We routinely receive emails (lots of emails) from new and longtime readers asking us to review a specific brand or product. It never ceases to amaze us how many brands are out there that we’ve yet to review—given the millions of products available, you’d think no one in the world would have a single skin-care complaint!
Lately I’ve received a series of emails from readers that leave me shaking my head at the audacity some of these cosmetic companies have. These women who write to us have the best intentions of finding products that work for them, but they’re increasingly up against some of the most ridiculous claims and prices we’ve ever seen. I wasn’t a bit surprised when I explored some of the products these women were intensely curious about…and found out that they were terrible in most respects. Good thing they checked with us first, but imagine all of those who don’t and wind up financially and emotionally down when the wow-factor claims don’t show up in the mirror. One more reason why, as Paula states, “You need a Cosmetics Cop!”
But back to these emails I field daily…the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t put my finger on why even well-informed, Paula-educated consumers still get curious about products with miraculous claims and stratospheric prices. For example, one of the messages asked about a serum with placental enzymes that cost $200 for an ounce. Not only was the price outrageous, but the formula, quite frankly, sucked. Alcohol was a major ingredient, and it contained irritating plant extracts, too. Of course, placental enzymes (which come from animals, not people) have no effect on skin, but that’s fodder for another blog. This woman must’ve felt that the price and claims added up to something special, because she honestly wanted to know if this serum was worth abandoning the one she normally uses from Paula’s Choice. That’s a hard question for me because after reviewing thousands of products, I know the value of our formulations but at the very least if a woman is going to make a change it should be for the better, not for worse.
I know women are always looking for the best products. They always want to know if some secret ingredient or formula really exists. The perpetual lure of advertising and dollar signs makes us second-guess ourselves. Is the grass really greener if only we spend a lot more money? With so many products vying for our attention, it’s easy to let our hopeful human nature to take over regardless of how much it costs. That’s not the most rational or pragmatic approach, but in the midst of seeing things we don’t like about our appearance (wrinkles, sagging skin, discolorations) who isn’t tempted to ignore reality and wish for the fantasy? I imagine many women, despite being consistently disappointed by products that don’t work as claimed, remain hopeful because of the boost they get from feeling as if they are doing something to address their appearance. It may not be the best thing and it may cost much more than it realistically should, but simply making the effort and refusing to give up has to count for something, right?
What do you think? Are my theories spot-on or did I completely miss the mark? As cosmetics consumers, how vulnerable are all of us to fantastic claims coupled with jaw-dropping prices?
14 Comments until now
The women in the ads for those products are VERY beautiful, and we mortal women want to look like them. We see an ad that claims if we use their product, we will, and it’s tempting!
It seems like cosmetics and facial products are an addiction for some people. They are buying replacements when they still have half a bottle at home. It’s wasteful – both monetarily and environmentally. I really wonder if someone advertised a healthy lifestyle as the ultimate anti-aging plan (exercise, water, multivitamin, healthy diet, no smoking, (and of course Paula’s Choice!) etc) if anyone would believe it. Because that’s the real truth.
I think the average person has a hard time believing that a company could charge such a high price for garbage. We are conditioned to think that expensive is better.
I agree that the pictures are a big factor. Also, as we age, we see things that didn’t used to be there and that we don’t like. That’s not just in skin care. Pharmaceutical companies also spend billions to convice us that their new product is a “miracle” drug. And both men and women fall for those. The new product may only be a slight variation and yet cost 10 times as much. And many of us fall for it. (I also agree with Joelle above.)
I think it may have a little something to do with the sheer boredom of self-grooming. You figure: OK, maybe this new product will be interesting to use – create a slightly new look, look nice sitting on the shelf, smell good. Now that we know how to use great products for effective results, the zing of anticipation goes away. If I’m not mistaken, even Paula seems to be getting a little bored, as her articles are becoming fewer than when she used to have the print newsletter in the mail, and the offerings of products (almost no makeup now) have been getting more limited.
It seems hard somehow to accept that once you’ve got the basics covered, there’s less excitement to the whole project of self-care. Or maybe I’m just getting tired of the too long “beauty” routines; or old enough to realize this face and body are not going to improve dramatically with the passage of time.
Still – maybe that new product? that beautiful photo, that glowing review…??? We are all well-schooled in how to be permanent consumers, aren’t we?
I think too that because our beauty products often get put in the “fun money” part of our budgets, that we are more likely to impulse buy at a cosmetics counter on something that we think is special, since we are “treating” ourselves anyway. I am with you – if we only took the time to make use of the extensive product reviews available, we wouldn’t get caught up in the lure of fancy marketing. These days I get just as much of a high from treating myself to a drugstore brand that WORKS, by finding it on sale!
I think you guys are right on. It’s part the disposable income factor and the hope and a prayer that some new, rare ingredient will prove miraculous (stem cells from Swiss apples anyone?). I also think that partnered women justify the expense by wanting to look good for their significant others, who are themselves also bombarded with unrealistic images of what women can/should look like, images that many women are struggling to resemble. And Bryan is right: not purchasing the latest beauty product that *just might work* reads as apathy or complacency. I’m not saying that all women feel this way, but these depictions and marketing strategies all play into one big self-perpetuating cycle of negative self-image met with dollar sign after dollar sign.
I have crazy, finicky skin. Every product I use seems to not work from the inexpensive to the very expensive. I always want to try the “new thing” because I have hope that this new “combination” of ingredients will finally work on MY skin, even if it hasn’t worked for others.
Hi Amanda! I wonder if your skin is fincky because you introduce new products frequently? It’s possible you’re not giving these products enough time to work, and that can set you up on a cycle of never knowing what your skin’s reacting to, because there’s always something new in the mix. Just a thought; sometimes it’s best to stick with a routine for several weeks and see what happens.
@Amanda- So sorry to hear about your negative experience with skincare in the past. I invite you to contact the Paula’s Choice Customer Care team to help you find products that will work for your particular skin type. You can call 1.800.831.4088 or chat live with a customer care service member at http://www.paulaschoice.com. I hope this helps!
Ah, the psychological boost of using a new beauty product! It can’t be beaten! LOL. I agree with all the posts – there is so much complexity to it, it’s hard to describe.
I also mentioned this on another blog post – even though I have been an avid follower of Paula’s body of work for many years now, I still have to really fight the temptation to purchase lovely products which SMELL so nice from overpowering essential oils … sigh. And then when you have those “off” days and feel old, you wonder whether you should actually be using the latest miracle-espoused wrinkle product … double sigh.
Natalie, we fight the same tempations! I still get excited (or at least curious) when I see a really tempting/well-designed ad for a new product. It’s honestly a letdown when we analyze the product and discover it’s not even close to meeting its claims. It would be a lot easier to praise everything (like the fashion magazines tend to do) instead of writing the facts that pop the “what if?” fantasy bubble.
LOL @ Bryan – thanks for letting me know that you all still struggle from time to time. I do feel better.
Sometimes, I too wish I could just go along with the ‘fantasy bubble’ as you so aptly describe it. I particularly love “good quality”, rose products – and most essential oils, actually … not good for my sensitive skin.
I always refer back to Paula’s books to give me a “reality check”. I just sniff them now … True story.
Bryan and Team,
Me and a girlfriend were listening to the Radio show last night about haircare and were hoping someone would ask this,but never happened so here it is.When salon brand products,lets say for example Bumble and Bumble or Kerastase are found at the Drugstore or Target how do they get on those shelves and are they the real deal.I am sure they are,but my girlfriend swears they are not,so can you please try to clear this up, so i can let her know.Though i have now turned her on to Paula’s All Over Hair and Body Shampoo and Smooth Finish Conditioner and she loves them,almost as much as i do.
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