The UK is a nation of make-up devotees and despite the recession’s impact on our disposable income, we are still spending on average a staggering £1.1 billion a month on make-up essentials, according to a new Avon survey.

The survey results, announced this week, asked women across the UK to put a figure on the cost of the contents of their make-up bags. The results revealed that the average UK make-up bag contains £57 worth of products and that women aged 25-34 spend the most on make-up each month.

The survey also highlighted notable differences in spending habits within the UK.  Women in Cardiff had the most expensive make-up bags at just under £75, closely followed by women in the North East who carried just over £66 worth of products with them in their make-up bags.  Londoners were not far behind, having the nation’s third most costly make-up bags with an average value of £59.  Ladies in Belfast spent the least on make-up with an average make-up bag working out at just over £49.

The survey results highlight that the ‘lipstick effect’ is still taking hold in the recession as women spend their money on small luxuries like make-up in a bid to boost their morale.  Interestingly, mascara and foundation are now overtaking lipstick as essential make-up buys for most women in the UK.  Mascara was overwhelmingly the most popular item with 62% of women saying it was a ‘must-have buy’. 38% of women considered lipstick as their make-up essential, closely followed by 37% of women who felt the same about foundation.

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