Archive for August, 2010

The Price of Beauty in Saudi Arabia

Women in Saudi Arabia have increasing access to the latest global fashion trends and the Arab pop industry through their televisions, prompting a growing demand for high-end beauty products. Indeed, in the past year, Saudi women spent $2.4 billion on cosmetics, one of the highest per capita sums in the world. This has sparked a debate throughout the country, as religious leaders condemn this new development. Official rules limit beauty parlor licenses, which leaves companies vulnerable to raids by the Mutawa, or the religious police. Some beauty parlors display stickers warning women of damnation for plucking eyebrows or showing a made-up face to anyone other than their husband.