Consumer News: Walmart expands 30-minute delivery to more U.S. cities

The hidden markup many women miss at the store

• The Pink Tax is still real: Many products marketed to women cost more than similar men's versions especially razors, deodorant, and personal care items.

• Compare before you buy: Check the price per ounce, ingredient lists, and package sizes to avoid paying extra for marketing and packaging.

• Some women's products are worth the premium: Specialized skincare, hair care, and health products may contain different ingredients that justify the higher price.

Most shoppers assume that if two products do the same thing, they should cost roughly the same amount. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

For decades, consumer advocates have pointed to something commonly called the "Pink Tax," which is the tendency for products marketed toward women to cost more than nearly identical products marketed toward men.

It shows up in everyday purchases ranging from razors, deodorant, shampoo, clothing, and various personal care products.

Here's where the Pink Tax still exists today, which stores tend to be the biggest offenders, and most importantly, how to avoid overpaying.

What exactly is the Pink Tax?

The Pink Tax refers to situations where products marketed toward women cost more than comparable products marketed toward mendespite offering nearly identical functionality.

Sometimes the differences are obvious. A men's razor may cost $7.99 while the women's version sitting next to it costs $9.99. Other times the distinction is almost comical and the assumption is that women are fine with paying extra for these items marketed directly towards them.

The products may be identical except for:

• Pink packaging
• Floral scents
• Curved handles and edges
• Different branding

Yet the price is typically higher.

Consumer studies over the years have repeatedly found price differences across categories such as personal care products, clothing, toys, and grooming items.

Not every womans product costs more. But the pattern appears often enough that many shoppers have learned to actively compare men's and women's aisles before buying.

Razors are the poster child of the Pink Tax

If there's one place shoppers regularly spot the Pink Tax, it's the razor aisle.

Many women's razors are nearly identical to men's versions. The blades often come from the same manufacturer and the technology is usually very similar. Yet the women's version can cost yousignificantly more.

In some cases, shoppers pay extra simply for:

• Pink handles and fancy grips
• Moisturizing strips
• Gender-specific marketing

The easiest solution is to compare the cost per cartridge, or razor, rather than the package price. As you can tell from the screenshot above, manufacturers will often make the package prices similar, but the men's package will include four razors while the women's version includes only three.

Many women have completely switched to men's razors and report little or no difference in their performance. Many actually like them better, as they find them less flimsy and they tend to stay sharper longer.

Pro tip: The best value is often found in men's refill cartridges sold in warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam's Club. Thats where youll find the cost per shave to often be dramatically lower.

Personal care products deserve a closer look

Think things like shampoo, body wash, deodorant, and shaving cream. These are all categories where marketing frequently drives the pricing.

Youll notice that women's products will often emphasize luxury things like ingredients, fragrances, or beauty benefits. Sometimes those differences are legitimate and sometimes they're mostly packaging.

A surprising number of consumers have discovered that men's body wash, deodorant, and shaving cream perform nearly identically while costing less. This is especially true for store brands.

Retailers often sell men's body wash, womens body wash, and gender-neutral body wash all manufactured by the same supplier.

Pro tip: Get in the habit of comparing the ingredient lists on the products. If the active ingredients are identical, there's a good chance you're paying extra for branding rather than actual better performance.

Clothing can be surprisingly expensive

The Pink Tax doesn't stop at just personal care, as women's clothing often carries hidden costs too.

For example, many women already know about the infamous pocket problem, where smaller pockets (or no pockets) in women's clothing meangreater reliance on handbags and accessories.

But pricing differences also exist. Women's basics, such as t-shirts, hoodies, socks, and athletic wear can sometimes cost more than comparable men's versions despite using similar materials. This can especially be the case when the item has any sort of feminine pattern or design on it.

Also, women's clothing frequently uses thinner fabrics and less durable construction, which often leads to more frequent replacement purchases.

Pro tip: When shopping for oversized sweatshirts, hoodies, flannel shirts, and basic tees, don't ignore the men's section. Many women find better quality and lower prices hiding there.

Stores where shoppers frequently notice Pink Tax pricing

The Pink Tax isn't limited to just one retailer.

Shoppers commonly report seeing it at:

• Target
• Walmart
• CVS
• Walgreens
• Rite Aid
• Grocery stores
• Drugstores

The issue isn't necessarily that these stores intentionally charge women more.

Instead, they all stock products from manufacturers who often use gender-based pricing strategies.

Target and Walmart deserve some credit because their online shopping tools make comparison easier. Both of their apps and websites let you quickly compare price per ounce, ingredient lists, and customer reviews without having to solely rely on the packaging or design of the item.

The 'women's version'is sometimes worth it

When comparing womens and mens products, its important to realize that some items are genuinely different, and that difference may be worth the extra cost.

Examples include:

• Hair care products designed for specific hair types
• Certain skincare products
• Specialty cosmetics
• Women's-specific health products

In these situations, differences in ingredients and formulations can definitely justify the higher price. The goal isn't to buy men's products exclusively, but to compare your options before automatically assuming the men's version offers the better value.

Tiffin Motorhomes, Alliance RV, and Forest River are part of this week's recall roundup

New research suggests even low pollution levels could influence cognition

• A new Canadian study found that long-term exposure to common air pollutants was linked to lower scores on tests of memory, understanding, and processing speed.

• Researchers observed these associations even in areas with relatively low levels of air pollution by international standards.

• Higher levels of traffic-related pollution were also associated with subtle signs of brain damage on MRI scans, particularly among women.

Most people think about air pollution as a threat to lung or heart health. But new research from researchers at McMaster University suggests it may also have implications for brain health.

The study found that adults who were exposed to higher levels of common air pollutants over time tended to perform worse on tests that measured memory, comprehension, and mental processing speed.

What makes the findings especially notable is that the research was conducted in Canada, a country known for having relatively clean air. Even so, researchers found associations between pollution exposure and cognitive performance, suggesting that brain health effects may occur at pollution levels many people would consider low.

Canadas air is often described as clean, but our findings suggest that even low levels of air pollution are linked to worse brain health, lead author Sandi Azab said in a news release. These are changes that can happen quietly, years before any noticeable symptoms appear.

The study

The study analyzed data from nearly 7,000 middle-aged adults living across five Canadian provinces as part of the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds project.

Researchers compared participants long-term exposure to air pollution with their performance on cognitive assessments, and for some participants, brain MRI scans.

The team focused on two common pollutants: fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, and nitrogen dioxide. PM2.5 can come from sources such as wildfire smoke, industrial activity, and vehicle emissions, while nitrogen dioxide is commonly associated with traffic pollution.

The results

People living in areas with higher levels of these pollutants generally scored lower on cognitive tests.

Researchers also found that greater exposure to traffic-related pollution was linked to subtle but visible changes on brain MRI scans. These associations remained even after accounting for factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and body fat levels. The MRI findings appeared to be stronger among women.

The researchers emphasize that the study does not prove air pollution causes dementia or other cognitive disorders. Instead, it identifies a link between long-term pollution exposure and measures of brain health in midlife.

Still, the findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that environmental factors may play a role in how the brain ages. According to the study authors, changes associated with pollution exposure may occur gradually and long before noticeable symptoms develop.

The researchers say more long-term studies are needed to better understand whether reducing pollution exposure could help protect cognitive health over time. For now, the study highlights that air quality may be an important piece of the broader brain-health picture even in places where the air is generally considered clean.

Dementia doesnt happen overnight, researcher Russell de Souza said in the news release. It develops over decades. Identifying factors that may damage the brain early, and that are potentially preventable, is critical for protecting brain health later in life.

New research finds cultural activities could support healthier aging over time

• A new UCL study found that people who engaged in arts and cultural activities more often appeared to age more slowly at a biological level.

• Weekly participation was associated with a slower pace of aging and a younger biological age compared with rare participation.

• The strongest links were seen among adults ages 40 and older, and benefits appeared greater for those who participated in a wider variety of activities.

For years, researchers have explored how lifestyle habits such as exercise, sleep, and diet affect the aging process. Now, a new study suggests that spending time on arts and cultural activities may also play a role.

Researchers at University College London (UCL) found that people who regularly engaged in activities such as reading, listening to music, attending cultural events, or visiting museums and galleries appeared to age more slowly at a biological level than those who rarely took part in these activities.

The findings add to a growing body of research examining how everyday activities may influence long-term health and well-being. While the study does not prove that arts engagement directly slows aging, it found a meaningful association between cultural participation and markers of biological age.

These results demonstrate the health impact of the arts at a biological level, Professor Daisy Fancourt said in a news release. They provide evidence for arts and cultural engagement to be recognized as a health-promoting behavior in a similar way to exercise.

Our study also suggests that engaging in a variety of arts activities may be helpful. This may be because each activity has different ingredients that help health, such as physical, cognitive, emotional or social stimulation.

The study

The research, published in the journal Innovation in Aging, analyzed survey responses and blood test data from 3,556 adults in the United Kingdom.

Researchers compared participants arts and cultural engagement with biological aging measures based on DNA changes known as epigenetic markers. The study included a wide range of arts and cultural experiences, from reading and listening to music to visiting museums, heritage sites, libraries, and cultural events.

The results

The study found that both the frequency and variety of arts engagement were linked to a slower pace of biological aging.

People who participated in arts or cultural activities at least three times a year appeared to age about 2% more slowly than those who rarely participated. Monthly engagement was associated with a 3% slower pace of aging, while weekly participation was linked to a 4% slower pace.

Researchers also found that people who engaged in arts activities weekly appeared, on average, to have a biological age about one year younger than those who rarely participated. The associations remained even after accounting for factors such as income, education, smoking status, and body mass index.

For consumers, the findings offer another reason to make time for activities they enjoy. Researchers also found that participating in a greater variety of activities was associated with more favorable aging measures.

While more research is needed to understand exactly why these links exist, the results suggest that arts and cultural engagement may be one of several lifestyle factors associated with healthier aging, particularly for adults over age 40.

Our study provides the first evidence that arts and cultural engagement is linked to a slower pace of biological aging, senior author Dr Feifei Bu said in the news release. This builds on a growing body of evidence about the health impact of the arts, with arts activities being shown to reduce stress, lower inflammation, and improve cardiovascular disease risk, just as exercise is known to do.