On Beauty: Is a Product "Better" Because it Costs More?
Although it is the case that most of my posts are cerebral in nature, (and actually, I do not exclude this one, although it is a horse of a different color, i.e. literally speaking), there is a subject of which I have a profound interest and love: make-up, creams and fragrances.
If the truth be told, I have quite a collection of make-up, fragrance and skin products. This has been a passion of mine for so many years, that if I told the actual number, I might be incriminating myself. Lately, I have noticed that many skin care products and beauty treatments have been extremely expensive. Take the new Nano gold energizing cream by Chantecaille, which boasts of anti-aging powers and has a price tag of $420 for 1.7 oz. In a similar vein, Chanel has its new Sublimage Cream, which is supposed to be good for all one's facial needs, and costs $350 for 1.7 ounces. They do have an Ultra Correction Serum, a lift complex from this same line (curious if one product suits all needs), and yes, I did splurge and pay $140 plus dollars for a 1.7 oz. bottle. And of course, Georgio Arami throws his hat into the ring with his new face cream, Nera, which is approximately $270 for 1.7 ounces. Let us not forget Guerlain, whose Orchidee Imperial costs more than $350 for an ounce.
So the question surfaces, at least for me, do these products really do what they say they do, or do people believe that just because they cost more, they have some capacity to work better? Can anything really prevent the natural process of aging, or do we, as consumers, just believe that because we pay more, these products work better, have better results, and make us look good? Is beauty defined by the cost and the name of a product?
If the truth be told, I am guilty as charged here, and it is the case, that often I fall sucker to the latest most expensive skin care line, only to conclude, after about a few weeks, that the products are not what they are cut out to do.
So here is my question: Do you have an opinion about the workability of products, either from personal experience, use, or knowledge? Do you think that there is a correlation between cost and results?
Thank you for your minds.
If the truth be told, I have quite a collection of make-up, fragrance and skin products. This has been a passion of mine for so many years, that if I told the actual number, I might be incriminating myself. Lately, I have noticed that many skin care products and beauty treatments have been extremely expensive. Take the new Nano gold energizing cream by Chantecaille, which boasts of anti-aging powers and has a price tag of $420 for 1.7 oz. In a similar vein, Chanel has its new Sublimage Cream, which is supposed to be good for all one's facial needs, and costs $350 for 1.7 ounces. They do have an Ultra Correction Serum, a lift complex from this same line (curious if one product suits all needs), and yes, I did splurge and pay $140 plus dollars for a 1.7 oz. bottle. And of course, Georgio Arami throws his hat into the ring with his new face cream, Nera, which is approximately $270 for 1.7 ounces. Let us not forget Guerlain, whose Orchidee Imperial costs more than $350 for an ounce.
So the question surfaces, at least for me, do these products really do what they say they do, or do people believe that just because they cost more, they have some capacity to work better? Can anything really prevent the natural process of aging, or do we, as consumers, just believe that because we pay more, these products work better, have better results, and make us look good? Is beauty defined by the cost and the name of a product?
If the truth be told, I am guilty as charged here, and it is the case, that often I fall sucker to the latest most expensive skin care line, only to conclude, after about a few weeks, that the products are not what they are cut out to do.
So here is my question: Do you have an opinion about the workability of products, either from personal experience, use, or knowledge? Do you think that there is a correlation between cost and results?
Thank you for your minds.
posted by BarbaraFromCalifornia at
1:21 PM
14 Comments:
Hi B!
Love this post as you and I have had a few conversations about the subject of beauty products.
I am guilty of reading the magazines and getting all swept away by the latest face creams, body lotions, and makeup finds. I WANT all the expensive stuff, and I do splurge every now and again, but honestly I love my Olay products too. I think they probably work almost if not as good, but product effectivness (is that a word?) varies so much from person to person.
For me the difference is how it makes me feel. If I buy a face cream at Target for $8.00 it does not make me feel as special (for total lack of better word) as when I wear something from Saks that keeps Michelle Pfieffer and J-Lo looking young and glowing.
Does that make any sense? It may still do the job--I just do not feel as luxurious.
That is not to say that the price of a face cream makes me feel more special as a person, but it is undeniably more luxurious to wear a fancy cream that promises to do so much bought at a fancy store sold by fancy sales associates. I get all caught up in the hype. Beauty products are my crack.
That being said, I love all different products in all different price ranges. I get giddy walking up and down the cosmetic aisle at Walgreens but that is a totally different experience than being in the basement of Barneys in NYC and checking out their beauty products.
It is all about ingredients too--some less expensive creams have cheap fillers to make creams emollient and make them go on your face smooth. Some pricier brands really do have superior ingredients..BUT NOT ALL OF THEM.
I think it is all how you feel. If you have the money and you want an expensive cream--buy it, enjoy it and feel great.
This post makes me want to hit Sephora with you again for a quick in quick out beauty haul!!!!
That was fun.
Much love to you B--so glad you are blogging again.
xo
Hi PJ.
It is certain that so many of us can identify with your response, and I think you raised a very good point.
Somehow, we as women, are meant to believe that the more a product costs, the better the results, including psychological ones, i.e., an expensive product will make us feel better. In fact, often, it is the case, that we feel guilty if we spend money on something, and it does not work as it is supposed to do.
But then the question becomes, and I know studies have been done, are these high end creams all they are cut out to be (in terms of results), or is the big result really how we are left to feel?
There is no correlation btwn cost and effectiveness...
I use a 99 cent shampoo and conditioner.
It works just fine...
I do love my lotions, but I would get a whole lot of massages instead.........
I tend to go to the natural and organic products. I go to a natural health care doctor and I think that beauty starts with what you eat...staying out of direct sunlight too often and etc. I take flax seed oil and it is amazing for the skin. I use organic virgin coconut oil on my skin and I also use coco butter. I'm not much on cosmetics and I'm sure I save a bundle there. Look at Sofia Loren, she says extra virgin olive oil is her beauty secret. I think beauty starts with what you eat.....
My mother in law in in her late 70's and she has terrific skin..Her secret is that she wears a hat everywhere she goes. TF's sister is 50 and her skin is like leather. She has deep wrinkles from being exposed to the sun constantly. She lives in Hawaii and surfs at least twice a day. I think the sun can take it's tole on our skin.
Love your post Barb, it was fun!
I worked in a cosmetic company for 6 years, so I think that some products are better because the ingredients are better! However, you pay more since they use nicer packaging and more ads to promote the products. Cosmetics are also a lot about packaging and dream. You have to make women dream and then they can pay more. People don't care when it comes to their bodies and their faces. I just choose my products because I appreciate them and I think they are good.
Hi Barbara,
Humans are funny creatures. Here is an exercise I have run many times.
Imagine that I am selling a white blouse. They are identical in almost every way except the price and they are made by two different manufacturers.
One blouse sells for $37 and the other sells for $14. If I ask you which one is of the better quality what would you say?
In my experience 92% of the time people select the higher priced item, even though it is identical to the other. We're just conditioned to see that as being more valuable.
As for the book festival, I am not sure yet if I am going to make it. I'd like to, but I have a bunch of prior obligations with my kids, so we shall see.
To those who buy and use inexpensive goods, bravo? You are the few who are not influenced by a market.
It is true that ingredients are significant, and often those that cost more may have different results.
But as Jack points out, a white blouse stands as it is. If we add a label, a name of a known designer, it becomes more valuable in the eyes of the consumer, since we are conditioned to conclude that brand names, which have a recognition factor, are better.
I bought a purse once which was a knock off of a designer bag. Afterwards, I was told that it was made in Italy in the same factory as the originals, but without the labels, and it was significantly cheaper.
But then, I have my Louis Vuitton bag and wallet, and I must confess, that I love them dearly for what they are, well made, beautiful items.
Hi barbara! It just me L>T with another new blog. Gosh it's been a long time. This newest blog I don't feel I have to be so politically correct with.
Please feel free to visit.
ref to your post: my lifestyle is changing a lot lately. I'm working on becoming more politically & socially conscience, so my reasons for choosing or not choosing certain products sometimes depends on things other then cost. Like Lucy, I feel that beauty is a matter of over all health, achieved by diet & other sensible & inexpensive means.
The expensive perfumes do seem to linger for longer than the cheap knock offs. I do not buy the cheap knock offs for this reason - the real stuff seems to hang out and smell good for longer. So I save money by using the real stuff? Because I use less you see. Right?
A bottle of stuff lasts me a long time anyway.
I do not know about the expensive cremes and stuff. My hunch is that they do not work. Celebrity magazine photos are air brushed and photoshoped from here to next summer and back again - this is the secret to their looks. Not some magical creme.
Oh yea, and they also hire their own professional make up artists who look at a face the same way a painter looks at canvas. These make up artists are very well paid.
And then the celebrities are rich enough that they really do not have to do anything except go to the spa and put on the mineral mud and vegetable slices. They do not have to do real work.
You want to know what I think the difference in a $20 face creme and a $300 face cream is? Marketing. Thats it. Just marketing.
wonderful question posed in your post. when i was younger and more naive, i bought top brands thinking they were better. now i learn to look at ingredients and try to ignore the hype, packaging and marketing ploys that pull me in.
when my mom had her cosmetic surgery, want to know what her surgeon prescribed for after surgery healing regimen?
crisco and olive oil.
(found you via saur's blog)
Although marketing is significant, I do believe that some products, by virtue of their ingredients, do work better. Now whether they are worth the giant price tag affixed to them is yet to be determined.
So while we are on the products, as an aside here, what products do you love, that do not cost an arm and a leg.
I doubt that Chantecaille face cream, even with the real gold specks is worth the $450 price tag. I bet it does attact attention though, and let us see whether the market will bear its heafty price!
I don't believe in beauty creams, etc... I buy natural make-up, butdon't spend my money on much else in that areana. I was raised with the idea that it's all crap.
Wish I could committ to crisco and olive oil!!!
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