BUYING SMART
One of the commonest issues that I see is people using too many products on their skin, which can lead to irritation and issues such as periorificial dermatitis.
fibres in our skin’ s dermis, as well as stimulating the production of new collagen,” Dr Armour adds. Antioxidants like vitamin C, niacinamide, resveratrol, green tea, ferulic acid and astaxanthin are effective for protecting collagen, while retinoids, AHAs, PHAs, or bakuchiol for sensitive skin, promote collagen production.
Another common concern is melasma, or pigmentation. Dr Armour recommends serums or creams containing hydroquinone, niacinamide, vitamin C, astaxanthin, green tea, liquorice root extract, kojic or lactic acid, arbutin, azelaic acid and bakuchiol or retinoids. Avoiding harsh ingredients should also be a top priority.“ Any irritation or inflammation of the skin can worsen melasma,” she highlights.
The popularity of skincare means a lot of these products are widespread.“ Our team searches for the latest beauty trends,” says Rafaella Grech, Costco Australia’ s assistant buyer for beauty.“ We see strong sales in our bulk cleansers and moisturisers, and we find our members prefer brands that offer gentle products like Dermaveen, Cetaphil and Aveeno.”
What to keep in mind
Sunscreen is the number one must-use product.“ It’ s crucial to find a sunscreen that you enjoy using as you should use it daily on sun-exposed sites to prevent skin cancers and ageing. Aim to use a broad-spectrum SPF 50 + product,” Dr Armour recommends.
It’ s also important to apply enough SPF to ensure it’ s as effective as possible – at least one teaspoon per body part, at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.“ This allows the product to be evenly dispersed and absorbed into the superficial layers of the skin,” she explains.
Although the allure of pricey products is strong, it is possible to create a routine on a budget.“ Look for multitasking ingredients which have numerous skin health and beauty benefits,” Dr Armour suggests. These include niacinamide, vitamin C and retinoids / AHAs.
You can also look to buy basics in bulk.“ We aim to increase our unit size by either bundling more than one pack or increasing the average unit size available in the wider
14 | MAR / APR 2023 COSTCO CONNECTION