Flawless skin top priority of beauty-concious consumers Pampered, peeled and toned skin is the number one priority for image-conscious consumers around the world and they are going to adopt increasingly extreme measures to get it, a survey showed on Friday. A survey by research group AC Nielsen across 46 countries found that one in three people spend most of their beauty budget on skincare, with Asian and U.S. consumers leading the trend. Skin whitening is the most sought after treatment in Asia, the survey showed, with one in 10 Asian consumers buying bleaching products and 50 percent saying they would lighten their skin if money was no object. The survey also predicts a massive rise in the use of facial treatments such as masks, peels, serums and oils. "Consumers tend to take a vested interest in their skincare regime in their 30s and 40s and at this life stage have more disposable income to invest in beauty extras," Patrick Dodd, president of AC Nielsen Europe said. L'Oreal, one of the world's largest cosmetics group, said its customers spent 3.85 million euros ($5.24 million) on skincare products in 2006, up nearly 12 percent on the previous year. "The beauty industry shows no sign of slowing down as beauty and personal care products have become 'must have' items in every household," Dodd said. The survey found that 78 percent of people feel under increasing pressure to look good, and the desire to be beautiful is not just restricted to women. Nearly 80 percent of people welcome the arrival of the "metrosexual" male, a term used to describe men who use a myriad of beauty products to take care of their appearance, with American men the most enthusiastic about the trend. The United States have just become the new home of British footballer David Beckham, the face of Procter & Gamble's Gillette skincare brand, who signed a $250 million soccer transfer deal earlier this year with U.S. team LA Galaxy. Beckham, famed for his fashionable hairstyles, diamond stud earrings and for wearing a sarong on the beach, is a metrosexual style icon par excellence. The survey also found that consumers were not just obsessed with flawless skin -- haircare products are among the most sought after treatments globally, especially in Latin America and Asia. L'Oreal customers spent 3.63 million euros on haircare products in 2006. (Reuters)

上周五的一項調查顯示，保養、修護、滋潤皮膚是全世界在意形象的消費者們的首要大事，而且他們將為此采取越來越“極端”的措施。 AC尼爾森調查集團對46個國家開展的一項調查發現，三分之一的人在護膚上的花銷占美容總花銷的大頭，這一潮流為亞洲和美國的消費者所引領。 調查顯示，皮膚美白在亞洲最為盛行，十分之一的亞洲消費者購買過皮膚漂白產品，50%的人稱如果經濟上不成問題，他們會去做美白護理。 此外，調查預測，使用面膜、去角質用品、乳液和精油類等護膚品的人將大幅增加。 AC尼爾森集團歐洲區總監帕特里克·多德說：“30歲至40歲之間的消費者對護膚很感興趣，在這個年齡段，他們有更多的可支配收入花在高級美容產品上。” 據全球最大的化妝品集團之一歐萊雅公司介紹，他們的顧客2006年在護膚品上共花費了385萬歐元，比上一年增長了近12%。 多德說：“美容業的增長勢頭絲毫沒有減緩，因為美容類和個人護理類產品已成為每家每戶的‘必需品’。” 調查發現，78%的受訪者感到要變美的壓力越來越大，而且這種想變得更美的愿望不僅限于女性。 近80%的受訪者歡迎“都市中性男”浪潮的到來，“都市中性男”指的是大量使用美容品護理皮膚的男性，美國男性對這一潮流的到來最為興奮。 不久前，美國迎來英國足球名將貝克漢姆，這位寶潔吉列特產品的代言人于今年初與美國洛杉磯銀河隊簽了一份2.5億美元的轉會合同。 以新潮發型、鉆石耳釘和在海灘穿著布裙而著名的小貝就是“都市中性男”的典型代表。 調查發現，消費者不僅向往擁有無暇的肌膚，護發產品也受到世界各地消費者的追捧，尤其在拉丁美洲和亞洲。 歐萊雅2006年護發類產品的銷售額達到363萬歐元。 （英語點津姍姍編輯）