You work hard to set aside a budget for skin products.  You look back at receipts from previous product purchases and you cringe.  You may even get ridiculed by someone close to you for spending so much.  Perhaps your spouse, a co-worker, or even your accountant.  It’s hard enough to make money in this economy, you don’t need to waste money where you don’t need to.

Savvy skin product buyers have many things in common.  They think things through and get to know the intricate parts of what makes a proper skin care regimen.  They find areas of their regimen that can be tweaked, allowing them to spend more money on products they love or have the urge to try, as well as not go overboard and be financially reckless.

There are many ways to cut corners and have beautiful, glowing skin.  First, you need to know some basic education.

1.  Not every “new and innovative product” is necessary. Each week it seems there is a new treatment that is advertised in a slick way to make your mind think you just have to have it.  For example, many new deep skin peels are being introduced to the market and they talk about their ability to remove dead skin cells from the skin.  However, if you exfoliate regularly, you can rest assured you are already doing that!  Sure, there will always be a rebuttal from people who disagree, and that’s expected – my point being many people use products that overlap, which can cost money.  Really dig down and understand what your products are formulated to do, then think about what products you already use.  Often times there can be some overlap and the positives of what the product could do may outweigh the financial commitment.

2.  Do you really need a cleanser? I do!  Personally, I use the Extreme Cleansing Gel made by Wrinkle System on my entire upper body.  This ensures that I clean my neck and face, as well as other areas of my body that may be prone to acne.  I work out a bit, and feel something that is more advanced than soap is best for acne prevention.   However, since that’s just my personal take, and every0ne has their favorite product, that’s certainly something unique to me.  If you are the type of person that only uses a cleanser on your face prior to applying an eye cream or other facial serum, and you are looking to save a couple bucks, save your cash and use a body soap.  The most advanced cleansers can be pricey, and this expense can be avoided at a very small loss to maximizing your skin’s healing process in the long run.

3. Savvy consumers know the ingredients inside out.  If they don’t know them, they research them. How hard is it to learn about skin care ingredients?  If you are reading this article, you are on the web and I can assume you have the ability to surf the web at ease.  When you see an ingredient you don’t recognize, simply visit your favorite search engine and make a query.  This is the best way to find up-to-the-minute information and learn about the various ingredients that make skin products different.  If you understand what Argireline is, per say (INCI name Acetyl Hexapeptide 3) – you can look at an anti wrinkle cream and see if it has this ingredient.  Known as one of the latest wrinkle treating ingredients, with extraordinary abilities, this ingredient is a must have if you are looking to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

4.  Look for claims that can be backed up. If a product makes bold claims, does it come with clinical testing to back it up?  Clinical testing is the gold standard in legitimacy of product lines, and when referenced, it should be taken seriously.  Products that make bold claims like “get rid of wrinkles in 30 days” without citing clinical studies are simply making claims that they think will get your attention and help them make sales.  Look for products that are clinically tested, and know that at least in a small focus group being supervised by a third party, the results reported are 100% true.

5.  Know when you are being sold. Of course, it’s easy to go into the beauty section of any major department store and be blown away by an amazing display, dressed up sales persons, and powerful product packaging.  Keep in mind, when a product is being recommended or is “on sale” this is usually part of an incentive-driven sales program.  You see, major skin care brands take up a presence that is highly valuable in various stores across the world.  It’s a game of real estate.  They offer incentives, bonuses, prizes for the top sales channels in order to build their brand and have their products on the premium shelf space.  If you visit the same outlet over time, and all of a sudden a product you’ve seen time and time again is being pushed down your throat, that has not been recommended to you by the sales person previously, odds are you are being sold this product for a reason.

Armed with a cheat sheet written by the best beauty shoppers, you are now ready to become a savvy skin product consumer!