Let’s dive right into the heart of the problem. A constant worry while selecting skincare products for most of us working on a budget is to select something affordable, but at the same time makes us feel pampered and delivers the desired results. We don’t wanna be feeling guilty when we look at the teeny bottles that arrive in our parcel after we’ve spent a bomb on them. The idea of guilty pleasure just doesn’t cut it when we are also looking for actual results.

What’s more, it can sometimes be confusing what to expect from skincare- an indulgent experience that makes us feel at the top of the world or an effective treatment for our skincare concerns. Add to that the constant rallying by advertisers to convince us about the affordability of a product- either by giving us fake discounts or by making their high prices seem like the most normal thing ever.

So how does one select products that are both affordable and effective?

Focus on price per ml – It’s not enough to merely brush through the MRPs of the products you are considering. The most competent way to compare the prices of products is to evaluate the price per ml or g for each product.

PRO TIP: Amazon and a few other retailers usually mention rupees/ml besides the product costs.

Consider how long a product lasts– Some products last longer than others. Several factors are at play here. A dense product will require you to use only a small portion per use. Such products are generally good investments as they save space and last longer.

Think whether you are getting the results that are your money’s worth– In the long run, it doesn’t matter what price you paid for a product if it doesn’t give you the desired results. Ever so often we get so swamped by the pricing and the options that we forget to notice the results of a product. In the skincare business, one must understand two things. One is that certain results are nearly impossible to achieve at a low price point as quality ingredients require a lot of research and investments. And two being those ridiculously expensive products do not guarantee results. So, one needs to find a sweet spot between the price and results. Remember that good brands always focus on being democratic. They are priced keeping various economic groups in mind.

Don’t switch too often– When you find a product that works, stick to it instead of trying out everything under the sun. That way you will fix how much and how often you need to spend on your skincare routine. Eventually, it will help you save money as you won’t be spending extra buying new products frequently.

Don’t be fooled by the product images- Product images can be deceiving. The angle, distance and background of the photo can mislead customers. It creates the illusion of a product being bigger or of quality packaging. To avoid being disappointed later, always look at the quantity of the product in the description rather than what it looks like in the image. Go a step further and look into the length and breadth of the products when mentioned. Take a look at the product from different backgrounds and different websites.

All of this might seem overwhelming at first or a complete waste of time. We understand the frustration of having a million things to do and adding one more to the list is just exhausting. However, self-care requires hard work. It’s not always about splurging and indulging. But once the hard task is over and you have the right product in your hands, the transformations you will see will be so worth it. And you would have earned it!