Australia has been ranked the sixth most expensive country for beauty products and services in the 2017 Beauty Price Index.
Compiled by e-commerce platform Linio.com, the Index compared the cost of beauty products and services across 50 countries and then ranked them using the sum of their scores (in US dollars) in three categories (beauty services, cosmetic procedures and products).
The countries at the top of the index are the most affordable and the ones at the bottom (Australia was ranked number 45) are the most expensive.
According to the index, Venezuela (ranked #50) is the most expensive country in the world for beauty products and services followed by Switzerland (49), Norway (48), Denmark (47) and Finland (46), while the five most affordable countries are Vietnam (#1), India (2), South Africa (3), Thailand (4) and Egypt).
“Venezuela was found as the most expensive country overall, due to the country’s inflation crisis and the conversion from the Venezuelan bolívar to the US dollar… Ironically, around 10 years ago, Caracas, contained the highest number of beauty parlours per capita in the world.”
Other findings include:
- Developing nations offer the most affordable beauty services, but show markups on popular cosmetic products
- The best deals on top makeup brands are in Canada, South Africa, USA, and Italy
- Cosmetic surgery is most affordable in Latin America, South Asia, and the Czech Republic
- Colombia offers the least expensive Mani-Pedi (US$4.00), whilst Denmark offers the second most expensive ($80.35). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $160.85.
- Egypt offers the least expensive Eyebrow Wax ($1.93), whilst Denmark offers the second most expensive ($23.32). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $30.12.
- Egypt offers the least expensive Brazilian Wax ($5.81), whilst Denmark offers the second most expensive ($86.60). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $159.34.
- Vietnam offers the least expensive Botox ($5.00 per unit ), whilst Japan and Venezuela offer the most expensive (tied at $17.50 per unit).
- The Czech Republic offers the least expensive Rhinoplasty ($776), whilst Switzerland offers the most expensive ($7,845).
- India offers the least expensive Breast Augmentation ($1650), whilst Switzerland offers the most expensive ($10,434).
- India offers the least expensive Lipstick ($14.36), whilst Peru offers the second most expensive ($58.78). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $1110.
- Vietnam offers the least expensive Foundation ($15.42) whilst Russia offers the second most expensive ($57.83). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $12,531.
- South Africa offers the least expensive Anti-Ageing Cream ($22.81), whilst Peru offers the second most expensive ($90.60). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $13,609.
- Thailand offers the least expensive Mascara ($4.32), whilst Peru offers the second most expensive ($29.08). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $1629.
- The UAE offers the least expensive Eye Shadow ($2.45), whilst Malaysia offers the second most expensive ($30.66). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $989.33.
- The UAE offers the least expensive Nail Polish ($4.63), whilst South Korea offers the second most expensive ($32.46). Venezuela offers the most expensive at $912.51.
Linio CEO Andreas Mjelde said the company placed a high value on transparency and hoped that the index would “help people more confidently interpret variations in costs associated with beauty around the world”.
“Increasingly, the average citizen is a global one, and with a better understanding of global markets comes empowerment to travel, shop, and live smarter.”
The full results of the ranking can be found here.