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The Placebo Effect/Buying New Products
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I wonder if any of you have this experience...NOT YOU KAREN who does very careful testing of the products you buy to be sure they are working...when you buy something new...skin cream, makeup, shampoo...that might be a tad more expensive than usual do you convince yourself it is "working"?
I mention it because as most of you know I finally bought Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer after months of hesitation because of the cost. I was convinced initially that it was superior to my old Revlon stuff but now I don't know. Same thing with my L'Occitaine Hand Cream...it just doesn't seem to be working any better than my less expensive Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. And finally there is my Benefit Dandelion Powder...I REALLY liked it when I first used it but now it seems not quite so dazzling.
Oh dear...it is probably some deep dysfunction in my psyche that causes this affect or my restless desire for something new. Sigh... -
It's not a deep dysfunction, it just means you are acting human. Almost everyone searches for that new thing that will solve their particular problems better. It's reasonable to think that spending more money on something means it will work better. Unfortunately, it doesn't.It happens to everyone, even an uber-skeptic like me. While I rarely fall for new cosmetic bunk, I'm a sucker when it comes to buying wine. I'd never buy the cheapest wine figuring it must not be as good. But it could be perfectly fine and I'm falling for some wine Marketing BS that convinces me I should spend more. We're all susceptible.I wonder, what area are other people least skeptical (more gullible) in?
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With me I think it's hair products. I buy soooooo many products from curl enhancing creams to volumizing products. I get them and push my old stuff to the side and then a month goes by and I'm on to something new. It's kind of sick.
And, no Judy, you're not alone. I think most people are somehow programmed to want variety in their lives and novel things tend to catch our attention. This is good for us in some ways, such as pushing us in the direction of a varied diet, but I really believe it also makes us rabid consumers. -
I think one of mine is body washes...there are so many claiming to be uber moisturizing and so I buy it only to be disappointed.
I am also the same way with wine, beer, and liquor and name brand food. -
Oh yea...
and it applies to everything from food, make up, skincare, clothes, computers, etc..
but whatever makes me happy.. =D -
Cate, actually body washes are one of the FEW things I am rarely disappointed in...but I think that may be because I use SOOO much lotion that I never can really tell whether the body wash is deficient.
Thanks, everyone for not making me feel more demented than I already do.
I am now wondering if the $60 bras I bought are really better than Maidenform. I went for a bra fitting at Nordstrom's and bought several and they REALLY did make a big difference in how clothes fit. However, now that they need replacing and I know my CORRECT SIZE maybe I will just try a less expensive brand. I must admit that the Nordie's personnel is SUPERIOR in this area. Really helpful so I didn't feel too guilty buying the better brand. -
No, it's completely normal. I was really bad about that (especially with makeup & hair products) when I was younger, but I've been getting better about it as I get older (& wiser maybe? wink:).
I've junked all the excess hairproducts now, and it's funny (& ironic) that all the tons of volumizing and curling products for hair that I spent big $$$$$$$$ on- & never seemed to do anything, or worse, left my hair limp- I actually get more curls/waves in my hair from simply wetting it lightly w/ water and letting it dry in a bun. And I get can some nice volume from simply flipping my head over and brushing my hair out upside down and giving myself a nice scalp massage. Go figure. Sometimes less really is more. -
The first thing that pops into mind, actually, are the people who pay upwards of $100 to get a haircut at a prestigious NYC salon vs. those who go to Hair Cuttery and pay $10. I think I received my absolute WORST haircut at a fancy schmancy salon (luckily, my old boss paid for the $75 "experience"), and it wasn't just me, my coworkers all kind of looked at me and then looked at the floor when I emerged. Nowadays, I cut my own hair and it is pretty funny how many people at work chase me to ask which salon I go to (I tell them "Chez Moi"- corny, I know). Anyway, the bottom line is to do your research and try to find the best product or service for the price. Don't go "ewwww" just because something is cheap or purchased at the Walgreens instead of the Waldorf (heh).
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stylists are soo hard to find... i definitely will not get my hair cut at the corner $10 salon, nor will I ever let a new stylist cut my hair..
i'm a total hair snob, yet i'm not a hair snob.. basically i get my hair cut at a super duper steep discount because my sister's best friend is a top notch stylist.. when her salon opened a new store in Beverly Hills, they asked her to be a partner..
so basically nobody cuts my hair aside from her.. -
I agree with Tai. A good hair cut can make all the difference in the world. I think you should find someone who understands and can work with your hair and then stick to them like glue.
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I don't think I've ever had a bad haircut. My hair is curly (loose curls) and when I "straighten" it, I use hot rollers to make it sort of wavy rather than actually straight. My hair does not look good completely straight. So I think I'm less picky about my haircuts because small imperfections would never show up. I've paid anywhere from $80 for a haircut (just the cut! not including any washing, drying, or color) to the $15 I paid 2 weeks ago when I chopped most of my hair off. I didn't really see any difference between the haircuts. The $15 I paid 2 weeks ago was the cheapest ever and I think my hair looks great.
So I have yet to find someone that cuts my hair in a way that justifies me paying more than $15. It really all looks the same to me. When I do pay more, it's for the nicer experience, not necessarily a better haircut. -
My hair's straight and above the shoulders so any error is glaringly obvious.
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My two cents: If you have naturally curly hair, find a stylist who also has curly hair. They are the only ones who truly understand how to cut and style it, whether you're going for a curly or straight do.
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Well, I did the cheap stylist routine recently, and I can't believe how much I regret it! I haven't worn my hair down for a month, while I wait for it to grow out!
I am usually pretty excited about a new product, especially if it smells really nice. For me, I will spend a lot on moisturizers and hair care. I do try to institute a little bit of a cynical attitude toward new things though. For instance, I was never really convinced that eye creams did much of anything, so for a month I only applied them to one eye. And of course, it looked just the same as my other eye. So there you go! But on the other hand, with things like makeup, you might only be able to get that perfect color from Nars or Stila or whoever, so even if Covergirl is just as good, it won't make you as happy. So my mentality is to spend a little more for those, and to be more suspicious about other products.
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