Mid Brain muses:
Here’s a news story that will have the executives at cosmetic companies dancing in the streets: women would rather eat cheaper food than spend less on beauty care products! 
Cosmeticsdesign.com reports on a recent poll that shows even in the midst of this recession, women don’t want to cut back on spending for cosmetics. Instead, they’d rather save money by buying less expensive food items. The poll, sponsored by feelingunique.com, was conducted among 1,000 UK women.
Fashion over food
According to the article, almost 30% of the respondents said they’d rather eat less than buy fewer ‘essential’ beauty products. Their definition of “essential” included everyday items like toothpaste, soap and shampoo as well as more indulgent products like make-up and body treatments. While this study was done in the UK, a similar study in the US in September 2008 yielded similar results.
While 67 per cent would switch to less expensive brands for eggs and milk, only 30 per cent said they would be willing to turn to cheaper cosmetics.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
This sounds a bit ridiculous to me. What do you think about this study? Which beauty products would you skimp on to save money? Which do you think are “essential?” Leave a comment for the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Definetely
I try to spend less money on food, but somehow I spend more on beauty products now. But i’m 22 and still discovering the beauty of more expensive products (and not just 5$ stuff).
Why doesn’t someone develop a line of edible cosmetics? That way you could have your makeup and eat it too!
I’m resisting buying any beauty products until I’ve used up everything I’ve stockpiled. I haven’t bought any of those things in the past 8 months, and sadly, I’m no where close to needing anything. I clearly have too many and was buying when I didn’t really need things.
Alla- I DEFINITELY know what you’re talking about. I’m 21 and I just discovered high end makeup and the wonders it and good clothes can do to a college graduate!
Sarah Bellum – that is a fantastic idea lol.
I think it’s easy to see why women would be reluctant to give up beauty products, afterall, maybe if you use the right combination of products, you’ll snag someone rich enough so that you won’t HAVE to skimp on anything! The sociologist in me says that women are encouraged to keep buying and keep buying because it makes them feel better about themselves to always be in that quest to be the perfect woman. Food always has that negative connotation of more = fat, so spending less on food would (in theory) mean that you would still be on your quest for beauty by losing weight at the same time. Women are funny that way.
I’m doing the same thing, divegirl. I am nowhere near close to being out of shampoo or moisturizer. It makes me wonder what I was thinking buying all this stuff.
I tend to buy higher-end brands for eyeshadow and lipstick/gloss but I use L’Oreal for foundation and moisturizer since I have to replace it so often. I’ve definitely cut back on my makeup budget but I’m also spending less on food because I’m discovering that the generic brands taste exactly the same as brand names.
I’d eat less to buy toothpaste, soap, or shampoo, sure — that’s like toilet paper. Non-negotiable. But the rest of it? Hell, no.
On average, “Fashion Over Food” makes sense to me. If people spent less on food by buying more natural foods and fewer processed foods, they’d not only lose weight but they’d look better too. Which ironically means they might even use fewer cosmetics because they’d have more great skin days.
I’ve been doing exactly that.. Instead of buying lunch / snacks on campus I’ve been making tons of sandwiches and granola bars to bring to school (even when I’m sick of eating them!)
I would probably spend less on both food and cosmetics. But, my food budget would be reduced more.