Cosmetic Formulator and skin therapist Mukti shares a preview of her latest tome: Truth in Beauty.

Luxury Beauty Products: Are They Worth the Price Tag?

In the world of beauty products, what truly classifies a product as ‘luxury’? While sleek packaging and brand reputation play a part, the answer to this question is complex. Many variables including your skin type, the ingredients, the way the product is manufactured and packaged, the formula and the methodology, all determine whether a beauty product sits in a particular category.

The formula, ingredients, and methodology (IP) are important to consider when deciding if a skincare product is worth the money. The best way to explain this concept is to compare formulating a skincare product to making a cake. When you compare two different recipes, they may have the exact same ingredients but different taste completely different.

Why is this? Formulating skincare is an exact science just as baking. It’s chemistry. Every step and how a product is made changes the final result. Where the skill comes into play is with years of hands-on experience, trial, and error. Following protocol doesn’t always constitute the desired results as there are many variables to contend with. Natural, organic, and botanical based products efficacy depends on growing conditions, climate, and soil.

Other factors that affect whether a beauty product can really be deemed luxury are:

Ingredient Quality and Sourcing

Luxury beauty products typically boast high-quality ingredients, some botanical extracts used in these products are frequently harvested from pristine environments and undergo minimal processing to maintain their efficacy. Other new technologies such as biotech ingredients also add to the bottom line and can significantly increase production costs.

Chemistry

The question of chemistry comes into play when considering luxury beauty items. It is important to question the following:

• How experienced was the cosmetic scientist who formulated the product?
• Do the ingredients work synergistically?
• Are the actives used at the percentages they were tested at pre-market?
• Is there supporting evidence and data to substantiate claims?

Active Ingredients and Concentrations

Luxury products may contain higher concentrations of active ingredients compared to their mass-market counterparts. These actives, such as peptides, antioxidants, vitamins and biotech ingredients such as plant stem cells, are responsible for delivering efficacious results.

Independent Certification

Certification by recognised bodies like USDA, COSMOS, or the Soil Association guarantee that the product contains a significant percentage of organic ingredients and adheres to strict production standards. This certification process is costly and time-consuming, which reflects in the product’s price.

Research and Development

Significant investment in R&D is another hallmark of luxury beauty brands. These companies often conduct clinical trials to substantiate their claims, ensuring their products are both safe and effective. While such trials are expensive, they provide consumers with a level of assurance that mass-market products might lack.

But beware of trade secrets. A trade secret or proprietary formulation is a legal nondisclosure term that allows the manufacturer to protect any formula that may give a product competitive advantage. Fragrances and lipsticks are prime examples.

Packaging and Branding

Luxury brands often invest in high-quality, sustainable packaging materials, adding to the overall cost. Additionally, the branding and marketing efforts that create the perception of luxury and exclusivity also contribute to the higher price.

Price

Price can be a good indicator of value, but this isn’t always the best way to measure. Certified organic products are generally more expensive to produce due to economies of scale. The rigorous red tape and associated costs certainly adds to the bottom line. If you look at the ingredient list of an organic product, the concentration of actives is usually much higher, and the water component must come from a plant source.

Cosmetic Labelling Standards

In Australia, the product safety and compliance of cosmetic labelling standards are regulated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). All cosmetic products imported or manufactured in Australia (and intended to be used in the country) must be labelled in accordance with the Consumer Goods (Cosmetics) Information Standard 2020.

Mukti is a Cosmetic Formulator, Skin Therapist, Author and founder of Mukti Organics. Mukti launched her award- winning skincare brand in 2000, after identifying a gap in the market for organic products that are both results-driven and backed by science. In Indian philosophy, the name Mukti (/MOOKH tee/) is derived from ancient Sanskrit. The concept can be found in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism and refers to spiritual liberation from fears, ignorance, and false knowledge.

An extension of her fierce independent spirit, Mukti initiated herself with this name in her early 20’s after the birth of her first born whilst opting out of city life to study, immerse herself in nature and raise her first child. Twenty-four years later, the eponymous brand has continued to have many rebirths. The foundation of the products and its philosophy “Inspired by Nature” ™, are firmly established in the organic marketplace.

Truth in Beauty by Mukti RRP $89 available at www.muktiorganics.com

This story originally appeared in the Winter 2024 print issue of Professional Beauty.

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