英國普通家庭每年用于美容和美發的支出占家庭預算的2%。這其中包括洗漱用品、化妝品和相關電器的花銷。相比之下，受女性歡迎的護理包括去美發店吹發，而男性則尤其會花錢做按摩和面部護理。本期 “隨身英語” 聊一聊美容舒心所需的成本。

詞匯：beauty 美容

How much do you spend on looking after yourself each month? We all like to look and feel good, so it's nice to spend money on ourselves sometimes! You might spend your hard-earned cash on visiting the hairdresser, a gym membership or pampering yourself with a massage.

When it comes to hair and beauty, the average UK household spends just under 2% of their budget, according to personal finance experts, Nimble Fins. That's about ￡38 a month if you have an annual salary of ￡30,000. Areas that were looked at in their survey included toiletries, cosmetics, and related electrical appliances, like hairdryers.

However, it seems that some people spend much more than that. The booking app for all things aesthetic, Pamperbook, carried out a survey in 2022 of 900 UK salons and freelancers. The results found that female clients who use the app spend, on average, ￡1,000 per month. The survey showed that the most popular treatments were lashes and lip fillers, while customers frequently visited hair salons for a blow dry.

But it's not only women who spend money on beauty. Though men and women visit spas more or less equally, according to the International Spa Association, or ISPA, men spend more on treatments. A national survey in 2019 found that male participants spend more on massages and facials per year than women – ￡501 to ￡445. Garrett Mersberger, head of the ISPA, said: "Men are more aware that it's not just a thing I go to to get pampered. It's an actual lifestyle choice with benefits to my body, my wellness."

Whether you tend to spend money on these things or not, it can certainly feel good to treat yourself every now and then!

詞匯表

look after 護理，善待
hairdresser 理發師
gym membership 健身房會員
pamper 精心護理
massage 按摩
toiletries 洗漱用品
cosmetics 化妝品
electrical appliance 電器
hairdryer 吹風機
aesthetic 美的
salon 美容院，美發店
client 客戶，顧客
lash 睫毛
lip filler 豐唇
blow dry 吹發
spa 水療中心
treatment 護理
facial 面部護理
lifestyle choice 生活方式的選擇
wellness 健康
treat 犒勞

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What percentage of the average UK household budget is spent on hair and beauty?

2. What were the most common treatments for women in the 2022 Pamperbook survey?

3. True or False? Men visit spas more than women.

4. How much do women spend on massages and facials per year on average?

5. True or False? Garrett Mersberger believes that men go to spas to get pampered.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. My back was aching a lot, but the therapist _______ the pain away.

looked after              blow dry               pampered            massaged

2. I've asked for new _______ for my birthday. I want to wear more make-up.     

aesthetic                  lifestyle                 wellness               cosmetics

3. I'm going to the shop to buy some _______. Do you need anything?

toiletries                   clients                   facials                   spas

4. The _______ I see is so lovely. I can talk to her about anything.  

hairdresser              salon                     treatment              treat

5. My _______ is expensive, but I go there every day, so it's worth it.

lip fillers                   lashes                    beauty                  gym membership

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. What percentage of the average UK household budget is spent on hair and beauty?
When it comes to hair and beauty, the average UK household spends just under 2% of their budget.

2. What were the most common treatments for women in the 2022 Pamperbook survey?
The survey showed that the most popular treatments were lashes and lip fillers.

3. True or False? Men visit spas more than women.
False. Men and women visit spas more or less equally, according to the International Spa Association.

4. How much do women spend on massages and facials per year on average?
￡445. A national survey in 2019 found that male participants spend more on massages and facials per year than women, ￡501 to ￡445. 

5. True or False? Garrett Mersberger believes that men go to spas to get pampered.
False. Garrett Mersberger, head of the ISPA, said:"Men are more aware that it's not just a thing I go to to get pampered. It's an actual lifestyle choice with benefits to my body, my wellness."

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. My back was aching a lot, but the therapist massaged the pain away.

2. I've asked for new cosmetics for my birthday. I want to wear more make-up.    

3. I'm going to the shop to buy some toiletries. Do you need anything?

4. The hairdresser I see is so lovely. I can talk to her about anything. 

5. My gym membership is expensive, but I go there every day, so it's worth it.