Cosmetics – Can Cheap Be Just As Good?

Humans have been using some sort of cosmetics and facial decorations for eons. Ancient man not only painted his face to signify his status in a tribe, he would add permanent scarring to add to the effect. Amazon Indians still use various forms of face painting for the same reason.

During the 1700s, vanity was the name of the game. Everyone who was anyone wouldn’t be seen in public without heavy doses of heavy white powder, rouged cheeks and lips, and colored eyes made possible by dried vegetable leaves and ochre. Portraits from this time period made many of these individuals look almost ridiculous by today’s standards.

Cosmetics weren’t mass marketed until the early 20th century. The first items started appearing quite unobtrusively in local drug stores, marketed to perhaps a segment of the female population that was of “questionable repute”. Advertising for these early products was usually found in the backs of ladies magazines of the time period, never on the front pages like today. But even with limited advertising, these items were flying off the shelves, purchased by lovely respectable housewives, college students, working women, and even teens who could save up enough for their first lipstick.

It took the new color movies to give a real boost to the cosmetics industry, however. Suddenly we could see what made our favorite movie starlets so gorgeous, and it was rarely natural beauty! Once women could see the black mascaras and red lipsticks and dark eyebrow pencils, everyone ran out to buy the same things to look just like Greta Garbo and Elizabeth Taylor.

Companies competed against each other for market share like no other product on the market! Expensive brands began to show up in leading department stores, giving drug store brands a run for their money. No matter where the counters were, makeup was selling.

Of course, as with most products, there comes a point where some of the options simply become so expensive that we need to step and say, “What exactly am I paying for?” When an ordinary foundation can be had for under $10 at the drug store, or a similar product that sells closer to $75 at the local department store, which one is really worth the money?

Ingredients might be different, but are they really better? When the original cosmetic companies are still selling exclusively in drug stores and mass merchandisers, there’s no wonder that some women are reducing their high end expenditures at the fancy counters and heading back to the drug store to buy what they need at lower prices and excellent quality.

In fact, they are often cheaper and much better for the skin too! Glycolic Acid Skin Care Immediately after bathing, use a sensible amount of moisturizer. Learning how to take care of your skin can be very beneficial to you.

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