Did you know you are probably spending much more money on beauty products than you need to? You are if you are engaging in any of the following seven habits that drain your money without significantly improving your beauty.
Buying expensive beauty products
While it may be true in some industries that price equals quality, in the cosmetic industry it’s not. The amount that is charged for a beauty product has little to do with the amount of money it takes to produce the product. Price also doesn’t have any correlation with effectiveness. $10 moisturizing creams are just as good (and often better) than $300 moisturizing creams. Salon hair products are no better than grocery store brands.
Tip – Price does not equal quality. Avoid the highest priced cosmetics.
Buying the same product for more
Did you know that sometimes manufacturers will take nearly the same formula and sell it under a different brand name for more money? Sure, they change the product color, fragrance and packaging but they don’t change the ingredients that actually make the product work. For example, Pantene and Herbalessences shampoos are essentially the same formulas. Check the ingredient lists.
Tip – Brands can fool your brain. Compare ingredient lists and go with the less expensive product.
Buying from multi-level marketers
While you might have a friendly relationship with your door to door Arbonne sales person, don’t think that you’re getting some unique technology that will make your skin better than any other product. It won’t. The beauty products sold directly to you are more expensive and definitely not better than products you can buy in the store.
Tip – Make your skin care & make-up purchases at a store.
Buying beauty products from “experts”
While dermatologists know how to treat skin diseases and their advice in this area need not be questioned, they don’t necessarily know the best skin care products to use. Dermatologists often sell their names to a product and don’t actually have much involvement in the development. They also stand to make money if you buy the line that they sell. Why would a dermatologist need to supplement their income by selling beauty products? Don’t they make enough money treating patients?
And while stylists know how to style hair, they do not necessarily know about hair products. Be skeptical of any advice they give you about what products to use. They learn about products from the marketing department of salon brands and also make a commission on products you buy from them. When they bash products like Pantene, they do so without any real evidence to back up their claims.
Tip – Don’t buy beauty products from doctor’s offices or salons.
Falling for Fear
Have things you read on the Internet made you afraid of products with sulfates, talc, parabens, propylene glycol, etc.? Well, you are avoiding perfectly good, safe and effective products. There is no scientific evidence that suggests beauty products sold in the United States, Canada, EU or Japan are unsafe. There is also no evidence that the purported “natural” alternatives are safer or better for you or the environment.
Tip – Don’t spend extra money on products claimed to be “natural”.
Buying Products that Don’t Work
Many products out there promise to “solve” your beauty problems. But the truth is there are many problems for which scientists just haven’t figured out solutions. The following are the top beauty product types that are practically ineffective for solving the problem.
- 1. Cellulite reduction – No cream or lotion will fix this problem
- 2. Hair growth products – Products mostly don’t work
- 3. Shave minimizing lotions – They do not slow hair growth
- 4. Tattoo removal creams – They don’t work.
- 5. Most miracle wrinkle creams – Some ingredients work but most don’t.
- 6. Split end repair – Nothing can repair split ends except a hair cut.
Tip – Don’t buy products that promise to solve problems that haven’t been solved.
Beauty from within Bogus
If you are spending money on health food supplements that promise to give you better hair and skin, you’re wasting your money. There is no evidence that a health food supplement is going to have any positive effect on your skin or hair. While it may sound promising and make sense, the scientific support is not there. The other problem is that at least in the US, limited governmental regulation of the food supplement industry allows them to make almost any beauty claim without requiring proof.
Tip – Avoid any product that claims to beautify your skin from within.
Without specialized knowledge, it’s easy to be taken in by glitzy advertising, friendly sales people, and products that sound too good to be true. If you can remember that price and performance are not related in the beauty product market, you can save yourself lots of money without negatively impacting your appearance. In fact, with the money you save on beauty products, you can go get a nice pair of cute shoes.
What are you going to spend your extra money on now that you aren’t wasting it on overpriced beauty products? Leave a comment below.
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I agree with everything, although lately I’ve been spending a ton of money on vitamins to see if any of them do work for hair loss (iron, saw palmetto, etc.). I know it’s probably a waste of money, but I won’t know for sure until I try it for myself. Otherwise I hardly spend any money on beauty products because I’ve been able to find cheap products that work good enough.
I have always be willing to try cheap products first and they work perfectly fine for me. There’s no need to buy expensive brands and buy a lot of money just for the fancy name. Now that I’m over 30 and wiser I have also minimized my hair and body products. Less is more!
An excellent post, Beauty Brains!
I just wanted to note that I myself choose inexpensive products for general skin care, but am ok with buying more expensive products when I’m looking for something specific, such as retinol in suitable packaging or a sunscreen with certain ingredients. I never go too expensive, though…
I’ve also noticed that you don’t have to be buying expensive products to be needlessly wasting money on skin care. If you buy ten skin creams you’re not happy with and don’t use, you would be better off choosing your skin care products more carefully – and even buying a more expensive product if the expense can motivate you to actually use the product up.
I have to disagree that my hairstylist doesn’t know about hair products. Really? All they do is style hair all day, and see a much larger variety of hair types and products than I do. Why wouldn’t they know about hair products? While they do get commission from the sales of products, they also see lots of women who don’t use salon products and how it affects their hair, so wouldn’t they have a broader range of knowledge to draw from than one person who has only ever styled his or her hair?
Um, there is a lot of proof that certain chemicals in cosmetic products are harmful. Some common ingredients in products in the U.S. are OUTLAWED from cosmetic use in Canada or Europe. Using a site like cosmeticsdatabase.com can help consumers make an educated decision about what the potential for carcinogenic or toxicity is in any specific product. Learn what to look for and avoid, it’s worth the time to do some research. No, you cannot trust the beauty industry to look out for your health, as their concern is MONEY and not whether you die from inhaling their added fragrances or skin absorbing chemicals. If they can legally get away with it, and it’s cheap to them, they will use it.
The other thing I want to mention is vitamins. While typical “skin and hair vitamins” are bogus, if you truly have a deficiency in a vitamin or mineral, it can definitely effect your skin and hair. Take a look at your diet, and what might be lacking or what you are over-eating. Allergens to dairy have been known to create a skin reaction, and deficiency in B vitamins can cause skin to show signs. I recommend adding a DHA supplement to help acne prone skin, and I do feel that the proof is in the pudding, as they say. I’ve seen remarkable results from the addition of fatty acids to the diet.
@h – You are correct about vitamins. The post was referring to generally healthy people, not people who are vitamin deficient.
The evidence that you cite for justifying your use of DHA supplements is just anecdotal. You may ‘feel’ that it’s helping but the scientific evidence wouldn’t agree with you.
You are also mistaken about the beauty industry in general. No one I worked with encouraged formulators to use carcinogenic materials in the formulas because they were cheap.
Also, it seems odd that you would use vitamin supplements when they are produced by an industry (the health supplement industry) that is practically unregulated. Those DHA supplements you’re using…what’s your proof that there is any DHA in them? The health supplement manufacturer can put anything in there that they want. The FDA is powerless to stop them unless it makes people sick.
Kristy Victoria,
a stylist is likely to be biased even without realizing it – especially if they sell some products. It’s easy to realize how this might happen in an uncontrolled environment. For example, a stylist might conclude that people who use minoxidil tend to have a hair loss problem, while it is actually the other way round – people who have a hair loss problem are likely to choose minoxidil. Or they might conclude that cheaper products perform worse, even though the people who use the cheaper products might be getting inadequate medical attention (due to the lack of funds) or simply pay less attention to their hair (hence less expensive products AND less attention to damage from flat irons, for example). Or a desperate customer who suddenly develops a hair problem might ask them for product suggestions AND ask a doctor about it (and sort out some medical issues), but the stylist might conclude that the improvement is due to the products they suggested. A stylist cannot control for these kinds of causality relationships.
This is why only science can offer real evidence – it is dedicated to controlling all of these conditions and many more to get accurate results.
I hope this helps!
*sigh* I wish I had read this before paying $40 at the derm’s office for a cleanser that really was not worth the money (Neova Radiance or something like that, if you’re curious). Totally useless. I’m really pissed about this actually, because if you could trust anyone to give you reliable product advice, it would be your dermatologist…right? Turns out they’re just salespeople with degrees.
Ill begin by stating that I take biotin in staggered doses: one month on, one month off. My hair grows at a fairly average rate naturally, but the addition of biotin to my diet increases the growth exponentially. I have to shave my legs every day, whereas when I do not take it, I shave maybe twice a week, if that.
That said, this list comes across as annoyingly authoritative. While many good points are made, the author claims that, There is no evidence that a health food supplement is going to have any positive effect on your skin or hair… the scientific support is not there.
Really? Did anyone consult the scientific body of research before making such a sweeping generalization? Here are some links to institutionally sanctioned studies which suggest that supplements can, and do improve the hair and skin. The body has a delicate balance, and literally everything that goes in, comes out in some form– be it positive or negative.
LINKS:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(79)90003-5/abstract
http://www.jstor.org/stable/30158351
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20369054
I am sure that you have plenty to read, and these journals may not be accessible to those without college library internet connections. Still, I wanted to make the point that science never proves anything– it only suggests. And right now, the scientific evidence suggests that there is plenty we can do to improve ourselves from within.
Wow, lotsa feedback on this one! I disagree about the expensive bullet point. I have YET to find a drugstore haircare brand that doesn’t make my curly hair feel like straw. I found DevaCurl and never looked back. It is expensive, but my hair has never looked so good.
Sometimes you have to look hard to find good, affordable cosmetics. If you have oily skin, drugstore brands are less likely to have mattifying qualities. I finally found a decent one from Boots in Target but it’s thin and feels weird. I switch it off with my preferred Cosmedicine brand from Sephora. Not all moisturizers are great for all skin types, and drugstore brands make it a little harder to find a good one.
It is also harder to find quality brands at the drugstore that also meet my ethical needs. To keep costs down, some of them still test on animals. Those that don’t, don’t has as wide a variety of products. I will still pay more money for Origins products because I know what I’m getting.
Re: multi-level marketters… Avon used to have an eyeliner that I adored, that twisted out in the stick, long before that style was popular in drugstores. That was worthwhile. But I refuse to buy the Amway crap my sister-in-law keeps trying to peddle me.
Well, I know the product is good because I do my research.
I take (and suggest that others take) Nordic Naturals brand.
“Nordic Naturals was ranked #1 out of the top 10 fish oil brands in Norway for highest concentration, freshness, and purity. This award is an honor since the products in Norway are monitored by the Norwegian Medicinal Standard”
Just because the u.s has totally dropped the ball on consumer safety in regard to cosmetics and supplements, doesn’t mean the rest of the world is following suit.
@Mera – Thanks for the information. Our comments were in relation to people who do not suffer from a disease. Do you have any evidence that normal, non-deficient people benefit from taking some kind of supplement? This is what we were talking about.
@Kimberly – Thanks for your comments. You have to remember that individuals are not a good judge about whether things work or not. We are easily fooled by packaging, marketing, and the amount of money we pay. If you could objectively evaluate products (on a blinded basis) you would likely come to a different conclusion.
I’m 45 and have had monthly skin breakouts since I was 12 (surprise! surprise!). The only variable through all these years has been the severity of the breakouts, and that has corresponded so closely with whether or not I was taking multi-vitamins that there is absolutely no doubt in my mind about the value of vitamin supplements. BTW I had no idea when I started taking them that vitamins would have any bearing on my skin but after years of “experimenting” I’m totally convinced. Just sayin’
Just chiming in as a makeup artist who also sells a direct-sales brand, Mary Kay Cosmetics – which is hardly known here in New Zealand.
Gotta disagree with the blanket statement on MLM product lines. Yes, MOST over way overpriced, but you WILL get that in a store. Plus customers love buying the items I recommend that get the ‘tick’ from the Cosmetics Cop, Paula Begoun AND are often half the price of other prestige brands they might be sucked into buying anyway.
If the MLM band is big enough, you’ll find the Cosmetics Cop & her team have reviewed it and the individual products so one can see whether any products from that line feature in the ‘best of’ lists on Paula’s beautypedia website. Surely you can’t discount a line of beauty products simply because they’re sold through a MLM or direct sales system!
When buying in a store you also don’t get offered a 90 day money-back guarantee (or 30 days for Avon) for everything you purchase, be able to return it when opened if there’s a problem etc, and are often left without an experienced opinion to help you shop. All the things my customers can take advantage of when using my personal shopping service.
I also agree with Mera, against the dismissal of vitamins helping the skin.
Ooh – although I see your comment now about vitamin deficits, beautybrains.
Hey,
I’m kinda convinced but the only part confusing me is that about supplements. It’s not about using them but about the fact that good nutrition = good hair and skin. I think its biologically true so when u get vitamins and minerals, food or otherwise, u should look better. So I’m a bit confused on this one.
Also, I have split ends, so I’ve been using schwarzkopf gliss, I can’t say I noticed results but I’m asking if my hair ir relatively dry, but get oily at the scalp overtime,what kind of shampoo should i use? not necessarily brands, if I’m gonna start saving here, what ingredient or shampoo type should I be looking for??
@neveen – You are correct that good nutrition = good looking hair and skin. But unless you are malnourished, there is no scientific evidence supporting the use of supplements to improve hair and skin.
People may take these products and believe that they are helping but it’s more likely a placebo effect.
For your hair problem, I would recommend using a moisturizing shampoo. Pick the brand based on price and fragrance. Tresemme, Frucits, Dove, Pantene, Herbalessences, etc. are all good choices.
Hi,
This is an interesting post, but it makes it very difficult to be a consumer if the only way to find good products is to check all ingredient lists and knowing how the ingredients work together in that exact combination. Do you really mean that all cosmetic brands are equal, so to say, and that none can be trusted more than others? And that the quality of the research done by cheap and expensive companies is the same? If it is like that, I must say the industry does an amazing job at fooling millions of people.
I read that parabens will actually simulate estrogen in the human body and may therefore have unwanted effects. Maybe we don’t notice it in our daily life and that its not directly dangerous, but it should be a reason to choose products without parabens if possible. I am sure you have knowledge about these things, and it would be very interesting to hear what you have to say about this kinds of ingredients.
And to take another example, since you mention sulfates without specifying which ones: sodium lauryl sulfate. It (and also sodium laureth sulfate) is used in most soaps and shampoos and other products we expect to lather. It is very effective at making lather and removing grease from the skin. It is also used by the cosmetic industry to irritate skin so that other products can be tested on the irritated skin. Maybe its not a healthy ingredient, for example if you have sensitive skin?
Please do correct me if I’m wrong! I was just thinking, that if you post things like this, and only afterwords tell that you only are talking about perfectly healthy people who dont lack any vitamins (and also have no issues with skin sensitivity and so on?), it might be an idea to state that in the article so that people aren’t mislead to using products which can be bad for them, or not taking action if they lack vitamins or minerals.
If the beauty industry cannot be trusted when it comes to honesty about price and quality, how can we trust that they only put safe and good ingredients in their products without thinking profit? I think a lot of companies selling cheaper products will go further towards the border of what is legal and healthy ingredients if it will make the production more cost-effective.
For people who dont have time to study chemistry themselves, it would be nice to be able to trust the information given to us by dermatologists, serious cosmetic brands and other experts. Its a quite harsh and generalising statement that hair stylists recommend products without knowing what they are talking about. And that dermatologists cannot be trusted because they sell certain brands in their store. This all makes it just harder to try to be a critical and concious consumer.
But I agree that its important to be critical towards price, so thank you for making us think
@Marie – No, we didn’t claim that all cosmetic brands are equal. The point is that the price of a cosmetic product is in no way related to the quality or performance of the product. There are good, expensive products and there are good, inexpensive products. There are also bad, expensive products & bad inexpensive products.
Unilever makes Tigi, Dove and Suave. They have the same R&D resources. From a performance standpoint, the expensive Tigi is not superior to inexpensive Suave.
We’ve written about parabens before but the bottom line is that there is zero evidence that using parabens in cosmetics poses any hazard at all. And you are correct that SLS is used to irritate skin. This is why it is only allowable for rinse-off products. For short-term exposure, SLS is perfectly fine. Almost any cleansing surfactant if left on the skin long enough will cause irritation.
I don’t understand your comparison between price & safety. ALL beauty companies are in business to make money/profits. They determine prices based on more than just performance and raw material cost. This doesn’t mean they would create unsafe products. They don’t. In fact, it would be counter-productive to profits if they did create unsafe products. Poisoning their consumers is not a good business model.
As far as stylists go, the statement is not meant to be harsh. No doubt they are sincere in what they believe. You just have to realize, stylists are as easily fooled by beauty business marketers as consumers. Anyone who thinks Pantene is putting plastic on their hair or that salon products are superior did not come to these conclusions based on objective, scientific evidence.
I worked in a salon for over a year. I can tell you all that as much as I would like to say that the stylist are selling you a product for your benefit, I know for a fact that most are just trying to sell a product. Sure, what they sell you may work out fine and you may end up loving it, but I agree with Beauty Brains that stylist don’t always know what they are talking about. They are told what to say by the marketing/sales person who visits monthly for training sessions. I’m no cosmetologist, but if you ask me what Alterna product to use for you particular hair issue, I could tell you exactly what, why, and how.
This list, for the most part, makes sense. I’ve been using $1 conditioner for the last several months and my hair is just fine. I co wash often and just don’t have the money to shell out $5-10 on conditioner.
This kind of fabulous post is why I come to this blog regularly! As a science-y geek girl, all I can say is that a number of these comments are yet another example that the plural of anecdote is not data. I think the problem is that you are dealing with what I call “true believers”, and if you argue against their gospel, they get even more defensive. (You can generally identify them by their quoting of EWG or Skin Deep or another site that might seem kinda science-y, or the paraben/SLS argument, or the idea of using “chemical free” products.) I don’t think there’s a chance of breaking through the wall of belief or the mistrust of science as a whole. (I had one person comment on my blog that she didn’t believe in science; she believes in common sense and experience.) But I’m glad you keep trying!
@swift
I dont know why you feel the need to generally identify anyone. We are all just trying to find our path through the jungle of information and products there are. How do you determine which “scienc-y” websites are good quality info, and which are liars? I find this quite hard, and that is why I chose to ask some questions. The more info we can get from people who have knowledge about the science behind beauty products, the better. But I am generally critical towards people and websites who generalize those who don’t agree or those who ask the wrong questions. I think its a healthy sign that people are critical towards what we put on our bodies. I don’t see any signs of me beeing unwilling to learn new facts in my post. Why is it correct to question the info you get from one website, but not from another? And how do I determine which ones I am allowed to question and which ones not at all? Maybe there are some rules that I don’t know, and could you please teach me those?
@Marie – the best thing to do is to question everything. We welcome questions. Our responses are based on our particular view of the world. We are generally skeptical of claims but will accept truths that the best scientific information supports. There is no scientific evidence that supports the conclusion that cosmetics are unsafe.
However, if there ever is evidence that cosmetics are unsafe, we’d be perfectly willing to sound the alarm. We do not care what the scientific evidence concludes. We only care what is true.
This is the primary difference between us and the people who Swift terms “true believer”. A true believer can not accept any data that disagrees with what they want to believe. They filter all data, accepting anything that agrees with their beliefs and rejecting anything that disputes them. True believers can be fooled by people who want to manipulate them.
To avoid becoming a true believer the best thing you can do is ask questions. Most importantly, question any belief you have. Figure out what information you’d need to learn that would prove the belief wrong. For example, if you believe cosmetics are dangerous ask yourself this. What information would you need that would prove cosmetics are not dangerous? There should always be an answer. Then be open to changing your mind if you find that evidence.
But remember even when you think you know something, realize that it could be wrong or could be proven to be wrong in the future. Maintaining this type of unsureness is the best way to prevent yourself from being fooled by cosmetic marketers (and shifty politicians too).
I do buy ‘natural’ products but this is not because im afraid of ingredients like sulfates, parabens or propylene glycol but more because most of these products aren’t animal tested and this is very important to me.
I do have to add that a ‘natural’ product not automaticly means: ‘non-animal tested’, you always have to check out the brand.
I agree with Kirry. I love Burts Bees because I love the smells of fruit and natural stuff, but I also have products that aren’t natural, too. I just buy what I like and what I think either works well for me or is pleasing to my senses.
@ Left Brain
Maybe its because I come from the other side of the planet.
I totally agree with this. And thanks for the crash course in not becoming a “true believer” which is a term I never heard before
But I still didn’t have anyone answer my questions. And there is one question which would be really great if you could answer; why should we trust one webpage more than another, and how do we know which ones those are? Can you suggest where to look for good scientifically proven info on cosmetic ingredients? Maybe a link to a research report of some kind would also help. And are there any signs I should look for when I try to determine wether or not I can believe a certain channel of info (a webpage, a TV channel, a dermatologist and so on)?
And last I would like to challenge you, since I’ve read some SLS criticism in the commentary field of the article «do sulfate shampoos cause hair loss» that you haven’t really answered to, which refers to Journal of the American College of Toxicology. Could you please mention a research report that concludes SLS is safe to use and which contradicts what this journal says? I ask because I am truly interested, and I hope you can believe that. I want to learn!
Great post! I definitely learned a thing or two. I myself don’t check ingredient lists. Now I know I really need to.
I am glad my derm doesn’t push products. He actually advised me to be skeptical about product claims and wants me to keep my regimen simple. I would be put off if I went to any doctor that tried to sell me his or her line of products, and I am not moved when the women at the trish mcevoy counter tell me, “her husband is a dermatologist you know.” That dermatologist, “doctor so-and-so” line of products thing just never was convincing to me.
The list is a good one but the fact is that a lot of people can get irritations from products, and not only because the product is left on the skin for a long time, but because an ingredient in the product is irritating. Anything that totally dismisses skin irritations is suspicious, such as left brain dismissing SLS irritations as product misuse. Ignoring the fact that some American products cannot be sold in Canada or Europe because of certain things used is also odd. Why not address that? When it comes to cosmetics, price can mean a difference in how well the product works and how much pigment vs filler there is, especially with powdered products. When it comes to beauty products with medical ingredients, price can play a role thought smaller than most people think – it might be better to get the $15 product than the $5 product, rather than the $15 vs $5 product. In other words, the mantra of “get it cheap” has overrun this article. I was excited to find this blog, thinking it might actually try to be unbiased and admit to any biases it may have, but now I’m very disappointed.
I agree with Sally above; definitely disappointed.
As a stylist I will 100% disagree about hair products. Panteen is mostly made of wax. That is why we tell people not to use it. Wax is horrible for hair! I dare you to go get your fav. store brand shampoo then go get a bottle of say Rusk or Wella shampoo. Put a dime amount in your hair. Tell me what one lathers better? Well the prof. one will. Why because it is a better product and is not 40=% water like your store brands. Also the paul mitchel brands you see at wal mart and such are not real. These are tossed out batches that are not to quailty at the plants. People buy these and re sell them This is not legal to do so. They are bad or missing ingredients. Unless you have been trained to do hair and with products I find it very wrong for you to tell people this info and pretty much say we are trying to make a buck. This is 100% false!
wow you just saved me from spending all my $. i think i just needed some encouragement NOT to spend
Hi, The Beauty Brains team,
I think I am late to comment, but I loved this post a lot- these straightforward conclusions are great !
If you don’t mind, I would like to add a few comments about this topic. Although the certain cosmetic product’s usefulness varies by person to person, many of cosmetics aren’t worth it’s price (or buy at all). Here are my opinion about some of cosmetics products:
Eye Creams –are basically another variant of your facial moisturizer (check ingredient if you don’t believe), but cost a lot of more and has no additional benefit. Why would you use irritating, fragranced moisturizer for your entire face? –Better choose the one that has no perfume in it and undesired ingredients (like certain preservatives, alcohol) and use this cream around eyes too.
Anti wrinkle creams- nope, none of them works. The real, proven anti wrinkle treatments are with prescription only – I mean retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA peel solutions), but if even non prescription creams contain these substances they aren’t potent to give any effect (or very temporal), because their concentrations are far too small. Be suspicious about any cream which claims to be substitution for Botox, injectables and facelift- too good to be truth.
Over priced moisturizer- to moisturize your skin, you can use almost anything you like (even plain Vaseline or Shea butter will do!). A moisturizer’s function is to protect skin from dryness, so you shouldn’t expect something more. Since it is swollen, skin seems smoother, fresher and fine wrinkles- less visible, but all this ‘anti-aging’ illusion disappears, when you give a wash for your face.
Note: Oily skin, in fact, does NOT need a moisturizer. Also avoid to use it on T-zone ( if oily) and areas affected by acne.
Creams to get rid of stretch marks – like cellulite, stretch marks have no good treatment and cannot be reduced and eliminated by any cream or lotion.
Abrasive cleansers/scrubs – they have no benefit in cleaning the skin. Most dermatologists do not recommend their use (the skin successfully exfoliates itself). Scrubbing can irritate and damage the skin and aggravate acne. My advice would be not waste money on scrubs, but use washcloth for body and if desired, fine sugar or sodium bi carbonate can be used as a gentle facial exfoliant.
Facial masks – are totally unnecessary in skin care routine. You can get the same effect by simply washing your face with soap, water and applying moisturizer. It does not nourish the skin.
Tanning Oils – they can make skin sunburn more easily and cause the rash. Also they have no effect on skin color.
Essential aromatic oils – not expected to cure anything and are known skin irritants. It may smell good and improve wellbeing (it is their main purpose), but shouldn’t be use as a part of skin care.
Astringents-skin toners – Their benefits are controversial. They could be suitable just for very oily skin, as it has drying effect, but it is no need to use for other skin types.
Hair masks and ‘deep’ conditioning serums and etc.- As far as we know, hairs are not living tissue and cannot be repaired, here is no necessity to use various hair care products, while in fact a conditioner is sufficient.
Lip gloss – it is the most unstable make up tool- wear off too quickly, must be applied many times in a day. Also lips do not look natural (somehow ‘slobbery’), everything sticks to. Lip gloss aren’t not only protective but also allow more of UV light to penetrate to lips, that could result to damage. I would rather go for lipstick.
Mineral make up – it is highly overrated and most of times- overpriced. It does not cover the skin well and cannot provide any good protection from sun, it does not moisturize and can be very drying! Most of mineral make ups use Mica pigments, which give shine, that isn’t desirable if you have oily skin (sensitive skin may be irritated by these). If you have a pale skin it is also hard to find your shade. ? would rather rely on foundation creams.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to look good. At first you should think do you need to spend it at all on what does not work (or on what you really don’t need)?
I am fan of your website!
Greetings from Turkey ?
@Ayleen – Great additions to the post!
So after trying tons of crap products and doing months of research, it’s great to know that the vitamin supplement that has finally softened my skin, strengthened my nails and thickened my hair doesn’t really work, but that I am so deluded I have imagined these positive effects. God consumers are so dumb aren’t they? Thanks BB for helping me see the light through my apparent mental defect! I’m so stupid I can’t even tell when my own body is responding to what I’m ingesting!
@Noreen – There is no evidence that you are deluded, dumb, stupid or have a mental defect. There is also no evidence that the vitamin supplement you’re taking is having the effects you’re attributing to it.
I thought there was scientific evidence that Gotu Kola teas and extracts were good for your connective tissue. (Not that they would help it enough to fight cellulite or anything, but still! lol.) I only do a couple of “internal” beauty regulars–the stuff that WORKS!!! Try it for yourself, (and don’t believe what you read,) then keep doing it only if it works for you.
All this seems rather negative. I especially dislike the advice on not buying from you doctor or stylist. Who do buy from then?! Do you really think that one of the girls standing behind the Lancome counter is more qualified. How about telling people to ask question about where someone has gotten the information they are relating to you or how many years of experience they have with the product line they are using? Here is another tip: Beware of people who bad mouth other brands in order to try to get you to buy theirs. And also, you won’t know if something works for you until you try it. Make yourself a beauty budget and stick to it. This article is not useful.
I personally think this is over the top negative… I also disagree with many of the statements of the article.
*Purchasing expensive products does make a difference, please let me know what cheap product has 1.5% Retinol because Peter Thomas Roth’s does… I could list many examples like that.
*Purchasing from a sylist or dermatolagist may be really benificial so that you are getting a product relating to YOUR specific concerns… which they should know considering they went to school for it, and may know what has worked for other clients. True they may be somewhat bias… in please let me know someone who isn’t…
*I suggest purchasing products that you do research on and hear good reviews about, or purchasing products at a store such as ULta, where you can return it if you don’t like it… Even if it is used! Then you can test without spending a fortune and see what works for you!
Totally agree. It’s a great post, but what do you sugest then? What should I buy? I get the point that there is no such thing absolute safe cosmetics. I do understand the point, but totally lost.. Just cheaper ones are great?
I am in total support of the writer. i am a marketing student myself and i am well aware of the tricks the marketers use to fool the people in order to sell their products…..want to get beautiful and healthy? try yoga or any other good excercise coupled with a good diet..nd that is all u nead…fuck cosmetics!
Thanks for an interesting article. There is a lot of sense to what you are saying, the price does not detemine the value and one does benefit from doing her research of the product. Advice given by professionals is not always the right advice for a partifcular person – even in medicine one often needs a second, third or n opinion. To me, the picture is not a black and white as yo have painted it though. I
The best thing you can do for your skin is drink lots of water. I’ve seen this improve the appearance and feel of oily, dry, and combination skin. It won’t cure acne, but it can improve it in many people.
I agree that boxed “natural” cleansers and moisturizers are fairly useless, with a few exceptions. Oil cleansing with your own mixture is the only thing that works for some people. I’m sensitive to sulfates and used to have oily skin. Now I wash my face and remove makeup with only olive oil, and I am often complimented on my skin, it’s soft and supple.
I also use Deva Curl, which someone mentioned above. It doesn’t actually contain any cleansers, which is why it’s called no poo. I was doing strict no poo, but had to add in something after hard workouts to keep my scalp from feeling nasty. This stuff is a nice balance, the oils pull the sweat off of my scalp and the menthol makes it feel quite clean. I’ve been happy with this combo for a while. Despite Deva Curl being fairly expensive, this is the least I’ve ever spent on my cleaning regimen because I dont’ wash my hair every day.
Also, some expensive makeup brands really are better, some are not. The pigment level in Too Faced and Urban Decay is extremely high. I use much, much less eyeshadow when I use these brands than I do from drug store brands or even MAC.
After reading a number of articles and posts related to “MLM ” companies, I’m going to comment on this one because of your “tip” to purchase from a drugstore not a woman who owns a Direct Sales type home based business.
I don’t think you have really taken the time to fully understand a legitimate Direct Sales Business plan. Yes, there are some companies out there which are MLM/Pyramid. but not ALL of them work like that! I think it’s misleading and really very biased to advise your readers never to buy from a Direct Sales Rep. In both the US and Canada there is a governing authority called the Direct Sales Association which monitors how DS companies do business. Direct Sales is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide, with millions of very satisfied customers.. and consultants.
In Canada, I know that leaders in the DSA met with our PM Stephen Harper recently to discuss how government can support an industry that is legitimate and vital to growing economies. This is reassuring to me.
When you purchase from a Direct Sales rep. you are purchasing within your LOCAL community, supporting someone with a small, home-based business. You will receive admirable customer service, generally VERY good return policies, high quality products. Yes, some are priced higher than super market brands, but there are many other much higher priced retail brands that don’t give the same level of service, and very often, the same value. I don’t think the quality value is ‘just as good’ for lower priced brands either. Have you made any posts on this site about fillers? My understanding is that better quality cosmetics are more concentrated, which means you use less, they last longer, and of course, the added benefit of the proven and tested claims the product may make. (Mary Kay has patents on many of their products, like the Time wise moisturizer. They also have won independent research based awards on how well their products work according to the claims made. )
I will speak to Mary Kay specifically now, because I have researched them the most. (although I’ve researched many) When you purchase MK products, you recieve a 100% satisfaction gaurantee… with no restrictions. Tell me the drugstore that will let you return your opened foundation because the next day you just were not happy with the colour? Same goes for any other cosmetics product? A Mary Kay Consultant will visit your home as many times as you need to find the RIGHT products for you, that WORK. They have a “try anything before you buy” policy, as many Direct Sales companies do.
DS companies don’t pay for many of the endorsements they receive, they also don’t shell out millions on Magazine, TV, and celebrity backed Ads.
This means they have more money to put back into local consultants through the form of prizes, and commissions. This means encouragement, motivation, support, training, recognition for a job well done that goes beyond a simple pay cheque.
As a result of being debt free, Mary Kay is able to send even more of their profits back to consultants. Commissions don’t come from any persons sales in MK, it comes out of the companies 50% of retail sales. They also don’t extend all the way up a long chain. If you are not working with your personal team members, teaching and mentoring them on how to succeed in their own business, you are not getting paid by the company. period.
Instead of paying a lot of money to advertise, Direct Marketing works by paying consultants commissions to spread the word, first to friends and family yes, but then beyond that. Many top business people would agree that networking in almost ANY business, word of mouth, is HUGE! Direct Sales relies on people building relationships with others as their main form of growth, instead of shelling out huge sums of money to marketing professionals.
What is wrong with that?
In MK. no one makes a commission to just sign people up either, a significant divide from many MLM companies. It is fully reasonable to expect to earn a comfortable income on sales alone, no one has to recruit to succeed.
I would never go back to working an hourly wage job, after working in Direct Sales. For a stay-at-home mom like me, this is a wonderful option! I can earn more money with just a few hours of work away from my son, than I ever could working full time at minimum, or even a managers pay level, at a retail outlet. I also have the flexibility to choose my own hours, to work with my son in the house if I want, to take time off whenever if he’s sick, it’s my CHOICE! Starting my own business from scratch, is FAR more time consuming, requires FAR more capital investment, and certainly doesn’t have the relational and training support I have access to working with an established company. With my own business, if it went under, that would be it, I would have to start from scratch. Working with Mary Kay, I can’t really go under. I can stop working for a time, and start back up whenever with little lost except time. Since MK is debt free, and a private company I never have to worry about them going belly up on me or losing a lot of value to a stock market crash either.
Some of these points are related specifically to Mary Kay, because I know their business plan well, others are related in general to the Direct Sales Industry. Yes, I do work in the DS industry. That doesn’t automatically make me biased. I enjoy your site because I enjoy learning as much as I can and doing properly backed up research. I have researched things like parabens on my own and appreciate your comments about chemicals and “natural” products. (a claim MK does not make by the way, because they know it would be misleading!)
I have done my research on the Direct Sales industry, and I think you should too, rather than making blanket statements about “MLM” companies, and advising people not to purchase from them. This is uninformed and therefore biased against network marketing professionals. This industry includes many wonderful companies, great products and are well worth the investment of consumers money.
What is wrong with a woman wanting to support her girlfriend, family member, or the lady she met on the bus, rather than a large public retail brand whose profits end up in the pocket of someone who lives very far away from you? Those girls behind the counter make minimum wage generally and certainly do not think about whether your face cream is working for you when they go home at night. What is wrong with wanting some good customer service and a solid return policy?
Who on this site spends more than 6.50 a product per month?
do your research on products made without petroleum products (there are about 30+ different names for petroleum). Mineral Oil-another name, inhibits amazing ingredients from getting to where they need to go. Kind of like wrapping yourself in plastic wrap-yet another petroleum product-nothing gets in, nothing gets out. No wonder people stink and have serious skin and organ sensitivities.
Check your products, do they work? Do they last?
Again very disappointed in this site. You cannot possibly be unbiased-P&G, Unilever owned?????
It concerns me that people are actually listening and take advice from the Beauty Brains regarding nutrition and skin care. Again, I will mention that I’m a certified esthetician. I’m also a holistic nutritionist. I’m also someone that suffered from acne for years. I took Accutane. I washed with everything under the sun. It wasn’t until I started to look at my skin care problems from the inside out that everything changed. Good health starts from the inside – not the other way around. What you put in your body, fuels your body, your cells, your blood, your skin. If you eat crap, you will look like crap (yes, that isn’t exactly scientific or eloquent), but it’s the truth. Your body needs Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) Yes, those come from food. If you’re eating a balanced diet, you might get all you need, but nowadays with soil depletion and food coming from thousands of miles away it’s not likely your food soley will provide all the nutrients you need. It’s a sad fact, but it’s the truth, so supplementing with a good vitamin/mineral supplement is a smart thing to do. To get a top quality one, go to the health food store or ask your naturopathic doctor or a holistic nutritionist for product recommendations. EFA’s are vital to brain health and healthy cell membranes and skin. My acne days are long gone and it’s because I made the above changes to my diet. I make better “whole food” choices, I buy local, I make vegetables are dominant feature on my dinner plate, I take fish oil (or flax if you are a vegetarian) and my skin is glowing and that is because I nourished my body from the outside in.
If you want more useful tips and information on real health and beauty, then stroll on over to my blog: http://www.beaututipsfromahag.blogspot.com.
The Hag
I use freakin’ Suave shampoo and my hair is beautiful.
I have to disagree with the comment about vitamins. I’ve been using Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails for the past year, and I’ve seen a significant improvement in the strength of my nails and hair. I would definitely recommend it.
I am a microbiologist and chief researcher and writer for a blow owned by my daughter and me. Having read through the various comments and reviewed the original post here’s my take on this subject.
It can be extremely difficult to obtain factual information regarding cosmetics, supplements and alternative treatments for various skin disorders. Sometimes it will take me days to gather the information necessary to write a single post. However, I think it’s important to offer the truth. Opinions don’t really count, not even mine. (That part really hurts).
My research indicates that not all of the statements on the original post are correct. However, what is absolutely true is that much too much money is wasted on overpriced skin and personal care products. We, the consumer, will ultimately be the ones paying for those million dollar prime time ads and we will also be the ones that pay for the payment tiers in MLM.
As for the comments, there were a number of errors made in the responses. Some made me cringe. However, several comments presented valid points of contention with the original post.
We need to all work together to have a safe, healthy and happy life and to do this there are two things we must do. If we are promoting a product, do whatever it takes to research the product before recommending it to anyone. The second thing we must do is make clear the basis of our belief. For example, we can say “I believe xyz is a great product because it works for me.” We might also say “Based on study a and b, product xyz is an effective treatment for most people who use it.”
I have a great deal of love for the creator of this post and all the goddesses who have come here and commented. I believe, they are all striving to understand what is the best products to use. I know in this myth laden marketing environment this is a difficult task.
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