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Are you spending a ton of money trying to get rid of some wrinkles? Are you depleting the family funs because you don’t want to give up your weekly trips to the nail salon? If you quickly answered no, think about it for a moment. You might be spending more than you know.
How expensive are cosmetics? The average price of the top ten best-selling products is close to $402 per ounce. That’s insane! But true. What you could easily spend on a steak dinner every night is instead spent on beauty treatments and spa days. The most expensive items are products sold in salons or high-end beauty stores.
If you visited a drug store or grocery store, you’d pay a lot less. Over 7,500 percent less. Think about that for a minute and let it sink in. You could save thousands every year by purchasing discounted beauty supplies and applying them yourself. Think about how many wrinkles a sound budget would erase.
From night cream to cosmetic surgery, people are spending huge amounts of money to fight the signs of aging, look good and feel better about themselves. Cosmetic companies know this and price their items accordingly. Why shouldn’t they make a profit?
What you should know before you spend an arm and a leg is that the cheaper products often work as well or better than the expensive stuff.
Ignore things like:
Any claims are often the result of marketing reps trying to sell a product rather than any real scientific tests from researchers. Typically, a company will test a product and if at least one feature of the cosmetic product has been shown, in at least one study, to have had some biological action, then there is a clinically proven miracle worker than will make you look ten years younger a lot quicker than the leading competitor.
Don’t believe the hype
As the population ages, cosmetic companies stand to make a bundle selling solutions in the form of bath salts, vibrant lipstick colors, and foot cream. People have proven time and again to spend on beauty even when the economy tanks.
So why do these products cost so much? Several reasons. They are
Some of these ingredients have been studied by scientists and their benefits widely reported. Other substances have a good reputation or urban legends are behind them, but have little proof that they do what’s advertised.
From the strangest sources
A recent study showed that rubbing an epidermal growth factor on second-degree burns and partial-thickness skin wounds can get them to heal twice as fast. After reporting this news, one of the authors of this study founded a skincare company. They developed an expensive product called Intensité Volumizing Serum that costs around $600 per ounce. It uses a bioengineered molecule called keratinocyte growth factor that “studies show” removes dead skin cells eight times faster than normal skin removes them.
The company argues that the expense is necessary because the products cost them so much. Adding to that are years of research and high production costs. They claim that to get a product developed, researched, and put on the shelves is about $100 million.
Some cheaper solutions
As you try to reverse the signs of getting older and purchase products that make you look good, the right creams, lotions, and makeup are good but not enough to do it on their own. You should definitely combine the makeup with
Other alternatives
If you want to feel pampered without risking the mortgage payment purchasing expensive stuff at the Clinique counter, walk up and ask one of those lovely ladies for some samples. Don’t be shy. Just kind of linger around the counter, smile, try lots of different products, and ask a few questions. Explain that you have sensitive skin or want to try out some eye shadow and ask for any samples. Usually the girls are thrilled to help. It might help if you are dressed nicely and looking like you might actually buy something. You don’t want them to think you’re only mooching. Then you’d stop being a potential customer and would probably be treated as a nuisance.
Did you know that cosmetics in the drug store often have the same ingredients as pricier brands in department stores?
There is hardly a difference between make-up you buy at the drug store and makeup you pay more for at the department stores. Foundation is really the only exception to that rule. Countless daytime talk shows have discussed this issue and people could not tell the difference between the expensive and inexpensive brands. Do you really want to pay more for some packaging?
WARNING: Be careful when buying from the clearance row. Check all expiration dates because you could get some old gunk that won’t do you or your skin any good.
Get a salon-style haircut or facial for much less than the regular price. It’s not as difficult as it seems. Many salons have training programs where their students are required to get lots of practice. They are usually under supervision before becoming full-blown stylists and have already clocked lots of hours learning about all the current styles and practicing before they become trainees. Therefore they are just as good as their more seasoned coworkers but offer their services for a lot less. Sometimes you can even get the service for free, but don’t forget to tip!
Visit Aveda beauty school for discounted facials or call your favorite salon to see if they have a training program. Ask about maybe a student special or a day where they offer discounted haircuts. You can even suggest it and maybe they’ll name such a day after you.
Get the expensive haircut twice a year and get touch-ups at a less expensive salon the rest of the time.
Drink plenty of water every day, at least eight glasses, and your healthy skin and hair will glow.
Adjust your thinking
If you're trying to find ways to save some money when shopping for makeup, creams, and lotions, why not start by changing the way you think about your looks?
Get into that head of yours and try to get rid of all the negatives and self-doubt. A realistic assessment of your best and worst features is needed and don’t obsess over the negative. Think about the positives as well. What do you have going for you? Get out a pen and paper and write down all the features you like about yourself. And while you’re at it, don’t just list the physical attributes you like. Mention that sparkling personality and the ability to tell good jokes. Every little bit counts.
Then when you are out and about, shopping down that familiar aisle featuring beautiful faces and the cosmetics that will help you look just like them, get out that list and refresh your memory. Maybe you really don't need that new miracle cream calling your name.
Do some research
People spend a ton of money trying to find new solutions for old problems. You’ll waste a good portion of your paycheck doing this when there is a better option. Look online for many different websites where you can find opinions and recommendations from people just like you. Discover ahead of time which products work and which ones don’t before spending money to try them. This will save you more than just a few dollars at the cosmetic counter.
You can also find sales and coupon offers this way.
Great deals
No one should go broke because of makeup. In this economy, everyone should be looking for ways to cut back, but this doesn’t mean that you have to look bad. You can find lots of deals out there and ways to get makeup for less.
CoverGirl AquaSmooth Compact Foundation - $9.79 Professional stylists say this is the best liquid coverage in a compact liquid/powder form.
CoverGirl Cheekers Blush - $4.39 This blush isn’t just flat and lifeless, it has some sparkle to it.
L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara - $7.50 Makeup artists all over the world swear this is the best mascara you can find anywhere.
L’Oréal Le Grand Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Black Sable - $8.49 A terrific rich dark brown that works for just about every woman.
Revlon ColorStay 12 Hour Eye Shadow Quad -$6.99 (“This is the only drugstore eye shadow I like”).
Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Gloss - $6.99
L’Oréal Infallible Never Fail Lip Liner - $8.99
CoverGirl TRUblend Microminerals Finishing Veil - $12.99
What’s the grand total for a day of beauty that won’t break the bank? $66.13
Individual high-end versions of the same products would cost you easily $175.00. As you can plainly see, spending that kind of money isn’t necessary.
If you decide to purchase more expensive brands, don’t spend a whole lot of time looking around the expensive offerings. Make up your mind ahead of time deciding what you’d like to get, go into the store, buy it, and leave. Ignore all the specials, give-aways, monthly promotions and packages. Most of the time they involve products and colors you don’t need or want anyway.
This is especially good if you need a solid foundation that costs a lot of money. Go to the counter and seek the help of professionals. That’s what they are there for. If you try to guess and figure it out on your own, you might buy something you don’t need and waste a huge amount of money.
Some other products at great prices
Remember, for anything except foundation, try inexpensive drugstore items.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Double Face Perfector - $9 This is almost exactly like the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Highlighter, which retails for about $40.
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish - $25 This is dry application is quick, easy to use and relatively affordable because it can combines three products, foundation, powder and concealer, in one. You can find a cheaper version in the drugstore, Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation for $13.59.
Sources:
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2821797124689900514
youngmoney.com/lifestyles/advice/061115
BIO: Catherine Durkin Robinson gave up her career in Boston as a corporate trainer, political activist and rabble-rouser to return to Tampa to stay at home with identical twin sons. Trapped in the suburbs, surrounded by Weber grills and confederate flags, she decided to launch her freelance writing career and explore all that is fun and frustrating about progressive parenting. Not easily defined, she’s a feminist who’s had cosmetic surgery, a wife who has never been domestically inclined, and a mommy who doesn’t particularly like kids. In her spare time, she investigates missing socks.
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