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Who can resist shopping online for a face cream, perfume or lipstick? To be honest, some of us are not total converts. Lots of us still enjoy and trust the in-store experience to some degree. Women age 50-plus fall into three types of e-commerce beauty shoppers: “the researchers,” who constantly browse online but make their final purchase in a store; “the testers,” who browse stores first and then buy online; and “the risk-takers,” who fearlessly do all browsing and purchasing online. Whichever category suits you best, my eight tips can boost your online beauty skills and confidence.
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1. Shop reliable sites for peace of mind
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Unfortunately, beauty fakes that look like the real thing have infiltrated some major mass retail sites where individual sellers have access to the platform. Scams are also rampant on so-called beauty bargain pop-up sites. That familiar-looking eye cream, mask or makeup palette might have come from a filthy warehouse abroad, where a lack of regulations means that these counterfeit goods may contain potentially toxic ingredients. Stick to an individual brand’s own website — like esteelauder.com or lorealparisusa.com — or buy online from a reputable retailer such as Sephora, Ulta or Nordstrom. Don’t be a dupe dope!
![Woman shopping online Woman shopping online](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/entertainment/style-trends/info-2018/online-makeup-shopping-tips/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_body_main/container_body1/container_body_cf/body_one_cf_one/par3/articlecontentfragme/cfimage.coreimg.50.932.jpeg/content/dam/aarp/entertainment/fashion_beauty/2018/04/1140-read-reviews-carefully-specific-feedback.jpg)
2. Read product reviews carefully for specific feedback
Instead of just looking for a four- or five-star rating, find reviews applicable to you and your concerns at 50-plus. For example: One customer reviewed a neck cream on sephora.com and said: “I’m a side sleeper and used to have those wrinkles on my upper chest area, but they are far less visible.” So relatable! A review of a mass brand foundation on ulta.com said: “I have a lot of sun damage and age — spots. Covers beautifully.” Your goal is to find product reviews with detailed satisfactory solutions. Some sites categorize reviews by age — but don’t resent that. Instead, use it to find helpful feedback. Even negative reviews are of value for revealing color, texture or performance disappointments. Scout online reviews of the same product at several sites — even if your final buy is elsewhere or in a brick-and-mortar store.
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