How I Decide Whether Advice Is Worth Trying
For years, I believed a high price meant a good product. A $90 cream had to be better than a $12 one. A pricey course had to teach more than a free article. It took me too long to notice that the price only tells you what the seller decided to charge.
So I stopped judging by price and started asking questions before I try anything or buy anything.
Who tested this, and on whom? A study of 25-year-olds doesn't tell me much about me at 52. I look for the age of the people in it.
How long did it run? A result after three days is a different thing from a result after three months.
Who is selling it, and what happens if I say no? If the advice comes with a countdown timer, I wait.
What would it cost me to be wrong? A free habit that turns out useless costs me an evening. A big purchase that turns out useless costs me real money and some pride.
I don't always get clean answers. Often the answer is "nobody knows yet," and I've learned to live with that. It's easier to say "not yet" than to spend the money and wonder later.
I don't tell anyone what to do. I can say what I tried and what I noticed. The mornings and the budget are yours.
I wrote the questions I ask about skincare into my Skin After 40 Guide, along with what the research does and doesn't show. Next time something promises a lot, I ask who tested it and for how long, then see how the answer sounds.