WOMEN ARE paying up to three times the price paid by men for essentially the same beauty products, a survey by the Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) has revealed.
From razors to deodorants, moisturisers to shower gel, women are being charged a premium for beauty products, with manufacturers and retailers unable to give a satisfactory explanation for the price differences, the association says.
A pack of 10 twin-blade disposable razors for men costs €1.65 in Boots, for example, while the same product for women costs €2.99 for just five razors - a difference of over 260 per cent. In Tesco, own-brand razors for men cost €1.05 for 10, for women the cost is the same but for just five razors.
The survey, published in Consumer Choicemagazine, says the phenomenon of charging women more to tend their beauty is a common one, even when the product is made by the same manufacturer and sold by the same retailer. Adidas Pro Level anti-perspirant deodorant, marketed for men, costs €2.02 in Tesco for a 250ml bottle. In the same shop, a product with the same name but for women costs €4.05 for 150mls.
The CAI contacted manufacturers and retailers for an explanation but said many queries were left unanswered and some responses were not satisfactory.
"Manufacturers blamed the retailers for the prices they set but neglected to answer when we asked what their actual recommended retail prices were," said Consumer Choiceresearcher Sinead McMahon.
She said Gillette's brand communication manager explained the shelf price was "at the discretion of the retailer" which explained the variation in pricing. Gillette Senor Excel razor blades for men cost €5.83 for five in Superquinn, but €7.95 for five for women in the same store.
Superquinn told the researchers it didn't set out to discriminate and was simply "tracking" prices in the market.
Ms McMahon said consumers should ignore gender bias in packaging and marketing of beauty and bodycare products and go for the cheapest version.
But she acknowledged this might be easier with some products than others, and that women might not want to smell strongly of men's products.
Another suggestion is to identify the active ingredient and then find cheaper products that contain it.
