To wonder whether everyone accepts that beauty products don’t work?

[SinkGirl]

I don’t know about anyone else but I’m so used to beauty (and especially) hair products not doing what they say they do that I’m often really shocked when they do what they say they will. I spent a brief spell in marketing for an insurance company and everything we said was so tightly regulated. Beauty companies can say whatever they like it seems, digitally manipulate images, do a “trial” on 11 women and then proudly state that almost 90% of women said it worked... 🙄

I hadn’t spent a penny on make up or skin care for years until a few months ago when I bought a few bits which were okay but nothing staggering. Got an event coming up tonight and I went a bit mad - I bought heaps of stuff: hair care, make up, skin care etc.

Most of it is absolute crap and doesn’t live up to its claims. I generally just accept this in a way I wouldn’t with other things but whenever they work it’s always a nice surprise (will list the few things I’m happy with below in case anyone is looking!)

I find it strange that we are so (rightly) hot on false advertising but this is an entire industry that seems to get away with it. I realise everyone’s skin and hair is different, but if you buy something that’s meant to volumise fine flyaway hair, which you have, but does absolutely nothing, surely that’s a bit ridiculous? And these things are always no returns so even if what you’ve got is basically scented baby oil, you’re scuppered.

These are the things I’ve tried that work as advertised this week - three out of over 30 products (yes, I splurged!)

• The Ordinary AHA BHA peel - have used loads of acid peels before so I was a bit blase about this one. Ended up burning the skin off my cheekbones after only a few minutes 😳 It’s very effective though!

• Estée Lauder powerfoil night recovery mask - got one of these in a lot of mini EL products. Used it last night and my skin this morning is absolutely amazing. Not greasy at all but softer, smoother, lines reduced, calmed the burnt cheeks... it’s amazing. Shame it’s so expensive (cheapest I’ve found is about £55 for 4 and you’re meant to use 1 a week but I’m considering using one every month / couple of weeks maybe)

• The Ordinary coverage foundation - I bought a few foundations as my skin changes quite a bit during my cycle and this one is awesome. Lasted all day even while running around, sweating etc. And it’s onlh £6 so you can buy a few shades and mix if you find it hard to get a colour match.

I know this is true but I still fall for it every time.

I think some products work on some people.
But your hair for example is dead material- you can temporarily fix it with products but not actually fix it. You can take supplements to make the new hair growing out stronger/ healthier.
I also dont really believe in skincare. Some products can help but only as long as you use them! Your skin doesnt really change and I think you can only prevent wrinkles, not repair them with a cream. I think to get better hair and skin, you better spend your money in the supermarket (buying healthy foods) then in a beauty store.

I use This Works In Transit Camera Close Up primer and it definitely works. I have had so many compliments about looking healthy since I started using it. I don’t use many products but I really like that one.

I agree OP, I can’t believe no one has noticed that men do fuck all ‘skincare’ and their skin is completely fine.

Most things don't work, I tend to Google products before purchasing, Mske up alley is amazing for this. I'm a make up junkie and when I see a new product I always check out on line reviews. It's my favourite thing! I really want Estée Lauder advanced night repair serum. I've tried it in the past with samples and I like it.

Totally agree , trekked loads of things and spent a load of cash. Now my go to products are;

OPI nail envy
Blue tub thick Nivea
Clarins melt cleanser
Aveda damage remedy

That's it. I don't believe anything works except Botox or fillers and then you are in wind tunnel territory.

I’m like you, I never use any makeup or beauty products aside from nivea and basic shampoo and conditioner, but every once in a while I get sucked in by the idea that some of them might do something and buy some, usually to great disappointment.
It’s such a coincidence that you mentioned The Ordinary — I’d never heard of them before but on Monday I bought some of their acid creams and I’ve been pleased so far. Also the packaging looks great if nothing else.

Sunscreen works. However, my university lecturer in science told us that any cream with collagen is a waste of time as it can't be absorbed into the skin.

Men also dont cover their faces in make up fake tan nor suffer hormonal changes. They dont tend to have long hair either or shave body parts

I bought Nip and fab no needle fix eye and face serum in the hope of even a slight transformation..hasn't made an iota of difference...still have to pull myself away from the lure of the beauty products in Tk maxx though.

Some things work for specific issues - certain acids will work on spots and red patches for example but it's still trial and error to see what works on your skin.

The only thing I expect my face cream to do is to stop the skin feeling tight after I wash it and provide spf protection which it does. That's why I spend £5 a pot not £50.

Shampoo and conditioner are a basic product which serve the purpose of cleaning and coating the hair so that it's clean and also brushable for a day or two. If you buy expensive shampoo with added stuff you're paying for something you wash off every day or two. Nothing can change the hair's essential qualities.

The best thing you can do to prevent the effects of ageing is wear spf and not smoke. The effects of ignoring that can't be undone by products.

I found Astral about 7 years ago and now only use that. I take it down my neck onto my chest morning and night and it moisturises without being greasy.

I have hair products that are my holy grail and id be very upset if they were discontinued.

All the other anti ageing products that are crazy money she advertised by 19 year olds I just avoid. I’m not that much of an idiot.

men do fuck all ‘skincare’ and their skin is completely fine

It isn't though, it's often scabby, rough, cracked, dry, more wrinkly, hairy. Not a look I want to go for, but more importantly, it's just uncomfortable!

Basic shampoo/ conditioner and shower gel.
Mid range face cleanser and moisturiser.
Good quality sun cream.
Job done.

Now see, The Ordinary foundation did nothing for me, and I am a foundation junkie. The peel however: excellent.

Other Ordinary things I rate are the 5% Granactive retinoid, the Lactic acid ( I used to swear by Sunday Riley's Good Genes till I looked at the ingredients and realised the Lactic acid was doing most of the heavy lifting), and the Alpha lipoic acid.

Another really good find recently is the Nip and Fab Dragons blood jelly mask. I have dry skin and this really does make a difference to my face.

A lot of high end skincare is just cheap jollop in a fancy box. Hardly any of it has chemicals in it at the concentration necessary to make any difference to your skin. However what I find amazing is how many people have different responses to products- my friends and family often swap things amongst us in a " I didn't get on with this but you might" way and I've found some belters that way.

Things I've tried that I was sucked in by the advertising by had high hopes for and were shit:

Clinique Dramatically Different moisturer.
Sisley Black Rose face mask/oil
Bioderma micellar water
Touche Eclat
Most Mascaras
Kerastase anything. I have to give my hairdresser the skunk eye when she starts the post blow dry hard sell these days.
Most MAC lipsticks
MAC Strobe cream
Clarins Double Serum
St Tropez in shower tanner.

The list goes on!

Things that I rebuy again and again:

Ultra Dex mouth spray
Chantecaille future skin foundation
Rimmel Stay Matte powder
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter
GOSH Forever eyeshadow pencils
Stila Stay All Day brow pen
Kiko lip glosses
Origins tinted moisturiser
Primark's plump and glow serum/moisturiser
Garnier Micellar water ( pink lid)

There's loads more but I've rambled on enough!

Men also dont cover their faces in make up fake tan nor suffer hormonal changes. They dont tend to have long hair either or shave body parts

There is a growing market in male grooming. I cant speak for the rest of the country but certainly here, men take care of themselves, to the point that local barbers are open until 9 or 10pm, men having close shaves, eyebrows, ears and nostril waxed, and the spray tan parlour is heaving with 20-something builders making themselves all look lovely. I can't move in my bathroom for male grooming products for the late teens and early 20's stuff. I never thought I'd be yelling asking who keeps pinching my hair mouse/moisturiser etc.

Of course make up works for people, if you know how to put it on correctly. A lot of people dont. Very few would get the same results as a trained make up artist which is why people use them for weddings and special occasions. Its like paining a room, you can buy expensive paint and sling it at a wall, but all the cracks will show if you don't prime, use fillers, highlighters and accentuate the better features.

I agree OP, I can’t believe no one has noticed that men do fuck all ‘skincare’ and their skin is completely fine.

My DH has fine lines around his eyes, is going very grey, gets rosacea sometimes. The difference is no one gives a shit, including him!

I agree that being healthy tends to show in your hair and skin, for sure. And as I said, everyone’s skin and hair is different but when you buy a product for a very specific issue that makes a claim, it should do at least something towards that claim.

Can you imagine if the food industry behaved in a similar way?
An ad with a photoshopped mega strawberry, saying 90% of people said that this strawberry cured their athletes foot
(10 people with athletes foot sampled, 9 of which were on athletes foot treatment).

I mean, mascara adverts feature models with false eyelashes, which I only know since getting glasses because now I can read the small print at the bottom of the screen. How is that allowed?!

I do think that some products can help/work. I literally cannot get over the difference in my skin since I used that face mask last night. I posted in style and beauty the other day about what a mess my skin is at the moment - pores look enormous, burnt cheeks, greasy with dry patches. Normally when I wake up my skin looks really oily but not today. Of course it’s only a temporary reaction to the product but I would definitely use it before special occasions, if I were getting married etc (Estée Lauder resurface peel totally fixed my skin in the months before my wedding).

The rest of it though? Mostly absolute shit. Went into boots yesterday to grab a few last minute things and there was this instant blur “filter” powder that’s meant to blur imperfections, pores etc. I put some on the back of my hand and literally couldn’t even see where I’d put it. It made not one speck of difference.

I don’t know why we put up with it. Maybe we need to start returning everything that doesn’t work and kicking up a fuss, maybe then shops would insist that products work before stocking them (but who has time for that?!)

The only other thing I’ve bought that works is the famed Babyliss Big Hair. I now look like I’ve been to a (slightly shit) hairdresser rather than looking like I’ve been through a wind tunnel.

I used to be fine with make up - went to a little course once with my mum which helped, but I’d throw it on and it would look good. Now I’m older, post kids my skin is a complex disaster and if I can’t get my skin right then make up will always look like crap!

I used to be fine with make up - went to a little course once with my mum which helped, but I’d throw it on and it would look good. Now I’m older, post kids my skin is a complex disaster and if I can’t get my skin right then make up will always look like crap!

I don't think it's fair to say men don't have skin problems as lots do. Most of the teen boys I know use some kind of facewash and something to help spots and a moisturiser after shaving. Even my DH uses Nivea and he's the lumberjack type. I've just started using Nivea too and it's better than anything expensive I've ever tried before!

I'm with you on the anti ageing creams ,it's just a load of nonsense.

My DH has fine lines around his eyes, is going very grey, gets rosacea sometimes. The difference is no one gives a shit, including him!

Yes,that's the difference, no one gives a shit about men's wrinkles because they just get better with age , apparently!!

I can’t get my skin right then make up will always look like crap!

Kate Moss has skin like the lunar surface, she knows how to cover it, as did the late Roger Moore.

La Roche Posay's Effaclar range works really well if you have problem skin. Like, it actually works.

Clinique's anti-blemish solutions concealer/foundation is excellent. Their clay mask is also the best I've ever used/

Can you tell I have skin that breaks out easily? :D

I use retinol sporadically, but I'm not sure if it works or not.

I have recently discovered hair masks, and now use them in place of conditioner. Much better on my bleached hair. And Aussie's Miracle Oil is also very good.

A lot of the products you guys discuss, like The Ordinary, aren't available in China, frustratingly, so I can't comment.

I agree, I’ve tried expensive and cheap products, and the only difference I ever see is between using them and not.

Now I use the cheap serum from Superdrug (simply pure range) and whichever night moisturiser is on Bogof, recently found the primark pump and glow for day time which gives a nice matte base for a fiver.

Oh, and suncream. I have very few wrinkles as I use suncream and wear hats lots in summer. Body shop does an SPF50 one that isn’t greasy so is great under makeup.

Cosmetics adverts should not be allowed to be digitally enhanced - they’re currently allowed as long as they say (in teeny letters) they are digitally enhanced, but that doesn’t make the advert fair or useful for the consumer in my view.

What really annoys me is products, especially kids one, that say they are good for dry or sensitive skin when they blatantly aren’t. How many “safe for sensitive” skin kids bubble baths have we tried that have brought my kids out in an itchy rash