Australian women are more stressed than ever, with new research from Oz Hair & Beauty showing that women use sex and skincare to relax and alleviate stress.
The first quarterly Oz Hair & Beauty report, The New Beauty Paradigm, reveals that nearly half of Australian women find it hard to de-stress. 3 in 4 Australian women say that their self-care routine – including sex and skincare – is important in finding balance in their life.
Australian women are more stressed than ever. More than 1 in 10 Australians work more than 50 hours per week and, in addition, the average Australian woman spends 5 to 14 hours a week doing unpaid domestic work, according to the ABS.
However, the ways in which they alleviate stress are becoming more holistic. In the first quarterly Oz Hair & Beauty report, it is revealed just how Australian women de-stress and find balance in their lives.
Skincare and sex
According to the research, exercise, skincare and haircare are essential parts of Aussie women’s self-care and wellbeing routine. To de-stress, younger women (18-34) turn to their daily skincare routine and sexual pleasure, with one quarter enjoying sex with their partner, and 1 in 7 turning to self-pleasure.
Anthony Nappa at Oz Hair & Beauty said: “Stress-levels are at an all-time high, but what we’re seeing is a much more holistic take on self-care and wellbeing. Australian women use their daily skincare and haircare routines as a moment of mindfulness, and enjoy sexual pleasure to alleviate stress. It’s an incredibly positive trend, where self-care is not just about looking good on the outside, it’s about feeling good on the inside.”
The research reveals that money (57%), physical health (49%) and mental health (39%) are the main causes of stress. Looking good is further down on the list, stated by 1 in 3 as a source of stress.
However, despite looks not being a big source of stress for Australian women, the impact a good hair day has on their confidence should not be underestimated. 6 in 10 women say that a good hair or skin day makes them feel confident, only trumped by feeling fit for 7 in 10 women.
Dr Jillian Stansfield, Counselor at Running Minds and specialising in women’s self-esteem, said: “Beauty rituals can help reduce stress and anxiety in many ways. When you put effort into looking good, it boosts confidence and makes you feel good. But more importantly, a beauty ritual is a form of mindfulness that can help you clear your mind. Focusing on the moment, taking in the senses and feeling the textures, it’s a great way to de-stress.”
Australian women spend an average of $106 a month on their own wellbeing. This is primarily spent on exercise, skincare and haircare. Younger women (18-34) also spend their money on meditation, sexual pleasure and therapy.
