I don’t normally write about beauty products as it is clearly not my domain. My skills, expertise and experience are focused on careers and financial management. However I think the topic of beauty products does however fit with poor and good financial management!
Given the amount of businesses, websites, forums, magazines and so on focused on beauty and beauty products it is hard to ignore the subject of beauty. Particularly the amount that is spent (mainly by women) on so called miracle lotions and potions! I myself have been skeptical of expensive moisturizers and so on and stick to the basic and cost effective brands. My view being that a good diet, sleep, exercise, water and a positive outlook on life is just as likely to keep you looking good as any of the expensive creams on the market. Also, I suspect it has something to do with genetics as well, which no product can alter yet!
My view was confirmed last week when I had a great chat with a friend of a friend who worked in marketing for a pharmaceutical company that made various creams. All the scientific research seems to show that an Oil of Olay face cream for under $20 is just as good as a Lancôme face cream for $120+. It is all in the packaging and marketing of these products. The promises of younger looking skin, less wrinkles, smoother skin and the like! Expensive packing and advertising clearly works – these companies make billions making us feel inadequate about how we look.
Realistically all you can be guaranteed is that expensive lotions and positions will work no better than the cheap ones. The only difference being you will have wasted a $100+ each time you make a purchase if you opt for the more expensive option. If you total all those ‘expensive products’ you purchase up each month, if you invested this money, you can only imagine the returns on your day cream, night cream, eye wrinkle cream, cleanser and so on. You may have enough for a lovely holiday, to purchase some shares, further educate yourself or your children, or potentially over time a deposit for a house.
Clearly life is to be enjoyed, and if you gain a lot of enjoyment from expensive purchases that is also fine. However if you have big dreams and ambitions, it makes sense to be money wise, as the long term benefits will be very enjoyable and hopefully will keep on giving as you invest your money wisely. With expensive lotions and potions, the fun and giving is gone once the jar is empty!
We all fall for the lure and promises that clever marketing and advertising deliver. I myself have and no doubt will continue to, however sometimes I check myself and as a result end up saving hundreds of dollars each year, which I put to long term investments that will keep on giving!
Share your thoughts about expensive lotions and potions versus the more basic products. Are you someone who has always been skeptical of the expensive products or do you advocate them and their benefits? Perhaps you have a different view on the topic completely.
Tags: Financial Management for Women, investment, myth of beauty products