IT'S easy to see why so many women fall victim. When sleek advertising is coupled with beautiful celebrities looking perfect as they give their seal of approval to a 'miracle' product, women can easily find themselves sucked in - and paying a hefty price for the privilege.
When it comes to women in search of eternal youth, I didn't think anything could surprise me.
Turns out, I was wrong.
Maybe it's because I don't tend to spend a fortune on high-tech, scientific beauty fads and don't feel the need to purchase every cream, potion and vitamin, which each claim to be able to turn the clock back or slow the ageing process down.
My beauty regime consists of taking my make-up off every night (no exceptions) with a cucumber-based face wipe, a pack of which costs me 99p from Gordons Chemists.
I swear by them because they leave my skin clean, fresh, cleansed and toned.
I don't use any fancy-dancy moisturisers and I don't think I've ever used a face mask in my life.
My granny, Mary Winchester, had absolutely gorgeous skin right up into her nineties and I'm pretty sure she never used any fancy creams or potions, so why should I?
In fact, if anything, over the years I've heard of many so-called old wives' tales about everyday items, which apparently aid the skin - from cucumber to help freshen eyes to oily fish to maintain a youthful glow.
However, while I've heard of them, I've never actually put any of them to the test and I had thought these homemade natural beauty remedies or 'urban legends' had long since disappeared.
But it seems I was wrong because a new poll has found that many women have no problem experimenting with the bizarre and unusual in a bid to look their best.
The research from skin experts Simple has found that us ladies are pushing the boundaries at home when it comes to beauty.
From eating broccoli to maintain a youthful glow to using baking soda to whiten teeth - these are just some of the top homemade tips that some women swear by.
But surely it can't get much stranger than this?
Think again.
While I've never been one for coffee, I may have to start picking some up because apparently rubbing coffee granules on your thighs can help combat cellulite. (I assure you all, I am not making this up).
Furthermore, rinsing hair with raw eggs or beer can allegedly make it shine. What?
Some of the other top tips include (be prepared to have a giggle):
Sleep in socks filled with moisturiser for soft feet. Shave legs with hair conditioner. Rub fresh strawberries on your face to get rid of freckles. Use vinegar to give your hair a final rinse. Apply cold teaspoons to your eyes to reduce puffiness. Sleep on your back to avoid wrinkles. Pour milk into the bath or on skin. Use whitening toothpaste to get rid of fake tan on palms. Massage an ice-cube over your face to reduce wrinkles and acne. Use the cold setting on a hairdryer to set mascara. And, a spritz of lemonade on damp hair will give it hold and texture.
Now, I'm just not sure about some of these.
I can't say I'm keen to blast my face with a hairdryer after doing my make-up or rinse my hair in beer - but who's to say they don't work?
If you have your own homemade beauty secret, I would really like to hear it. This could be a whole other gorgeous world I have been missing out on.
Of course, the survey also found, unsurprisingly, that women are prepared to shell out £79 on average for the latest all-singing, all-dancing wonder product.
Hardly surprising.
As far as I'm concerned, you can keep your botox, your laser treatments and your chemical peels.
Looks like my search for eternal beauty is going to take me somewhere else entirely - all the way to the kitchen cupboard.
Handy.