Don’t question whether your next skin care purchase is a frog or a prince. Use these tips!
Photo source: The Lemon-Frog ‘Kiss Scam’ Exposed! Originally uploaded by RÑ”RÑ” (Flickr)
Recently I have received e-mails from some readers who have been disenchanted by some sketchy skin care business practices. And while I am not yet an expert myself, here are some hints for buying and receiving quality skin care merchandise well-worth sharing:
1. Beware of the “risk-free trial.”
Your mamma was right – there really is no such thing as a free lunch. Keep in mind that a “risk-free trial” is not synonymous with a “free sample” or a “free gift”. Check the fine print – many “free trials”  ask for your credit card information not only for the shipping & handling charges, but also to place you in an “auto-renewal” ordering system, which will deliver product and charge your card to you monthly or bi-monthly, unless you call within a certain period of time (usually during your trial period) to cancel. Furthermore, some (though not all) companies will charge a service fee or the full price of the product if you choose to cancel this auto-ordering option. Not cool. Fortunately, with this knowledge at hand, you can always ask the conditions of the “risk-free trial,” though I advise you to be careful when treading on these types of waters.
2. Buy only from licensed skin care centers, or check for seller/site ratings and reviews first.
Many skin care companies have licensed or preferred retailers for their products. For instance, Green Cream, one of my favorite products, is authorized to be sold through select professionals’ offices, DermStore.com, SkinCareRx.com, and a number of other retailers, so to guarantee the quality and integrity of your product, it is most advisable to order through one of the company’s preferred licensed retailers.
However, it’s often tempting to try to get your products for a discount from non-licensed skin care retailers. (I am guilty of it myself!) Although rare, there have been instances in which customers have reported receiving used sample products or refilled bottles from non-licensed skin care dealers, such as these horror stories on eBay.  Yet, many independent sellers are honest, so if you choose to go this route, be sure to check online for feedback of a seller or a independent retailer; if all else fails, contact the Better Business Bureau. I personally have ordered from discounted retailer Skinmedix.com many times and have received only quality merchandise from them, hence why I feel honored to have them advertise on the site. But to ensure that you are so lucky with your selected independent skin care retailer, you may want to check out some history first.
3. Check – and double-check – the spelling on your ingredients.
Just like when you walk into a video store and there are titles that look and sound similar, but aren’t the real deal, so is the case with some skin care products. For instance, there is a product called Idebenol that, while an overall good product featuring some beneficial ingredients, does not contain any traces of the powerful antioxidant idebenone.  (For the record, Elizabeth Arden has exclusive rights to idebenone through Allergan, so I’d be surprised if any product not marketed as Elizabeth Arden or Elizabeth Arden Prevage contained idebenone).   The moral of the story? Be careful if you are looking for a certain well-researched ingredient: write it down, check the spelling, and be sure you are getting what you really want.
Overall Comments
Call me naïve, but I really do believe that most people – and companies – are good and want to do honest business. With that said, sometimes there are a few sour grapes in the bunch, so keep the above tips in mind, and happy shopping!  🙂 P.S. – Feel free to add your own tips for effective skin care shopping below!