How to Read a Skincare Label Like a Pro
Standing in the skincare aisle can feel overwhelming—rows of sleek bottles promising everything from instant glow to age-defying magic. But the real story isn’t on the front of the package - it’s in the fine print on the back. Learning how to read a skincare label is one of the best things you can do for your skin (and your wallet). Once you know what to look for - and what to avoid - you’ll feel empowered to choose products that truly work for you, rather than falling for clever marketing buzzwords.
Start With the Basics
Check the First 5 Ingredients: Ingredients are listed in order of concentration (highest first). The first 5 - 7 usually make up most of the formula. If water or aloe is first, that’s normal. But if alcohol or fragrance is high up, it could be irritating.
Spot the Red Flags
(Avoid or minimize these, especially for sensitive skin or clean-beauty lovers.)
🚩Fragrance/Parfum: Can be irritating, especially for sensitive skin.
🚩 Sulfates (SLS, SLES): Harsh cleansers that strip skin’s natural oils.
🚩Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl-, ethyl-): Preservatives with potential hormone-disrupting concerns.
🚩Phthalates (often hidden in “fragrance”): Linked to health concerns.
🚩Formaldehyde releasers (DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, etc.): Preservatives that can be irritating.
🚩 Alcohol denat / SD alcohol: Can be very drying when high on the list.
Good Ingredients Worth Celebrating
(These actually do something for skin health!)
✅ Hyaluronic Acid: Hydration hero, plumps skin.
✅ Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Balances oil, reduces redness, strengthens skin barrier.
✅ Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid, THD Ascorbate): Brightens, helps with pigmentation, antioxidant protection.
✅ Peptides: Support collagen and skin firmness.
✅ Ceramides: Strengthen the skin barrier, lock in moisture.
✅ Aloe Vera: Soothes irritation, calms redness.
✅ Green Tea Extract: Antioxidant, calming, anti-inflammatory.
✅ Squalane: Lightweight hydrator, mimics skin’s natural oils.
Marketing Traps to Ignore
👉🏻“Dermatologist tested” - can mean just one doctor signed off
👉🏻“Natural” or “Hypoallergenic” - not regulated terms, basically marketing fluff
👉🏻“Chemical-free” - everything is technically a chemical, so watch for greenwashing
Quick Pro Tips
⚡️If a trendy ingredient (like collagen, retinol, or tea tree) is listed at the very end, it’s probably just there for marketing.
⚡️Expiration & symbols: Look for the open jar symbol (e.g., “12M” = good for 12 months after opening)
⚡️Keep It Simple: If the list looks like a novel or you can’t pronounce 99% of it, chances are it’s filled with fillers. Fewer ingredients = often gentler.
Don’t feel like you need to memorize a giant dictionary of skincare ingredients…Start by scanning the first 5 ingredients, spotting any obvious red flags, and then check for one or two “good guys.”
At the end of the day, your skincare routine should feel simple, effective, and safe. When you know how to decode labels, you can cut through the noise and choose products with confidence - ones that actually support healthy, radiant skin.
Think of it as an investment not just in your skincare shelf, but in your long-term health and confidence.
Giveaway Alert!!!
We're giving away another $250 worth of Flying Cow goodies! Leave a comment below - let us know what simple swaps you've made in your skincare/personal care lately? What's your ride-or-die skincare ingredient that you love (besides tallow of course!)?
Giveaway ends 10/23/25 - Winner will be picked on 10/24/25! Don't forget to check your email to see if you've won!
Author: Gaby Wilson
Gaby has been part of the Flying Cow family for almost four years now! She has a Bachelor's degree in Communication with a minor in Business Management from Curry College (in a tiny town in Massachusetts). She moved to Texas from California in 2021, planning to stay for about 6 months, but the Lord had other plans...she met her now husband! They’ve been married for 2.5 years & just had a sweet baby girl. Gaby is loving being a stay at home mama & juggling some remote work for us from time to time!
Comments
Jill said:
My daughter gave me my first bottle of Restore when customers would pick up off your porch!!! Have used it every night since then!!!! After time, I realized that a penny size liver spot on my left cheek had DISAPPEARED!!!! On the next yearly visit to dermatologist, I talked to him about this. He asked what I used and he said “I love her products! Of course you shouldn’t be surprised by the spot disappearing!” Wish I could tell you how long it took to go away, but it was so gradual – popped up 30-40 years ago and now GONE!!!! I do love Restore!!!!
October 18, 2025
Rosali Gomez said:
I started using these products and my skin started to glow again I swapped all my skincare products for flying cow and it has been the best decision ever, I highly recommend.
October 18, 2025
Laureen Jimenez said:
Baby balm is a MUST HAVE! A friend of ours got it for us as a gift and we have never been without it. It is also the BEST diaper cream EVER.
And started branching out to other tallows, like blemish balm! And working our way to using others! I have never really used make up or anything, so I love that the blemish balm doesn’t leave my face feel so oily either. I do struggle with overall dry skin and working on finding something as a lotion. LOVE flying cow and so glad we are close to one!
October 17, 2025
Danexis said:
I love the post is very educational and helpful so you can start taking care of you skin
I tried a couple of tallow products and notice the different in few weeks
I’m been using the night tallow, the block tallow and frankincense+lavender and the lipstick. Love so far and help because my skin is very sensitive
October 17, 2025
Susan said:
That’s why flying cow is the best, just two ingredients!
October 17, 2025
Sophia said:
I love the peppermint and lemon tallow and the way it smells. It has helped me with my dryness on my face and hands. I would say it has also helped me with my Eczema. I use it daily and have been using it for a couple years now. I bought my son the unscented tallow and he loves it. He even uses it on his hair. What ever works I say. I would highly recommend this product for those suffering from dry skin.
October 17, 2025
Callan said:
Swapped out face sprays for aloe with peppermint!
October 17, 2025
Kris Williams said:
My skin is dry and sensitive. Love the lavender & peppermint, especially in cold winter weather conditions.
October 17, 2025
Dora PORTERFIELD said:
Thank you so much for this post Gaby, it was so complete, very useful and very clear, thamk you !
October 17, 2025
Dora porterfield said:
I have change the serums and my morning and night routine, and it has done amazing things for my skin, a huge difference I can see ! So I had been using products with tons of ingredients I could not even pronounce! I thought that was fancy or good ! I was so very wrong !!! My friend and also my daughter told me to change everything I was using was so bad and toxic to my skin! So little by little I changed to clean simple ingredients in products and it helped me sooooo much , I feel much better and my skin looks healthy and full of life ! I use some Tula products, some “the ordinary “ serums and some Rodan & fields which is very good, a little pricey but sooooo much worth it ! And of course , my loved tallows !!!! I use the golden tallow daytime and the restore one at night ! I even put a tiny bit around my eyes , is my favorite product EVER since I discovered it annnnnd al natural with reasonable prices . I would never leave my tallows, love them !
October 17, 2025
Grace Chan said:
I have switched my laundry detergent and also hand soap to non toxic clean ingredients. We love the baby balm too for everything in our house. Our babies skin approves! My ride or die skincare item Now is using face tallow moisturizer day and night. Leaves my skin so soft
October 17, 2025
Amanda said:
We have completely swapped lotion and facial moisturizer for the Flying Cow Tallows. My favorite is Fresh Citrus but my husband uses the Man Balm and Restore. The other things I swapped – my shampoo and conditioner – I now use Oway and there is nothing like it!
October 17, 2025
Allie Lavy said:
I literally can’t stop talking or telling people about these products and their benefits! All my new mom friends/family members get a gift for them, and their new baby! I love the simple, wholesome ingredients and the dedication flying cow has for promoting healthy living and putting good stuff on your face. Fats are where it’s at!
October 17, 2025
Christina Pringle said:
We love Restore in our house! It works great for myself as a mom with a busy schedule, I love to apply to my face and hands. My girls use it on their dry hands to prevent cracking and it never burns them. One of my daughters also uses it on her eczema spots to prevent outbreaks and dry skin.
October 17, 2025
Jodi Coen said:
I have to say that the Restore balm has helped my family so much. Three different kinds of frankincense and helichrysum. It’s so healing to the skin and pain relief as well. My mom and dad have diabetes and they Love it! Please keep making it. We also love the peppermint balm; all smell so wonderful with no chemicals to worry about! :)
October 17, 2025
Bonnie Cansino said:
We were looking for something more natural to help with my son’s skin and found the blemish balm. It was awesome and made such a difference in preventing breakouts. We have since discovered the key lime tallow and it has become our favorite ❤️ live these products
October 17, 2025
Lily Stetson said:
When I got my first tattoo, there were so many tattoo balms out there for healing. After looking at several, I started using just shea butter and my tattoo healed beautifully! And just one simple ingredient!
October 17, 2025
Dee Dee said:
These products have replaced everything! I love it, and let everyone know!
October 17, 2025
Janna E said:
When I was pregnant I deep dived into everything I put in and on my body. We switched to natural soaps, lotions, and deodorant!
October 17, 2025
Skylar Soper said:
Adding a Vitamin C serum was the best thing I have done! I was gifted a bottle from Flying Cow and I have never looked back!
October 17, 2025
Carly Moreland said:
I have become a label reader. I switched many cosmetics. I loved the Beautycounter brand, now rebranded as Counter. I also use Oliveda products. It’s not about just what you put on your body, but in it as well. We do our best to cut processed foods in our home. I even bought a grain mill and started fresh milling my own bread! Ha!
October 17, 2025
Jolyn Wilkins said:
My skincare has become so simple: a vitamin C serum and tallow in the morning – tallow in the evening. Nice and hydrated all day and night!!
October 17, 2025
Julie Walton said:
I love having a simplified healthier skincare routine.
October 17, 2025
Shannon Bingham said:
I started using Flying Cow back in 2021 and I have NEVER looked back. Using all natural skincare (goats milks soap) cured my acne, eczema, and has my skin looking better than ever. I refuse to use anything else on my two boys either. One of my boys has super sensitive skin and without tallow he is a red itchy, boy. We would be lost without natural skincare.
October 17, 2025
Tiffany Dilts said:
Only flying cow tallow it’s literally the first product that has worked for me ever. I have very sensitive skin. This post is so very helpful thanks for sharing.
October 17, 2025
Mary Amanda Theiss said:
I have switched to clean ingredient skincare and makeup and I’m never going back!! I keep getting compliments that my skin is glowing with tallow. Peppermint is also a favorite and very soothing for my skin! I can’t wait to try all the seasonal tallow too! A new recent fave is key lime pie from y’all!
October 17, 2025
Britney said:
Wow! This is beautifully written and so educational! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Well done Gaby Wilson!
October 17, 2025
Donna R said:
I use Flying Cow of course! I also added in a mix of castor oil, black seed oil and frankincense oil.
October 17, 2025
Donna R said:
I use Flying Cow of course! I also added in a mix of castor oil, black seed oil and frankincense oil.
October 17, 2025
Patrice said:
I’ve pared down my skincare routine after discovering your tallow. It’s replaced all my nighttime creams, serums, and moisturizers which all contained a number of crazy ingredients. I even swapped out harsh exfoliants for a simple baking soda scrub weekly.
I now look for simplicity and clarity in the products I use. Kiehl’s has transparency on their packaging, which I love, and I’ve leaned into the power of essential oils to treat acne and skin flare ups.
Thanks for all the great information in this post! I feel even more capable and informed to keep making healthy decisions for myself and my skincare routine! :)
October 17, 2025
Rita M said:
Love Flying Tallow. I have started making my own face make up remover wipes and body soap using aloe, castor out, and other natural ingredients and following with tallow has made a big difference.
October 17, 2025
Kayla C. said:
I swapped drug store face lotion for Flying Cow tallow years ago (which has greatly helped my adult acne). But lately, with additional concerns of hormone disrupting ingredients like fragrances and parabens in body lotions, I have started making my own whipped body butter with coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and almond oil. I found it to be much more hydrating and I feel a lot better knowing it’s only 4 healthy ingredients being absorbed into my skin.
October 17, 2025
Teresa Bell said:
Really trying to read the labels and am also using essential oils.
October 17, 2025
Bianca said:
Marketing traps are the worst! It makes it so hard to find quality products. Since hitting 30 I’ve tried to simplify my routine. I use a max of 3-4 products. My favorite skincare ingredient is rose hip. It makes my skin so soft!
October 17, 2025
Sherry Trusty said:
Switching to flying cow and Rowe Casa products
October 17, 2025
Bre M said:
Great post! I totally agree with you on the importance of knowing what’s in our skincare. Beef tallow is definitely underrated—it’s super nourishing for the skin and works wonders for hydration without all the synthetic stuff. Wish I would have started this sooner!
October 17, 2025
Lori S said:
We have a lot of sensitivities and allergies in our household. The tallow works wonderfully!
October 17, 2025
Donna Hartman said:
Peppermint Tallow Balm is a must have that stays on my bathroom counter full time 24/7 365 days a year. My legs love it. I even travel with the small one. I can’t be without it. Thank you for making this wonderful product!
October 17, 2025
Beth Cain said:
We have omitted all fragrance and we love castor oil!
October 17, 2025
Emily Woods said:
Skincare and personal care products were the first swaps we made in our house! My husband has sensitive skin so tallow as been a blessing! Besides Tallow, we love using Rowe Casa products for things like shampoo, conditioner, face wash and quite a bit of other things!
October 17, 2025