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2 • THE ARTISAN FALL 2026 dihydroxyacetone. DHA reacts with amino acids on the surface of the skin to create a temporary brown color. It does not provide sun protection unless the product separately contains SPF. Another tanning ingredient is erythrulose, which develops more slowly and is often combined with DHA for a smoother-looking result. Self-tanners may be mousses, lotions, sprays, drops, gels, gradual tanners, or instant bronzers. A gradual tanner builds color over several applications. Tanning drops are mixed into moisturizer. Mousses and sprays dry quickly. Lotions give more slip and are often easier for dry skin. The instant color is usually a guide color or bronzer, often from iron oxides, caramel, mica, or cosmetic pigments. Mica and pearl pigments add shimmer by reflecting light. Hair and styling products also have hard-to-read labels. Pomades, waxes, pastes, clays, gels, mousses, creams, sprays, and serums all shape hair differently. A wax or pomade gives control, separation, shine, or polish. A paste gives texture and flexible hold. A clay creates a matte finish with grip. A gel gives stronger structure. A mousse adds volume and movement. A styling cream softens, smooths, or defines. Waxes and pomades may contain beeswax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum, mineral oil, lanolin, castor oil, or synthetic waxes. Candelilla and carnauba are plant waxes that add structure and stiffness. Microcrystalline wax and synthetic wax help with texture, hold, and water resistance. Petrolatum and mineral oil add slip and shine but can feel heavy if overused. Matte clays often contain kaolin, bentonite, silica, or charcoal to absorb oil and create grip. Hairsprays, gels, and strong-hold products rely on polymers and resins to create structure. Ingredients such as PVP, VP/ VA copolymer, acrylates copolymer, and polyurethane help hair hold its shape, resist humidity, and stay in place. Before brushing out heavy spray, wax, paste, or gel, soften the product first, when possible, to reduce friction. The goal is not to memorize every ingredient. It is to connect label terms to performance. Does the product need to calm, bronze, grip, hold, smooth, protect, or remove? Once you know what the product is supposed to do, the label becomes less confusing and much more useful. Julie Socash President, I.A.T.S.E. Local 706 In the last issue of The Artisan, we decoded the basics of product labels and looked at ingredient lists. This is a continuation and more practical label-reading for the products we use for our work. Heat rash and heat-related irritation need a gentle approach. Skin that is red, bumpy, itchy, prickly, or irritated from heat, sweat, friction, or wigs, may not tolerate strong active ingredients. Look for cooling gels, soothing lotions, anti-chafe balms, fragrance-free moisturizers, aloe, colloidal oatmeal, panthenol, allantoin, zinc oxide, or barrier creams. Avoid heavy fragrance, scrubs, strong acids, and alcohol-heavy products on irritated skin. Some difficult skincare terms are easier when grouped by job. A humectant attracts water; examples include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe, and sodium PCA. An emollient softens and smooths; oils, esters, fatty alcohols, and butters are common examples. An occlusive helps seal moisture in and protect the surface; examples include petrolatum, mineral oil, dimethicone, waxes, and some butters. Many products use all three: humectants for hydration, emollients for softness, and occlusives for protection. Other helpful terms include panthenol, a form of vitamin B5 used to soothe and support the skin barrier; allantoin, a calming ingredient used for irritation or roughness; colloidal oatmeal, finely ground oatmeal used to calm itchy skin; and niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that supports the barrier and can help with redness, uneven tone, and oil balance. These are useful when skin is stressed, freshly shaved, heat-irritated, or recovering from product overload. Men's grooming products deserve label attention because beard oils, shave creams, after-shave balms, scalp products, brow gels, and styling pastes all sit close to the skin. Shaving products reduce friction and may contain glycerin, aloe, fatty alcohols, silicones, oils, or slip agents. After shaving, the skin often needs calming more than fragrance. Traditional aftershaves may contain alcohol, menthol, or strong scent, which can sting or dry the skin. For post-shave care, look for soothing gel, alcohol-free, fragrance-free, sensitive skin, barrier repair, aloe, panthenol, allantoin, glycerin, or niacinamide. Razor bumps and ingrown hairs are common anywhere hair is shaved close. Products for bumps may contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, witch hazel, tea tree oil, niacinamide, allantoin, aloe, or benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble and can help clear clogged follicles. Glycolic and lactic acids loosen dead skin on the surface. Benzoyl peroxide targets acne-causing bacteria but may dry skin. Self-tanning products have their own ingredient language. The most common tanning ingredient is DHA, short for FROM THE PRESIDENT Label Lessons, Part Two: Grooming, Self-Tanning, and Styling Products Julie So ca sh