I am quite interested to know what you think about this concept of there being “The Best” beauty product. The reason I ask is because I often see search queries coming into my blog with some queries like these:-
- What is the best skincare in Malaysia?
- What is the best moisturiser?
- Which is the best foundation?
- The best foundation brand?
The thing is this – they would never find “the best” of anything on my blog because I don’t believe there is “The Best” anything, much less skincare or beauty products! What say you then? 🙂
I have had people ask me in person too about the best skincare or makeup I’ve used and when I think back, I can never find one. To me, “The Best” signifies that it is the best product for everyone regardless of skin type and truth be told, that is as elusive as the Holy Grail or a discontinued MAC eyeshadow.
We can only know what’s best for our own skin and if that includes products that make others recoil in horror, then so be it. Use it. No one product out there suits everyone and this is something we should all bear in mind when doing our personal research.
“The Best” only exists for us and should not be a benchmark for judging if a product is good, or if it will work for you. Ultimately the test lies in actually testing it out yourself.
That said, barring my first attempt back in the beginning of the blog when I tried to find the best products of the year, I personally prefer to rate products as “favourites”. This way, I can have a lot of favourites without having to choose just one, and I never have to feel bad about never finding the “Holy Grail” product 😀
So what say you? Do you believe there is “The Best” product or brand out there? If you do have one please share ‘cos we’d love to know what it is!
Paris B
Lisa says
August 21, 2012 at 8:38 amI like the idea of “favorites” instead of the best. I can’t pinpoint any best product either. I used to have products that worked really well at one point but later failed to work. Or caused my skin to breakout later after years of using. And products that didn’t work in the past but work so well for me now.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:21 pmI’m the same. Some products that never worked for me before now seem to work well and vice versa. I sometimes wonder if its our skin changing, or if the formulation is also changed without us knowing.
Isabel says
August 21, 2012 at 9:29 amThere is no “the best”, only “the best for …..”. It’s getting to sound so cliched but what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. It’s a bit amazing that some people still don’t get that.
Then of course there is that group of people who think that expensive=best …. best not to elaborate on that one save to say that I’ve been using the same drugstore brand cleanser for donkey’s years now and I don’t change it because it works for me. I’ve encountered people who wrinkle up their noses when they find that out!
And as Lisa above says, even our personal “best” might be kicked off the top spot on the podium at some time in our lives. Our body changes so much that there is no way to give the guarantee that it stays on top always!
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:20 pmOh yes, expensive = best is a very common perception 🙂 For my part, I do find that some pricey stuff are better in terms of quality but there are also pricey stuff that do not work for me, personally, or for some people. Best we just find our own balance for our wallet and skin 🙂
Tine says
August 21, 2012 at 9:51 amNah, as Isabel in the comments mentioned, there’s no “the best”, only “the best for …”. What’s best for me, may not even work for you. In fact, what’s best for me now, may not be so months down the road. New products, new technologies, new formulas come so quickly; there’s a myriad of products to try. Any one of them can be “best” for me today, but maybe not next year.
Having said that, I am guilty of searching “the best [search item]” on Google for quick results 😛
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:22 pmLOL! Thanks for being honest, Tine 😉 I think sometimes finding what people think are “the best” makes it a good jump off point to start looking but we ultimately have to work out for ourselves if it truly is “the best for us”
Hanny Daforcena says
August 21, 2012 at 9:57 amI think the term “the best” is relative, and not only for beauty products. Said term is fickle, and as Heidi Klum said: “One minute you’re in, the next… you’re out!”
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:22 pmHow very true! Sometimes, even “best friends” come and go 😛
sharon says
August 21, 2012 at 10:22 amThere is no such thing as ‘the best’ but only ‘the best for…’ or ‘the most recommeneded for ….’ or ‘favourites for..’ To look for the best is as good as looking for the PERFECT item/person which does not exist. Just like how one person is perfect for his/her partner will not be perfect for another. I remember vividly a while ago when I was browsing the shelves of Guardian pharmacy and this promoter was trying her level best to get me to look at the Bio-essence face lifting cream. She was totally hard selling and said its THE product to have. What I retorted in reply was ‘ oh you are saying the other brands are redundant?’ and she was dumbfounded lol 😛
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:24 pmHAHA what a great answer, Sharon 🙂 If a product truly was “the best” there would be no need for others in the same range eh? 😉
peach_ says
August 21, 2012 at 10:45 amIt’s just a term that gets thrown around to create hype and frenzy over a product. I like seeing rankings since it’s one indicator of trends and what people are purchasing, but being #1 on that list is not necessarily an indication of something that would be suitable for all, like you said. Fun to know what others are interested in, but better to decide for ourselves what we like. 😀
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:25 pmI like seeing rankings too! Sometimes I go “What?! Who on earth voted for that crap?” and other times I”m all like “Ooh that’s been #1 for years. I must give it a try!” 😀
Catherine says
August 21, 2012 at 11:43 amAgreed! I love coming to your blog, you always have something actually interesting to say 🙂
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:26 pmThank you Catherine! 😀 Thanks too for sharing your thoughts in the comments – it helps us all think 😉
Jenn says
August 21, 2012 at 12:08 pmI agree with what is being said by the commentors above! There’s not one product out there that is universally “THE BEST”, only “the best FOR ME”. I also agree that “the best FOR ME” products may change as time progresses! Technologies advance all the time leading to improved formulae, so sometimes our so-called Holy Grail products gets replaced by newer, better products. And some other times they get replaced simply because some companies decide to go down the cost-saving route and scrimp on ingredients so much that the product doesn’t quite work for me anymore (either that, or get unjustifiably more expensive so I’m off looking for a more affordable solution)! 😛
Perhaps only virtues such as honesty, kind-heartedness and self-control can be deemed as THE BEST thing for everyone to have 😉
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:28 pmEeps! I know what you mean, Jenn! We just never know what the companies are cutting back on and sometimes that can really change things. It might explain why sometimes a staple just doesn’t work after a while. However, as technology improves, perhaps too it enables us to use something later that never worked before! I also have to agree with you about the best human virtues we should have – its getting scarce 😛
Jyoan says
August 21, 2012 at 2:41 pmDefinitely no one best thing. I always believe there is a best for me though. I am glad to have learned this early because my hubby has oily skin, and I have dry sensitive, so it often turns out that my skincare never suits him, and his skincare never suits me. haha.
But I do think that there will be certain products that majority of people will hail as a favourite. And then because of majority votes, that product looks like it is the best. One big example will be the Shu Uemura eyelash curler and the Shisedo one.
So as consumers, it is important to be careful of this “best” status, just in case, this best, is not the best for oneself.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:30 pmOh yes! I have noticed sometimes that “The best” products tend to have the most criticisms leveled at it too, because it just doesn’t work for everyone. People go into it expecting a miracle and don’t get it 😛 I remember the huge Shu Uemura vs Shiseido lash curler debate. I am a Shu girl myself coz Shiseido pinches my lids but I hear its a vice versa situation for many 😀
Michelle Beh says
August 21, 2012 at 3:54 pmIn my opinion, I don’t believe in the “Best” beauty products. It all depends on your skin condition and how’s your skin reacts to it. Some of the products might be the faves , but it might not suit my skin. For me, as long as the beauty products which I used are suitable for my skin regardless of the brands, then that particular products will become my favourite products 😉
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:31 pmWise, Michelle 🙂 I operate on the same principle which is why I don’t obsess too much about things like silicone and parabens and the like. My skin seems to tolerate them and I try not to fix what isn’t broke 😉
Jennifer says
August 21, 2012 at 5:08 pmOne woman’s best make up or skincare can be another woman’s breakout product. There’s no single product that fits everyone since we’re unique. Of course certain brands may be the nominated choice for a variety of products. It is nice to read of another person’s HG, then try and see if it works for our skin.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:32 pmAgreed, Jennifer! Its nice to know what works for someone else especially if that person is having a similar problem to yours. But ultimately we all have different skin types and that means it may not work for us. The best thing to do is to know our skin and our limits and then go from there 😉
Saphy says
August 21, 2012 at 5:44 pmSince everyone’s skin is different and everyone’s tastes are different (eg. some prefer sheer eyeshadows, others prefer not so sheer ones) – there’s no so called “best product” out that that caters to everyone’s needs IMO :3
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:33 pmAnd you’re perfectly right, Saphy! 😉 I think its interesting how we are all in agreement on this point that there is really no “the best” and maybe some other people should start realising this too! 😉
Cindy Tong says
August 21, 2012 at 6:13 pmto me nothing can be consider best no only skincare but other product like food and fashion item… it mayb the best for one person but it mayb the worst to other…so it is very subjective…best may not only refer to quality alone..it also refer to the price, present-ability(packaging), flavors or scent and many other factors..
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:35 pmOh dear, food! So often I’ve had people tell me to go to X shop for “the best” food item and I am disappointed. Some do live up to their hype though but sometimes although the food is good, the overall experience may put me off. Being told something is “the best” really raises expectations unrealistically, sometimes 😉
Cindy Tong says
August 26, 2012 at 10:53 pmthe word “BEST” does really give some expectation. I have jus experienced a bad recomendation from various friend and blogs on this particular restaurant BUT it disappoint me…By all means…BEST only to that particular individual..it maybe totally opposite to another person..
and that is why not all couples are equality gorgeous and handsome?
rudi says
August 21, 2012 at 7:01 pmI agree with your entire post and all the clever ladies before me. Great minds think alike hehehe
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:36 pmHaha great minds indeed! 😉
Sue - MakeupMew says
August 21, 2012 at 7:29 pm“Best” is probably the most overused marketing term. Maybe somewhere in the back of our minds, a switch is turned on when “best’ is mentioned. Though I think these days “best” is more about social-proofing rather than a standard a measure. I like reading “best of all time” lists though that should be updated frequently to reflect the times.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:38 pmHaha and I think “limited edition” is the other switch that triggers purchases 😉
Janie says
August 21, 2012 at 7:31 pmThere is no such thing as the the best. Claiming your own product the best is like syiok sendiri and blowing your own trumpet. In the pic you post I know it is urban decay naked eyeshadow palatte and that is the most overhype product in the market.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:39 pmLOL did the UD Naked palette not do it for you Janie? 😉 Kudos for picking it up though hehe… I do think it quite hyped but I have to hand it to UD for their marketing. Its not by far the best neutral palette out there but it isn’t too bad – just not the best 😉
Nikki says
August 21, 2012 at 9:04 pmOh my, I just finished writing a post with a short paragraph about not finding “THE BEST”. I always get email queries on what’s the best concealer, best foundation, best nail polish and a whole lot of other bests, but my answer has always been consistent, there’s no BEST out there! Really..NONE! Different individuals have their own best products and I respect that 🙂
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:41 pmHaha I read minds, Nikki! 😉 I do think people should realise that there is no “the best” because there are so many variables! Just skin type alone can turn someone’s “best” to your “worst” but people just have to learn the hard way I guess 😉
Carla says
August 21, 2012 at 9:28 pmI only believe in “the best” for me…also, it depends on the point of reference. For example, if I try 10 different red lipsticks from 10 brands, I would conclude that Brand X is “the best” red lipstick for my VERY PERSONAL opinion.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:51 pmThat makes a lot of sense Carla – its also limited to our scope of experience 🙂
Jacqueline says
August 21, 2012 at 10:01 pmParis, the way products are evolving so quickly, I think it is the best products for now instead of for all time. For me, it’s really hard, I might be loving one product now but in a month from now it could be something else. Take foundation, so many new foundations coming out. I must say though I love my Chanel, Giorgio Armani and Burberry foundations.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:52 pmAh Jacqueline I think you have made a good point! Everything moves so fast these days – launches, technologies – that we sometimes only savour things in the now instead of really projecting it for the future. I should give GA and Burberry foundations a go. So much love for them!
Jasmine says
August 22, 2012 at 3:32 amWell, I see it this way – there are products that meet expectations (live up to their promises or deliver, narrowly, the results promised) and then there are the products that exceed or fail to meet them. The ones that meet expectations are decent, if not good; the ones that exceed them are good, if not excellent; the ones that fail to meet them are duds, if not typical.
All of us have different expectations, but assuming if we base all our expectations on the promises, what remains variable is the manner in which the product responds on us. Assuming one has information when making a purchase (i.e. person with oily complexion does not buy a product for dry skin, or woman interested in shimmery eyeshadow does not buy a matte eyeshadow), it is possible for general consensus to emerge as to which products live up to expectations.
Now, a general consensus usually results in said products to become either timeless, repurchased, or popular. It does not mean the product becomes non pareil and above any criticism or competition. The title of ‘best’ suggests an absolute pinnacle of product quality which cannot be matched. It wants to quantify and then identify the maximum point in which a product’s attributes lie. This is constantly changing so it is not a useful index to search for. Rather than ask what the ‘best product’ is, we should ask for qualities such as low cost-to-efficacy ratio, high consistency in efficacy, low uses-to-efficacy ratio etc.
Paris B says
August 26, 2012 at 10:56 pmI think you’ve made a good point about expectations. Ultimately, what is “best” or not would depend on what we expect to get out of it. Just as with everything, nothing is one size fits all so we shouldn’t really be expecting one product to fit all either 🙂