In my constant pursuit of keeping my skin clear and healthy, I have learned a lot about what ingredients to avoid when buying makeup or skin care products. A lot of which I have learned by trial and error…and then doing my research. *eye roll*

So to save everyone the headache or frustration that comes along with unsuccessful skin care, I have compiled a list of the top 4 ingredients you should be steering clear of when it comes to your face products!

1. Silicones
Silicones are supposed to make your skin feel silky and smooth. Sounds great, right? Well not so fast… Apparently silicones can be one of the leading culprits in clogging pores and dehydrating your skin. When this happens and the skin is dehydrated, it can cause redness, irritation, scarring, and lead to break outs.

2. Parabens
Parabens are used to extend the shelf life of products. In turn, they can be extremely toxic to the skin and disrupt the balance of the endocrine system. The FDA has also acknowledged several studies linking parabens as cancer-causing agents. So, remember: Parabens = Hormone Messer Uppers. No, thanks!

3. Alcohols
Alcohol is supposed to increase the penetration of the product into the skin. Here’s what it actually does: Alcohol can cause the skin to become dehydrated, irritated and not to mention, it’s extremely comedogenic. *Note: the higher up the alcohol is on the ingredient list, the more problematic it could be. Yikes!

4. Fragrance and Dyes
Added fragrance and artificial dyes are supposed to make the product look and smell good. However, research shows that perfumes and dyes are hugefactors in skin sensitivity and irritation. On top of that, fragrances can disrupt your hormones and are among the top allergens in the world and dyes have been suspected to be a human carcinogen.

So next time you’re shopping for makeup or skin care products, be sure to check if the ingredients are free of the chemical additives above. Your skin will thank you for this later! 😉

Side note: a lot of these ingredients can be disguised by a sneaky alias (or big scientific names), so when in doubt: Research before you buy!