How to Avoid Being Manipulated Online When Holiday Shopping

Mastering the Beauty Industry Marketing Game During the Holidays

Each year, the beauty industry spends millions of dollars on holiday ad campaigns that target our vulnerabilities. Whether it’s ads showing up everywhere you go online due to one “anti-aging” search, or the idea that you have to look a certain way in order to be “beautiful,” “successful,” or even, “happy,” beauty marketing can use deceitful wording and online strategies to manipulate consumers into making unnecessary purchases. Knowing this, we as consumers must be careful, keeping in mind that companies prey on our emotional weaknesses to profit from us. Being aware of the tactics used below can make you a more conscious consumer this holiday season and all-year-round.

Here are some things you can start to observe in beauty advertising:

1. Many companies use wording to make you feel less than you are to entice you to spend more. They will make sure to point out what needs to change in you to prompt you to buy products that most of the time don't hold to their promises or results. So many products end up unused and lost in the cabinet or drawer. Then you repeat the process after you see a new social media ad or commercial. Sound familiar?
   
   
2. They also know that shopping is an instant gratification activity that increases your dopamine levels momentarily to make you feel good. The neurotransmitter surges when you’re considering buying something new, anticipating a reward. Sales, by the way, give us an even harder kick. This chemical response is commonly referred to as “shopper’s high.” These industry giants know how to lure you in to purchase more products.

Good news, you don’t have to listen to them anymore! 

Each day, we wake up naturally a day older, that is just reality. Since the day we were born we have been aging. Let’s re-evaluate what we have been told about aging. What if aging was seen as a true gift? Learning lessons, growing from them and becoming wiser with more days given to us. We need to stop supporting what we are being fed online and through the TV ads trying to trick us into thinking we need to reverse the clock. We really don’t. What if we all woke up excited for the present moment and the ones there after, embracing what lies ahead, acknowledging each day truly as a gift to love and to be loved? I know that when I encounter people who have this mindset they are gorgeous inside and out.

You can lovingly support yourselves through this reality in a few ways:

1. Eating and drinking what serves your body well. This ultimately feeds your skin to be healthy and alive!

2. Use skin care lines that are healthy, non-toxic and packed full of natural ingredients that feed your cells nutrients to survive longer. Studies prove this to be true!

3. Sit with changing your belief system & mindset about how you love yourself. Embrace each day you are given and notice what a gift you are to others. Our self critic, that gets hits from marketing giants, needs to be reminded to fight back against these voices that don’t have our best interest in mind.

 

Simple works! You truly don’t need much to have a dependable skin routine that gives you the results you are desiring. Finding that tried-and-true company that proves to you that it works long-term, is all you need. No more searching for the latest and greatest that is using up much of your energy and money. It’s already in front of you. There are many natural skin care lines available these days with holistic products that are safer, effective, and proven to work. 

Become more of a skin care minimalist. Ditch the many samples, jars and bottles that have been junking up your drawers. You really only need a handful of reliable products that work consistently through time. That consists of a great cleanser, toner, serum and moisturizer. Don’t forget sunscreen! Have fun visiting my last blog article for specific recommendations.  

Remember safety is important! Our skin is the largest organ we have. When you apply something to it, it gets ingested and your body has to metabolize it. So, make sure you know what you are putting on your skin is healthy and non-toxic. Help your other organs out by making it as easy on them as possible too! I will talk about dirty ingredients in another article, but in the meantime visit https://www.ewg.org to educate yourself on ingredients that are in your current products.

1. Go online to find your product of interest or one that you are currently using. 
2. Copy ingredients 
3. Visit www.ewg.org/skindeep and paste the ingredients to see for yourself the safety and health score of the ingredients in your beauty products.
   
   

**BEWARE when a company doesn’t offer up their ingredient list easily! Red flag for sure. 

One might ask, why do I continue to mention juicing and fresh foods when my focus is skin care? A healthy lifestyle promotes vibrant, healthy skin. Certain natural foods heal skin issues like psoriasis, acne and eczema. Every time you eat is an opportunity to nourish your body and skin. Ask yourself today what your health means to you?

You know what they say, “Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels.” 

Reality is, if you are taking good care of yourself, beauty is inherently yours. Life is a miracle and you are its perfect expression. Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. 

Recently, I came across @danaemercer. Here is a strong woman, supporting women, telling us like it is while being raw and real. Love this! Follow those who lift you up, inspire you and encourage you to be a wonderful, healthy YOU and leave the beauty marketing scare tactics behind.