Each season brings a new crop of beauty trends, buzzwords, and marketing terms. Consumers are left to try to decode what works and what is jargon in the world of skincare lingo.

David Petrillo is a cosmetic chemist and CEO and founder of the skincare company Perfect Image. In his work, he often demystifies complex skincare lingo for consumers.

Mr. Petrillo can also explore what marketing and buzzwords mean and whether a particular product can achieve consumers’ desired results. Such phrases include “glass skin,” “dewy skin,” and even “hydrated.” What do these mean, and how can we select appropriate skincare to achieve our desired results without being betrayed by the overwhelming skincare lingo?

David Petrillo shares phrases consumers should know more about: 

Patented Technology

This marketing term sometimes falsely suggests that the consumer buys something highly innovative. But patents aren’t necessarily a surefire sign that something is groundbreaking. Patents can be based on technical changes, such as new ingredient combinations or production methods. Consumers want to identify their skin needs and buy products with proven ingredients to improve skin in that area effectively, avoiding confusing skincare lingo.

Maximum strength

This is a term often used by skin cleansers and moisturizers. But it is a relative term, and consumers don’t know what the maximum strength entails or how the product benefits their skin more than the competition. 

Clinical strength 

From painkillers to hydrating serums, companies love to highlight their products’ “clinical strength.” In these cases, healthy skepticism is, well, healthy. In many cases, a product claiming clinical strength could have been tested by the doctors developing it, and the term can also be relative. Remember, anything that is maximum or clinical strength is often regulated to a prescription. 

FDA Cleared 

The FDA has different protocols for skincare products that make cosmetic claims instead of more medical claims, such as promising to increase collagen production in the skin. Since that is a body function, the FDA treats those differently than everyday skincare products. However, the FDA stipulates that the product being sold is safe to use in the manner in which it is directed to be used. FDA approval is not a credential that shows the superiority of results, as some might deduce from the wording in skincare lingo. 

Hydrating

Products and consumers often use hydrating and moisturizing interchangeably, but this is inaccurate. If you want to hydrate your skin, you have skin that has become dull and possibly dry — you need a humectant such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin to draw water to the cells. If you need to moisturize your skin, you need a moisturizer that seals water to prevent water loss. Today, various moisturizers, especially gel moisturizers, have both moisturizing and hydrating components. These are good, but your product choice depends on your skin’s condition. If you have extremely dry or dull skin, you may need one product that performs one function well rather than a jack of all trades. This distinction is crucial in understanding skincare lingo.

Glass skin

Glass skin is a buzzword that has emerged in recent years to describe the effect of Korean beauty products, which make the skin look hydrated, luminous, and smooth. To achieve this look, you need several products, including an exfoliator, a serum, and a humectant. But more and more, single products are claiming to bring about this effect. While they may fit nicely into a beauty routine, one product will have difficulty hydrating the skin while brightening it and exfoliating it to give it a smoother and even texture. 

About the Expert: 

David Petrillo graduated from Missouri University in 2007 with a degree in Chemistry. He then worked as a researcher in the cosmetics industry. His lab experiences inspired him to start Perfect Image, aiming to make medical-grade peels and cosmetics more affordable. With ten-plus years of experience in the lab and equipped with the knowledge of formulating his products to innovate the industry –