We may have all gone broke as a result of the crippling cost of living crisis, but there’s one little luxury we’re not prepared to give up.
Australians are continuing to indulge in beauty products and appointments wherever possible, despite rising costs and tighter budgets, research conducted by The Growth D_Stillery and Verve on behalf of News Corp Australia revealed.
The insights come as Vogue Australia announced the winners of its inaugural Beauty Awards, noting the “beauty trend spend” is showing no sign of slowing down.
However, the results of the competition held by the prestigious magazine show there has been a shift in product preferences, with more than 120,000 Aussies crowning affordable brands as their winners in the “People’s Choice” categories.
Batiste Original Dry Shampoo, which retails for $6.99 for a 200ml can, was among the top products chosen by readers as well as the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, which costs just $10.99. Both products are available at Coles and Woolworths.
Vogue Australia’s digital director Francesca Wallace said that with the rising cost of living, it was no surprise there are so many affordable products amongst the winners of the Beauty Awards.
“We’re thrilled to be showcasing the best in beauty right now at a range of different price points – everyone deserves to indulge in a little self-care, no matter their budget,” she told news.com.au.
Other affordable products crowned the “best” in their category by readers include the Avene Cleanance Comedomed Anti-Blemishes Concentrate, which retails for $25.99, and the Swisse Beauty Collagen Glow Powder, priced at just $15.99.
A stream of luxury beauty brands also took home some of the coveted top spots, mostly in the “Judge’s Choice” which were voted for by skincare specialist Melanie Grant, dermatologist Dr Shammi Theesan, award-winning hairstylist Anthony Nader and international makeup artist Kellie Stratton.
The expert panel’s winners included cult classic clinical skincare brand SkinCeuticals, which took out two awards across the skincare category for Best Acne Treatment and Best Serum with the brand’s Silymarin CF and C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum, both priced at $236.
Meanwhile, luxury fragrance house Byredo won the top gong for best mascara, which retails for $67.
Augustinus Bader secured the “best night cream” award with The Rich Cream, which retails for a staggering $437 for 50ml in Mecca.
However, there’s a very good reason why it has such a high price point. It contains the Trigger Factor Complex 8 (TFC8), a proprietary cocktail of more than 40 different ingredients including vitamins and amino acids designed to encourage regeneration and healing.
Professor Bader actually discovered the formula while looking for solutions to help burn survivors heal quicker and it has been dubbed as a miracle cream by industry experts.
The full list of Vogue’s Beauty Awards winners 2023 can be found here.