The Price of Beauty
How much does it really cost to look good? Facials, eye creams, gym memberships…is this merely the tip of the beauty iceberg? Kelly England investigates.
Hong Kong women are increasingly known throughout the world for their high maintenance approach to beauty. There is an increasing expectation of image perfection including everyone from housewives to high-fliers. The cost of looking good has never been so significant and there is a non-stop assault of new beauty treatments, products and cosmetic procedures to tempt our purses. Whilst having a pedicure Jayne-May Sullivan, 26, a visiting interior designer from London gave an outsiders perspective, "I'm so impressed by how groomed the Hong Kong women are, they put English women to shame." She continued, "even though the cost of beauty services is more reasonable than in many other cities, the sheer quantity of treatments that are encouraged means that those bills soon rack up."
Faith Coetzee of Paua Spa at CentreStage said "With so much riding on physical appearance today, it is no wonder that spa treatments are taking off. Nowadays a person is mostly judged on his or her appearance and this could influence many things such a finding a partner or even a job." The spa's Endermologie M6 treatment slimming treatment is facing unprecedented high demand as they have gained a reputation for providing prompt results. At $1,200 a pop and with up to 35 sessions recommended, that comes to a mere $42,000, but the price is not deterring customers.
However, Keith Wilson stylist at the Hip Fish hair salon in Soho, which charges $1,300 for a half head of highlights, believes that these image developments are only positive. "Gone are the days that women get their hair done just to impress men, now women are doing it for themselves,'' he revealed. The increased financial independence of women is directly expanding an already thriving beauty market. 'Maintenance' has become the new buzz word whereby looking well turned out all year round has replaced merely preening for special occasions. "In the 1970's and 1980's women did next to nothing to look after their hair. Today regular treatments and blow-dries are considered to be essential'' explained Keith.
Most bizarrely, when asked, the majority of women had absolutely no idea how much money they were spending on their beauty regimes and were horrified when they started to add up the numbers. Before finishing their calculations they usually halted due to embarrassment or worse still for some - the fear of their husbands finding out.
Money is not the only valuable resource being spent in order to achieve this higher state of grooming, time is also being hijacked. Hong Kong women spend on average more than 9 hours per week - the equivalent of a working day - on their beauty regimes (survey of 150 women in Central). "Looking good is addictive!" giggles Jayne-May, "I've been learning from Hong Kong women and I now want to look this 'done' all the time."
|
|
Four brave women kindly agreed to share their beauty regimens.
Sabina Wong Sutch: Owner of the successful Sabina Swims www.sabinaswims.com label manages to look amazing while raising two children under the age of three as well as juggling her fashion empire from her Wellington Street shop. Busy days selling swimsuits leave limited time for daily maintenance but whatever happens, don't try and stop this modern lady that aims for "minimal elegance'' from getting her monthly treatments! "For my $900 Menthoderm facial I'll even cancel my husband! This is the 'me' time that I just cannot postpone or cancel". The other key beauty must-spends are "Skincare products for $500-$700 monthly and $250 for a pedicure." Sabina is relatively low maintenance about her hair. "If I'm lucky, I'll get a hair cut in once every two months, so that is around $500-$600 depending on the stylist." However, she firmly believes that her beauty interests are not out of control as her expenditure on beauty products/services amounts to, "only a small percentage of my income, and then another few percent from my husband's income!" Overall, Sabina believes that "a healthy natural glow and an athletic healthy body" is what makes a woman shine.
Aurelia Chenat: This young career girl keeps up her model looks by getting her beauty tips, "from make up artists on photo shoots, and from my most beautiful girlfriends." The 25 year old maintains her clear skin with two facials at $500 per month and regularly buys Dermatogica eye cream around $400, Kiehls face cream close to $300, and Vichy tonic $80. For her hair Aurelia does monthly hair masks at $150 and shampoo and conditioner amounts to around $100 per month. She spends at least three hour per month at the hairdresser colouring her hair. As for nails she has up to three manicures per month at $150 each. Unkept cuticles drive her crazy and make her feel unkept. Aurelia is happy to spend a reasonable sum of her $40,000 monthly income on looking good, as she sees the results. "I am happy to go to all of this trouble for three reasons - my job, for me and for my boyfriend.''
Winni Cheung: True beauty fans always manage to look impeccable no matter what the occasion and this can absolutely be said for Winni who is on top form 24/7 even when she is at home looking after her young family. Her beauty treatments make herself feel at her best, ''I have more confidence in myself as I walk out everyday." She reads her favourite UK magazines OK and Hello! to get ideas of how to look even better. A large proportion of $20,000 per month passes from Winni's well groomed hands into the beauty industry. Once or twice a month her hairdresser's bill comes up to $2000. Nails every three weeks cost $600. Body massage for relaxation two times per week amounts to $600. Winnie goes to the gym twice per week which takes 4 hours in total. Her time and money appear to be expertly invested as she looks extremely youthful for her 37 years. Winni smiles, "It is important to look your best and to make yourself feel good in your heart."
Jessica Fung: "Life began for me at 50" says the flamboyant 57 year old, "that's when I discovered botox" she chuckles. "It changed the way that I look and also the way that I feel, now I'm proud of my face again and I want to show it off." Non surgical cosmetic procedures are the way to go according to Jessica and her peers, whose lives are filled with a merry-go-round of beauty appointments. They have decided that regular facials no longer give them results "Well, there is $4,800 every three months for the Botox, and $4000 every six months for the Restylane. Jessica looks increasingly surprised as she tallies up her grand total. "I've recently started a course of Fraxel to remove pigment on my cheeks, at $3,400 every two weeks it's expensive, but I think it is working." Add that to the 'monthly basics' of $550 month on hair cuts, $2400 on blow-dries, $650 on waxing and $1500 on nails. Jessica has lost count of how much she spends on cosmetics but as many of the shop assistants in the beauty department of Sogo know her by name it is likely to be pretty high. However, she can defiantly be economical when she feels the urge. "I recently stopped paying for those slimming courses as they cost so much ($1800 per month) and didn't seem to do anything for me. Jessica takes a sip on the $350 'slimming tea' recommended by her Chinese doctor and announces with a smile "What my husband doesn't know won't hurt him, it's my hobby - do you know how much his Aston Martin cost?"
|
