How to choose skincare, makeup, hair care and grooming products

Beauty labels are full of words that sound regulated and aren't. Knowing which claims mean something, and which brands take back opened products, saves more money than most codes. This guide covers what to check, and the store policies table at the end compares return windows across the brands.

What the label claims really mean

• "Clean", "natural" and "non-toxic" have no legal definition for cosmetics in the US. Each brand sets its own list of excluded ingredients, so read that list rather than the word.
• "Hypoallergenic" isn't defined by any regulation either, and the FDA says it knows of no studies showing such products cause fewer reactions. If you react easily, patch-test any new product and read the full ingredient list.
• Cosmetics don't need FDA approval before sale, though they must be safe and properly labeled; the FDA's labeling claims page explains which claims are and aren't regulated.
• "Cruelty-free" also has no legal definition. Third-party programs such as Leaping Bunny certify brands against a published standard.

Brands like Tower 28 and ILIA describe their ingredient rules on their own sites; compare those lists rather than the badge.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug in the US. The FDA recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, reapplied at least every two hours and after swimming or sweating. "Broad spectrum" means it protects against UVA as well as UVB. For brands such as Supergoop!, pick the texture you will actually wear every day; the best sunscreen is the one you reapply.

Makeup: shade matching and returns

Shade is the most common reason makeup goes back. Use the brand's shade finder or quiz, compare swatches on several skin tones, and check whether the brand accepts returns on opened makeup: some do, some only exchange, and some refuse once a product is used. Rare Beauty, Jones Road, Kosas and Morphe each set different terms; the table below compares them.

Skincare and hair care

• Introduce one new product at a time, so you know which one caused a reaction or a result.
• Compare price per milliliter or ounce, especially between minis, full sizes and refills.
• Match the product to the problem. Bond-building treatments such as OLAPLEX are for damaged or chemically treated hair; a no-lather cleanser such as Hairstory suits some hair types better than others.
• Customized products made from a quiz, such as Function of Beauty, may have different return terms from standard products.

Men's grooming and body care

For razors from Harry's or Bevel, compare the price of replacement blades, not the starter kit: blades are the ongoing cost. For soap, deodorant and body care from Dr. Squatch, Duke Cannon, Native or Every Man Jack, compare price per ounce and check how subscription frequency can be changed.

How to save in this category

Subscriptions are the most reliable discount in beauty and grooming, followed by sets that cost less than the products bought one by one and first-order offers for signing up to emails. Check the return terms for opened products before buying something you haven't tried in person.