Skincare Products and Buyer’s Remorse

Have you ever bought a very expensive skincare item, leave the store excited and with extremely high expectations, rationalizing your purchase and feeling like it was a smart move, and then a few days later feel sick with regret?

Guilty. Guilty. Guilty!

One of the main reasons I started beauty blogging was to address this very issue, bad consumer choices. Money is not something I relish in wasting. I attempt to be careful and strategic when buying something for myself, and yet, on occasion I can get suckered into buying a skincare cream and landing into a expensive, regretful purchase.

While on my trip to Arizona, I was lured in by a salesperson and I was instantly enamored. If you had read my blog at all, you know I adore skincare, and the salesperson’s demonstration and her experience in the skincare field wowed me. I ended up purchasing a very expensive lotion from them. Once I returned home, I did some quick Internet searching and took a closer look at the listed ingredients on the box. Much to my horror, the reviews weren’t amazing, claimed the line was way overpriced, and I found that alcohol was listed as one of the top ingredients in this lotion. Alcohol?! You have got to be kidding me. I just spent a fortune on something I thought would be incredible for my skin and one of its first ingredients is alcohol?! Did I just buy lotion or aftershave?! Knock me up side the head, I am a skincare consuming fool.

Know your ingredients, and read those stinking labels. At times when I have purchased something with very high expectations and come home to find it received bad reviews, contains mineral oil, petroleum or alcohol, and sometimes even makes me break out. Good skincare should not have to cost a fortune, I know this, and yet, what on earth possessed me to buy this?

As penance for by impulsive purchase, my husband Evan suggested I write ways to avoid this problem in the future. Here’s what I have come up with and feel free to add any of your suggestions:

1. Before you shop, decide on a spending limit, and stick to it.
2. Be prepared to say, “No.” Or step away from the counter with a promise to, “come back tomorrow, sleep on it, need to consult with a friend” response.
3. Understand that a Salesperson’s objective is to make a sale, and is not necessarily in your best interests.
4. Know and read the list of ingredients on the actual box, not on a press release page!
5. Ask about what their return policy is and keep your receipts.
6. Understand the reasons you are seeking a new product, is it really necessary? Is there a less expensive alternative that could suffice?
7. Forgive yourself for being human and learn from your mistakes.

If I ever create my own brand of skincare it will be kick ass, with only the best ingredients, and none of this funny business.

I just pray that Saks Fifth Avenue has a decent return policy. Thanks for letting me unload my guilt.