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.

Which Nivea are people using? The original blue pot?

@SinkGirl I noticed you mentioned having fine, flyaway hair...

Bed Head by TIGI 'Queen for a day' thickening spray has been my 'go to' for years. A can lasts for ages and it really does work! I buy it on Amazon as it's hard to find on the high street.

Marketing brainwashing.

If women just stopped wearing makeup, people would get used to it and think it's just normal, just like we think men look fine without makeup.

The genetic lottery is the only lottery I've ever won. The money one would have been better!

Here's what this old lady uses

Wear sunscreen, drink enough water, don't smoke, don't drink alcohol
and you'll automatically look healthier and younger.

It's funny how the youngsters are the ones who tend to pile on all the makeup and in reality they look stunning without it.

Anyway ,I don't use any special cleansers to wash my face. Just soap. I take off my makeup if I wear it, with coconut oil

Been using Nivea for a couple decades. It's nice and I like the smell.

I will spend money on the stuff that actually works. Botox and fillers, teeth whitening.

10 % Lactic acid peel. I do mine at home but I don't leave it on for more than 30 seconds to a minute as it burns.

italy towel. Best cheapest thing for exfoliation I've ever used.

Clay masks. I love these things. I think mine is called Aztec Secret or something like that but it is just clay.

I have dark undereye circles that are genetic.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer works well but a really thin filler works the best.

Favourite foundation
Estee Lauder Double Wear That shit stays on!

Shampoo I have very fine hair so no genetic lottery there.
I just like a shampoo that smells nice and doesn't make my head itch
Fructis Volume actually does seem to plump my hair a little and it smells nice

or

SCHWARZKOPF Extra Care Colour Protect & Shine Shampoo
It smells good

I am in my 50s and now use soap, water and a decent moisturiser. I occasionally exfoliate with a hot cloth and an oily cleanser.

My skin is really good, better than the years when I used SO many products, always hunting for the ones that would make a difference. I think the problem is that the beauty world is full of out and out lies and bollocks that have become unquestioned Wisdom, such as 'you must double cleanse' or 'soap is bad for your skin'.

I use the blue Nivea at night, warm it up between your hands before applying that way it doesn't drag as it's so thick.

For the day I use Nivea soft and have also discovered Nivea super boost with Shea butter which is fantastic especially under make up.

Only pharmaceutical grade products work really so nothing you can buy in boots unless you have dry hands or cracks lips ect

Amazed that so many people are willing to put Nivea on their face. I've got dry, sensitive skin and that stuff burns. Every few years I forget and give it a try, 🥵

And soany off the shelf stuff, especially brands like Nivea or simple still contain lots of chemicals. Which is fine if your making the conscious choice to buy a topical pharmaceutical grade chemical ingredient to tread a specific issue. But advertising this stuff as 'natural' is a joke.

If your just using it for moisture I urge anyone just to buy something that actually is organic and natural for hydration at least

*so many of off the shelf

OP this really made me laugh
I don't do shops really but was in a dept store with my sister and a huge poster said of a skin product "90% of women" etc etc

then I looked at the small print to see how many women were in their sample for this, and it was 11! I stood there repeating "11? 11?" incredulously and a sales assistant came over to basically tell me off

I felt like this OP after spending over £200 on Charlotte Tilbury make up. I can honestly say it was the worst money I have ever spent and nearly all of it went in the bin.... even my DDs wouldn't touch it. It is Rimmel quality at high end prices.

I complained to them, but they only sent a replacement for one product that was just as bad as the initial one. I have never made a blind purchase like that since.

Estee Lauder advanced night repair works as does Benefit Porefessional primer.

Nip+Fab products are good too especially the Glycolic range

Agreed OP.
I fall for shit often.
I'm having a shitty time skin and hair wise at the moment (thanks to vit deficiencies) so have tried all sorts.
Hair wise for me the best conditioner is the tresemme white one (moisture) I've recently tried Lidl's take on Pantene and liked that too.
I shelled out 20 quid on some Olaplex no3 (it literally has like 4 treatments, for my now quite thin and shoulder length hair, in a bottle :0 ) It's not a conditioner as such, it repairs and strengthens hair and bonds within hair or whatever bollocks. I can feel a difference of no frizz and smoothness etc.... but my hair is still falling out by the handful but I knew it wasn't for regrowth so can't complain really - suckered in again haha.
I have shitty skin, i'm oily and dry. Have redness on my nose area and my skin just looks dehydrated too. (I try not to whinge about oily skin as without it I'd be a lot more wrinkly for my 40 years)
I don't do a full on foundation anymore as it sits in my lines so the best alternative i found is boots no7 airbrush away.
I'm also new to The Ordinary. I love their oil based foundation thing - I've yet to find the right colour though.
I have tried their squalene face wash - lovely! I use it after I have taken bulk of make up off with micellar water and a face cloth.
The chemical peel - red one. Which I honestly find has made my skin worse. It didn't burn or leave any additional redness but pores definitely appear bigger and blocked after using it. I'm not getting this smooth feeling cleaned out skin like others report.
Rose hip oil - I like the way my make up goes on after it but it's given me a few breakouts so that's a no from me. I am going to use it on my hands though.
The Ordinary products are so affordable though so I don't mind trying things and if they aren't for me, giving it to one of my sisters/friends who would like to try.
I bought some expensive Korean hyaluronic acid stuff which promises rehydration - nope! not feeling that neither.
Nip and fab glycolic fix - is ok, it feels as though it's tightened my skin after using it so will probably keep using that.
I used to always buy clinique products and there's nothing new I've used that has beaten their moisture surge so it's back to that for me I think.
I'm seriously considering looking into botox etc.... at some point. I'm trying to stall as long as I can though.

Depends what you mean by "works" I guess. I have a lot of products that do what they say on the tin but for real effects - vitamin C, retinol, acids, SPF and Botox

I had the pleasure of having my skin looked at by Caroline Hirons this week and up close she has amazing skin, absolutely glowing

Amazed that so many people are willing to put Nivea on their face. I've got dry, sensitive skin and that stuff burns maybe you react to something in it? I have such sensitive skin I couldn't ever have a facial or my face would fall off but a basic Korean skin routine care plus Nivea has transformed my skin from a dry,red, flaky mess into smooth, hydrated skin and my rosacea is improving too.

My face has always been the kind that feels really hideously dry after washing but is actually pretty combination like. I have never worn much make up, and tended to use just water - toners and cleansers never felt very good. The only moisturisers that really worked were things like Darphin, but it was expensive. Over the years I have tried (for months at a time as i have bought them) clarins, Clinique, occitane, body shop, nivea, simple, estee lauder, eucerin …. and more. I have discovered, whilst desperately trying to sort out the dry skin around my hairline, that basic aveeno body cream is the best thing for my face. My husband has been using it for years as face cream!

I do like to wear mascara, and despite loving my grey hair coming through, I find my badger eyebrows unsettling - Benefit's Gimme Brow is fab - brushes on, doesn't smudge off and suits my naturally bushy eyebrow look and I can leave some grey.
But I have to wash all that off now - and have the body shop camomile cleanser - and also some heavenly occitane oil cleanser in a pump bottle - it's expensive but is easy to wash off and not get in my eyes - before I slap on my aveeno at night.

things I cannot understand is the selling of moisturisers with SPF. You put them on at 7 or 8am, by 11am they have worn off so when you need them in the brightest part of the day they don't work. It feels like a big lie as people put their trust in them. I have asked a few of the specialist selling them if they work past the first few hours and not one of them have said they do - they all said you would need to use another cream - but only when I really asked directly.

I buy everything from beauty pie. It’s cheap and the reviews are typically quite accurate.

Aveeno is great,it worked for me for years too but then I had hormonal changes and needed the big guns!

My biggest concern about skincare and cosmetics is that it's cruelty free. So anything sold in China (ie most of the big brands) is a no go for me. All beauty products sold in China must be animal tested. So to the PP who couldn't get certain brands in China - that's probably why.

Most men have terrible skin.

Some products do work. I believe this is very personal to individual skin/hair though.

I’m not sure why you’d be surprised there are stricter laws around marketing financial products versus beauty.

But if we are talking about stuff that seems to work, I find rosehip oil actually does improve the look of my skin. However I've just had a quick look to see if there is any research to prove it and there isn't

@NameChangerAmI After many years I have finally found my holy grail of hair care to tackle the frizz. John Frieda Frizzeze Miraculous Recovery shampoo and conditioner followed by Charles Worthington Leave in conditioner. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer as an occasional treat. I seriously hope they never discontinue any of these. It sounds like my frizz is a bit less than yours but these things sorted it out completely. As for skin care and make up, I'm still searching !

I hear you op.
I've got awful black circles round my eyes and must've spent £££ trying to disguise them. Sales Assistants must do a victory dance when they see me coming and I always believe I've found the Holy Grail of concealers. Except I never have.

I really like avacado oil and use it under Nivea at night, £4 from Waitrose for a big bottle.