ITS HARD BUT NECESSARY: READING PRODUCT INGREDIENTS

Dear Sugar,
Reading product labels is necessary as long as you want to get the most out of your time and money. We just can’t continue being lazy about this. See, I used to be like that, honestly. For most of us, we believe that checking product labels is a waste of time. Why would anyone want to waste their time reading a list of weird items they don’t even understand? I mean it’s crazy. It’s like we all think that the NAFDAC Number (and maybe the expiry date) is usually the ultimate when it comes to protecting ourselves from buying bad products.
Yes, we frown; we make funny faces while looking suspiciously at the products for the NAFDAC code. You really need to see some customers at the shop. Some even say “...you know these Ibo boy’s; they can do anything oh..!” And then...aha! They found it! They now have a license to drink, eat, rub or otherwise consume the product. All hazards, risks and threats to their long term beauty and health are miraculously removed.
This is a wrong perception. Everybody is different, physical and biologically. We need to know the things that are good for us and those things that are not so good for us. We need to know what kinds of products work best of us. This takes an investment in time and sometimes money. Often this is only becomes clear when we get a serious reaction to a product. At this point customers will believe that the product is either fake or adulterated. However, a careful look may reveal that the customer’s body type just does not accept the ingredients that make up that product. For example, a person may be allergic to olive oil and blindly purchase a hair cream that contains olive oil. The next day he/she is scratching his/her hair like a mad man/woman thinking the product is fake. The consumer has wasted precious time and money and will probably return to the beauty shop to unleash his/her venom on an unsuspecting shop attendant.  
To change our attitudes and get the best from beauty products let’s try to do some or all of these:

1.      GET FAMILIAR WITH YOURSELF. What are the products you love? Why do you like them? Why are they good for you? Read their labels. Usually the first 4-5 items listed will give you an idea since they make up the bulk of the product by weight. It doesn’t stop you from reading them all if you can.

2.       STICK TO WHAT WORKS. Sometimes being adventurous can be risky in personal care, beauty and cosmetics, especially if you have sensitive skin or a history of health issues. Remember what they say “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know”

3.      UPGRADE. Get sophisticated. This is your health we are discussing here. Nothing is worse than getting an embarrassing skin rash because you purchased the wrong product. Similarly, it can be awesome when your product creates a “wow!” reaction from friends and family. It takes time but it’s worth it. Download an ingredients list or make references to an ingredients dictionary if you see something you don’t understand. I listed below just two of the many helpful links available on-line.

http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Ingredients/ucm2016770.htm

4.      PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. The more you do this, the easier it become. With time you will actually be able to smell if a product is good for you (okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea, right?) This will deliver loads of positive benefits for you and the whole family in health terms. It could also potential help you save time and money since you won’t waste time buying what you don’t need or can’t use.

That’s it. Reading labels is good for you...period.

I hope this article has added value to your day. Click the ribbon for comments or suggestions. 

(Image is from sistersinhealth.com)