Make better beauty choices in 2019

We’ve all gone through it -- you buy an expensive “miracle” beauty product which promises to make your skin as soft as a baby’s bum. Sometimes you’re even drawn into buying a whole range of products because they work best together! Most of us end up regretting these purchases.

What can you do to avoid making beauty purchases you’ll regret? Here’s how:

1.       Don’t believe in “quick fixes”

Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for most of the common beauty woes. For instance, no beauty product will hydrate your skin if you’re not drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet. Don’t expect a beauty product to come and miraculously fix a problem if you’re unwilling to address its root. With this in mind, you’ll be able to adjust your expectations on beauty products and void unnecessary purchases.

2.        Samples are a trap

Tiny free samples of ridiculously expensive products can ensnare you. All you can tell from using the sample is that you like its smell, it doesn’t immediately irritate your skin, and you don’t hate it. You can’t really tell how good a product is till you’ve used it for a while...yet many women buy products just because they tried samples! Don’t be one of them.

3.       Friends’ recommendations are useless

Unless your friends have skin exactly like yours, most of the products they recommend -just because “it worked great or me”- are probably useless. Your pal might have oilier, drier skin, less sun-damaged, less sensitive or acne-prone, larger or smaller pores and so on. Sure, you can buy products your friends love and swear that you’ll love too- but know that the best skincare is customised to you and your unique needs.

4.       What do you have already?

Have you ever bought a products, only to later realise you had it or a similar one in your collection? To avoid wasting money, sit down and sort the products you have in your possession. Throw away anything that’s past its expiry date or has changed in consistency or smell. Make note of any products that you need to replace, and buy only those.

5.       Target two problems

What are your two main beauty woes? Is it acne, blotchiness, uneven tone, dryness, oiliness, sun damage or wrinkles? Identify the two which bug you the most and buy products to fix them. For instance, if your skin is oily and prone to acne, you can shop only for products specially formulated with those two in mind. When you fix your main beauty concerns, your other skin woes will probably resolve themselves or at least become less conspicuous.

6.       Have a skincare regimen

If you don’t have a fixed skincare regimen develop one now...and stick to it. With the “two problem focus” strategy mentioned above, buy: a cleanser, a moisturiser and sunscreen for day use. For night care, you can use the same products (minus the sunscreen, of course) plus a Vitamin A cream and probably an eye cream. Once you’ve found products which suit your needs and budget, stick to them for at least three months. When you desire a change or an upgrade, change only one product at a time- giving your skin time to get used to it before making another change. Be patient, a great skincare regimen takes a bit of trial and error.