Make a long comments about the two eassies I attached. One comment for each.

            As we move into the cold, autumn and winter months, skin care becomes a major priority. Fighting off dry skin, acne (when those midterms and finals come along) is tough! That’s why there are many different, various types of face wash to choose from. Some for sensitive skin, some for all skin types, some made specifically for certain acne issues. A simple face wash can be bought, depending on the brand, for at least $2.50, lasting about a week. A more expensive brand, however, can be purchased for $6.00 or more, depending on the size, amount, or the functions of the product. However, for a college student, money is tight. It’s more preferable to buy a cheaper brand of face wash than the opposite. The type of face wash to buy, whether preferred or not, is where our analysis is required.

            A quick trip to our local Wal-Mart displays the variety of facial cleansing products available. Each of these vary in price depending on the packaging, size and the product itself. The first product that caught my eye was St. Ives facial cleanser. It was not displayed predominately at eye level; it was located at the bottom. It had its title, “St. Ives” in large letters, with its function in a similar size. I noticed it displayed a small line of its major facial cleansers, ranging from ordinary face wash to a facial scrub. The various colors and the bright images of fruits contrasting on the white bottle catch your eye and lure you in. In addition, its 2013 award winner label can only increase its chance of sales.

            The label, pictures and key words, such as “refreshing” or “deep cleanse” provide a feeling of relaxation, which is what the product itself conveys. The white bottle conveys a similar feeling of coolness, crispness and calmness. According to bourncreative.com, the color white is: “an inherently positive color . . . associated with . . . cleanliness . . . softness and protection.” The bright colors on both the images and the function of the product provide a sense of urgency, something that shouts, “You have to buy this product!” These colors are appropriate for this brand, since the owners want to do well in selling their merchandise.

Located on the third and fourth shelves was Cetaphil. Unlike the display for St. Ives, Cetaphil had a slightly larger variety of products to choose from. Its small selection of facial cleanser ranged in prices from $3.94 to $15.94. Cetaphil has a large title, so it is easy to be seen despite its placement. In addition, in comparison to St. Ives, Cetaphil has received over 25 awards.

For those looking past the visuals St. Ives provides, they will notice the “Glittering Generalities Fallacies”, which appeal to those who appreciate quality without having to search for evidence. Similarly, this fallacy occurs with Cetaphil. It gives the label of the product right under the title, in a few words or less stating exactly the function of the product.

Now, with Cetaphil being a somewhat generic brand, and St. Ives being well known, which brand would most consumers prefer? The answer would most likely rest with price, convenience and variety of choice. This leads to the most logical selection of St. Ives. It provides a selection of facial cleansers to choose from, compared to Cetaphil, whose cleansers range to a limited amount of skin types. In addition, the prices on St. Ives’ products are a bit lower than those for Cetaphil’s. Though the placement of St. Ives’ merchandise is on a level that is usually overlooked, its advertisement of each product is both colorful and appealing. Cetaphil is placed on the third and fourth shelves and its advertisement is subdued, with similar, muted colors.              

For college students who don’t really care about the large variety of face wash products, and want quality, then St. Ives is the best choice. It has a small selection of acne cleansing products to choose from, most of them at reasonable prices ($1.97-$5.44) depending on the product. Fans of the brand and its products give it 5 stars; they state that it works with removing even the most stubborn forms of acne.

For those who want a more generic brand, then Cetaphil is the best choice. Fans give it 4 out 5 stars, stating that its “amazing” and that “it works.” Though it has a limited selection to choose from, it is still effective in getting the job done; plus dermatologists highly recommend it.

In the next blog, I will be discussing the store brand items and the ingredients listed in each product.  Keep your skin clean, hydrated, and try to keep it, for the most part, acne-free!