The economic news just seems to get worse and worse, doesn’t it?  First the unemployment rate jumps, then the stock market drops, and the cycle starts again.  And at the end of the day, we as consumers start getting more and more nervous about spending money on anything but the necessities.  Luxuries become things to be deferred for another day, and apparently that includes beauty products.  Usually one of the steadiest sectors of the marketplace, fragrance, makeup and skin care products are showing that they’re not recession-proof, either.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, spending on all major categories of beauty products is down 1% going into the all-important holiday season.  No big deal?  Well, consider that 1% of the total annual beauty spending in the U.S. equals about $70 million.  That’s nothing to shake a lipstick at.  Now, we’re doctors, not economists, so we’re not going to weigh in on the impact of the drop in beauty spending.  But we are going to say a thing or two about the importance of investing a little bit, even during tough times, in keeping yourself looking great outside and feeling great inside.

Our basic advice is, if you’re in the habit of spending a certain amount on cosmetics, skin care products, “cosmeceuticals” or regular manicures, cut what you need to feel more secure, but don’t stop spending on your beauty completely.  It’s too important.  From a Beauty-Brain Loop perspective, you should always be doing what you can to keep yourself looking as good as possible, because that affects your Inner Beauty, your self-esteem and feeling of confidence.  And since beauty is often a sign of good health, focusing on the essentials of beauty is also a good way to ensure that you’re taking the basic steps to maintain your health, something that’s vital for dealing with stressful times.

What are the “beauty essentials” you should not cut back on?  Here’s our list:

• Moisturizer with sunscreen.  If you can afford only one beauty product, this is the one to get.  Great brands include…
• Hair care products.  These include a shampoo that’s right for your type of hair and a conditioner with an SPF factor such as…
• Lipstick or lip gloss with moisturizer and SPF.  As we said in an earlier post, the lips are the doorway to your beauty, what attracts the eye and the interest.  Take care of them.  Good choices include…
• Skin-healthy foods such as blueberries, raspberries and blackberries (which contain powerful antioxidants) and foods rich in anti-inflammatory fatty acids like walnuts, flax seed and salmon.  You can also take omega-3 fish oil supplements to get a daily dose of important fatty acids.
• Dental care.  Flossing and brushing each day should always be part of your daily routine, and even if you don’t have dental insurance and can’t afford veneers or some other cosmetic procedure, get your teeth cleaned twice a year.  It’s important for oral health…and for preventing halitosis that can render even the most beautiful face intolerable.
• Exercise.  Working out can be free, but even if you pay for a gym membership, keep going.  Regular exercise helps control your weight, boosts your energy and reduces the effects of stress.  It also helps fight osteoporosis as you age.
• Annual physical.  Deal with the co-pay and keep getting your annual checkup with your regular physician.  There’s no better way to catch possible health problems early when they’re easy to treat, and to develop a positive, communicative relationship with your doctor and his or her staff.  Hint: make sure a skin check is part of your physical.

This stuff is pretty basic, but when you have to tighten your belt and “extras” like Botox, fillers, peels and monthly highlighting treatments are out of the question, the basics are what keep you going.  In fact, since too many women focus on the exterior trappings of beauty while going easy on the internal essentials like nutrition and fitness, look at the recession as the time to make sure the foundation of your beauty is strong.  Things will get better eventually, and when you have the means to go back to expensive beauty products, who knows…maybe you won’t need them.

Stay beautiful,

Debi & Eva

Tags: beauty basics, cosmetics, Economics, money, skin care

This entry was posted on Monday, December 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Economics, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.