Customer Reviews

A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Updated Fourth Edition

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

yes this book does tell you what purposes many of the ingredients have. for example, "as an emolient", "as a thickening agent", "a preservative", etc. this book is a consumer's guide, not a text book teaching you about chemistry and cosmetic formulation, so there's no need to be too technical. i have very sensitive skin that's prone to allergies. i used to waste a lot of money on cosmetics because almost everything will give me rashes. when i was tested by an allergist i was reacting to every single sensitizer i received. now i use this guide to learn about ingredients and sort through the vast inventory of beauty products to find the right one. i just bought a newly updated version as the older version did not cover all the newest ingredients.

The 6th edition of Ruth Winter's A CONSUMER'S DICTIONARY OF COSMETIC INGREDIENTS, first published in 1978, contains an excellent 40 page introduction covering everything from the state of cosmetics regulations, safety concerns, basic ingredients, and what to do if you have an adverse reaction, to an annotated list of organizations concerned with cosmetics safety. This detailed book is over 500 pages with thousands of entries of varying lengths--from a line or two to a paragraph. There are some longer entries of 2 or more pages on a key topic like sunscreen. The information covers more generic cosmetics, like cold cream or lipstick, as well as more technical ingredients and chemicals that you may find a specific products. In addition to a 3-page bibliography, there are two useful Appendices: "Common Label Warnings--Pay Attention!" and "Nail Safety."

This eye opening cosmetic ingredient dictionary is the perfect tool for checking out the ingredients in any cosmetic product. There has not been anything left out of the more than 5,000 listings. Ruth Winter has a science background and puts it to good use by telling the reader if the ingredient if allergenic, carcinogenic, or has no known toxicity. In comparison to Aubrey Hampton's "What's In Your Cosmetics?", Winter's book wins without a doubt. Hampton pays too much attention to listing information on natural ingredients and not enough of toxic ones. As a cosmetic ingredient researcher, I appreciate the convenience of having this resource at my fingertips, and you will too!

I use Ruth Winter's books on COSMETIC INGREDIENTS, MEDICINES, and FOOD ADDITIVES as reference books and find them quite helpful and informative. It is absolutely amazing how many ingredients can be listed on the back of a jar of cleansing cream, a tube of hand cream, or a can of soup. Simply identifying the salt and sugar isn't enough. We need to know about food substitutes, as well as other ingredients, many of them added to improve the appearance of the substance for sale, that can harm us and/or interfere with prescription drugs.

Now, you may be concerned about what is in your prescription medication, but if you are like most of us, you probably take over-the-counter drugs without a thought. After all, if they don't have to be licensed and disseminated by a pharmacy, they must be okay. Right? Wrong!! There is something called a synergistic effect. For example, consumers have been warned recently about the interaction between ibuprofen and statin drugs. Unfortunately, by the time the government steps in, many people may have been harmed. It pays to be informed and Winter's books are a good step in that direction.

I am a big fan of herbal remedies, but they need to be subjected to research and review in the same way synthetic drugs are studied. Heck, Parsley, can cause skin irritations.

If you want to acquire a little light on the subject of ingredients, consider buying all Winter's books. She has been published in Family Circle and Reader's Digest magazines as well as Homeopathic and Herbal publications.

Her books are so effective, I wonder how long it will be before the government kills the messenger, not by silencing Winter, but by withholding the identity of the contents of various products and reversing the `truth in labeling' and `organic measures enacted in the past. Of course, they can and do go to the other extreme and ban items that are only harmful if they are misused.

This book has enabled me to read just about any ingredients list and understand it fairly well, and I have changed some purchasing habits for the better because of it.

Once again Winter has provided her readers with a wealth of information in choosing cosmetics and cosmeceuticals. With the array of health and beauty products available to consumers today, it is important to be an informed shopper. By categorizing, explaining, and simplifying the overwhelming list of typical ingredients, Winter empowers her audience to read the labels carefully and select a product that is both healthy and appropriate. After reading several of Winter's books on foods and cosmetics, I now consider myself a wiser - and healthier - consumer.

I have to say that I was quite disappointed with the 5th edition of this book. Another reviewer made the observation that Winter tip-toed around a lot of issues and I echo that observation. I feel that it weakens the work. There are a number of ingredients whose potential dangers I have read about but I couldn't find any further information in this book. What am I supposed to conclude? That these controversial ingredients are perfectly safe because Winter says "On the basis of available data, the CIR Expert Panel concludes that this ingredient is safe for topical application in the present practices of use and concentration as a cosmetic"? Granted, there were many ingredients that did get a more fair review. Also, this last edition was printed in 1999 and I think we know a lot more now. As a matter of fact, I think that many "bad" ingredients have stopped being used, at least by some of the more conscientious companies. So, I think it's time for a new edition, one that takes into account the progress that has been made in the cosmetics industry and the desire for today's consumers to know about more current research studies. I would recommend Milady's Skin Care and Cosmetic Ingredients Dictionary by N. Michalun, et al, and the Don't Go Shopping books by Paula Begoun over this one. This book is not worth the money and I would almost like my money back.

What a fabulous find! If you have sensitive skin, allergies, or just want to know what's in the products you put on your face, skin or hair, this is the book for you. The author even gives you the lowdown on kids' products and all the so-called anti-aging potions out there. Don't go to the drugstore without it!

This dictionary is SO POWERFUL! I literally will not go shopping for beauty products unless I have it with me as a quick reference. I'm sure people at the mall or drugstore look at me like I'm insane, but I don't care because I have so much more money in my purse now that I'm not wasting it on false claims on what a beauty product will do. For instance, why should you pay $30 for a pretty bottle of designer face cream.....when all it is composed of is a base of cheap, man-made mineral oil and water!?! READ THE LABEL!!! I highly recommend the next time you have the urge to buy that next luxury bath or body product - stop - get and read this book first, and then decide rather or not that product is worth all that money.

Okay, now that we know exactly what the ingredients are, why not ellaborate on their purpose. How can anyone utilize such a book that only defines the ingredient but not what it is used for. If that is your reason for getting this book, don't waste your money like I did.