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Nearly nine in 10 women believe skincare is now 'too full of jargon'

Nearly four in 10 women have been seduced by 'buzzwords' within skincare - but have no idea what the ingredients actually do.

[Woman applying skincare in the mirror]

Nearly nine in 10 didnt know what niacinamide was primarily used for(Image: Getty)

A study of 2,000 women found more than four in 10 like to think they are clued up on the latest beauty innovations, but 37% are simply buying into buzz word ingredients without fully understanding how or when to use them. Only 36% of women were able to correctly explain what active agents like retinoids are used for, while 81% had no idea what ceramides do for the skin.

With 63% not knowing what non-comedogenic means, 54% also couldnt tell you the definition of free radicals and 34% were left stumped by cell turnover, showing that many women don't understand what's in their skincare products.

[Woman applying skincare in the mirror]

Four in 10 are not confident they are applying the correct amount of skincare(Image: Getty)

The research was commissioned by Skin Rocks, which is on a mission to make skincare make sense.

Caroline Hirons, founder of the brand, said: People are buying products because theyve heard the name, not because they understand it.

Were seeing a real disconnect between how confident people feel and how much they know about what theyre using on their skin.

With so much jargon and so many trends, its easy to feel overwhelmed, which is why simple, clear guidance has never been more important.

The study also found 86% didnt know what niacinamide was primarily used for in skincare, while 60% werent knowledgeable about which ingredients should be used at night versus in the morning. However, 26% could accurately identify what glycolic acid is primarily designed for: to exfoliate and improve skin texture and tone.

[Woman applying eye patches in the mirror]

A quarter of women ask friends and family for skincare advice(Image: Getty)

Only two in 10 (19%) know the correct order to apply skincare and stick to it, while 29% admitted they have no idea at all. Although half of all women have felt unsure whether they were applying products in the right order at some point.

Uncertainty also extends to how much of a product to use, with 41% of women not feeling confident they are applying the correct amount of skincare. This confusion is leading to misuse, with 33% admitting they have combined skincare ingredients without knowing if they should be used together.

For some, this has had visible consequences; 29% have experienced irritation, breakouts or other skin issues after using a product they didnt fully understand.

The research also found more than a third (35%) dont get any skincare advice, although 25% turn to brand websites, 25% ask friends and family, and 22% would listen to dermatologists.

A third said expert advice most influences what they buy, 39% said none of these sources have a strong impact on their decisions. Despite this, many routines remain relatively simple, with 53% using between two and four products in their everyday skincare regime.

[Woman applying makeup]

More than half of women use between two and four products in their everyday skincare regime(Image: Getty)

However, a third feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice when it comes to skincare, while 12% admitted they often end up guessing and hoping for the best.

And with confusion so widespread, nearly 44% of those who took part in the OnePoll.com study, said they often or very often feel confused by the language used on skincare packaging.

Caroline Hirons, founder of Skin Rocks, added: After working with hundreds of brands and seeing the same issue over and over again.

Not with the products themselves, but with the way skincare was being marketed.

People were overwhelmed, confused, and misled by buzzwords and trends rather than being given real education on what their skin actually needs.

Top 10 confusing skincare phrases:

1. Non-comedogenic
2. Free radicals
3. Cell turnover
4. Medical grade
5. Double cleanse
6. Antioxidant
7. pH-balanced
8. Collagen
9. Active ingredients
10. Skin barrier

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