Deceiving Product Labels

It can be hard to know which products to use – it’s even harder when there are deceiving product labels out there.  What are you buying?

Deceiving Product Labels

For years, consumers have been purchasing skin care products.  And the skin care industry is a big one – accounting for about $55 billion.  Sadly, you’re not always getting what you think you are!  The major problem is that we are fooled into believing what the marketers want us to believe.  They aren’t lying but they are very careful in their wording.  These deceiving product labels have been making money for cosmetics companies for many years.

Real world example

I used to fall for the marketing when I was a teenager – I even wrote about it in a recent post:  Watch the cosmetics thieves.  Now, into my 40’s, I’m much more aware.  But, I have another real world example I’d like to share with you.  This one has to do with Aloe Vera.  I found this in my friends bathroom recently, and I looked at the label.  Here’s what the label said:

“Aloe Vera 100% Gel* Pure.  No Color Added.  Moisturizing Therapy for Sunburn / Dry / Irritated Skin”.  There was also a red flag on there saying: ‘Contains NO Alcohol’.

This sounds like an OK product, doesn’t it?  It isn’t and I’ll tell you why.  Let me break it down:

Misleading labels

The label is quite misleading:

1. The label says ‘Aloe Vera 100% Gel’ – it’s true it’s 100% gel.  The bottle is transparent so you can clearly see it’s a gel.  However, it doesn’t say 100% Aloe Vera Gel.  What is true is that it’s 100% gel – just not 100% Aloe vera gel.  That’s a deceiving product label.
2. Contains No Alcohol – OK this part is true.
3. It also says it’s pure, with no color added.  It’s true that there is no color in the gel.  The transparent bottle is clear – there is no color.  Is it ‘pure’ though?  I’ll show you why this is a deceiving product labels below.
4. The ‘*’ – this asterisk concerned me.  I had a hard time finding what the *asterisk was for.  That comes next…

Ingredients of this Aloe Vera 100% Gel

Why is this an example of deceiving product labels?  Well, let’s look at each of the ingredients:

• Aloe Vera gel – OK, cool – this is a good ingredient.
• Triethanolamine – this second ingredient made me wonder, so I investigated it.  More on this and some of the other ingredients below.
• Tocopheryl Acetate
• Carbomer – this used as an emulsifier to help make product easier to apply.
• Tetrasodium EDTA – this is a preservative and should only be used in certain quantities.
• DMDM Hydanton
• Diazolidinyl Urea
• *

Ingredient issues

Because the second ingredient had me wondering, I checked into them and the ones below were the most concerning to me:

1. Triethanolamine – This is something that comes from ammonia and ethylene oxide.  Ethylene oxide is a carcinogen.  Triethanolamine, also referred to as TEA, can cause a reaction in people that have sensitive skin.  It’s generally also used with diethanolamine (DEA).  DEA can cause cancer.  Does this sound PURE to you?
2. DMDM Hydanton – this is aslo a preservative but the problem with this one is that it brings out the formaldehyde into the skin care gel.  The skin care company doesn’t have to put this on the label – and they don’t – they didn’t.  Put this Aloe Vera 100% gel on your skin and you’re also putting formaldehyde on your body!
3. Diazolidinyl Urea – another preservative that contains formaldehyde.  Again, the company isn’t required to label it as such so they don’t.
4. Finally, the asterisk ‘*’.  What the heck does this refer to on the front of the bottle?  Well, on the back, I finally found it.  It was very hard to read but this is what it said: ‘*Plus stabilizers and preservatives to insure potency and efficacy’.  Stabilizers and preservatives – we don’t know what they are, but they make it seem as if this product is PURE.

Bottom line

Don’t be fooled by deceiving product labels.  This is why it’s always important to look at the ingredients of the products you are looking to purchase.  It can be time consuming, sure – but we generally buy the same things.  If you gradually scrutinize what you are purchasing, you may be surprised to find out some products’ labels may be deceiving.  Once you know which those are, you’ll be healthier and happier!