Canadians spend billions on cosmetics every year, but dermatologists say only a fraction of products is required.

Read the label on the average cosmetics product in your local drug store, and you will come on various promises.

A foundation brand can claim to be able to cover any and all blamish, while some skin creams go so far that they can suggest you to look 10 years younger.

Why do those promises believe Canadian spent us about $ 9 billion on cosmetics in 2024Is contributing Around $ 650 billion of global cosmetics industry In revenue.

It is also why Haley Bieber recently Sold your road brand for $ 1 billion,

Nevertheless, most of us know that the average anti-rinkle cream will not actually return to the clock, but it is not always clear how much our skin health really affects.

Dermatologist agrees that sunscreen, face wash and moisturizer are the three most useful products that most people may buy, and suggest that consumers should doubt products that claim to offer results that usually require clinical treatment to get.

How does makeup affect our skin?

While makeup is usually the first thing that people get to mind when people think of cosmetics, this category of consumer products actually incorporates all things that people use on their skin to face lipstick to masks, serum to sunscreen.

Dermatologist Dr. Cosmetics such as lipstick, foundation and concealer say Reni Beach are usually harmless.

In the best case, some of these can have active ingredients such as salicylic acids, which can make the skin shiny and even help manage skin oils that cause acne production, called beach.

Normal sunscreen contains elements that contribute to the sun protecting factor (SPF) of the product, but can also prevent the disintegration of the facial due to tinted sunscreen, as well as some foundations and conditions like concealer, melasma, Beach Brian Goldman, Dr. Brian Goldman, the host told that diet podcast.

However, makeup can be harmful if people wear too much, very often, very long.

“Or perhaps they are putting makeup on the skin that is without any kind, or acne-which will negatively affect the health of the skin, causing more acne,” the beach said.

Using expired makeup can be risky, also, beach, says, which runs a dermatailier on the Avenue Clinic in Toronto. A 2020 studies found that expired makeup E. Harmful bacteria including coli may include.

The beach also recommends that people avoid makeup which contains fragrance.

“In most circumstances the fragrance, while it is fun, not necessarily fun for the skin,” he said.

“This is probably the number one reason that people get an allergy from a reaction or irritation or even a product on a leisure.”

keep it simple

Of course, whoever visits the beauty section in a departmental store-or spending any time to see the skin-care routine on social media-knows that the entire range of cosmetics can be challenging.

Dermatologist Dr. Julia Carol advised its patients to use three main categories of skin-care products: cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen.

If necessary, individuals can add specific skin products to acne or dry or especially oily skin conditions.

“If you look at my skin care routine, there are probably some other things in it, but it’s something that I have cured for years to overcome those concerns about my skin,” Carol said.

She recommends a complex 10-step skin-care routine, as they can damage the skin obstruction.

“Although you are trying to improve your skin, you can end with red skin that is irritated and it breaks more easily,” he said.

She suggests that people start with less products, which gives skin time to accommodate any possible reactions, before adding more products to a routine.

“One of the other mistakes often makes, they are adding many things at just a time and they are trying it for a day or two, and then do not work,” Carol said.

Anti-aging creams don’t really work-right?

Carroll says that skin creams can actually improve the longevity of the skin.

He said, “I can walk in a room and I can use a retinol cream for my lifetime, if we are looking at 50 -year -old children, vs. someone who is not, just looking at the quality of his skin,” she said.

Although an anti-aging skin cream will not actually reversed the effects of aging, Carol says it has preventive properties.

“If you are 30 years old, what are you doing using a retinoid, you are increasing your collagen production, so you are stopping the aging process more from reversing,” he said.

However, Carol says that he does not think that twins and teenagers require retinoid products for anti-aging purposes. “Not at all,” he said.

A 2025 Studies published by American Academy of Pediatrics It was found that the skin care solutions promoted on Tiktok “give no benefit to the pediatrics they are targeting.”

The study found that skin care is expensive on tickets, which often involve sunscreen, and often in contact with materials that risk irritation, allergic contact dermatitis and sun sensitivity. ,

Carroll says, but for most people the risk of using regular moisturizing lotion is relatively low, although sensitive or people with Rosasia-Gro skin may be more reactive to some active ingredients.

Beach says that people need to be realistic about how soon over-the-counter cosmetics are effective, given that it may take up to three months to see a meaningful improvement.

How does the health Canada fit?

It is worth noting that Canada has rules for regulating cosmetics industry.

A health Canadian spokesperson said in an email that “All cosmetics sold in Canada should be safe to use and meet the requirements Food and Drugs ActAnd its Cosmetic rules,

“If a cosmetic product is on the market after a health or safety problem is identified, the health canada examines and takes appropriate enforcement action,” spokes.

A dermatologist and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia. Sunil Kalia says that Canada’s cosmetics rules “are comparable to other countries’ rules.”

He says that especially sunscreen is more strictly regulated in Canada than Europe and Asia.

However, A Articles published in 2024 International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences It was found that the European Union found “some strict cosmetic rules, which require pre-market safety assessment and some harmful substances are banned,” contrasting drawing with Canada and America

“While Canada has strict guidelines compared to the US, many products can still be sold without pre-bazaar approval,” the study authors wrote.

Brandi Lefo, founder of Evio Beauty, who bills himself as a vegetarian, cruelty-free cosmetics brand, says that sometimes Canadian guidelines do not go far.

Leifso says its company goes to large lengths to ensure that the products do not harm customers inadvertently.

“We send it to third party laboratories and we test on humans,” Leafo said. She says that all tests look after dermatologists.

The company also ensures that its products meet global standards, which are determined by the US and the European Union.

For its part, Beach said that consumers should think about why they want to use some cosmetics before applying on the skin.

“The buyer is intelligent,” he said.