When it comes to big purchases it is important to always consider the cost per use. When you buy something to wear, this cost per use depends on how often you wear the item. Wedding dresses often have the worst cost-per-use or cost-per-wear because they are only worn once, realistically, whereas a t-shirt you wear every day, all day is going to have a very low cost-per-wear.
Every personal investment you make for your health, beauty, or hobbies should be seen in the same light. If you use it often, then the cost-per-use is going to make the upfront investment well worthwhile. If you only use the item once or twice before you are done, then skipping the upfront purchase of an at-home system, and instead investing in professional service, could do you good.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to these types of personal investments, so use this guide to determine if that skincare tool you saw recently is a good fit for you, your lifestyle, and your budget:
Do You Actually Have a Problem?
Marketing can help you find the perfect treatment or product that you were looking for. It can also make you think there is a problem where before you didn’t. Always approach big investment buys based on what you personally are having problems with. If you never thought you had an issue with inflammation, then you don’t need a cryro-freeze tool to help reduce puffiness in your face. If you have noticed that you have skin sagging and fine lines and wrinkles, however, then a microcurrent tool like NuFACE can do just the trick.
Big investment tools are a big commitment, but when you work out how often you will use them their value becomes quickly apparent.
Is The Solution Better at Home, or in a Clinic?
There are professional versions of pretty much every at-home treatment tool available. Sometimes it’s better to get the home kit because you can more easily afford ongoing treatments, and it is the consistency that matters. In other instances, it is the intensity of the treatment that matters. Due to legal reasons, you will not be able to buy a home kit that has the same power as the clinics have. Micro-needling at a clinic is very, very different to an at-home derma-roller, because there is the risk of infection if you did it yourself at home.
Always consider the benefits of getting once-in-awhile clinic treatments vs at-home treatments and work out their cost-effectiveness.
Rely on Reviews from Multiple Places
When narrowing down your purchase always check the reviews and ratings from multiple sources. Look at magazines, at Google reviews, at on-site reviews, and third-party reviews. This way you can get the biggest overview on the product and the type of results to expect. Having the right expectations is important when choosing a tool, so do your research before you make the purchase for the best results.