When it comes to hair and beauty products, it can be hard to know what’s worth your hard-earned money and what’s not. With countless products promising miracles, many actually fail to deliver on what they promise for one reason or another; and we want to talk about just a few of them so you can make more informed choices next time you’re looking to replenish your supply.
From shampoos loaded with sulfates and parabens to moisturizers that don’t do what they’re supposed to, there are so many products that have been labeled as a waste of money by both experts and fellow shoppers alike. We’ve compiled a list of 12 hair and beauty products that many experts and fellow shoppers who have written honest online reviews believe are a waste of money. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the reviews are coming from women of all different ages, and with all different hair and skin types.
It could be that what works for women in their twenties doesn’t work for women in their fifties, and vice versa. That luxurious moisturizer may be a staple in one woman’s bathroom cabinet, but another woman will find it too pricy and deem that it doesn’t actually deliver on what it promises. And while some women swear by affordable shampoos and haircare products, others may find that the ingredients don’t agree with them.
Take a look at 12 hair and beauty products that are a waste of money, according to experts and fellow shoppers, below…
1. Nivea Essentially Enriched Body Lotion
The job of a body lotion is to moisturize well (of course), but also to blend in well enough that your skin isn't left feeling tacky.
Makeup expert Lisa Monique says her good friend recommended the Nivea lotion to her (so keep in mind that one person's recommendation is another person's "don't buy this") but she could not get the lotion to blend into her skin.
When your skin is at all damp (many apply lotion right after their shower,) the lotion simply won't blend, she says.
2. Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm
Monique admits this product is excellent for melting away makeup, and she has recommended it in the past, especially for dissolving layers of foundation. But she says she recently realized that using it over and over again for removing foundation while filming makeup tutorials left her skin feeling parched and irritated. She wasn't sure what the problem was until she began using IT Cosmetics Facial Cleanser — and experienced zero irritation.
That doesn't make this product a "no" though. If you wear makeup occasionally and don't foresee yourself scrubbing your face for hours with this pick, it may be perfectly fine for your needs.
3. Ofra Absolute Coverage Foundation
We all have preferences when it comes to foundation, but most of us also have one strict rule: our face makeup can't leave us drier than when we started. Unfortunately, Monique reports that the Ofra foundation does just that to her skin: it makes mature skin look more crepey and does dry skin zero favors.
Can it work for oily and younger skin? Yes, perhaps. But mature skin types won't benefit from it, according to Monique.
4. Beauty Blender Power Puff
Beauty Blender has a cult following thanks to many of its makeup applicators, but Monique admits she doesn't understand the appeal of the Power Puff. She says she doesn't understand the point of the product or what its gel interior is designed to do.
Instead, in several of her videos, you can spot Monique applying makeup using brushes and blending it all out with her fingers.
5. Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Yes, even luxury face creams aren't always worth their price tag. In this case, Monique says she is not impressed with celebrity favorite Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream, which she says lacked the moisture she needed, whether she used it as a day cream or a night cream.
She even found herself layering the $170 cream with a much cheaper E.L.F. cream to get the hydration her skin needs. In a nutshell: a cream this expensive should stand on its own two feet — and perhaps it does if your skin doesn't require as much moisture. But it may not be your best bet for mature skin.
6. Dove Damage Therapy Shampoo (and other shampoos with sulphates)
Sulfates are responsible for creating a soapy lather than you may associate with clean hair. But sulfates can also be drying on your hair and scalp, as they strip all sebum from your hair follicles. The point of washing your hair with shampoo is never to eliminate its moisture — sticking with sulfate-free formulas can help by cleansing grease, dirt, and excess oils from your hair, but maintaining hydration.
Sulfates are cleansing chemicals that are found in household cleaners, detergents, and even shampoos. Specifically, there are two main types of sulfates used in shampoo: sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. These sulfates are used to remove oil and dirt from your hair. But, people who experience thinning hair or a sensitive scalp can only exacerbate the issue with sulfate-based hair care products.
"Particularly in those with sensitive skin, some types of sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, can cause severe scalp irritation. In certain persons, sulfates may contribute to hair damage and hair thinning if they irritate the scalp enough," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anna Chacon explains.
7. L'Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Color Vibrancy Nourishing Shampoo (and other shampoos with parabens)
Parabens are antimicrobial and antifungal, which sounds like exactly what you want from a hair product; but the bad news is that there is some evidence linking them to hormonal imbalances and forms of cancer. Always check hair product labels to make sure yours do not contain parabens.
Parabens are chemical preservatives. They are used to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria in health and beauty products. Most parabens are cheap and effective. They extend the shelf life of many cosmetics, skincare products, and even hair care products. Unfortunately, excessive parabens in hair care products that are designed to be absorbed through your skin aren't necessarily good for thinning hair.
"Often used as preservatives in cosmetic goods are compounds called parabens. To stop the growth of dangerous bacteria and mold, they are used in cosmetics," Chacon notes. "Parabens, however, have the potential to interfere with the hormonal system's regular operation in both men and women, which could promote hair loss."
8. TRESemmé TRES TWO Extra Hold Hair Spray (and other hair care products with alcohols)
There are two main types of alcohol that are commonly used in hair and beauty products: short-chain alcohols and long-chain fatty alcohols. Short-chain alcohols are known for their fast-drying properties. Long-chain fatty alcohols are oily in nature and have moisturizing properties.
If used in excess, short-chain alcohols in hair care products are extremely drying to your strands and your skin. Chacon says, "Alcohol is an ingredient in some home and hair care products that, when used excessively, can harm hair." Noted!
9. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave-In Conditioning Cream (and other hair products with silicones)
Silicones in hair care products form a waterproof coating around your hair cuticle. This will keep your hair hydrated from within. It also prevents moisture from causing frizz. Silicones are also used to protect your hair from head damage caused by styling tools like blow dryers and straighteners.
This ingredient in hair care products can cause hair loss because of the way they coat the hair. If hair strands are coated in silicone, it cannot absorb nutrients from the scalp. The hair can then become damaged, thin, and break off.
"Hair loss may result from the accumulation of this silicone-based component. Water is repelled by silicone by its very nature," Chacon adds. "In order to give hair a smooth, silky appearance, dimethicone is also utilized to coat cuticles and trap moisture."
With so many products and ingredients out there on the market, keeping it as simple as possible is your best bet to ensure you know exactly what's going on your scalp!
10. Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
We were surprised to see Laneige Water Sleeping Mask make it to a Reddit list of worst moisturizers, and some other Reddit users were, too. But one user had this to say about the moisturizer, which is designed to be applied at night and worn like a mask while you sleep: "Not moisturizer but an overnight mask… it's Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, absolutely disgusting texture and sit on my face dried up."
The reviewer added: "I wake up with sludge in my nose corner and upper lip and the rest need moisturizing evaporated away. Dare I say Laneige is incredibly overrated. "
11. Aveeno Calm + Restore® Oat Gel Moisturizer
You'll want to love this moisturizer because it claims it can calm and soothe irritated skin, but not everyone is a fan.
One Reddit user took aim at an ingredient that is in this moisturizer by writing, "I cant use anything with dimethicone :( it constantly pills and never absorbs. Sooo many brands use dimethicone it's been hard to find stuff that isnt full of synthetic moisturizing ingredients. Thankfully I have found stuff I can use. The round lab mugwort cream and innisfree creams have this issue."
But another Reddit user followed this comment with one specifically linking Aveeno to this ingredient: "Yess this is how dimethicone is for me too. Other than pilling it also creates a film layer on top my skin. Feels like sensory hell. Aveeno Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer is like this."
12. StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream PLUS
It's a smart move to include your neck in your skincare routine — the delicate and thinner skin here tends to show signs of aging more rapidly than other areas of the body. But this particular product by StriVectin struck out with one Reddit user, who wrote: "Strivectin Neck Tightening Cream. I think the neck tightening products are very gimicky and unnecessary but since I got a free deluxe sample of this, I thought I'd give it a try."
They added: "Within 10 mins of application my neck was so irritated and itchy, I washed it off ASAP. Threw the entire deluxe sample out and never looked back."
If you are searching for new products to incorporate into your anti-aging skincare routine, look for moisturizers that contain vitamin C and retinol and avoid anything with irritating and drying alcohols, essential oils (your skin may sensitive to them), and sulfates.
