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Beauty
LifestyleFashion & Beauty

What makes a skincare product expensive? Experts explain why ingredients, the strength of them, and even how they feel on your skin matter

  • When it comes to skincare, it’s easy to get confused when comparing products that promise the exact same results but are priced vastly differently
  • Industry insiders say there are hundreds of factors behind a products’ price – what’s important is to be aware of your own skin’s particular needs

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Why does a bottle of the same ingredient cost US$7 or US$145 (such as Dr Barbara Sturm’s The Better B Niacinamide serum) depending on the brand?
Carolina Malis

Skincare occupies a very distinctive spot in beauty, as it’s often considered a necessity by health experts.

Though ultimately about aesthetics, good skincare products can help protect your skin from diseases such as cancer, and play a role in your body’s response to external stressors.

Given the broad range of people’s skin necessities and budgets, it’s easy to get confused when comparing products that promise similar results but are priced differently.

How can you know if one product that offers the same benefits at a cheaper price point is as effective as another? When is it OK to save and when should you splurge?

It’s easy to get confused when comparing products that promise similar results but are priced differently.
It’s easy to get confused when comparing products that promise similar results but are priced differently.

A variety of factors

Dr Barbara Sturm, founder of her eponymous skincare brand, explains that, while there are hundreds of factors behind a products’ price – from marketing to packaging, development and ingredients – its efficacy is vital.
Dr Barbara Sturm is the founder of her eponymous skincare brand.
Dr Barbara Sturm is the founder of her eponymous skincare brand.
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