The truth about "hypoallergenic" and "dermatologist tested" labels on cosmetics

Have you ever noticed the term 'dermatologist tested' on a beauty product and wondered what it really means? When we see this statement on a product we feel that it is safer to use. The term suggests that some dermatologists out there have performed various tests on this product, and therefore it is safe to use on all skin types and unlikely to cause allergies and irritations. 

Unfortunately it is not that simple. Everyone's skin is different and because of this even an ingredient that is safe for the majority of people may still have side effects on someone's skin. Every ingredient, even natural, can cause an adverse reaction in someone. The truth is that the term 'dermatologist tested' doesn't really mean anything. The use of this term is not regulated in any way, so it means whatever a certain company wants it to mean. Products labeled with this term are indeed tested by a dermatologist, but they are not as thorough as people believe. As it has been mentioned before since the use of this term is not regulated in anyway so a brand can not be accused of using the term in a misleading way because no one knows what the term exactly means in the first place. 

Also if you have sensitive skin which is prone to allergies you might often reach for cosmetic products which have a "hypoallergenic", "allergy tested" or "safe for sensitive skin" label on them. Just like in the case of the label "dermatologist tested" which is not regulated by the FDA (or equivalent institution in other countries), again in the case of the term "hypoallergenic" it is rather a marketing tool and means whatever a company wants it to mean since companies aren't required to submit any proof to the FDA. Therefore a product that is thought to be more suitable and safer for sensitive skin can still contain ingredients that cause allergies. If you read the labels of cosmetic products you will notice that most cosmetic companies (even those that produce so called "hypoallergenic" products) use mostly the same basic ingredients in their products. Not to mention that it is really impossible to guarantee that a beauty product will never cause an allergic reaction to one of its users.

Therefore instead of paying more money for products labeled as "hypoallergenic" and "dermatologist tested" you should learn which ingredients which are good for your skin and those your skin does not react well to and and always carefully read the ingredient list of every new product you want to buy.