Beauty buying guides

Beardo Godfather is described by its brand as a daily conditioning oil, while the Beardo growth oil, Ustraa Advanced, Bombay Shaving Company Onion, Wild Stone CODE and The Man Company combo are positioned around growth. Every growth statement is brand copy, and Beardo advises a palm test before use.

Two decisions narrow the choice of a body lotion for dry skin, the format and the fragrance. The two Cetaphil listings say fragrance free, while the two Nivea listings describe a mild scent, and all four are lotions, so the label and the skin type decide the rest.

Five options for a face wash for dry skin are covered here: CeraVe, Sebamed, Cetaphil, Simple and a Minimalist cleansing oil. The NHS says stinging after rinsing is the cue to change product, and it also describes an emollient mixed with warm water as a washing route.

The four washes split into oil control products from Cetaphil and Himalaya, an acne wash from Neutrogena, and a Plum wash that claims both. The NHS advises a gentle cleanser twice a day and no scrubbing, so the choice depends on whether spots are the problem.

Sotrue lists a high urea roll on, Himalaya lists fenugreek, ginger, honey, sal tree and turmeric, and VLCC, Vaseline and Dr Batra's complete the five. Every benefit is a brand claim, and dry skin that persists is a matter for a dermatologist.

L'Oreal Professionnel states an anti humidity figure of up to 80% from instrumental tests, Moxie states frizz reduction of up to 43%, Plum states 72 hours of humidity proof control, and Bare Anatomy makes no humidity claim. All four are brand statements resting on different tests.

A face moisturiser for dry skin can be judged by ingredient type first. Humectants hold water in the top layer of skin, emollients seal the barrier and occlusives slow moisture loss. Four options from Pond's, Minimalist and Cetaphil are compared below on what each brand states.

Only Denver Mystic Ocean gives an hour range for scent wear. The Man Company says its Aqua Noir is designed to last for hours, Ustraa and Wild Stone give no duration, and the Nivea 48 hour claim is about odour protection from a deodorant, not how long a scent is noticed.

A sulphate free badge is a brand claim, so the ingredient list is the better check. Plum, Bare Anatomy, Mamaearth and Arata are compared by hair concern, and the Arata page calls its system sulphate free while its list names sulfonate surfactants.

The label needs more than an SPF number. AAD and NHS both advise reapplying about every 2 hours and after sweating, and AAD says no sunscreen is sweatproof. The four SPF 50 products here differ on finish, filters and reapply wording, and every skin claim is the brand's own.

The active ingredient and its strength on the pack decide an anti dandruff shampoo more than the brand name does. Ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione is named on three of the six shampoos here, and the other three list botanical ingredients with no stated strength.