There are many products that are always heavily featured in magazines and I am sure you sometimes think “They are not that good.” You might have used them and thought they were shockingly average, or you simply don’t fall for the hype.
For me personally, these products are over-hyped in different ways:
1. Creme de la Mer (hype despite of the price)
I admit I have never used it, so I can’t say whether it is a good moisturizer in itself for me. However, I don’t think any moisturizer (even if it is well-formulated) should cost this much, especially when algae (included in this product) is one of the cheapest and easily accessible ingredient.
Some people say they just want to have a bit of luxury in life. We all do sometimes, but it is a luxury *only if* it is better than anything else!
Unfortunately, there are loads more other products that fall into this ultra-premium category. Ignorant customers can easily be lured into them.
2. Lancome Juicy Tube (hype despite of the quality)
Its price is fine. It is affordable. But many magazines claim this is the best lip gloss. I also read that, on Ebay UK, it is one of the most searched items under the Health and Beauty category.
I have used it and I do think it is good. The slanted applicator is convenient and the gloss stays put and lasts for hours. But most of my other lip glosses give the same performances and I don’t understand the hype of it.
3. Kose Sekkisei Lotion (hype despite of the irritating ingredient)
Readers from many Asian countries will know what I am talking about here. It has been sold for more than 20 years and it is still one of the most popular toners in Japan. It is claimed to give skin brightness and luminosity. A popular way to use this toner is to soak a tissue mask in it and wear the mask for a good 20 minutes.
I bought this almost ten years ago and it proved again that alcohol and I really couldn’t get along, especially when there is so much of it (imagine Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3). I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again…alcohol is a major skin irritant and should not be added to any skincare product.
4. Benefit (hype despite of the packaging)
Right, this is only about the look, and feel free to disagree, because packaging is totally subjective and all views are valid. It seems like many people love the quirky and fun packaging of Benefit. I do like some of the imaginative names of the products, but that’s as far as it goes. The packaging is indeed very catchy so I understand why it stands out, but I personally really don’t like it at all. I don’t like cartoon drawings on my cosmetics. They just seem too child-like.
I tend to like packaging that is glamorous and relatively understated, like Chanel and Dior. I do girlie too, like Paul & Joe and Anna Sui. But Benefit is just too much for me. (So is Stila.)
(The only Benefit product I am interested in is the fragrance Maybe Baby. I like the smell and the bottle is simple but glamorous and elegant. But this look is not typical of most Benefit products……)
I’ll stop here and let you guys think about what products you think are over-hyped.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally agree on Creme de la Mer. It’s way too overpriced and it’s not that great.
I actually had an interesting conversation with my Benefit-obsessed friend just yesterday – I’m a MAC-lover, and she says she hates the “serious” ethos that comes with the brand – she likes makeup to be “fun”. I said that some MAC colours ARE fun, and seeing as Benefit is even more pricey than MAC, and both are priced in the higher-mid-range bracket, that I’d prefer to be spending the cash on something that feels more “serious”. Don’t get me wrong, I love flicking through Benefit’s catalogue, as it’s a fun, quirky read; I just wouldn’t really buy anything as it just *feels* “cheap” for the price. I like my makeup to feel sophisticated and grand, even if the look I’m using them for is quirky and colourful.
In the end it’s all about the brand image; the quality in the products are both good, I know. But sometimes that’s just what matters.
Thanks for your comment. I am glad you agree with me!
Thanks for sharing your comment, fizzy. I do agree with you. I’d choose MAC over Benefit any day. Even though MAC’s packaging is slightly basic for my own liking, its sense of sophistication and professionalism does appeal to me a lot. And you are right…since makeup is part of the whole idea of fashion, brand image is very important. We usually tend to choose things with the image we identify ourselves with, don’t we?