Comments on: Hope Springs Eternal, But Why’s It So Expensive?

By: Elena

Elena — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:28:46 +0000

I agree with Lynn, I’ve been a cosmetic addict for years.
My daily routine bores me too, because it’s now so perfect for my skin that I don’t change my products any more. I’ve found the makeup look and colors that work for me and have stopped buying hundreds of shades of lip gloss (I wish I were exagerating, if there were a million of me the industry profit rates would double).

I have now figured out, hair. I love doing my hair in different ways and experimenting and I find when I secure the skills, most looks are flattering. So hopefully, that will keep me occupied enough for a while now.

I genuinely think for those of us that obsess about our grooming even if we’re not using our products right at that moment or shopping, the lure of something fancy and new actually permeates our thoughts all day long.

At least I know that’s true for me.

By: Erik

Erik — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:35:45 +0000

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.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:45:45 +0000

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.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:52:32 +0000

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.

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 06:05:14 +0000

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.

By: Desiree Stordahl

Desiree Stordahl — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:51:13 +0000

@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!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:47:43 +0000

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.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:46:00 +0000

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.

By: Daynah

Daynah — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 22:13:05 +0000

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.

By: Jen

Jen — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:25:42 +0000

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!