How much do you spend on personal care?

Saturnalia

Ruby789 wrote: »

Still searching for the perfect facial suncscreen too. Humm.

This stuff. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEUTROGENA-ULTRA-SHEER-SUNBLOCK-SPF-70-3OZ-/160914570624?pt=US_Skin_Care&hash=item2577417d80

I won't use anything else on my icy-white and oily-skinned face. It feels as light as a lotion moisturiser, dries matte, doesn't leave white sheen, can be used under foundation, doesn't clog my pores, isn't perfumed, and above all gives cracking sun protection!

You can't get it in shops here, it seems to be US-only, but ebay always has someone selling it at a decent price.

Hughjass

Toothsmith wrote: »

This bit really scares me!

Why every 2 months for the hygienist? Even my hopeless cases only ever need 3 monthly appointments. Do you have a serious gum condition?

Does the hygienist know about what you're doing to 'whiten' them? I'm worried that this might be contributing to whatever problem requires such frequent hygienist visits.

My usual appointments are 3 monthly but I have chosen 2 monthly as I am having other dental work done and want to make sure they remain clean as I have previously had gum problems but thanks to the hygenist and improved cleaning this is no more, I whiten on a maintenence basis using a 3% hydrogen peroxide mouth wash as recommended by my dentist, cost 99p about once a month or so, thank you for your concern, no need to be scared:)

Ruby789

Saturnalia you're a star. Really like the sound of that one and will definately give it a go. I too am icy white and oily skinned (with dry bits just to keep things interesting, lol).

j.e.j. wrote: »

Sometimes I see women with their dyed/highlighted hair, straightened, cut perfectly, wearing all the latest clothes, make-up and fake tan, and I think to myself how much must that all be costing?

Totally agree. Weirdly I know people on low incomes who look really polished most of the time, must ask them how! But I would also say that there are a great many people who manage to look amazing for less than I spend because genetics have been kind ... if you have great skin you can use cheaper products.

Lovelyjoolz

j.e.j. wrote: »

I think it would depend on the person's lifestyle, really. If you work in an office or in a customer-facing job, it would require a certain level of grooming and decent clothing that might not be necessary if you're working at home, for instance.

I can't think of an office job that would require you to wax your lady-parts. How would they know if you didn't? The mind boggles :eek:
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Toothsmith

Hughjass wrote: »

I whiten on a maintenence basis using a 3% hydrogen peroxide mouth wash as recommended by my dentist, cost 99p about once a month or so, thank you for your concern, no need to be scared:)

Less scared now!

But a peroxide M/w whilst great at keeping the anaerobic bugs that contribute to gum disease under control (coupled with good cleaning) it won't really do very much other than superficial stain removal towards tooth whitening.

I was just worried you were someone who rubbed lemon, or strawberries on your teeth to whiten them (Whilst dissolving away the enamel)!

Saint_Chris

heartbreak_star wrote: »

What's a split ender?

HBS x

http://www.splitender.co.uk/

It's a machine, that i bought some years ago from qvc, along with many others, that were what i thought at the time useful, but this one actually is, it's fab, it's a machine, that runs off batteries, and you run it down your hair, at the bottom, it trims the split ends off, they are collected inside, then you take the end off and empty the split ends out, it's like when a man empties the inside of his shaver.
Have to say one of the best gadjets i've ever bought and still use.

Idiophreak

Saint_Chris wrote: »

http://www.splitender.co.uk/

It's a machine, that i bought some years ago from qvc, along with many others, that were what i thought at the time useful, but this one actually is, it's fab, it's a machine, that runs off batteries, and you run it down your hair, at the bottom, it trims the split ends off, they are collected inside, then you take the end off and empty the split ends out, it's like when a man empties the inside of his shaver.
Have to say one of the best gadjets i've ever bought and still use.

...and here's a video of the machine in use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b4Z5Kg08PY

stormCat99

Your cheap spend is £110 per month?!! I opened this thread up fully expecting that I would be on the high side.

I don't go in for beauty treatments or lots of makeup on the whole, but at the same time I buy quality items so it adds up.

I've not added it up but despite spending what I want, when I need to, on mostly branded stuff, I'm sure i would struggle to get to near half of that :eek:

Ruby789

boots_babe wrote: »

I've not added it up but despite spending what I want, when I need to, on mostly branded stuff, I'm sure i would struggle to get to near half of that :eek:

Boots babe, I am equally horrified! :eek: Trust me I had no idea how much money this stuff was costing me annually. I was just getting a bottle of this and that as I needed and not adding it all up. But sadly, yes, according to the speadsheet this is how much i'll be spending each month this year. It's not 100% accurate as I didn't account for bits and bobs I had leftover from last year (except for the four products I had stockpiled and excluded from this budget).

Services (waxing, threading and hair cuts) is 55% of my total budget, the rest is products. Waxing is once every 4 weeks (though should be 3), and hair is trimmed (not even blowdried) once every 2 months at a cheap salon.

Laughably I 'budgetted' £40 per month for this category over the last few years (when I made budgets and never looked at them again). No wonder I never had any money left over at the end of the month.

Looking at my spreadsheet again, it's clearly the layering of products that makes it expensive. I use tiny quantities of each, but still works out as more product than your average person would use.

If you do ever find yourself working yours out I'd be interested to know what it is. Your name suggests you either like shoes or a certain cosmetics shop ....

stormCat99

Lol

Yes well my husband thinks it's hilarious how much I spend at Boots and how quickly I accumulate hundreds of Advantage card points so yes you're right!

Well, quick tally up then:

- haircut - I HATE going to the hairdressers, all that nonsense chat and also all those mirrors. Dislike having hair washed by someone and head massaged etc, so just have a dry cut. Only go about once every 3 months. Total per year = £36.

- hair products - I have frizzy hair so used to put on all sorts of smoothing serums, anti frizz sticks etc. But since discovering Brazilian blow dries I now need just shampoo and conditioner. These are £7 each but I buy in bulk when on 3 for 2, so approx £4.60 per bottle. I know I use approx 5 bottles in total per month. Total per year = £276

- brazilian keratin treatment. Have started using home kits for this from Amazon. One kit does me twice, and I do it approx every 3 months or so. Total per year= £56.

- eyebrow wax - I mainly pluck myself to keep tidy, but approx twice per year I go for a wax to get them super tidy. I can then maintain myself for a few months. Total per year = £12.

- all other general toiletries - all other usual stuff, toothpaste, face cream, cleanser, perfume, nail varnish, shower gel, razors, shave gel, cotton wool pads, makeup, etc etc, I get from Boots. Again I always buy in bulk when things I use are on offer (my cupboards at home are always bursting!). Don't really ever buy anything unless it's on offer. I therefore do a big Boots shop approx 3 or 4 times a year of around £40. Total per year = £160.

If I add all that lot up and divide by 12 it makes approx £45 per month.

Wow I am actually surprised at how accurate I was as the original number I gave was only a rough guestimate.

I don't scrimp on anything and only buy good brands for most things. Maybe you need to work to take advantage of offers more often; when your favourite brands are reduced or have multibuys, buy a lot in one go, even if it means buying 6 months' worth! Then it'll save you quite a bit in the long run.