When it comes to taking care of their looks, women are more than happy to indulge. Gel nails, twice-weekly blow-dries, a weak-kneed moment at the make-up counter- women, on average, spend £100,000 on cosmetics over a lifetime. That’s around £40 per week or £2,000 a year.

But do men understand the real cost of looking good? And, more importantly, do women tell them?

Lauren Libbert asked four beauty-obsessed women to explain their buying habits and itemise their monthly spend - before asking their other halves to have a guess at the cost. Their partners might have needed a lie-down afterwards...

MELISSA'S MONTHLY BILL: £501

HUSBAND JACK THOUGHT: £185

Melissa Littlewood, 30, an accountant, has been married to Jack, also 30, an IT trainer, for four years. They live in Watford, Herts, and have a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.

Melissa Littlewood, 30, an accountant, ensures she looks pristine on the school run and never leaves the house without make-up (pictured with her husband Jack, 30)

Melissa says: I’ve always been a girlie girl and love everything about beauty. I dyed my hair many different colours when I was younger and started having my nails manicured in my teens.

Recently, I’ve noticed how my skin has become less elasticated and it’s panicked me a little. So I exfoliate and slather myself in expensive face and body moisturising creams daily and do a face mask once a week.

I work for a fashion company, so how I look is very important, although I’d never step out of the house without make-up on, anyway.

Even on the school run, I look pretty pristine. Not only do I feel I’m being judged by the other mums, but I don’t want to be seen as an embarrassment to my children.

She exfoliates and slathers herself in expensive face and body moisturising creams daily and does a face mask once a week

My husband Jack sees me without make-up very infrequently. He tells me I look pretty without it, but this is who I am.

He doesn’t really know how much I spend on myself - he thinks my haircut is the same price as his ten-minute job at the barber’s.

I love trying new products I see advertised on TV, which means parcels arrive regularly. If Jack asks, I’ll say it’s something for the kids.

I went back to work recently after maternity leave and it’s definitely made a difference to our bank balance. Before, I’d be at the shops browsing and buying beauty products every day, but now I only have time to go once a week.

WHAT MELISSA SPENDS A MONTH Monthly haircut and colour: £150. Jack’s estimate: £45 Weekly blow-dries: £60 (£15 a time). Jack’s estimate: £32 (£8 a time) Shampoo, conditioner and hairspray from salon: £40. Jack’s estimate: £10 Gel manicure: £35. Jack’s estimate: £10 Cuticle oil to use in-between manicures: £10. Jack’s estimate: £3 Face creams/moisturisers: £40. Jack’s estimate: £10 Exfoliating masks: £24. Jack’s estimate: £5 Massage: £55. Jack’s estimate: £20 Facial: £35. Jack’s estimate: £15 Eyebrow wax: £12. Jack’s estimate: £20 Make-up: £40. Jack’s estimate: £15 MELISSA’S TOTAL REAL SPEND: £501 WHAT JACK THINKS SHE SPENDS: £185 Advertisement

Jack says: Spending £150 to get her hair done? I’m shocked. It’s £10 for me, so why does hers cost so much?

And why does she pay so much to have her hair blow-dried every week when she’s got a perfectly good hairdryer in our room? I now know why she’s never got any money.

I know Melissa likes to look good, and she does look good. Beauty products cover almost every surface of our bedroom, but I didn’t realise exactly how much they cost.

What she actually spends works out at £6,000 a year. That’s a really good holiday! But if it makes her happy and we can afford it, then I’m not going to kick up a fuss.

I would love her to speed up her beauty routine, though. When we go to a wedding, I take a maximum of 25 minutes to get ready - quick shower and pop on a suit - but an hour later Melissa’s still fussing with her make-up. It’s very annoying.

SARA'S MONTHLY BILL: £963

HUSBAND MARK THOUGHT: £340

Sara Robertshaw, 34, works in freelance marketing and has been married to Mark, 38, an electrical engineer, for 11 years. They have four children under 11 and live in Poole, Dorset.

Sara Robertshaw, 34, works in freelance marketing, and says she is a binge buyer - buying loads of products over five or six days (pictured with her husband Mark)

Sara says: I’m a binge beauty buyer. At the start of the month, I’ll go online and buy loads of products over five or six days - and then I’ll have had my fix and not buy anything for a couple of weeks.

Mark often works away from home Monday to Friday, meaning I can squirrel away my deliveries.

I’m the one in control of the money - I pay all the bills - so if I want to splash out, he’s none the wiser.

I’m quite well known for my beauty prowess. People are always asking me what lipstick I use or for make‑up advice.

Mark often works away from home Monday to Friday, which Sara said was convenient for hiding her deliveries

I started noticing wrinkles around six months ago and had no hesitation booking myself in for Botox. Mark asked me how much it was and I fudged it and said it was about £20 - if he knew the truth, he’d flip.

But my appearance has always been very important to me. All hell can be kicking off in the morning, but I’ll still take at least 35 minutes to put on my make-up - and that’s just my ‘natural’ look.

If I’m going out properly, it can take up to two hours. But I think it’s worth it.

WHAT SARA SPENDS A MONTH Haircut, root touch-up and blow‑dry: £90. Mark’s estimate: £80 Hair colour: £75 (£150 every two months). Mark’s estimate: £40 Shampoo and conditioner: £30. Mark’s estimate: £20 Acrylic nails: £50. Mark’s estimate: £20 Face scrubs/mud masks: £25. Mark’s estimate: £10 Moisturisers, rose water and eye serum: £100. Mark’s estimate: £10 Fake tan: £98. Mark’s estimate: £20 Botox: £100 (£300 every three months). Mark’s estimate: £20 Facial: £35. Mark’s estimate: £15 Whitening toothpaste: £10. Mark’s estimate: £5 Make-up: £350. Mark’s estimate: £100 SARA’S TOTAL REAL SPEND: £963 WHAT MARK THINKS SHE SPENDS: £340 Advertisement

Mark says: Sara’s make-up box is a treasure trove: it folds out and has all these compartments.

The amount of stuff in there is mind-boggling. I tell her she doesn’t need so much, but I know it’s an essential part of her life.

I hate the thought of her having Botox, but does she listen to me? No! So much could go wrong - I’ve seen it on celebrities on TV. She told me it cost £20 and I believed her. I can’t believe how much it really is.

And no one needs £350 of make-up a month. She could cut down a lot. I may have to have a word...

KIM'S MONTHLY BILL: £396.50

PARTNER MATTHEW THOUGHT: £127

Kim Mah, 47, an occupational therapist, and Matthew Orr, 37, who runs a glass balcony business, have been together for 15 years and live in Sheffield.

Kim Mah, 47, an occupational therapist, has an obsession with high end items by Chanel, Clarins and Lancome (pictured with her partner Matthew, 37)

Kim says: My mum always looked immaculate, and I like to take care of myself in the same way.

I’m always trying out different creams and make-up products. I have an obsession with the high-end items by Chanel, Clarins and Lancome, and I can’t leave the hairdressers without splashing out on some newfangled styling products.

Sometimes, I’ll get excited about something I’ve bought, so I’ll show it to Matt and ask what he thinks, but he’s totally uninterested.

She confessed that she can’t leave the hairdressers without splashing out on some 'newfangled styling products'

He has no idea how much it all costs — and he rarely asks. In my view, money’s for spending and, if buying beauty products makes me happy, what’s wrong with that?

Wherever I go, people always tell me I look nice and it makes me feel great. But I’m definitely struggling with grey hair and have to have it dyed regularly. I just add it to my mounting beauty bill!

WHAT KIM SPENDS A MONTH Haircut: £32.50 (£65 every two months). Matthew’s estimate: £12 Hair products: £50. Matthew’s estimate: £10 Hair colour: £30. Matthew’s estimate: £10 Manicures: £38. Matthew’s estimate: £15 Pedicures: £25. Matthew’s estimate: £15 Face creams: £100. Matthew’s estimate: £5 Eyebrows (tinting and waxing) and LVL lashes (lash lift): £56. Matthew’s estimate: £30 Mac make-up service (professional makeover): £25. Matthew’s estimate: £10 Make-up: £40. Matthew’s estimate: £20 KIM’S TOTAL REAL SPEND: £396.50 WHAT MATTHEW THINKS SHE SPENDS: £127 Advertisement

Matthew says: One time, we were in the car on our way to meet friends and Kim had forgotten to put on make-up.

We were already late and she was threatening that we’d have to go home. But then she started rooting in her handbag and found a lipstick, mascara and everything she needed, and just applied it in the car. See - she has make-up everywhere!

Sometimes, she’ll tell me about a product - like this liquid she bought to paint on her eyebrows, which she ordered from America. I balked when she said it was £100.

‘But it looks so good, doesn’t it?’ she said. I just stared at her blankly. No beauty item is worth that much.

I’m astonished she spends so much a month on her hair. And why can’t she buy cheaper face creams?

But she pays her own way and, as long as it doesn’t affect what we’re able to do, then I suppose I’ll have to put up with it.

MARIAN'S MONTHLY BILL: £820

HUSBAND DERMOT THOUGHT: £251

Marian Keogh, 47, a sales manager, has been married for six years to Dermot, 44, who runs a building company. They have an eight-year-old daughter and live in North London.

Marian Keogh, 47, a sales manager, revealed she has turned her fourth bedroom into a beauty parlour in the North London home she shares with her husband Dermot

Marian says: I tell everyone we have a three-bedroom house but, in truth, I’ve turned the fourth bedroom into my beauty parlour. I have so many products that I need my own space in which to get ready, and I love it.

I’ve always been quite glamorous, and ‘dolled-up’. I have my hair blow-dried at the hairdresser’s every week and go to a different ‘expert’ for my nails, toes and waxing.

At my age, you have to be careful you don’t overdo the make-up, so I’m always on the lookout for new, high-tech products that have a subtle but stunning effect, such as a hydrating cream concealer or moisturising cover stick for under my eyes.

She said that she is always on the lookout for new, high-tech products that have a subtle but stunning effect, such as a hydrating cream concealer or moisturising cover stick

I don’t really tell Dermot about my purchases. He’d be shocked to know I could easily spend £70 on a moisturiser. Sometimes, he’ll give me £20 when I’m about to have my hair cut and I think: ‘You have no idea. That’ll just cover the tip!’

To be honest, when I tot it all up, I’m pretty surprised, too: it’s a mini-mortgage. But then, now we have a daughter, we don’t go out very much, so I suppose this is where I splurge.

FACT BOX TITLE Haircut: £155. Dermot’s estimate: £20 Twice-weekly blow-dries: £176 (£22 a time). Dermot’s estimate £80 (£10 a time) Gel nail manicures: £56. Dermot’s estimate: £30 Gel toe pedicures: £32. Dermot’s estimate: £18 Waxing: £38. Dermot’s estimate: £10 Eyebrow tint and shape: £48. Dermot’s estimate: £5 Sunbeds: £20. Dermot’s estimate: £3 Skincare products: £200. Dermot’s estimate: £20 Make-up: £50. Dermot’s estimate: £20 Dental hygienist: £45. Dermot’s estimate: £45 MARIAN’S TOTAL REAL SPEND: £820 WHAT DERMOT THINKS SHE SPENDS: £251 Advertisement

Dermot says: I’m pretty gobsmacked about the cost of everything here. When I gave Marian £20 to go to the hairdresser’s, I thought that would cover it. How wrong I was!

The only price I got right was the dental hygienist and that’s because we both go to the same one.

I don’t take too much notice of what she buys, and I rarely go into her dressing room, but I can see she has a lot of stuff. Sometimes, I sigh when she walks in with yet another shopping bag, but I get ‘the look’, which tells me to back off.

I think Marian looks really good for her age. I’d much prefer the natural look, but I don’t get a say.