In the hot summer days, we believe most people have the habit of using facial cleansers, especially when wearing a mask every day during the pandemic. Using facial cleansers can help remove excess oil and keep skin fresh. But do you know how to choose safe and effective cleansing products?
The Consumer Council tested 60 samples of facial cleansers to see if they met the regulations. The performance of the samples in the test items except for one met the requirements of the Mainland and the EU for cosmetics. More than half of them did not detect heavy metals, MIT or CMIT/MIT mixtures, and free for substances of concern such as formaldehyde, salicylic acid, methanol or isopropanol.
With many of the facial cleansers passing the regulations for the ingredients it contains, is it still safe to use? There is more to a product than just the ingredients. To use a product safely, we need to refer the guidelines and information given on the packaging; the ingredient label and instructions.
The Ingredient Label – Lacking Detail
Consumers can choose products according to their skin type and preferences. More favourable products are ones with clearly marked ingredients and expiration dates. One should pay attention to allergic fragrances or other chemical substances.
In the study by the Consumer Council, 19 of the products did not specify all the ingredients in detail. They stated that the samples with unlisted ingredients may also contain common allergenic fragrances, pigments and other chemical substances that can be harmful to sensitive skin.
Out of the 60 samples, 23 needed an improved expiration date. Only 14 of the products indicated the expiration after opening. In addition, 37 models had the expiration date marked clearly, but only 16 of the models marked the production date and shelf life.
Although most of the consumers generally know that they need to rinse cleansing products off using water, it should be noted that clear guidelines should be given. 5 products did not have any instructions.
Approach to Buying Facial Cleansers
The Consumer Council recommends when buying facial cleansers, consumers should pay attention to detail in the following:
- read the ingredient labels and expiration dates thoroughly, avoid using any cleansing products containing allergenic ingredients and alcohol
- remove makeup before applying cleansing products for a thorough clean of the skin
- products with higher pH values generally have better degreasing and decontamination capabilities
- apply moisturizing cream and sunscreen products before going out to protect the skin after cleansing
We recommend you use 1Source.com, a product ingredients analysing platform, before purchasing any daily products to ensure your safety when selecting the correct product for yourself. 1Source.com does the research for you.
Recommended Facial Cleansers
The following are the recommended products by the Consumer Council. Simply click the picture to direct you to the 1Source.com system findings of the product.
1Source.com has 290 facial cleansers in the system. We recommend that you try out the system to find better alternatives in terms of ingredient safety. Simply click here to view all facial cleansers in the system.
References
https://www.consumer.org.hk/ws_chi/news/press/505/facial-cleansers.html
https://topick.hket.com