There’s a long-standing belief that expensive skincare is more effective than its affordable competitors. But that’s simply not true. No matter what you’re looking for: hydration, oil control, smoothing fine lines, a high price doesn’t always translate into results.
The difference between a product or brand at the bottom of the dollar scale and one at the top end might simply be marketing (how they market themselves) and packaging (how eye-catching their aesthetics are). Cut out all the noise, and the only factor that really determines your buying decision should actually be the effectiveness of the product.
Understand the formula.
To say that skincare labels can be confusing would be an understatement. But what you need to know is that the ingredients are listed in order from highest to lowest concentration. (The more you know, the better you know!) This means that if a really good ingredient is listed at the bottom, your skin won’t absorb as much of it.
So try to look for the ingredient you want/need based on your skin type and concerns (think ceramides! glycerin! peptides! sodium hyaluronate!), and make sure it’s at the beginning, not the end, of the ingredient list. The higher the concentration, the more effective the dose, the better it will be for you and your skin!
It’s worth noting that this decision-making approach also works the other way around. If you know that an ingredient isn’t very effective for your skin and it’s high on a product’s ingredient list, think twice. Ignore the hype and don’t just jump on the bandwagon, now’s the time to seek advice on alternatives that are better suited to you.
Look for evidence.
When skincare brands decide to run clinical trials, it’s because they want to prove that the product actually works. In a clinical setting, clinical technicians monitor and measure changes in each participant’s skin tone over a period of eight weeks. If you’re hesitating between a mask that’s currently trending on TikTok and one that’s been proven to deliver tangible results through successful clinical trials… go with the latter.
It’s also important to distinguish between clinical testing and consumer research. The latter can often be quite distorted, as they rely on volunteers agreeing or disagreeing with a series of statements about sensory appeal – do you like the way it feels? Do you think your skin has improved after using it? The resulting claims aren’t lies, but they’re not scientific truths either. Unlike clinical testing, no measurements (elasticity, pigmentation, etc.) are taken.
Clinical research is especially important when new/unique/trending ingredients are sprinkled throughout the product and packaging as a key selling point. A $300 moisturizer that claims to have anti-aging benefits and has added Wrinkleflickatox™ and Moisturemagic® particles may not fully deliver on its promises if it doesn’t have proven clinical testing to back up that claim. On the other hand, a $100 competitor may have a higher concentration of active ingredients and have clinical testing to prove it. You just have to do your research before adding a product to your cart.
The next time you spend money on a jar of Velvet Cream, first figure out exactly what you’re paying for. Less really can be more.
