Smooth AND Solvent: Make The Moisturizer Switch

Posted on September 28, 2007 by Melissa
Filed Under Shopping

So many choices! Now that we know some ways companies try to artificially inflate the value of their products, how do we decide if we can happily switch to a cheaper brand?

Everybody sees the value of things differently. Some people might even tie their confidence in their looks to a using a specific product. That kind of brand loyalty is hard to overcome. As a rule of thumb, don’t buy any luxury item without comparing the actual benefits to what you could get from the cheaper competition. Let’s look at ways to find a good replacement for that pricey moisturizer.

Look at the ingredients

Make sure you are getting what you think you are from your pricey moisturizer and are not falling prey to “fairy dusting”. The products are listed in descending order based on the amount used in the product’s formulation. If the active ingredients you are looking for appear at the end of the ingredient list it is unlikely to have much of it. Also, more ingredients doesn’t necessarily mean that the product is any better for your skin than a simple formulation. Complexity doesn’t always equal superiority.

Cosmetic grade ingredients by their nature are considered “high quality” - even the ingredients used in cheaper products. Determine the main ingredients in your favorite product and try to find a cheaper alternative with the same core formulation.

Figure out what you actually like about that high-end product

Apart from the specific brand, determine the actual qualities you like so you can look for those same features in cheaper products. Do you like its texture, the feel on your skin, the way it absorbs, or maybe the fragrance? Get down to what about that product really impresses you and figure out the specific benefits you like.

For me, I realized what I liked so much about the La Mer crème was the feel of it on my skin. Really, nothing else was more important to me than that. It was thick and didn’t absorb quickly which was great for my dry skin. By determining what I actually liked about the product I was able to then look for an inexpensive moisturizer that had similar properties.

Now I use Olay Total Effects. It doesn’t have the exact same feel as the La Mer crème, but it is thicker than many moisturizers. It is a decent substitute at a fraction of the cost. If you honestly evaluate why you love a certain product and you can not find those qualities anywhere else then maybe the luxury product is actually *worth* it to you. Just be sure you aren’t being swayed by brand loyalty or marketing in that decision.

Don’t get swept up in the hype

Try to stay away from the sales counters and avoid the latest hot trend. Trendy items are notoriously expensive. Many of the new ingredients are just variations on a theme (e.g. the same kind of antioxidant just from a different source). Are the exotic ingredients the only way to get that benefit or are there cheaper alternatives that will get the same results?

Look it up

Research your favorite product to determine if there could be an alternative out there that could get you similar results for less money. Why spend more if you don’t have to, right? Check out Paula’s site for some of her product reviews. She even points out “drugstore doubles” to some of the higher end products.

If you are looking for a cheaper anti-wrinkle product consider alpha hydroxy acids as opposed to prescription strength products like Retin-A. The eHow Fashion. Style, & Personal Care Editor says to:

Sample other weaker, nonprescription vitamin A relatives like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). You need at least 8 percent AHA for any visible results, though, which is just as likely to be present in a cheap drugstore product as in an expensive brand.

Be Realistic

Keep in mind that if you use a moisturizer everyday (any moisturizer really) you can improve the appearance of your skin. A good moisturizer for your skin type, sun protection, and exfoliation are the essentials for putting your best face forward. Extras are nice but likely won’t have the same impact that those core skincare practices will. Are the luxury moisturizers’ higher prices really worth it when it comes to actual results? Or do you start to see diminishing returns on your investment? At least give the cheaper stuff a try.

In all honesty, if I had unlimited funds I’d probably start using the La Mer crème again. Not because of the hype or because it was a “miracle worker”, but simply because I liked the way it felt on my skin and I haven’t found a product that does the same thing yet.

However, I don’t have unlimited funds so I must weigh the benefits against the cost of the product. If I look at it through unbiased eyes, the benefits weren’t justifying the price tag. I only appreciated it for being a good facial moisturizer. That isn’t really anything unique. Maybe if it actually performed miracles I’d feel differently. I think I’ll stick with the cheaper brands, at least until I figure out how to get the unlimited funds.

My skin still looks pretty good except now, so does my bank account.

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Comments

One Response to “Smooth AND Solvent: Make The Moisturizer Switch”

Marsha on September 29th, 2007 2:45 pm

Hmm, I tried the La Mer eye cream and I was underwhelmed.

I’m generally satisfied with Neutrogena or Clinique skin care products. I have also bought skin care kits at HSN (Wei East or Serious Skin Care) where the price per item was under $10. They are pretty good, but I think I prefer Neutrogena and Clinique.

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