Annual spending on make-up in the UK has risen by 40 per cent in the past five years to more than £1bn, overtaking the formerly highest spending women, the French, The Independent writes. On average, a British woman will spend £36 this year on cosmetics against £32 in France and £22 in Germany and Spain.
Researchers surveyed 25,000 men and women in the UK and 10,000 in France, Germany and Spain to uncover attitudes to looks. French women most wanted to stand out in a crowd and more readily saluted their own "very good sense of style". More Spaniards than any other nationality were concerned with their appearance and image. Germans most wanted to look good in public, with half of them agreeing with the statement: "I like others to look at me." As to British women, they displayed less interest in style and fashion but retained a desire to look attractive and well-groomed.
Most British women dabbed on perfume, lower than in France, Germany and Spain. However British women were "very keen users of make-up" and admitted to the highest use of foundation, and the second highest use of lipstick, nail varnish and blusher.
Rising affluence and an increase in the number of women in full-time work were credited with driving sales of cosmetics across Europe. The early use of make-up by teenage girls was also a factor and 90 per cent of 14-year-old girls wore make-up regularly.
As to Russians, especially men, they use just a fraction of the perfume and makeup people normally utilize in other developed countries.
Looks like the majority of Russian males have long been accustomed to applying scents on big holidays only preferring their God-given aroma which they see as a reflection of manliness.
Another reason may that many Russians prefer homemade cosmetics because they are cheaper compared to the most-branded Western imports.
By Mike Sullivan - Voice of Russia
Posted November 28th, 2006 by Armen Hareyan
