How much or how little do you spend on self care, beauty and grooming?

[PamelaTodd]

Obviously going to be different for everyone, but I’m just curious and trying to reset my own perspective. I struggle a bit to justify spending on myself at all.

In a typical month, what would you spend on creams, shampoos, treatments, hair styling, products, etc?

Haircuts 4 times a year, comes to about £120, so £10 a month.
Eyebrows and upper lip threading about £10 a month on average.
3-4 facials a year, that’s about £200, say £15 a month.
Moisturiser, cleanser and toner come to about £120 a year, that’s another £10 a month, sometimes more.
Mascara, eyeliner, one lipstick, face masks, hand cream, about another £120, another £10 a month.

So about £55-60 a month, maybe?

Pretty much nothing.
Cut own hair.

But yesterday I went to a spa and had a wonderful afternoon. £50. First time for years.

I get my hair cut every 6 weeks for £15.

Apart from that I buy Aldi tresemme-type shampoo and conditioner for all the family, whatever 4-pack of soap is on offer when we need it and I use £1 Nivea clear roll-on.

I use hand cream sometimes, but it's average stuff I've had as presents, I don't think I've ever brought any for myself.
Oh, I also buy an intensive cracked heel cream, but that's about £8 From boots and probably only once or twice a year.

Don't wear make-up.

So, overall very little.

Nails €40 every 3 weeks
Hair 2/3 times a year €35 (unless I have a wedding and then I get it styled)
Shampoo €25 every 2/3 months
I have no idea how much I spend on make up. I just refill when needed.
Cleanser and toner about €50 a year
I used to get my eyelashes done every 3 weeks too but I stopped as I didn’t have time for it.

I'd say £10. a bottle of shampoo, a bar of soap, the occasional face cream or thing from Aldi. (Like razors).

Once or twice a year, I'll buy a little makeup but it lasts me forever as I wear so little/wear it so infrequently.

I have a yearly haircut (though looking to up that now as I want to keep it shorter and more manageable. Maybe to 3-4 a year. That costs about £35-40 a time.

I do my own eyebrows, I don't tan, no lashes, natural hair colour.

So yeah, I can't see it being more than £10 most months.

Honestly? Way too much. I’ve never added it up before but here goes...
nails twice a month = £54
Toenails once = £27
Leg wax = £25
Underarm wax twice = £20
Bikini wax = £25
Brows = £25
Hair = £80 (averaged out)
Products = probably £75 averaged out

£331 wow 🙈 that’s dreadful

Oh yeah, deodorant I buy a few roll ons when they're on offer. And usually they last a couple of months.

About £300.
Hair cut and colour, nails twice a month, facial, pedicure, Brazilian.. I use Olaplex at home...lasts for ages...and Dermalogica skin care which again lasts for ages.
Odd massage too.

Oh and gym and personal trainer...another £80. Worth every penny.

Well... I buy shampoo and face wash that everyone uses. Lidl face cream is a couple of pounds and surprising good, normally lasts me about 3 months. I’m going to get my hair cut tomorrow for the first time in two years.

All I all I’d say less than £5, I don’t look like a tramp... honest.

It’s like another tax on women but self imposed.

£20 - eyebrow tint/shape
£60-80 - colour highlights/cut

So around £100 per month. I buy make up and face creams as and when I need it. Probably spend about £100-150 on make up per year and £100 on face creams a year. I’m a SAHM, but when I worked (in London), I was spending a lot more. Probably my biggest expense was having my hair blow dried, a couple of times a month, plus spray tans - about the same amount.

Hair cut every 7-8 weeks is £30, I also get it coloured every other time I go which costs £50 so monthly average spend at hairdresser is about £20-£25

Brows £10 a month

Waxing £25/month (May to Sept only)

I don't buy a lot of make up so probably averages at no more than £5/month and approx same for skincare

£50 a month on eye lash extensions

£40 a month on nails

I use Aldi face cream, shampoo conditioner, razors, some gel. Average £5 a month?

Hair cut every three months £30

Gym membership, essential to me, £30 a month.

Threading £15 a month.

Make up, I don't wear that much, I normally wait to there is a buy two get one free deal on in boots (I like no 7 stuff) so maybe £15 a month.

I think that's about it, I do spend quite a bit, I'm going to go cold turkey son with the lashes as I find the whole process expensive and time consuming.

I think it’s about learning what works and what actually makes a difference too - I went from spending probably £2-300 down to £50-60 because I finally learned what worked for me. I don’t use primer, foundation, bronzer, highlighter, blush and powder on my face anymore for example - I use a really good tinted moisturiser and a dual purpose lip and cheek balm and it gives basically the same effect. I don’t use a litany of bumble and bumble and kerastese on my hair anymore because I’ve discovered my hair looks great on lush shampoo bars and childs farm detangling spray (which gives the same effect as B&B spray but for £20 instead of £20).

I haven’t really changed my look at all, but I’ve watched a LOT of YouTube videos about products and have hit the cheapies that work for me.

This year was the year I copped on and realised ths t you do need to spend on yourself! We were on the bread line for the last few years ( finally got rid of some loans this year), so I'd gone two years with no hair cut ( which was silly, I could have gone to a hair dressing school and got it done), asked for moisturiser and shower gel for birthday and Christmas and when it was out it was out. At one stage i went without conditioner for months. Turns out the odd trip to a hairdresser /beautician/Boots picks you up so much ( dh was always saying this) The kicker is I now have rosacea and have to spend on moisturiser and spf and cleanser ( although not that much, Cethaphil !!and Avene are my go to brands!) I'd say about the 50 mark too

I spend a lot less these days as I've finally learnt that most skincare is a big con and also that the 'thrill' of buying a ridiculously expensive bit of make up doesn't actually last that long

Plus I have now found a few skincare products and a routine that works for me, so I'm not spending loads trying different things. Per month I will stock up on shampoo if necessary, soaps, I might buy a lipstick in Boots if I'm in there. I cut my own hair at the moment (although that will have to change soon) and have always coloured my own hair. I don't, and never have, get stuff like regular waxing, nails, eyebrows, hair extensions, lash extensions things like that - I am always baffled as to how people afford to do that stuff on a maintenance basis, I occasionally do it if I have a very special occasion.

I probably spend about £50 -100 on average. Some months more, some less.

Lol at £1000!

@brightbluesky try the NARS climax mascara - it gives the same effect and I LOVE it

Maybe around £60/month on average. In some more in some less depending when I need skin care and make up. That includes a haircut every 5weeks.

I try to buy when on offer as I use Elemis and it is eye watering expensive but the only thing I found after years of buying products and throwing out that my skin tolerates.

Shampoos and shower gel is whatever is on offer.

Makeup is middle range as in only wear it at work and then it is just foundation, powder and mascara. I hate nail polish and can’t find a reason to doll up. If I need blush or eye shadow I get DD’s stash, luckily we have similar colouring. I just bought my own set of pencils.

I don’t know how £1000 a month is possible unless you are paying for your hair to be licked clean by unicorns or something?

Suprisingly easy to spend. Regular professional nails, waxing, facials, lashes, expensive hair + blowdries... not to mention injectables or products from Creme de la Mer or even the expensive Chanel ranges... I think I could easy blow 2-3k tbh

luckygreeneyes feck it though, sounds like heaven to me, I'm sure you feel great!! ( obviously if you want to change to make cheaper that's good too!!)

Almost nothing! Soap, shampoo, cheap moisturiser. A £20 haircut every two months. Don’t wear make up. Ditto perfume- I buy a bottle of aftershave online once a year, duty free via the Channel Islands, for £28.
I find it gobsmacking that some women spend such fortunes, and use up so much of their time, on something as unimportant as their appearance. They must be an advertiser’s dream market!

Not much. About £100 a year on hair including shampoo and conditioner. About £40 on cleanser, moisturizer, body lotion. About £20 on make up. I don't get beauty treatments. I don't look any worse than friends who get lots of beauty treatments and always wear make up.

Haircut £40 three times a year.

Shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, face wash, hand cream, shower gel, deodorant. The cost £1-£4 a time but last 1-3 months so say average £3 for 7 items every 2 months, that’s £10.50 a month.

So about £20 a month.