Okay, I’ve been curious about this for awhile, and now I’m going to sit down and actually crunch the numbers. While I struggle with advanced mathematics, I love numbers themselves, their absolute existence, their comforting logic, their stark elegance. So I twist and manipulate our domestic budget (domestic as in my little household, not the crazy US budget) every day, practice frugality regularly but also recognize that life’s little pleasures — the cheap, the not-so-cheap, but preferably the cheap! — are what make it worth living.
As I contemplate the expense of nurturing My Inner French Girl, I recall the number of times over the years that I’ve variations of the following statement: Frenchwomen budget for weekly manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages. I read a short article on MSN years ago that repeated this astounding “statistic,” and Chic ‘n’ Slim author Anne Barone expounds on it at length in her books, writing about how Frenchwomen “invest” in themselves by buying only the highest-quality beauty products, services and clothing that they can afford, and adjust their budget accordingly.
Of course, the key phrase here is “[...] they can afford,” but even with the cheapest drugstore products (which I doubt many a Frenchwoman would consider “the highest-quality”), it can add up. British journalist Helena Frith Powell writes in her book, All You Need to be Impossibly French, that after her French “beauty education,” her daily grooming regimen includes an arsenal of products: a night cleanser to remove makeup, a morning cleanser, an eye cream, a lip cream, a day or night cream,” as well as “supplements that are meant to be anti-ageing” and “herbal tea that’s meant to make your stomach flat.” Forget the time it takes to go through this routine twice a day; what’s the cost of being impossibly French?
Now, I’m not being critical, just curious. Before I ever discovered My Inner French Girl, my nightly routine consisted of thus: washing my face with an oil-free, water-based cleanser, smoothing on some acne cream, finis. In the morning, I wash again, then apply tons of Neutrogena sunblock SPF 20 or 30, depending on my schedule for the day. A quick swipe of Chapstick, and I was out the door.
Naturally, that was also in my twenties and early thirties, when my body blissfully required little maintenance, you know what I’m sayin’? Now I have a bathroom counter brimming with all kinds of potions and lotions, and I love it. Some women may feel their womanhood validated upon childbirth. I, on the other hand, discovered my passport to full adulthood when I first stepped into Sephora and was indoctrinated into the timeless secrets of women’s beauty. Out came My Inner French Girl, and I’ve never been able to hold her back.
In any case, as much as I love the daily beauty rituals (morning and night!), I have to wonder how much this is really costing me, and whether or not it’s true that Frenchwomen consider self-care such a nonnegotiable part of their financial picture. So crunching the numbers based on my own cache — a mix of drugstore, health-food store and department store brands — I came up with the following average outlay:
Morning cleanser: Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleanser, 8 oz for $20
Facial serum: Garnier Nutrioniste, $12
Eye cream: Lancome High Resolution with Collaser-48, $56
Mattifying lotion: Cosmedicine Medi-Matte, $42
Moisturizer/Sunscreen: Lancome Aqua Fusion Lotion, $37
Chapstick: $2
Lipstick/Lipgloss: Lancome Color Fever Shine, $25
Mascara: Lancome Definicils, $23.50
Eyeliner: Lancome Le Crayon Kohl, $23
Blush: Lancome Color Design Blush, $26
Night cleanser: Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Facial Wash, 32-oz bottle: $11
Night cream: Alba Oil-Free Moisturizer, $17
Facial scrub: Cosmedicine Self-Adjusting Exfoliator, $42 (twice weekly)
Masque: Zia French Clay Purifying Mask, $23 (once a week)
Body Lotion: Bath & Body Works Body Cream, $10.50
Full disclosure: Obviously, I love Lancome. However, a Lancome PR representative did send me a package of beauty and makeup products to review for My Inner French Girl, which I plan to do in the coming weeks as I test them out. Aside from the samples, I do not and will not receive compensation for reviews. The cost reflects what I would have paid had I bought them myself.
Notes: Mascara and eyeliner must be tossed out within 3 months after you first open it, so the cost will be broken down by thirds to reflect the average monthly cost. Lipstick will probably last me six months. Moisturizers, facial serums and mattifying lotions will last me about a month. B. and I share the nightly cleanser (which he also uses for morning), so I’m taking a very rough estimate of the monthly cost for just me. The morning cleanser will last me about 2 months. The Garnier eye cream will last about 2 months, the Lancome one probably 1.5. Body lotions last a month. The masque will last 3 months. Chapstick can last two months. Blush will last six months. Facial scrub will last about two months.
The prices reflect actual rather than sale prices The Bath and Body Works lotion, for example, can be bought at 50% off during their semi-annual sale. Anyway, keeping all of the above in mind, the average monthly cost is thus:
Morning cleanser: $10
Facial serum: $12
Eye cream: $42
Mattifying lotion: $42
Moisturizer/Sunscreen: $42
Chapstick: $1
Lipstick: $4.20
Mascara: $8
Eyeliner: $8
Blush: $4.50
Night cleanser: $2.50
Night cream: $17
Facial scrub: $21
Facial masque: $8
Body lotion: $10.50
TOTAL COST OF BEAUTY PRODUCTS PER MONTH: $232.70
Gulp.
Okay, I’m not done yet. Based on the oft-repeated “fact” about weekly manicures, pedicures and the like, here are additional costs the high-maintenance Frenchwoman must bear:
Weekly manicure: $20 (including tip)
Monthly pedicure: $30/month (including tip)
Monthly massage: $75 (including tip)
Monthly haircut: $45 (including tip)
Bimonthly facial: $100/two months (including tip)
Note: The above reflects the average price of each service here in my western town. Your own numbers may differ.
TOTAL COST OF BEAUTY SERVICES PER MONTH: $280
Yikes.
TOTAL MONTHLY COST TO MAINTAIN A FRENCHWOMAN’S BEAUTY REGIMEN: $512.70.
So. There you have it.
Of course, this must surely be a very loose estimate. Also, while it’s not often cited, I believe Parisian women are the ones who adhere to such strict regimens. Their rural counterparts likely have better things to spend their money on (like copious amounts of wine and cheese!).
However, even with the inclusion of department store brands like Lancome in my calculations, I would argue that Lancome is one of the more reasonably priced skincare and cosmetic brands. Many of the physician-created products (Dr. Perricone, DDF, etc.) actually cost a heck of a lot more. And I won’t even begin to go into the cost of a pot of La Mer moisturizer. I would imagine that the list above reflects a fairly good representation of the melange of brands on the average, middle-class American and French bathroom counter or vanity.
So my question is this: if the average monthly cost comes to about $500 — or even $400, to be conservative — is it even economically feasible for an American woman to emulate her French sister? Or is the oft-repeated statistic really just a gross exaggeration? Because while Parisians probably have fairly high salaries, they also face the high cost of living in the city. Even if their monthly take home was, say, $3000, would it be reasonable to carve out 1/6th of that just beauty care? What about the cost of buying fresh produce, breads, wine, cheese, and all those cafes au lait? If the average French office worker in Paris eats lunch at a restaurant nowadays, that adds up as well. And of course, we mustn’t forget the importance of quality lingerie, which can cost up to hundreds of dollar just for a bra.
I’m genuinely curious if it’s really true that Frenchwomen spend so much time and money on their beauty regimens. Does anyone have the answer? At the moment, as I review my own list above, I’m calculating how much I could save by switching to more drugstore brands. For example, the Olay Regenerist and Definity lines — while still a wee bit more expensive than their shelf neighbors, their price points are still well below their department store counterparts — are well-reviewed and wildly popular.
If anyone can enlighten me on this financial conundrum, I’d be most grateful.
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{ 15 comments }
I have more to say about this later, but don’t you just love women who go by 3 names!
Helena Firth Powell
Kristen Scott Thomas
etc…
Uhm, yeah, I do. Especially since I’m one of them.
My professional name (for publication) includes my husband’s last name (I’m hyphenated), although my legal name is just my maiden name.
Have a lovely day!
Salut,
Marjorie
Majorie,
I have to say that this does put my husband’s occasional purchase of a $10 bar of soap into perspective. But as long as you’re happy. Hey, if we can’t live in France, we have to re-create the experience by whatever means are available.
Chris Late
I don’t have an answer, but I certainly see your point of view. I have often wondered the same thing. I just found your blog and I really love it! One thing I have found is that some less expensive mascaras work just as well. I have used Lancome, Dior show, etc. I am using a Rimmel mascara now. It helps to use a paper towel first and take most of the mascara off first. Thanks for your enjoyable blog!
Leigh
Bonjour, Chris! Well, keep in mind that if it weren’t for the samples, I wouldn’t be using so much Lancome. Not because the products aren’t great (most of them are awesome), but rather because I just can’t afford to put that much money into it. I have a Roth and a 401(k) to think about, too!
But yes, I probably spend more than your hubby does on beauty products, even with the inclusion of mostly drugstore brands. As the great Nancy Kwan once crooned, “I enjoy being a girl!”
Leigh, greetings and thank you for your comment! I’ve never actually tried Rimmel, although I’m just starting to really appreciate Kate Moss’ style and beauty. I’ll have to check that out the next time I’m at Walgreens. I tried Maybelline’s Great Lash, which is supposedly the #1-selling mascara in the country, but it just didn’t do enough for my super-thin lashes. I love the Lancome stuff, but I probably couldn’t afford it once the samples run out!
Have you read Nadine Haobsh’s blog, Jolie in NYC: http://jolieinnyc.com. She has great beauty tips and has a new book out called Beauty Confidential. Very fun read, with lots of good advice. I think she used to be a beauty editor at Lucky Magazine.
Thanks for the paper towel tip! I do actually use that with a tissue, but sometimes I get lazy and just layer it on thick. Of course, the Frugal French Girl in me is appalled.
Salut,
Marjorie
Now we know why French women are thin. They cannot afford to eat. I do not want to add up all my beauty products, treatments and procedures. I want to stay in denial. If I get out denial I hyperventilate and dehydrate and my frown lines will grow intractable.
I tried the Oil of Olay that was supposed to be so good and I did not find it as fab as the expensive renova, retin-a, and Avene. And, I will never give up Lancome mascara, I don’t care what Suze Orman says. Is it better to feel like a million bucks or to have a million bucks. I am not sure as I have never had the million.
On the hyphenated front, I used to hyphen and then I dropped it. More out of laziness than any feminist or any other reason.
What a delightfully entertaining (but SCARY) post!
I’ll put in my two cents since you asked, haha!
I’m friends with a couple of women (mother and daughter) in France who spare NO EXPENSE for beauty products, perfume, hair coloring, waxing and clothing. They also had much more money than the average French family seemed to have. (Gigantic apartment with Lous somethingth furnishings and a full body shower massager..you get the idea.)
All my other friends, from various backgrounds and salaries seem to spend the majority of their money on clothing and sunglasses. They often talk about the low salaries and high cost of living, and they have to budget out their purchases just like I do. Some products are cheaper there than here (Lancome, for example)but most were comparable.
I know that the French don’t indulge in all the things that we THINK they do, because life is life and unless we are wealthy, we just can’t have everything on our list.
I will take note and report back to you when we are there, if you ‘d like.
PS. Try Ebay to get your cost down on lots of those products.
I think it all comes down to what is important to you. You mentioned that you LOVE having your beauty routines in the morning and night. If you truly feel that way, dont sacrifice what you love- scrimp in other places (eg I know you frequent secondhand shops for wardrobe items often).
I personally cannot see most french women having such extravagant beauty budgets. I do think they spend more time (not necessarily money) on their appearances though.
I haven’t seen Jolie in NYC but I will certainly check it out. Thanks!
Leigh
I highly recommend the Olay regenerist line, and I work in skincare. You should also get a facial no more than once a month. In all reality, every other month or even seasonally is acceptable if you aren’t trying to fix any glaring skin issues.
The only reason I can afford my monthly maintainence is because I work in this field and get a hefty discount!!!
LBR- Haha, maybe that is why they are so thin!!!
Bonsoir, LBR! Very insightful comment there! Perhaps you’re right — how indeed could Frenchwomen possibly afford to eat if half or more of their salaries are funneled straight to the beauty maintenance side of the ledger??? Inquiring minds want to know!
I have really fallen in love with the Lancome mascaras, much to my chagrin. Unfortunately, there’s just no way I can afford them right now with our little budget. Fortunately, I received several samples, so that should last me a good year. Maybe then my novel will be a bestseller and I can afford a whole trunkful!
CC, bonsoir! Oh, please do find out more when you go to France and report back to us! Uhm, that is, if you can. It can’t be that easy to ask a Frenchwoman, “So! I hear you spend all your salary on your vanity! What’re we talkin’ about here, 500 euros a month or what?”
I think that even if I were a millionaire, I would feel more than a little queasy spending hundreds of dollars a month on beauty products. Maybe it’s the Catholic guilt, but I’d find it hard to do. I would at least have to have maybe $50 million in assets before I can justify the expense!
Merci for the eBay advice! I haven’t bought anything off the site in a couple of years. I’m not sure I could get used to buying cosmetics products online from a third-party vendor, though. What about safety and quality assurance issues?
Chere Amarie, merci for stopping by! I agree, I would definitely not skimp on something I truly love. But the reality is that our budget is fairly tight, so drugstore brands are what occupy most of my bathroom counter, the Lancome giveaways notwithstanding. Still, there are so many great drugstore products that I don’t mind at all. I’m now trying to “graduate” to the Boots line at Target, having heard so much about it and bought a few when I was in the UK. The price point is about the same as that of the Olay Regenerist and Definity lines, so it’s looking attractive at the moment!
Bonsoir, Leigh! Jolie is a great site. Also, try Beauty 365, another Google Blogspot site. She’s geared more towards women of color, but has some pretty good, unbiased reviews.
Shar, how lucky for you that you work in the field! Yeah, I think I could only reasonably afford a facial four times a year, even at the relatively low prices that they offer here in my town. When I was in the Philippines early last fall, I took advantage of the much lower prices there and enjoyed a couple sessions each of microdermabrasion and a glycolic peel (done two weeks apart). God, that was soooo awesome!
Salut,
Marjorie
Bubble-bursting Betty here…
Who ARE these women? Certainly the upper crust of French society, living either in big cities or mini-châteaux…
I have friends and colleagues who dress very nicely, but I know no one — that’s right, no one — who indulges in this type of routine.
Purchasing power is way down in France, kids are demanding a lot more budget-wise, housing prices have gone up, salaries are stagnant in many areas…I really doubt that many women are shelling out 400 euros a month for beauty treatments and cosmetics.
Bonjour, Betty! I knew it! Merci for enlightening us! I suspected that these so-called statistics refer primarily to the tiny fraction of the French population that belongs to the upper-upper class. Once I did the numbers, I was shocked and can’t imagine how anyone could routinely spend that much money per month. Even if they wanted to, how do they eat? Pay rent/mortgage? Pay bills? Travel? Buy clothes?
That $512 is half my rent. Shudder I think B. — who normally leaves the household finances to me — would be forced to have a nice little sit-down with his wife if I were to spend that kind of money.
Salut,
Marjorie
BTW, I meant to add that I was very impressed by your accounting on that post! Interesting…
Bonjour, Betty! Merci for your comment! Yah, I love working with numbers. Comes in handy when I balance my checkbook!
Salut,
Marjorie
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