French People Who Don't Buy Shampoo or Detergent Due to Living Expense Worries

A survey revealed that half of the French population is tightening their belts due to concerns about insufficient living expenses, even reducing consumption of basic hygiene products such as shampoo and detergent.

Bathroom image. Pixabay

On the 14th (local time), Yonhap News cited the polling agency IFOP, reporting that in a survey conducted from November 14 to 20 last year targeting 4,003 French adults, 49% of all respondents said they worry about running out of monthly living expenses. In the survey, 41% of respondents expressed anxiety about potentially falling into poverty. Additionally, 21% said they might have to rely on charitable organizations to purchase food.

Economic insecurity has led to a decrease in hygiene product consumption. Forty-seven percent of all respondents said the current economic situation is limiting or encouraging them to reduce their consumption of hygiene products, and 17% reported having experienced situations where they had to choose between food and hygiene products.

The products French people gave up the most were those needed for personal appearance. They mainly gave up makeup products (33% of women), hair dye (27% of women), and moisturizing products (24%). As a result, a significant number of French women reported that they no longer wear makeup (37%) or dye their hair (36%).

There were also quite a few who gave up basic hygiene products. One in ten people stopped purchasing basic hygiene products; 9% of all respondents did not buy shampoo, and 8% gave up toothpaste or shower gel.

The reduction in consumption also affected hygiene-related lifestyle habits. Twenty-four percent of respondents decided not to replace their toothbrushes frequently, and 15% said they do not wash their hair as often as they would like. Laundry habits also changed. Thirty-two percent of respondents said they wear clothes longer to reduce the number of washes, and 21% either stopped using detergent or reduced the amount used. Twenty-two percent of respondents also said they conserve toilet paper.

IFOP analyzed, "Although indicators of economic vulnerability and hygiene poverty slightly improved compared to last year, they have not recovered to pre-COVID-19 levels. In particular, hygiene poverty is no longer an issue limited to a small vulnerable group but is spreading to young people and others." They added, "To prevent this crisis from becoming structural, access to essential products must be reconsidered as a means of social inclusion."