Global Glamonomics: Beauty on a Budget
By Elizabeth Flahive
Special Offer
USA
Total Monthly Spending: $2483, Total Monthly Time Commitment: 34 hours
Jennifer Fisherman-Ruff, 38, publicist, Equinox Spas, New York City
American girls — especially those in big cities — are addicted to beauty rituals, says Jennifer Fisherman-Ruff: "We have easy access to everything. And once you see the difference between a salon blowout and your own, there's no going back." That said, her fellow Americans spend over $12 billion annually on haircolor and styling products for at-home use, too. Fisherman-Ruff sounds the familiar refrain about the American obsession with youth ("How many of your friends accept gray hair or weight gain gracefully like Europeans do?"), but notes that these days, even the country's youth are chasing, well, youth. "I didn't get my first highlights until I was 25, but now there are 16-year-olds sitting next to me at the salon." Probably the same girls working out beside her at the gym, already trying to maintain their figures.
SKIN
In the morning, Fisherman-Ruff layers eye cream, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. At night, she applies a prescription azelaic-acid cream to treat her rosacea. She visits the dermatologist for a monthly peel to minimize fine lines and keep skin even, while treating the rare pimple with Benefit Boo Boo Zap! Every two months, she goes in for a laser hair-removal treatment.
Monthly Time Commitment: 4 hours (8 minutes a day)
Monthly Spending: $520
HAIR
Fisherman-Ruff achieves bounce with daily use of volumizing conditioners, mousse, and a pre-breakfast set with Babyliss Ceramic Hot Rollers. She gets her hair colored every four to six weeks, in addition to twice-weekly blowouts at Salon Eliút Rivera. Every morning she takes Philip Kingsley vitamins for hair.
Monthly Time Commitment: 7.5 hours (15 minutes a day)
Monthly Spending: $755
MAKEUP
During the workweek, she hones a polished look; bronzer and brown MAC blush (used as eyeshadow) are staples. She experiments with a new tube of mascara every month.
Monthly Time Commitment: 4 hours (8 minutes a day)
Monthly Spending: $100
BODY
Fisherman-Ruff stocks up on Molton Brown body wash for the shower. She uses unscented body lotions that won't compete with her signature scent: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. She spray-tans twice a month for a safe, golden glow. Mani/pedis weekly, massages monthly, eyebrows bimonthly.
Monthly Time Commitment: 4.5 hours
Monthly Spending: $488
FITNESS
Two days a week, she takes a Power Pilates class, two days she runs, and on Sundays in the wintertime, she ice-skates with her kids.
Monthly Time Commitment: 14 hours
Monthly Spending:: $160 for gym membership, $460 for private Pilates sessions.
FISHERMAN-RUFF'S BEAUTY BAG:
1. NYDG Physician's UV Defense Sunblock in SPF 30
2. MAC Tinted Lipglass in Lychee Luxe
3. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum
4. Philip Kingsley Smooth Cream
5. Priori Idebenone Eye Serum
6. Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation
7. Benefit Boo Boo Zap!
8. Darac Beauty Feature Focus Your Face Definer
9. Kérastase Resistance Volumactive Mousse
10. Molton Brown Bath & Shower Gel in Energising Seamoss
11. Mineral FX in M50
12. MAC Blush in Format
13. Allergan Azelex cream
14. DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew
