Girls/ Women, how much do you spend on yourself in average per month on beauty treatments, makeup, hair, clothes etc…

[Biosblbay]

Not sure if this makes a difference, but I am from Essex so have been bought up around imagine being quite important and I do love to look good, I was about 16 years old when TOWIE started so I have been bought up with that sort of lifestyle in a way, but I’m not to the extreme. I am still very natural looking, I’ve had 2 children and let myself go a little so I have decided I want to get back to how I used to be as I just feel so down about myself.

So currently I take mounjaro which I plan to only use until January, I no longer get my nails done as I prefer them looking natural now, I only get my hair done 3 times a year, I get Botox twice a year, I get nice makeup but I don’t wear a lot and use it rarely, I buy good hair products and I have just decided to get 1ml of lip filler to make them a bit plumper but this will only be once a year as I don’t like the fake look, I just like to look fresh and new! I don’t get any facials, I don’t spend on expensive face creams, I don’t wear designer, I get a lot of my clothes from vinted, body stuff etc, I don’t tan, I don’t have extensions either, apart from one time I tried them and they went horribly wrong, but working it all out I probably spend approx £200 a month on myself, probably a bit more at the minute because of the mounjaro which is temporary. My husband thinks this is outrageous and always comments on how much I spend, but I do work full time, I earn my own money but he is the main earner and earns very well but thinks I overspend.

The reason I am asking is because I am hoping others can say how much they spend each month on theirselves in hopes I’m not that bad!!! I get I don’t need Botox, don’t need lip filler, don’t need my hair done, but then I would just feel so unhappy in myself, and I enjoy pampering and I like to feel good!

Also not asking for judgement here as I know some people will just be dead against this. So just responses from those actually responding to what I have asked please. Thank you x

I would say I’m low maintenance and don’t get nails, brows, facials, hair extensions, waxing etc

what I do spent - hair works out about £40 per month (have a big appointment every 9 months then just roots in between)

Botox and skin booster - twice a year so
around £50 per month

skin care - prob works out around £25 a month

clothes - very ad hoc and have started buying less but better quality so prob around £35 a month

So monthly around £150. That’s not every month but prob the average.

At the end of the day it makes me feel good. I’ve definitely had to spend more the older I’ve got and don’t start with Botox until mid 40s, also didn’t need roots done every month.

I dye my hair at home every couple of months, cut twice a year (should be more really), minimal makeup (have a toddler), buy big bottles of nice shampoo so they last for ages. When I was on maternity leave I was skint and found some dupes of the skincare I liked and have stuck with that. I’ve never had my nails done other than once I gel nails for my wedding. I do buy clothes though maybe £50-£75 a month on average so not loads. I’m definitely a bargain hunter I’d rather buy nice things in the sales than cheap everything, and I buy on Vinted sometimes too.

So maybe about £25-£30 per month on skincare/hair etc and then clothes, about £100 per month?

Honestly I do feel I need to spend a bit more, want to get my eyebrows done properly and need to have my hair cut more often but it’s time and also money - nursery fees are a killer.

I admire women who always look polished and put together but the time/cost balance doesn’t add up for me, and there’s some things I just can’t be arsed with like nails. I guess as I get older as well I feel like spending money on myself is better spent on things that make me feel good, I love going to soundbaths and have other hobbies, too. But everyone should do what makes them happy, as long as they can afford it and don’t feel pressured to do it.

Get my hair cut about every two months, at about 30 a time. No other beauty treatments. I do like nice soap and body lotion and perfume. Very rough I guess under 50 a month

I'm actually not sure , so let's add it up!

Nails, 4 x a year £40x4=£120
Hair 2x a year £200x 2 = £400
Botox 2 x a year £220 X2 = £440
Moisturiser £60x3 = £120
Make up £30x3 = £90

Total: £1170! So that's £97.50

Much more than I realised to be honest!

Men have no idea what women do to look nice. Fab if a bar of soap and some SPF does the trick but if you can buy shampoos that make your hair shine more or lovely make up so you look brighter in the mornings then why not. Most women look a lot more awake with some mascara and concealer for a start if they have to be up first thing. I know I do.

Anyway I love make up and skin care. I think it's a lovely and fun thing. And I probably am still a tiny bit vain though not as vain as when I was younger. I think Maybelline is as good as most high end make up brands although I also love high end brands. I don't buy premium face creams because I don't think they do a better job usually than Korean brands. But I do get Renew+Me tretonoin each month and I get Hair+Me as my hair was looking thin. I am OK about spending money if it definitely works but I think a lot of cheaper brands in make up and skin care are just as good as expensive brands . I don't do Botox or anything like that so prescription tretonoin is the solution. I may change my mind now I'm in my 50s and my skin and hair aren't what they were. And I can't see to put eyeliner on....bit depressing as I have always enjoyed make up.

Gel pedicure if I go on holiday. Haircut three times a year.

Maybe he’s trying to tell you that you look better without the tweakments you spend so much on?

Of course freedom is important. The feminist analysis of this just would note the fact that the OP fears what would happen if she didn’t do x y or z to herself. Tbh I fear what would happen if I wasn’t on MJ. Fear is not freedom. It is also true that feminism is not a list of rules or a club, it is a way of thinking. If the OP’s husband honestly added up all his discretionary spending, that might be a lot, and it’s not more important just because it’s on masculine-coded things.

I would also add that I spend a lot on pension, insurance and savings.

Probably £80 a month on beauty so not including clothes. That’s 3 x Botox a year, 4 haircuts a year plus occasional home dye job but poncy colour depositing conditioner in between, retinol, moisturisers, fake tan, face wash and make up. I use expensive Lancôme lash primer and a proper face spf50 but Rimmel etc mascara, powder and eyebrow pencil. I do my own gel nails so includes a fiver a month for replacing or adding to my supplies. I used to spend lots on getting my hair done but it took hours and since my hairdresser left the salon everyone else I tried couldn’t do what he did and I was spending over £100 and 3 hours every 8 weeks or so just to have over processed brassy hair so I just dye it my natural colour at home for now. I also used to take MJ and so skin and me so it was more like £300 for a short period. I’m pleased I’ve reduced it but I never felt guilty -like you, I earn my own money and contribute more than enough to the family finances and no one went without as a result.

I do just buy supermarket shampoo and conditioner and obviously haven't included clothes in that.

This isn’t the beauty board so you are getting replies from women who are into style and beauty and those who aren’t, with v different results. For the doubters, yes there are lots of us who don’t tint our hair, get four cuts a year, don’t go to the beautician or nail salon, and whose make up is just mascara for every day. We know our style and replace clothes as needed at the start of the season. Look around any supermarket and you’ll see up in every aisle. I still consider I look nice in a natural, girl next door type of way. My main vanity is staying slim.

Nails - £28 every 3 weeks
Hair - £50 every 3 months, grew out my baylage over COVID and never started again
Skincare/make-up - probably works out £15 a month, I have very sensitive skin so have to be careful with what I use so it hardly ever changes
No botox or fillers atm but considering it for my forehead as the fine lines are getting deeper!
Clothes - average £80/£100 per month but often only 3 big purchases a year
WLI - £145 a month, my biggest expense but has been life changing

@Hellohelga this! so this does include clothes that I buy second hand from vinted 9/10. I only buy new if I need something next day delivery which is rare!
how I worked it out was Botox £400 a year as I get this twice a year, lips £120 once a year, hair which I have balayage or mini lights with cut and blow dry £180 a go so £540, clothes about £50 a month, makeup £20 a month average, hair products £20 a month average, so roughly £2000 a year for this approx £166 a month then adding on Mounjaro which isn’t going to be permanent adds on that bit extra each month for now. But I work so hard, employed full time, 2 children aged 4 and 1, husband works away a lot, travels for work, works very long hours in the day so rarely home, it’s my treat to myself, but somehow he still thinks it’s outrageous. Our combined earnings are over £100k so you would think £200 a month would be ok and besides the point of earnings, as you say we both work hard and should be able to treat ourselves

I think the important point is that your husband shouldn’t really comment on how you spend your own money. As long as you both cover your share of bills, don’t grow credit card debt etc any leftover money should be for you both to do with as you please.

I spend about £60 a month on swimming/ yoga, but that's to feel strong and fit, I don't care about how I look.

£12 on eyebrows about 3 times a year. £25 on hair trim about twice a year (can't remember when I last had it I've never dyed it or anything. Never have nails done.
Shampoo, toothpaste, soap, Waitrose cheapest Pure moisturiser.

Don't know about clothes. I did think I'm going to need some new shoes, but I can't face shoe shopping, so... i did spend £9 on knickers earlier this week, mostly because I'm away from home and didn't pack enough. I did spend £125 on a cashmere cardigan earlier this year, but I expect it to last me years. I'm currently in an M&S t-shirt and Sainsbury's shorts.

Haircut every three months but dye it myself at home every 6-8 weeks. Hair is quite frizzy but I bought a Dyson hairdryer (the standard one without all the attachments) and it has made a huge difference.

Occasionally get eyebrows threaded and tinted but they're already dark and I generally just tidy them up at home.

Can't stand anyone at my nails so never get them done at a salon, but keep them in decent shape myself.

Having a decent skincare routine is the most important thing IMO. It doesn't have to be expensive. Cerave, Cetaphil, The Ordinary and Inkey List all have great products that won't break the bank, and they work better than the super expensive Estee Lauder/Lancome stuff for me.

Make up wise I have a mix of expensive and cheap. I much prefer L'Oréal foundation to the expensive brands. Revolution do great eye shadows. Probably the most expensive items I have are Laura Mercier powder and some Mac and Clinique lipsticks.

You really don't need Botox at 32. I'd focus on skincare first, you could try a retinol from The Ordinary (lowest strength first to get used to it) then at some point move on to tret if/when you start noticing wrinkles.

It's interesting that you think you've let yourself go, when you're actually doing a lot compared to most women.

Hair cut every 3 months is £65
Haircare - currently using a shampoo I got in France for €3 and Curlsmith hair mask which is £18 and lasts about 3 months
Skincare - currently using Superdrug vitamin E cream which was £5 and will last most of the year
Clothes - I buy a couple of times a year. Maybe spend £300 a year

I don’t wear makeup, never had my nails done or Botox etc. I’m 31 and cosmetic Botox at this age seems a bit crazy tbh. I wouldn’t regard lip filler as pampering either. For me pampering is having a relaxing bath or maybe a massage, not artificial cosmetic procedures. My face is fine the way it is.

If you would feel unhappy in yourself without this stuff I would be exploring why that’s the case, rather than trying to justify it using what other people do. If it’s related to reclaiming your identity post children could you try picking up some hobbies instead?

Same. I buy shampoo and conditioner and decent SPF, but not much more.

I guess for me it would be can you guys comfortably afford that each month? If so what’s the problem.
Everyone has a different budget etc.

I use high end make up and skin care, have a monthly facial, a full body scrub about twice a year. Regular waxing (eyebrows and bikini line) plus eyebrow tint. Pedicure every six weeks but only have my nails done for special occasions.
Regular vitamins and Mounjaro prescription plus regular dental care and cleaning.
Gym membership, weekly PT plus a Pilates class.
Frequent wardrobe updates and good underwear.

I am not quite sure what that comes to and lucky I can afford it.

Averaged to monthly spend, roughly £165

WLI £79 (I get this back in grocery reduction)
Private healthcare £36 (I get this back in glasses and dental rebate)
Prescription trifarotene £9.16
Cut and colour £18.75
IPL Hair removal £4.13
Electric toothbrush £4.25
Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap, Moisturiser, Deodorant, SPF £12

If we don't include the healthcare, about £50. I included it because other people included the gym. I'm very happy to spend money on my health and wellbeing and only spend so little on toiletries because I'm allergic to everything nice.

I spend a minimum of £1,000 a year on skin/hair and makeup products (I have a SpaceNK card and like to stay as a lux member), £500 on hair an annually. I tend to buy clothes seasonally; the last 2 winters I didn’t really buy much (only some boots) this autumn/winter I’m going to need a big hawl think £3,000 but this will last me 5 plus years. I tend to spend £300/£500 per item there’s a jumper from a boutique French designer I’ve been eyeing for 2 years that’s £600, and another £600 item from a small Scottish designer again I’ve been mulling the purchase for 2 years. I will spend about £200 on leggings and everyday French Terry jumpers. I’ll have a facial in the autumn (otherwise I do my own facials). I tend to do my own nails (I trained as a beauty therapist when younger it’s not my career but I do treatments on myself. I go to a spa twice a year and will have a body scrub and massage.

I imagine a big part of your spend is mounjaro??
Im much older than you so well past the point where 'tweakments' would improve anything.
Hair cut £50 every 6 weeks or so (I'd pay double, she's brilliant with my unruly hair)
Box dye it myself, £10 every couple of months. Also dye my eyebrows, about £10 and lasts 6 months.
Nails - builder gel ruined them so just trying to keep them healthy.
I use makeup and skin care daily but dont buy premium brands. My best ever mascara costs £5, best ever concealer similar.
Clothes - varies a lot. Im spendy on footwear and I need a pair of proper shoes for autumn/winter. Ive lost weight so my current jeans are too big, but I'll only buy cheap as I've more to lose. I love a charity shop mooch.

Not much, I cut my own hair and don't do my nails - I buy toiletries with the supermarket shop or on amazon (coconut oil and essential oils mainly). I do buy multivitamins though.

I try to only buy fashion clothes from charity shops for environmental reasons but I did recently buy a new new dress for a wedding and a new bra to go underneath (and obviously socks/pants/swimwear I buy new as well as hiking type stuff which rarely turns up in charity shops).

Exercise wise I like to go for long walks so I guess the bus fare to get there? I would like to join a dance class but can't find one on a convenient day/time.

I tend to spend my 'fun money' on books, stationery, and plants for the garden.

Ooh I've just spotted a pp mentioned the dentist- I go for a cleaning every 3 to 6 months but that's because I don't have great teeth sadly.

I spend £20 every 8 weeks to get my hair cut.

I don't spend anything on nails, eyebrows or other beauty treatments.

I buy Dr Organics body lotion from Holland and Barrett. That's about £7 which I think is expensive (compared with what I could pay in the supermarket) so I usually try and wait for a 2 for 1 offer. I splash out because it's taken me ages to find something that's vegan, available on the high street and doesn't make my skin worse. To be fair, it lasts ages.

I buy new clothes when I need them so most months I don't need to spend anything on clothes.

I spend around £250 a month I suppose, if I average it out. Hair cut and highlights, Botox three times a year, clothes (buy less but better), make up (but I have a fair bit so it's really only replacing mascara which is a Max Factor one so not expensive), very basic skincare as have good skin, I wear perfume but receive it as gifts. I paint my own nails and workout at home. I'm 62 and can afford it, and it sounds like you can too, so carry on. It makes me happy 🤷🏻