Out of the Ordinary Skin Info: Dissecting Consumer Interests in Popular Products

October 31st 2022

By Skincare Specialist and writer Brooklyn Lafete

You know the saying if it’s too good to be true, it probably is? Well that’s exactly what I want all my clients and fellow consumers to consider when approaching skin care treatments and products.

When looking at how much and how often beauty trends change, knowing that the beauty industry is worth over 523 Billion dollars, shouldn’t come with much surprise (Oberlo, 2022). If you’re hoping that you’ve spent your hard-earned CASH MONAAY wisely in this industry, then you’re in the right place. As a skincare professional and buyer, myself, I feel compelled to share the juicy behind the scenes details, so you don’t throw away your $$$ into the 523-billion-dollar pile, without making educated decisions.

Now a quick disclaimer: as always, I’m very aware that certain products and treatments aren’t accessible to everyone and for that reason I wish to keep my advice as unbiased as I can. With that being said, this article is based on my own investigations and science backed findings that have been presented to me. I am also in no way trying to give medical advice. here

Glad we got that out of the way… so let’s get into it.

Too often I see clients struggling to justify the price difference between professional and non-professional skin care lines. Nowadays there is so many products on the market that it’s hard to know what to select. By speaking to other industry professionals and friends alike, I trust that media plays a huge roll in persuading consumer choices. Average people with real skin are sharing skincare reviews, transformations and how tos. Like sh*t, if I wasn’t in the industry I would be eating it all up as well. Here’s the thing, if we circle back to the whole “too good to be true” thing, that’s where we gotta look a little closer.

For the purpose of this article, I’m going to be reviewing the oh so popular brand The Ordinary. Now this is where I have to put my consumer hat on and remove my biases. When it comes down to it, The Ordinary is doing some pretty incredible things. They’ve stripped their products down to basic formulas, have saved on costs by following a brilliantly simple marketing plan and have truly delivered in terms of results. Simple, clean, accessible and effective, who wouldn’t want that?

Well… here’s the thing.

Cheapness ultimately comes down to the quality of batches made and formulation performance. By that I mean quantity over quality. Don’t ask me why, but this honestly makes me think back high school BBQs when the school principle would be grilling up thousands of plain hamburgers. You go up, give them a little ticket, grab one, go to the grey plastic table, pump some condiments on it and off you go. Easy to make, delicious, fills your belly, everyone wins. Now let’s compare this to ordering a burger at a steak house.

Yes, I know it’s a completely different experience but bear with me.

The expectation of a steak house burger goes far beyond the meat quality or price. You come in, sit at a cozy candle lit table with your Boo, open the menu and see the “locally produced, top quality chef crafted burger” with all the unique toppings and sides. Not only does the burger seem amazing, but your server is able to tell you exactly where the products are sourced, to what level the meat is suggested to be cooked, and they even check up on you to see if the food is to your liking once you’ve tried it. After this, you go home feeling more than just satisfied and you don’t feel like bucket of grease or someone who’s going to be spending the rest of the night on the toilet.

Okay I know I got a little carried away there but what I’m trying to show is that many professional skincare lines deliver far more than just the initial product satisfaction.

Say a client heard Vitamin C is good for brightening the skin. As a medical esthetician, I try to explain why certain ingredients are better for their skin than others, and why simple doesn’t always mean better. Imagine highly concentrated Vitamin C being pumped out into huge barrels. Yes, it will get the job done but the quality is questionable and the long-term effects on the skin are unknown. When it comes to professional products, I try to show clients how one serum could brighten, plump, hydrate, and smooth the skin all while preserving its integrity. In addition to explaining the quality of the products, I explain step by step how to incorporate the product into their routines and I’m able to reduce the risk of skin sensitivity, which can come from using a new product. As a skin specialist I’m attending regular product trainings to ensure I’m delivering the best possible results and guiding clients in the right direction without making promises or false claims. Product guidance, quality, diversity, and continued support are just a few of the components that make professional product investments worthwhile.

This is all to say that not even professional skincare lines are formulated equally and not all skin professionals have the same intentions. In any case, it’s important to be a smart shopper and research a brand’s ethics, formulations and those who represents their products. Whether you’re looking for a quick fix or a long-term skin plan, there is something for everyone in the vast beauty market. The resources are endless and I encourage you to explore the extraordinary variety of products and services within the industry.

If I can be of any assistance feel free to reach out to me via Instagram

Also, because we’re all looking for deal, you may also take advantage of my Personal Discount Link BROOK for 10% off any of our professional product lines at Sophia Esthetic.

References:

Smart Leisure: to live better. (2015). The provocative work/Section for adults (21): The “light” re-interpretations of the classics. ://ociointeligenteparavivirmejor.blogspot.com/2015/05/la-obra-provocadora-21-la.html

Oberlo, (2022). How much is the Beauty Industry Worth?(2014-2026). https://www.oberlo.ca/statistics/how-much-is-the-beauty-industryworth#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20latest%20statistics,it%20was%20worth%20%24492.6%20billion.