Women's Health
Menopause marketing: Hype vs. truth
Some skin care products claim to meet women's specific midlife needs. But is it just smoke and mirrors?
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Nestled just inches apart in the cosmetics section of a big-box retailer are two little pots of night cream, both made by the same manufacturer. One label is magenta, the other teal. "Wake up to skin that looks refreshed and less tired," promises the magenta version, labeled "menopause skin care." Meanwhile, the teal-clad "advanced overnight cream" — presumably meant for everyone else — pledges that "fine lines and wrinkles [will] appear visibly reduced."
A closer look reveals both night creams contain nearly identical active ingredients. But the menopause edition costs $5 more for the same amount — 25% more than the standard anti-aging version. So what's the real difference? Aside from labeling and price, not much — meaning skin care brands may be quietly fleecing women at a vulnerable point, when worries over changing looks and vitality merge with hot flashes and hide-and-seek periods.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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