Being feminine is more expensive in Greece…

A few years back, there was one way for cheap cosmetics, and that was the duty free in airports and borders. However, in the last few years this has changed due to Greece’s entry in the Eurozone and the legislation changes in customs and tax. Most prices within the EU are now at the same levels. Or are they?

Protothema gr. has conducted research to check out prices in cosmetics in the Greek market and we found out some differences in prices in many products. Being feminine is very much a part of Greek culture. That seems to be something cosmetic companies have picked up on and thereby found a good opportunity to profit more.

The cosmetic brand Chanel has been producing the Coco Mademoiselle No5 lipstick for some years now. In London this lipstick costs 22 pounds (roughly 25 Euros), while the same lipstick costs between 31-33 Euros in big department stores in Greece.
MAC, the international make-up brand that comes from America, seems to have different prices in Greece also. An eye shadow in Berlin’s prestigious department store KaDeWe costs roughly 13 Euros, whereas in Greece it ranges between 19-24 Euros.

The infamous Crème de La Mer, the cream that promises eternal youth, costs 122 Euros in Germany whereas Greeks will pay between 130-150 Euros for it.

YSL, the international haute couture, house also has a line of cosmetics and is widely sold all over the world. A limited edition blush is sold for 36 Euros in Holland and in Greece it can be sold for almost 49 Euros.

We have contacted many of these companies and most of their sales reps have not been available for comment.

Aveeno, the eco-friendly line of cosmetics from Johnson & Johnson, another global colossus of cosmetics, is sold at a price which is estimated at 80% more in the Greek market. The funny thing is that this particular product is produced in Greece and would have no extra costs for the company. Nevertheless, a Londoner will buy a body cream by Aveeno for 4.99 (around 6.5 Euros) and a Greek between 11-14 Euros. We contacted the company and they informed us that they give a suggested price to all wholesale buyers and it is up to them to decide upon the final selling price.

We also spoke to the Panhellenic Union of Cosmetic Industries in Greece and they commented that they do not interfere at all in selling prices that their members decide upon.

Other companies gave their own excuse for the phenomenon - transportation costs. One wonders whether Greek imports are transferred on private jets because that would sure explain the high difference in prices!

The bottom line is that Greek women pay much more in order to be beautiful. And the only logical explanation we could provide is that the Greek market is much smaller than that of the UK, France and Germany