topic Re: Why is there so much difference in price among the Vitamin C serums? in Beauty

Why is there so much difference in price among the Vitamin C serums?

Pianomama — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 03:19:25 GMT

I have used NuFountain Vit. C ($22) until I switched to Timeless the last time I ordered. It was a few dollars higher. Honestly, couldn't tell a bit of difference in the two. I noticed Timeless had gone up in price on Amazon. So.....I returned to the NuFountain. I know some of the serums have different ingredients but why the cost difference? Does anyone know?

Re: Why is there so much difference in price among the Vitamin C serums?

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 17:26:32 GMT

I honestly don't know the answer as it applies to Timeless and NuFountain. In general, I can see higher costs in products due to the level and quality of the ingredients. All things being equal though, it's often a case of certain vendors' pricing being more about name recognition/perception and them being able to charge what the market will bear. That's why Lancome can charge a high price for something while their own company L'Oreal might have an exact dupe but charge less because they're perceived as more a drugstore brand.

Re: Why is there so much difference in price among the Vitamin C serums?

magemay — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:11:37 GMT

Profit.

The ingredients are relatively inexpensive, even more so for manufacturers who purchase in bulk.

For products like SkinCeuticals C E ferulic acid serum, your paying the the name, and Dr. Pinnell's patent. The ingredients aren't that expensive. He patented his serum at a pH of 3 or 3.5, can't remember which one, but his patent protects the specific pH of the formula, so it can't be copied, legally. From what I understand, that's one reason that other companies, who sell similar C (ascorbic acid, not the C esters) serums, which contain the ingredients that his does, formulate at a pH lower than 3-3.5. It's to protect their hides.

You can purchase dupe kits to make yourself for personal use that contain the ingredients that his does, or you can purchase the raw materials singularly.

I think there's a common misunderstanding that because a product comes with a certain price tag it relates to "better." Sure there are some exceptions, but I don't think Vit C serums are one of them.

It's ridiculously easy to make your own and way less expensive than buying them.

Re: Why is there so much difference in price among the Vitamin C serums?

ChynnaBlue — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 18:42:25 GMT

Because there can be. That is ALWAYS the answer. People are willing to pay at point price points is ALWAYS the answer to this question.

Re: Why is there so much difference in price among the Vitamin C serums?

HappyDaze — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:15:14 GMT

On 1/15/2015 ChynnaBlue said:
Because there can be. That is ALWAYS the answer. People are willing to pay at point price points is ALWAYS the answer to this question.

Re: Why is there so much difference in price among the Vitamin C serums?

suzyQ3 — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:33:59 GMT

It is what it is -- horribly trite but true. I just try to get a good ingredient deck that suits my wants and needs at the best price that I can. I personally don't see anything special or unique that warrants the super high prices of some Vitamin C serums.