It’s Labor Day, which explains why I’m home watching Oprah and not at work. They were discussing women and the differing definitions of beauty around the world. The piece on Brazil was rather astounding. As many people know, the Brazilians tend to be more obsessed with beauty than most of the world. What isn’t known – the price of that beauty. \
The young lady being interviewed in the beauty salon was having her hair lightened and straightened. Apparently a common procedure in a nation of dark, curly haired individuals! The journalist asked the young lady how much she spent on beauty treatments – half her salary. In Brazil beauty is priceless and many women will spend all they have in order to look the way they want. I can’t imagine spending even 10% of my salary on beauty, despite being rather vain. I want to look good, but not at the expense of saving and other goals.
Unfortunately I’m reaching an age where beauty can’t be left to chance. In your 20’s it’s pretty easy to get away with no makeup or moisturizer and hair that says I don’t care - but your 30’s are a different story. I find myself contemplating expensive creams and the growing lines creeping across my face. There is only so much that make up can hide. Grow old gracefully and use that money for retirement, or fight every step with the power of my bank account? Some days, vanity wins.
Oh and apparently there is a place where women with big butts and stretch marks are viewed as the most beautiful – Mauritania. There is hope for all of us. So how much do you spend to look beautiful?
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11 comments:
Hmmm... I'm not sure hoe much I spend. I do use moisturizers and lotions, and rather love buying make up, but I only cut my hair a couple times a year (an advantage of having long, straight hair) and only rarely go for the pedicure/manicure thing. I would guess I spend less that $30 month, probably closer to $20.
It depends what falls into "beauty." I define one section of my budget as "personal care" and it includes gym membership, tennis lessons, beauty products, spa treatments, and salon as well as out-of-pocket dental care.
All in all I spend about $250 a month, exactly 5% of my salary (though if you throw cloting in there that goes WAY up!)
Oh, that $250 also includes dry cleaning, clothing alterations, and pharmacy. And I meant *clothing in the last line!
Money spent does not equal beauty, does it? a nice person is beautiful. A good looking nice person is Even More Beautiful.
John DeFlumeri Jr
Interesting post. I used to spend quite a bit -- meaning using products by Estee Lauder, Lancome, Shiseido etc.
I cannot imagine spending $30 on a lipstick anymore or $65 on lotion. Same for shampoos. I just finished up a $50 one and won't be replacing it.
I mainly use neutrogena or other drug store brands now and do my best with getting enough sleep, cutting out sugars, caffeine etc. Hoping that will work...or I may have to redo my budget! :)
I have never taken into account a monthly amount because I do not go for pedicures or any of that stuff as I do my own nails at home.
I do wear a lotion with SPF every day on my face and have done so since I was 20. I love being moisturized but aside from lip gloss I don't do much else.
I buy primarily drugstore brands but do splurge on makeup occasionally (for instance, I'm hooked on the Kat Von D for Sephora line).
Wonder how the job market is in Mauritania? :)
This year I've probably spent ~$200 total. Haircuts ($14/each), first make-up I've bought in years ($65), sunblock/facial moisturizer, a bit of RX skin cream. Reminds me, I'm WAY overdue on a haircut, I'm starting to look like a shaggy English sheepdog, peeping through my "bangs."
I think the lady in the Brazilian salon was referring to beauty treatments, ie spa and salon visits or plastic surgery. I don't think that 50% included clothes! I used to spend a lot on high end moisturizers, make up and such. I'd drop a few hundred in sephora without batting an eyelash. Now I use a mixture of drug store/dept store brands. I don't think many American women spend anywhere close to what the ladies in Brazil spend (in terms of percentage of salary). Half of my salary could buy a lot of plastic surgery!
Beauty care profession really a nice job. salon and makeup also an important issue a beautician and the customer. All looking to be nice but I think only one bad side is excessive/wrong use of cosmetics and makeup accessories may be harmful.
Beauty Salon Plano
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