A study of 2,000 women found more than four in 10 like to think they are clued up on the latest beauty innovations. However, 37% believe they are simply buying into ‘buzz’ word ingredients without fully understanding how or when to use them on their skin.

They admitted that they have no idea what skincare ingredients like retinol and hyaluronic acid actually do - but use them anyway. This may be because 85% of women believe skincare has become too full of jargon for the average person to understand.

Only less than four in 10 (36%) were able to correctly explain what popular active agents like retinoids are for, while 81% had no idea what ceramides do for the skin. However, 26% could accurately identify what glycolic acid is primarily designed for: to exfoliate and improve skin texture and tone.

With 63% of women also not knowing what non-comedogenic means, a further 54% couldn’t tell you the definition of free radicals and 34% were left stumped by cell turnover.

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 they’ve heard the name, not because they understand it.

“We’re seeing a real disconnect between how confident people feel and how much they know about what they’re using on their skin.

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

The study also found 86% didn’t know what niacinamide was primarily used for in skincare, while 60% weren’t knowledgeable about which ingredients should be used at night versus in the morning.

Only 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.

This uncertainty also extends to how much product to use, with 41% not confident they are applying the correct amount of skincare.

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 for this skin; 29% have experienced irritation, breakouts or other skin issues after using a product they didn’t fully understand.

The research also found more than a third (35%) don’t 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.

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.”