54% say the beauty industry puts too much pressure on women to look a certain way

54% of women believe the beauty industry puts too much pressure on women to look a certain way and that brands using a celebrity ambassador can appear untrustworthy to customers, according to new research in Phillips’ second Global Beauty Index.

Phillips and CEW hosted a panel to discuss the report’s findings, with industry experts’ journalist Alice du Parcq, make-up artist Mary Greenwell, founder of WAH Nails Sharmadean Reid and founder of Shavata Brow Studios Shavata Singh.  

The panel agreed that there is too much exposure from print, online and social media, with Greenwell stating that the “Kardashian effect” has made it harder for women to keep up with trends and unattainable beauty standards. Reid equally thinks “bought” coverage has led to mistrust between journalist and reader.

Despite the popularity of social media channels such as Instagram and Snapchat, 35% of UK women still turn to traditional magazines for beauty information, the report found. Singh said she has found that nothing increases footfall like traditional print coverage, but she’s also wary of the influence of advertisers and the stalwart big brands that dominate the beauty pages.

The report also found that women in India have the highest levels of confidence, with 91% believing they are beautiful compared to a relatively low rate in the UK – for example, only 22% of British women feel beautiful on their wedding day. Singh believes this is because women in India are introduced to a beauty regime at a young age and is something that bonds mother and daughter.

59% of women also stated that they believe being perceived as attractive is essential to career success, with the highest proportion who felt this coming from China.

Meanwhile, everyone on the panel agreed that treatments that have a visual effect will continue to be popular, even in times of recession. However, at-home solutions for facials, massage and hair removal are on the rise, with 6% using IPL at home due to the cost effective devices available on the market.

The report used the data of 11,000 women in 11 countries.