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.