How to Read Labels
How to Read Labels:
Looking at labels can be exceedingly overwhelming- especially with all the complex chemical terminology.
This breakdown of chemical terms can serve as a guide to quickly identify and distinguish certain compounds, making clean cosmetic shopping that much simpler.
How does the Ingredient list work?
Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight- the beginning ingredients make up most of the product, whilst the ingredients listed at the very end of the product are contained in very small quantities.
Watch out for Parabens disguised in
complex chemical names such as:
-Methylparaben (4-hydroxybenzoate)
-Ethylparaben
-Propylparaben
-Butylparaben
-Isopropylpentane
-Isobutylparaben
Watch out for Sulfates disguised in
complex chemical names such as:
-Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) (commonly found in toothpaste)
-Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
-Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS)
-Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)
-Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA)
-Sodium Coco-Sulfate (SCS)
-Sodium Myreth Sulfate
-Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
​
Watch out for Phtahaltes disguised in
complex chemical names such as:
-Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
-Dimethyl phthalate (DMP)
-Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP)
-Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)
-Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP)
-Diisononyl phthalate (DINP)
-Diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP)
-Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
[Lotion]
Crest Complete Plus (Scope Advanced Freshness)
[Toothpaste]
Diethyl phthalate (DEP)
Certifications:
Certifications are a great way to easily identify a key trait of a cosmetic product! These are a few certifications to look out for when you’re shopping:
USDA Organic:
It is imperative to know that the FDA does not define/regulate the term “organic”, as it applies to cosmetics, body care, or personal care products.
USDA regulates the term “organic” as it applies to agricultural products through its National Organic Program (NOP) regulation, 7 CFR Part 205.
“Made with organic ingredients”-- Products contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients and product labels can list up to three of the organic ingredients or “food” groups on the principal display panel. For example, body lotion made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients (excluding water and salt) and only organic herbs may be labeled either “body lotion made with organic lavender, rosemary, and chamomile,” or “body lotion made with organic herbs.” Products may not display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent’s name and address.
Beauty Brands that are USDA Organic Certified (United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. (2008). [3]
​​
Animal Test- Free Certification:
An Animal Test- Free certification means that NO animal testing was performed when formulating a product. For the “PETA Approved Global Animal Test Policy” logo, companies, and brands must commit never to conduct, commission, pay for, or allow tests on animals at any phase of development, for both ingredients and final products. (Peta. (2010, June 23). What is Beauty Without Bunnies? | PETA.
Cruelty-Free: When a company not only bans animal tests but also refuses to use any
animal-derived ingredients, such as honey, beeswax, collagen, or carmine, in its products.
Brand Spotlight
Dr. Bronner’s:
Dr. Bronner’s is celebrated for their unique soaps. Founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, from a German-Jewish soap-making family, Dr. Bronner prides itself on its USDA-certified soaps that are ethically sourced. Furthermore, Dr. Bonner is a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has participated in numerous Pride parades and festivals across the country.
Cocokind:
Cocokind is an American brand founded by Priscilla Thai in 2015, renowned for its botanical-forward skincare. At Cocokind you’ll find your skincare essentials in a clean sustainable product. What I love about Cocokind, is that they promote good causes and values. For instance, Cocokind supported Mental Health Awareness Month by partnering with Active Minds to raise awareness and spread kindness about young adult mental health. (Barbour, S. (2024, April 30). May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Save Ralph is a short film with Taika Waiti by the “Humane World for Animals” channel. This heartbreaking film entails the life of animals that go through animal testing, it is very telling about the harsh realities that are put into play to cremate our everyday cosmetics. This film to me personally, truly made me step back and have a second thought about where our everyday cosmetics really originated from. #SaveRalph
PETA has produced a generator where you can freely search any cosmetic brand and see if they
test on animals or not
Vegan Certifications:
​Vegan certifications are awarded to products that do not contain any animal products including meat, fish fowl, animal-by products, etc.
In addition, products must not contain any animal-derived GMOs or animal-derived genes used to manufacture the product as a whole. [4]
Your cosmetic product may actually not be vegan as you may think. Numerous brands implement extracts from the Cochineal beetle to create a cool-toned pink/red shade. This buggy dye is commonly referred to as “CARMINE” and is NOT vegan
*CARMINE is the third most common colorant that is utilized in cosmetics. [5]
Greenwashing Red Flags in Cosmetics
Many brands implement certain eye catching eye words to influence the consumer into buying the product although some of these keywords may not actually be what you thought they were:
-“Hypoallergenic” Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim produce fewer allergic reactions than other cosmetic products. This in turn leads consumers to believe that these products will be gentler to their skin than non-hypoallergenic cosmetics. [6]
There are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term “hypoallergenic”. The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean making it discreditable among all cosmetics manufacturers. Hypoallergenicity claims are not supported by the FDA.
​-“Chemical-free” A "chemical-free" claim on a cosmetic product is almost never true. All cosmetics, even those considered "clean," are composed of chemicals. Given that many chemicals are not harmful, the phrase "chemical-free" on a label is ultimately baseless.
Reverence page:
[1] (PubChem. (2019). Methylparaben. Nih.gov; PubChem. (Parabens. (2022, October 14). Chemical Safety Facts.
[2] (Um, K. (2023, July 12). CLEAN BEAUTY - Full List of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalateand Other Harsh Chemicals to Avoid (Updated Jan 2024). Redox Medical Group.
[3] USDA. (2019). Agricultural Marketing Service. Usda.gov.
[4] Certification - Vegan Action (2017)
[5] (Carmine Color inCosmetics. (2022, March 21). Afterglow Cosmetics.
[6] (Nutrition,C. for F. S. and A. (2022). “Hypoallergenic” Cosmetics. FDA.
[7] USDA. “The Organic Seal | Agricultural Marketing Service.” Usda.gov, 2019,
[8] Leaping Bunny Program. “The Leaping Bunny Logo | Leaping Bunny.”
[10] “About Us.” Cocokind, 2025, www.cocokind.com/pages/about-us?
[11] “Vegan Action.” Vegan Action, 2019, vegan.org/.
[12] National Institute of Standards and Technology. “Appendix #1: Density of Water.” NIST Chemistry Webbook, vol. 69, 2023,