Why Beauty Product Packaging is like Kryptonite

By Sasha BeautyBlogger for GalTime.com

Product Packaging
Product Packaging

I'll admit it. I'm a total sucker for product packaging. Nothing gets my pulse racing like gorgeous, pretty, clever packaging. That whole don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover thing is completely lost on me, especially when it comes to buying beauty products. Apparently, I'm not alone...almost 90 % of consumers do the same!

The Power Of Packaging

For starters, did you know packaging is one of the largest industries in the world? According to Sunrise Packaging, 89% of consumers say it's important for a brand to feature good packaging. Per their study, when asked if they'd ever purchased a product based purely on what's on the outside, 84% of those interviewed said yes. The interviewees also said they'd be willing to pay 5% more for a product with good packaging, and would even consider switching brands based on packaging alone. I must admit I'm glad to know I'm in the majority! Perhaps it helps me justify my lack of willpower and spending when it comes to attractive beauty products. (Stunning packaging truly is like Kryptonite!)

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So Does Pretty Packaging Mean A Better Product?

If something promises to make us look more beautiful (makeup, hair products, skincare creams), we expect the packaging to be beautiful, too. So, how can you avoid products that fall short once you get beyond the container? Here are some easy tips to ensure your product isn't just another pretty face:

Google It When it comes to buying beauty products, I try my best to do my homework before making a purchase. These days, we beauty buyers are just a mouse click away from consumer reviews that provide honest-to-goodness feedback (read: the good, the bad, and the ugly of a product). So before you spend your hard-earned dollars on a cleverly packaged mascara promising Kim Kardashian-like eyelashes, Google it first and read reviews. Some great sources include TotalBeauty.com, Makeupalley.com, and Amazon.

Read the label When reading a product's label, it often seems like you need a Chemical Engineering degree, especially when it comes to topical skin care products. To avoid a brand that's pretty on the outside but a dud in the delivery department, focus on the active ingredients, which are listed at the top of the ingredient list. For example, if a skin cream promises to fight wrinkles, but doesn't contain Retinol, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Coenzyme Q10, and Antioxidants (such as Vitamin C and E), chances are the only thing it's going to fight for is space in the back of your beauty cabinet.

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Products
Products

Return policy A biggie many of us don't take advantage of is the ability to return a product we're unhappy with. (This tip is one I exercise routinely!) Most stores have a lenient return policy and actually want you to return something you're unhappy with, as their number one goal is customer satisfaction. So, next time you get sucked into a new product purchase and find yourself at the checkout counter, simply ask them for details on product returns.

There! These easy tips will help ensure your beauty goods are not only pretty on the outside, but hard-working and worth your beauty dollars. Chances are if you're buying a brand you're sem- familiar with (e.g. has a well-known reputation for making quality products) or one you've purchased from in the past, your pretty package will likely make good on its product promise!

WHAT DO YOU THINK, READERS? DO YOU BUY PRODUCTS BASED PURELY ON PACKAGING? ANY EYE-CATCHING FAVES YOU WANT TO SHARE?

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