4 Common Mistakes That Cost You More on Beauty Products

It’s no secret that we are a society that values ​​physical beauty. Companies tap into our insecurities and tap into them by promising to deliver results that will change how the world sees us and how we see ourselves. Actually, it’s mostly just hype.

There are products that are proven to help us look our best, but there’s no reason to overpay for them. Here are four common mistakes people make when shopping for beauty products.

1. Pay the packaging fee

No matter how rational a purchase may be in everyday life, there can be an emotional aspect to it. According to a study published in 2013 in the journal Psychology and MarketingResearchers used an fMRI machine to measure participants’ brain activity while viewing different types of packaging.

The study found that participants had more brain activity when they looked at attractive packaging than when they looked at neutral packaging. Viewing attractive packaging led to greater activation in brain regions associated with reward, while less attractive packaging stimulated brain regions associated with negative emotions.

It may sound silly, but most of our purchasing decisions are based on how the product looks and its packaging makes us feel. Do you feel like you’re buying a “luxury” product because of how it looks? Are we willing to pay more for the product because it is sold to us in a more attractive package?

One way to avoid spending more money than you need on beauty products is to care about how those products appear on your vanity or bathroom vanity. Ask yourself if there’s a good reason to risk going into debt just because your product looks pretty.

2. Buy ads

Think about the last perfume or cologne ad you saw. No doubt everyone was unnaturally gorgeous, the backgrounds were perfect, and there was an implicit promise that if you wore that particular perfume or cologne, you could live this beautiful life.

The more money a company spends on advertising, the more it charges for its products. And for those who believe the advertising, paying more for a “quality” product makes sense. The problem is that advertising is about creating attractive images that subtly make people believe that they can change their lives by making a certain purchase. None of it is based in reality.

The next time you’re looking to buy a product, ask yourself if it’s worth the hit to your personal finances. Additionally, research similar products to see if there is one that may work just as well or better at a cheaper price.

3. Trust celebrity spokespeople

When you look at celebrities in their 60s who look younger than 40, it’s not because they apply a certain cream to their skin or use a certain brand of cosmetics. They are likely undergoing the procedure to stay fresh (and look younger than their age).

When celebrities add their names to beauty products, it’s often because they own a stake in the company. It benefits them and their bank accounts to make them believe they are endorsing a miracle product. That’s completely selfish and not realistic at all.

A better way to find out if a product works as promised is to check online reviews posted by real people who have used it. A 68-year-old man without a single wrinkle on his face is not a reliable source.

4. Pay for multiple products instead of buying one product with all the features

Beauty products can be confusing, especially when you read about what you “need.” The list can feel a mile long, and just buying each product individually will have you wondering if you’ll need a home equity line of credit to pay for it all.

Instead, look for a single product that has all the features. For example, I found Naturium’s Vitamin C Super Serum Plus for $26 at Naturium’s online store and at Target. For that price, you can get a product with vitamin C, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, retinol, and niacinamide. This means that a single product provides the ingredients you need to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smooth and brighten your skin, and protect it from environmental stressors.

Of course, you can purchase each product separately, but why spend the extra money?

While no product is designed to make you look like someone else, many products can help you look your best. And really, isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

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