Health & Beauty / Guide
How to Compare the Price per Ounce of Skin-Care Products
Calculate skin-care unit prices, compare the same formula and account for whether you can finish a larger container.
Compare two sizes of the same product using the amount of product in each package. Divide the price by the number of fluid ounces or milliliters, using the same unit for both. If a four-ounce bottle is $12, it costs $3 per ounce. An eight-ounce bottle at $20 costs $2.50 per ounce.
Check that the comparison is like for like
Match the formula, concentration and version before comparing package sizes. Include shipping and subscription terms if they change what you pay. Look at the net contents rather than the height of the bottle or the size of its box.
Account for how much you’ll finish
A lower unit price helps only if you use enough of the larger size. Think about your normal rate of use and read the label’s storage and use instructions. A smaller bottle can make sense for a formula you are trying for the first time or an item you use infrequently.
Use a short comparison at checkout
Write down the price, size and expected time to finish. Check the amount you would spend over the next few months. If the larger bottle replaces two smaller ones you already buy, the savings are easier to judge.
