Exactly what’s inside £27bn make-up bags?
With our annual spend on beauty products hitting all-time highs, we ask three women what they use, how they buy and what it costs?
What do we use and how much do we spend?
I tend to stick to what I know and like as opposed to trying new stuff. It’s a little boring but safer It’s the only time of the day that is just for me and you can’t put a price on that
Flawless skin, high cheek bones and fluttering lashes are the hallmarks of natural beauty – but with enough cash in the bank, you don’t need to have won the genetic lottery to look your best.
The UK health and beauty market is set to be worth an estimated £26.7 billion by 2022, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the retail industry, and according to research, women are spending more and more on perfecting their looks.
A recent survey from online retailer Fragrance Direct found the average woman wears £2.39 worth of products on her face every day, and spends £482.51 annually.
According to Glasgow-based make-up artist Kat Mcswein, the rise of picture-perfect social media influencers could be fuelling our love for the latest products.
She said: “In this day and age we see beauty everywhere thanks to social media and advertising. As a result we have put an importance on appearance and staying youthful, so it’s inevitable that women would spend more on the products to achieve this.
“Ten years ago we could only guess what the likes of Angelina Jolie used to make herself look flawless, whereas now we just have to search online to find out. Suddenly those £150 Hollywood moisturisers become part of our normal routine!”
As part of Fragrance Direct’s survery, shoppers can calculate how much they spend on their make-up and skincare routine, estimating daily and yearly outlays.
Kat is a self-confessed make-up addict herself, and finds the thought of adding up her yearly spend far too scary: “I love a new product. I have some firm favourites, such Weleda Skin Food and Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, but apart from a few staples, I’m a magpie for products that I see fellow make-up artists recommend.”
But beauty lovers on a budget don’t have to miss out, as Kat insists there are plenty of options on the high street.
She said: “For skincare I would recommend something such as Weleda or Avene.
“And with skincare the most important thing is actually doing it – massaging moisturiser into your skin twice a day will be the best treatment in the world.
“With make-up, try Sleek, MUA and NYX to name just a few. They all have fantastic products that do exactly the same thing as high-end brands but at half the price.”
A few years ago I would regularly try new make-up and skincare products but I found they didn’t look the same on me as they did on glamorous models in magazines and adverts.
Then about five years ago, I had a massive clear out and found myself with a huge box full of unused and unwanted make-up. I’m an artist and a massive recycler, so I decided to use the lipsticks and other pieces in my work. The artwork was based on the topic of consumerism and out of control spending on beauty products, and was made with the make-up I had decided to chuck, as well as glossy magazines, old soaps, fabric and hair.
I went on to create a larger piece made from make-up donated by other women, and used it to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer. It’s still hanging in St Andrews Square today.
That initial clear-out was a real turning point for me. My make-up bag contents have been greatly reduced ever since, and I’m much more cautious and aware now. When I buy make-up or skincare now it’s only as replacements and never just because I want it.
I tend to stick to what I know and like, as opposed to trying new stuff, which is a little boring but safer on the pocket! And, in my experience, you end up back to your staple brands and colours nine times out of 10 anyway.
That’s not to say I will never try new products but it is not a regular thing now
like it was before.