pore-clogging abilities will be pretty much the same.
If you are reading this book, something tells me you are over logo obsession and status purchases.
Green beauty has a status of its own. Its value comes not from logos gracing the bottle but from rare
herbs, juices, and lack of cancer-causing chemicals inside. Choose effectiveness and safety, not a
status statement that will be forgotten in seconds.
Hmmm. Look who’s talking now. I spent years raving over holiday collections of makeup, grieving
when Chanel discontinued Rouge Noir polish, and declaring those extremely cute Swarovski crystal–
adorned lipstick cases as must-haves. Whenever I was feeling down, I headed to the nearest boutique
or department store to spend a week’s wages on some gorgeous makeup palette. It would come in an
awesome box, sometimes with a satin ribbon, in a logo-bearing paper bag and a handful of plastic-
packaged samples. Only when I got home would I realize that I had spent fifty dollars on something
that I would use twice—and, most likely, would’ve gotten for free from the manufacturer. The trash
bin was full of cardboard and tissue paper, and something deep inside would tell me that fifty dollars
could buy me a basketful of organic fruit, wine, and cheese. I would have been much, much happier.
And probably healthier.
Lesson 5: Forget About Brand Loyalty
A very popular and foolproof sales pitch stipulates that to get the very best results, use a cleanser,
toner, and moisturizer from the same skin care line. “These products are scientifically formulated in
the laboratory to work synergistically,” salespeople all over the world chant in unison. “When used
together, these products normalize your skin’s pH balance, hydrate your skin, erase wrinkles, and
fight acne. If you skip just one product, the whole system will be useless.” This way, smart
salespeople ensure multiple purchases, and nothing is praised more in the sales world than the ability
to sell a customer $500 worth of antiwrinkle products when she came for a black eye pencil.
Let me remind you: everyone in the cosmetic business is after your money. This is why it’s called
business, not charity. The scientist wants to sell his research skills. The advertising agency wants to
push its ability to cast bestselling magic on products. The manufacturer and retailer want to sell as
much product as possible. The salesgirl lives on commission, so naturally, she wants you to buy a
cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and then probably a couple of masks. You want to buy a magic potion
that will make you look younger and more attractive. When you are buying a synthetic dream, you end
up with the reality of prematurely aging, imbalanced, and fragile skin. When you are buying the reality
and judge the product by its formulation, not a bottle, you will end up with healthier, younger skin.
When it comes to natural skin care products, feel free to purchase products from any line. Be
creative and don’t feel restrained. Many men borrow women’s products. Many pregnant moms switch
to baby lotions and oils long before the baby is due.
You don’t need to be faithful to a skin care line just because you love one product. Jurlique makes
a gorgeous antiaging product called Herbal Recovery Gel, but it also makes quite average cleansers
and very basic toners. If you feel that your skin could use a mild exfoliation every day, why don’t you
invest in Dr. Hauschka’s Cleansing Cream or prepare one yourself?
You don’t need to be faithful to a skin care line just because you love one product.
I understand this shopping style completely contradicts another well-known myth spread by
salespeople: “Don’t use one brand today and another tomorrow. This confuses your skin.” Our skin
has no brain of its own. It’s unable to convey emotions or get confused. What happens when skin