What People Think It Means: 
That you’ve started aging earlier than you should’ve. (And that you can use “anti-aging” products to rewind the clock.)

What It Actually Means:
“Aging” is simply the passage of time… which is always passing. Therefore, you can’t really age ahead of schedule now can you? What this term really refers to an accelerated degradation of skin components (like collagen & elastin) that lead to the physical symptoms of aging (like wrinkles, sagging skin, hyperpigmentation, more delicate skin, etc.) a bit earlier than average OR earlier than your skin *would* breakdown in its healthiest state.

What People Think It Means:
Many people have a general sense that antioxidants help “detox” your body of damage done to your cells.

What It Actually Means:
This definition isn’t totally off, but it’s a bit more complicated. Essentially, antioxidants help neutralize the activity of free radicals, which are unstable molecules that come from external factors (such as UV rays, pollution molecules, etc.) which can damage the integrity of the skin barrier, breaking down collagen, and overall increasing your skin’s sensitivity. (Aka amplifying all of your current skin issues.) Learn more about antioxidants on our blog >>

What People Think It Means:
People usually think of “clean beauty” as being non-toxic & “natural”, making these products safer to use.

What It Actually Means:
The problem here is that “clean beauty” is an unregulated term. Typically it refers to products that lack known allergens or otherwise harmful ingredients, therefore indeed making it safer. But it is not a verification of the the product actually being safer.

Our Take: Clean beauty should simply be about being transparent your product’s ingredients, and why they’re safe, whether they’re manmade or found in nature.

What People Think It Means:
That this product will be totally scentless, and free of any odors or associated irritants.

What It Actually Means:
“Fragrance Free” simply means that there is no added fragrance to the product. These products do tend to be lighter in scent because of this, but there may still be a slight, naturally-occuring smell of the ingredients.

“Fragrance Free” products also tend to be free of essential oils, which are common irritants for sensitive skin, but make sure to check the label for other, non-scent-related irritants.

What People Think It Means:
No animals were harmed in the making or testing of this product. It’s also often used synonymously with “vegan”.

What It Actually Means:
This perceived definition is a bit closer to the mark. Again, neither of these terms are super regulated, but essentially, “vegan” skincare products simply use no animal products within the formula itself— this doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t tested on animals. “Cruelty free” skincare, meanwhile, indicates that the products use no animal parts and did not involve any animal testing. Therefore, Cruelty Free ≠ Vegan

What People Think It Means:
Often associated with terms like “botanicals” & “organic”, many people assume that “natural” ingredients are free of toxic chemicals, making them safer & healthier.

What It Actually Means:
Since none of these terms are really regulated, however, it can be kind of murky as to what each brand actually means when using “natural” “botanical” or “organic” ingredients”.

We like the term “botanical ingredients” because it’s a little more specific— it simply just means that it’s derived from (or inspired by) plants. One plus of this is that usually means the ingredient sources are easier to recognize. But it’s important to remember natural ≠ healthier.

What People Think It Means:
Achieving flawless, smooth skin after returning this outer layer of skin to optimal health.

What It Actually Means:
The skin barrier consists of the uppermost layer of epidermal cells sealed with lipids & sebum to create a protective wall, designed to prevent water loss in the lower layers of skin. This yields a great number of benefits for the skin, preventing dryness, irritation, sensitivity, collagen breakdown, etc. which can occur if this barrier is disrupted. “Barrier Repair” products help keep this wall healthy & hydrated.

What People Think It Means:
These labels give the appearance that this product has been thoroughly tested and is trusted by professionals.

What It Actually Means:
The key here is to note the difference between “Dermatologist Tested” and “Dermatologist Approved”. Similar to the term, “Clinically Tested”, all this indicates is that the product has, in fact, undergone clinical testing— and nothing about the results of this testing. “Dermatologist Approved” meanwhile, indicates that at least one dermatologist oversaw the clinical evaluation of this product, and approved it as safe & effective.

What People Think It Means:
The term “chemical” has gotten a bad rap over the years, with many coming to associate anything “chemical” as toxic & artificial.

What It Actually Means:
In reality though, EVERYTHING is a chemical. The air we breathe, the water we drink, even “natural” ingredients… everything can be reduced down to a chemical name. So you can’t really avoid chemicals altogether. Instead you just want to be aware of the ingredients that are potentially harmful– a good place to start is The Good Face Project, which independently reviews the safety of thousands of skincare products!