Half of British women prefer a night of beauty treatments to having sex with their partner or a night out with friends, new research shows.
The data, shared by the British Beauty Council, details which hobbies give women in the UK the biggest confidence boost and which activities they would prefer to skip.
A popular activity was a pamper night with beauty products or a new haircut, which more than 50 percent of the 2,434 women surveyed said made them feel as good – or better – than a night of passion between the sheets.
In fact, more than a quarter of women said these treatments make them feel like a new person, while 73 percent said using beauty products makes them feel “more confident and renewed.”
Half of British women prefer a night of beauty treatments to having sex with their partner or a night out with friends, new research shows
The data comes ahead of British Beauty Week, which runs from 23 to 27 October and this year’s theme is ‘A beauty industry that looks like you’.
Millie Kendall, founder of the British Beauty Council, says she is not surprised women feel this way, as the beauty industry injects a £27.2bn boost into the country’s economy.
She said: ‘It also contributes significantly to the nation’s confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem. It’s like a fifth emergency service.’
The survey also found that, for three quarters of British women, beauty treatments are more confident than exercising, browsing social media, going to the cinema or shopping with friends.
And two-thirds said a haircut would make them feel better than a walk in the countryside or devouring a bar of their favorite chocolate.
In fact, more than a quarter of women said beauty treatments make them feel like a new person, while 73% said they make them feel “more confident and refreshed.”
Others said beauty products help with happiness as much or more than listening to their favorite music or watching their favorite TV show.
And a third said the treatments leave them as refreshed as if they were on holiday.
The British Beauty Council also found that beauty treatments are relatively cheap compared to travel, despite spending on lotions and potions soaring in the UK.
However, data shows that only a quarter of people spend more on beauty treatments than on socializing, shopping or taking mini-breaks.
Mrs Kendall said: ‘Not only does it contribute £27.2bn to the economy and more than 600,000 jobs across all demographics and geographies, it also makes an important contribution to the nation’s confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem.’