Why women overspend on beauty products

Have you ever noticed that women tend to spend on beauty products when we feel the ugliest?  Why is this?  Has society made us feel like we have to fork over money to be pretty?

I’ve recently had the pleasure of having two complexion concierge sessions with Anna Lise Jensen from The Complexion Concierge.  She is a licensed aesthetician who consults with clients through Skype to teach them how to properly take care of their skin. One of the main things we’ve talked about is how skin care companies prey on vulnerable women.  Every woman has had at least a few times in their lives where their skin is anything but flawless.  In these moments we tend to throw in the towel and beg skin care companies to save us at any cost.  We find ourselves willing to trade our first born child in exchange for flawless skin. I’m only semi-joking.

[bctt tweet=”We find ourselves willing to trade our first born child in exchange for flawless skin.”]

All of this has made me understand why women overspend on beauty products.  We end up so desperate to have beautiful skin that we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of at the beauty counter.  I find it to be true that when my skin looks like shit, I’m willing to throw away all my old products and spend a small fortune for a miracle cure.  Working with Anna Lise has finally made me realize that there is no miracle cure or quick fix.  At the same time, it isn’t rocket science either.  Taking care of skin really can be as simple as washing effectively and putting on sunscreen daily.  It doesn’t have to take a lot of money to get into a healthy skin care routine.

[bctt tweet=”Taking care of skin really can be as simple as washing effectively and putting on sunscreen daily.”]

My biggest skin care problem is that I wait until I have an issue in order to address it.  I rely too much on spot treatments for zits instead of taking care of my skin early to avoid them.  I’m deathly afraid that I’ll make the same mistakes with sunscreen and aging.  I don’t want to end up with wrinkly skin or even worse, skin cancer, from the sun.

Anna Lise is going to do a two post guest series on ways to save money on skin care.  I’m so excited for you to read her posts.  She is very knowledgeable and has fabulous tips and tricks for skin care without breaking the budget.  Working with her was like having access to my own aesthetician crash course.  I found the sessions to be extremely educational, and way better than anything I’ve read in a book, magazine or on the internet.

Here is a little overview of what Anna Lise and I have talked about for my skin care routine. I presented her with an overview of my current beauty products and we briefly discussed them. Then she asked me what I wanted out of my skin care routine.  I told her I wanted to fight hormonal breakouts and aging by using the most natural products available that were also cost effective.  I figured this would be a semi impossible feat. I half expected her to tell me that natural products wouldn’t be cheap or fight my hormonal breakouts. A few days later she presented me with “grades” on my current routine and new suggestions for a better routine.  I’ll do a Favorite Frugal Finds post on my favorites soon.

The best part is that her suggestions only came out to $110.  This included face wash, toner, sunscreen, night cream, day cream, eye cream, masks and spot treatment.  My mouth dropped when I saw the total.  Only $110?  I didn’t believe it because in the past I’ve been known to drop $40 on spot treatments just because I fell victim to my own insecurities about my skin.  The worst part about my splurges is that they rarely worked! I’m still in shock that I can do so much better with my skin care routine.

Of course I don’t have the money to buy everything right away, but I’m starting to purchase her suggestions as I run out of my old stuff.  So far, so good.  I survived my first huge hormonal change (birth of Jackson) and only had one pimple.  That pimple went away in a matter of hours (seriously, hours) with the routine Anna Lise taught me.  I’ve never in my life had that happen before!

Anna Lise does not make money selling products.  Instead she makes her money through consultations.  She genuinely hopes that she won’t have to meet with you over and over again because your new routine will be perfect.  I can tell that she isn’t in this business to take advantage of you and your bad skin days.  I’ve been to many aestheticians for facials and consultations, this is the first one that has changed my skin for the better! Stay tuned for guest posts about skin care and how to save money on cosmetics.  I know you will enjoy it!

What are your biggest skin insecurities?  Are you all about the pimples like me?  Or are you worried about wrinkles and other issues?