10 Everyday Beauty Items To Stop Buying Now
Here’s why they’re a waste of money — and what to pick up instead.
#1: Tooth Whiteners
According to Boston University, while Americans spend roughly $1.4 billion on over the counter teeth whitening each year, dental professor Gennaro Cataldo says that the majority of these products are ineffective. Further, these products are sold unregulated by the FDA. At the same time, many of these products damage tooth enamel and can cause greater tooth sensitivity with extended use. And as someone who used to faithfully go through a full box of Crest White Strips every year, I can confirm that my teeth are now far more sensitive than they were before I picked up that habit.
Rather than switching to a much pricier light and gel combo to brighten up my smile, which Cataldo says is largely ineffective anyway, I decided to forgo the OTC whitening altogether in favor of a stricter dental care routine immediately following my morning coffee. The two products that I absolutely swear by for keeping my teeth white as a coffee addict are the Colgate Optic White Renewal Toothpaste and the Crest 3D White Brilliance Mouthwash. Not only am I now saving $50+ each year not buying white strips, but I’ve also been able to prevent any stains before they have an opportunity to warrant an aggressive bleaching agent in the first place.
