Green Daily

Cosmetics are covered with all sorts of labels and claims, but buyer beware; many of these labels don't mean anything more than what is in the mind of the manufacturer making them. What does that mean to you? Well, nothing you can rely on. Here are explanations of common cosmetic labels from Consumer Reports Greener Choices:

Hypoallergenic: This one surprised me. "Hypoallergenic" is not a meaningful label and the label is not verified by a third party.

Unscented: This label implies that there is no added fragrance, but actually it just means that it doesn't have a scent. There could be a masking fragrance added. "Fragrance-free" is a better bet, although according to Consumer Reports neither label is meaningful or verified. For more on fragrance-free versus unscented, see here.

Dermatologist-Tested: This is a popular one, and it always reminds me of those old gum commercials where they said "1 out of 3 dentists recommend this gum to their patients who chew gum." According to Consumer Reports, "Dermatologist-Tested" is not a meaningful label, nor is it verified.

Natural: Not a meaningful label when applied to cosmetics and toiletries.