starting with the largest amount in the product (often water). Ingredients with less than 1 percent can be listed in any order. Check the concentration of ingredients. Many products listing Co-Q10, a substance that helps prevent damage to lipids on the skin’s surface, contain significantly less than the label claims. Look for the USP-verified symbol to be sure you’re getting what you paid for. If you aren’t familiar with an ingredient, check a credible website to see how it works.

Expiration date- Expired products can carry harmful bacteria that can cause irritation, rashes, blemishes, and skin infections. Look for the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol—a floating lid and jar with a number followed by an “M” on it. This symbol tells you how long your product is good for after opening. If the PAO symbol has a 12M on it, the product will expire 12 months after you break the seal or pop the lid. Jot down the date you open the container so you’ll know when to dispose of any unused product. Also, look for a lot number. The lot number ensures that the product is traceable back to its origins in case anything should ever go wrong (just like in food).

Physical sunscreen- Your moisturizer should contain a physical sunblock with an SPF30 or greater. Your lip balm or lipstick should have a physical sunblock with an SPF 15 or greater. Physical sunblock acts as a barrier on the skin to reflect UV rays.

Ingredients that work for your skin type

Depending on whether you have sensitive, dry or oily skin, you’ll want to look for certain ingredients and avoid others.

• Sensitive skin- If you have sensitive skin, the fewer ingredients in a product the better. Don’t use too many anti-aging ingredients. Look for calming ingredients such as green tea polyphenols, chamomile, and aloe.
• Dry skin- Use an ointment or cream—more effective and less irritating for dry skin—instead of a lotion. Look for a cream or ointment containing olive oil, jojoba oil, or shea butter.
• Oily skin- Use an oil-free, non-comedogenic (doesn’t block pores) foaming cleanser that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to prevent breakouts. Oily skin still requires a moisturizer. Choose a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula that contains sunscreen.

Avoid irritating ingredients

Regardless of your skin type, you should avoid ingredients that can irritate your skin, such as parabens, artificial color or fragrance, silicone, and dimethicone. Here are a few specific ingredients to avoid, depending on your skin type:

• Sensitive skin. Avoid sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium laureth sulfate, harsh detergents commonly used in facial cleansers and soaps that break down the natural lipids in your skin. Avoid alcohol, fragrance, and detergents. Lipoic acid, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid may irritate sensitive skin, so proceed with caution if you’re using a skincare product containing these active ingredients.
• Dry skin. Avoid using deodorant soaps or skincare products containing alcohol, fragrance, or alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). Avoiding these ingredients will help your skin retain its natural oils.
• Oily skin. Avoid products with cocoa butter, fragrance, cinnamon, and coconut oil to prevent breakouts in acne-prone skin.

Here at Elan Skin Care, we offer in-clinic treatments and online consultations and can answer any concerns you have about your skin and premature aging. Our highly skilled and certified clinicians are passionate about skincare. Our personalized treatments and medical-grade technologies are results-driven, helping your skin look and feel younger, smoother, and healthier.