How much do you spend each year to look good? [ Edited ]

[#1]

I just read an article online called "How much do you spend each year to look good?" and it says that the average American woman spends 12K a year and it really gets me thinking what my number is. I should really go through everything and add up the numbers. There's even a sales tax calculator online thats really easy to use, I use it all the time and its accurate. It adds in the 8.25% sales tax to any total amount. I'm posting the link to the article and the link to the sales tax calculator. I'm adding up my numbers little by little. First I'll do makeup, then skincare, bodycare, haircare etc. Everything beauty is going on the list. I know that men spend a lot less but even they spend more than they think. If they add up all the shaving creams, aftershaves, soaps, body washes, shampoo's, etc even they spend hundreds of dollars a year. So, boys and girls, lets do this! I know its time consuming, but start with your current makeup rotation. Much easier.

Thoughts?

http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/how-much-do-you-spend-each-year-to-look-good-236943.html

http://www.convertit.com/Go/ConvertIt/Calculators/Finance/Sales_Tax_Calc.ASP

Okay this is my current makeup rotation:

1. Benefit Dallas Bronzer, $28

2. TheBalm Mary Loumanizer,$24

3. Benefit Coralista Blush, $28

4. Mychelle Sun Shield Sunblock in Coconut, $19.99

5. Clarins Color Quartet in 50 So Chic, $40

6. Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara Mini, $10

7. Stila Convertible Color in Lillium, $25

8. L'oreal Paris Color Riche le Gloss in Naturally Nude, $7.99

Total: $182.98

Total with tax: $198.08

[#2]

At first I found that number a little hard to believe...but I also wasn't remembering to include clothing and haircare O.O. I get hair trims monthly AND color treatments several times a year. That doesn't even include the hair products and tools that I buy annually. I don't even want to think about how much I spend on clothing. I have such a bad shopping problem, but I've gotten much better at buying things that are more timeless as oppose to being super trendy.

I'm able to cut financial costs down by doing my own brows and nail treatments, I was getting tired of being dissatisfied with salon results (everytime I get manicures the nail techs insists on chopping off my nails). I'm super lucky that my apartment complex has a gym, so I don't have to worry about a membership, at least until I move. Back when I danced regularly I was spending a ton of money every month classes and pointe shoes really added up!

Right now I've been pretty good about beauty products, I usually only make 1-2 'big' purchases from Sephora monthly. I try my hardest to avoid going in the stores (for some reason I always end up going in for one thing and walking out with tons of extra things). But once I get a better makeup storage space I have a feeling that I'm going to get pretty close to the average...eak.

[#3]

I'm with makeupobsessed -- I don't want to add it up, because it's probably thousands...I don't think I want to know how many, though! Between my regular skincare products (I don't have many, actually, but they add up), cosmetics, dermatologist visits, hair appointments (I really only go every 3 months or so), and my obsession with coats (I live somewhere where I wear them year round?) and my gym membership...I'm sure it's a sobering figure.

[#4]

The stuff I use most, mostly bought within the last 12 months:

Clarisonic Mia: $119

All of the BE customizable starter kit (foundation, mineral veil, warmth, brushes): $61

Philosophy 3-in-1 (bought at Nordstrom Rack on sale for a 3 pack) $16

Origins Drink Up mask: $22

Sephora eyeshadow in Spen summit, mascara, and eyeliner in silver green: Free BI birthday

Pacifica Guava rollerball/lotion/lip balm: $18

Clinique eyeshadow trio: Free, GWP

RAW minerals brush set: Free from SircleSamples

Mally Volumizing mascara: Free from girl's night out event (probably need to replace with the other free tube I got)

Philosophy the Color of Grace eyeshadow duo: $3 from BigLots

Too Faced Liquif-Eye shadow collection: Gift.. old..

Boscia blotting papers: Free, GWP

Clinique moisture sheer tint: $22

AHAVA mineral body lotion, deadsea water: Free, GWP

Jouer, lip enhancer, lip gloss, and moisture tint: Free samples directly from Jouer

Dr. Jart Premium BB Cream, Fresh Sugar lip treatment, Origins VitaZing SPF: Part of the Sun Safety Kit, so about $6

Likewise moisturizer, EYEKO fat stick, stila liquid eyeliner, jouer moisture tint: From Birchbox: $10

DKNY Be Delicious (lotion and perfume): $60

Tiny tweezers from ULTA, probably $6

PCA Skin A&C Synergy serum: $70

PCA Skin Pigment Gel: $46

PCA Clearskin: $32

PCA Weightless SPF: $30

PCA BPO wash: $32

And then prescription topicals and tablets for my acne: About $20/month

If I added up properly, that's $573 worth of stuff! I'm not even going to add in sales tax. WOW. A lot of the stuff would be multiplied for a year's worth too, and that's just nutso. As a broke student, that is a lot of stuff! Granted, I don't use all that stuff EVERYDAY.. but it's what makes me look like me. Especially the skin care stuff.

I'd hate to add in the things that I've bought in the last 12 months and don't use regularly (or even at all).

[#5]

I didn't even think about hair care! Luckily, I learned how to pluck my eyebrows and hair cuts are pretty cheap since I'm not picky about where I go. Hair color, on the other hand, LOL.

[#6]

I spend a lot too! I used to have to wear suits to work, so my clothing budget was pretty large. Luckily I get my hair cut about 4 times a year at$40 each. Then make-up and skincare. I am about $1,000 per year there! I don't want to think about it either! Lol

[#7]

Oh my word, that is most certainly something that you really don't want to delve in to.   In every other aspect of our lives, we have a budget but when it comes to my girl products, my husband has learned to just let me go crazy.  Granted, I am not in the 12,000 range seeing as how that's probably half of what I make in a year.  But, I'm sure it's up there.   Usually, I am at Sephora one a month and that runs about 250, give or take.  Rebecca Minkoff handbags go on sale four times a year, which means I run up about 1,200 dollars year if not more.   So that is about 4,200? Add clothes into the mix, or binge shopping trips and I'm probably running about 6,000.   Geez.  That's disgusting. 

Why did I start doing the math on this!?

[#8]

Oh man, I so cannot add it all up or I'd really be shocked and I'd feel guiltier than I already do. I have hair done every three months, foiled and cut, a blow out once in a while, manis and pedis every month in summer and a few during winter, clothes, Botox, makeup, crazy over skincare products, Latisse, shoes, purses, spa treTments once in a while, waxing and spray tanning, hair products,shavers and shower products like foot scrub and gel, Clarisonic Mia, curling iron, flat iron, blow dryer, combs and brushes, teeth whitening products, am I missing anything??? Right now my current makeup ONLY rotation is about $300: Smashbox BB cream or Laura Mercier TM, Mars laguna bronzer and Orgasm blush, various eyeshadows including Naked 2 , primers, mascaras, eyeliners, too many types that I rotate through, MUFE setting powder or UD setting spray. All of this is when I'm in full makeup, but summer I take it easy from day to day, so usually just BB cream, mascara and eyeliner...maybe some blush and then lip gloss. I didn't even list the lipglosses in my rotation, it's the one product I can never have too many of. And I didn't list skin care. OMG!!!

[#9]

Wow scary topic to think about.  Well I dont really do things like get my hair done or get my nails done, so that part is easy - I may get my hair cut/done twice a year so thats about $200.  I get a manicure or pedicure once in a blue moon, again MAYBE twice a year when I have a special event like a wedding, so thats maybe another $100. I don't do waxing, tanning or facials so those are out.  I only go to spa when someone gets me a gift certificate lol.  Years ago I used to get a massage every month but those days are long gone.   In terms of beauty products, I do most of my shopping at Sephora so all I need to do is add up the points I earn in the year. Other beauty stores I spend way less. And I probably spend about $50 a month for drugstore items (i.e. toothpaste, deordorant, body wash, lotion, random cosmetics).   I think its probably in the $2500 - $3000 range.   The article says beauty and grooming, so I guess that doesn't mean clothing and accessories.  So yeah my number isn't as bad as $12,000, but still alot!

[#10]

Eek, I am too scared to even think about what I spend each year to look good!  Between hair cuts at $50 a couple times a year, my out of control spending at Sephora and Ulta, my pricey gym membership, beauty & fashion magazines, shopping trips 2X a year to NYC for clothes, I can believe that I spend as much or more than the average American woman. It's kinda like a rock, you don't necessarily want to lift it up and look, something scary might be underneath! 

This week's makeup rotation is around $400, and that's only what I'm wearing this week, I change up a lot. 

[#11]

Well, I spend ~2-3k/year on beauty/skincare/clothe I suppose. When I get a real job, I will probably spend more, but then I may have family and house and parents retirement to think about so I might not spend that much either.

I think it varies by year/age. My mom said she was also obsessed with skincare (eye cream, serum, make up and all that) when she was my age, but now, I'd be lucky if I can get her to use eye cream on a weekly basis (she just do cleanser and moisturizer, nothing else). lol.

p.s. The key to spend less on hair? a great haircut. I don't remember which but certain technique of cutting hair damages the end and may cause split end. I usually cut my hair once a year, but I got this nice layered/shaggy bob last year that grew into beautiful midlength layered locks that look like I just got a haircut so I thought it was a shame to cut it. Since I don't have split ends or do coloring, I might wait until next year (unless long hair gets too annoying).