Botox with the Weekly Shop

It was two weeks ago that I had a conversation with a friend about how we’ve all become so ‘digital’ it’s warped our brains. We shared stories of our moments of binary stupidity which went something like this…

One of us, while reading a newspaper on an underground train which was approaching a tunnel, had the thought that the newspaper would go when the wifi went, only to realise the paper wasn’t going to suddenly disappear. The other; enjoying pluvial sounds coming from outdoors, which suddenly became dampened by building works, had the thought to ‘turn up the volume’.

Fast forward two seconds of thought and we realised how stupid we’d been. Oh dear.

Welcome to 2018. If you’re not online you’re part of a lost society. If you lose your wifi you’re just plain lost. The very latest? Keep up, it is: freezing our faces. Well specifically, the latest is crystallizing our beauty while we pop to the shops…

Botox is a no-brainer for many. Those who frequent (in London) Harley Street on the regular know the drill. We’re seeing our surgeons more regularly than we’re seeing our hairdresser. Well, scratch that because there’s a new kid in town. Superdrug. Yes, you read that correctly: the high street retailer. We kid you not. Nipping out for shampoo and hand cream…top up that filler and banish those wrinkles with botox. Shock you not, this was reported everywhere yesterday in the news. It’s said those wanting the liquid youth will have to be 25 and over but the British Association of Aesthetics and Plastic Surgeons are not happy. They say it’s too risky to perform under such circumstances.

The demand from younger people for botox and fillers has shot up and shows like Love Island are apparently being blamed. Vogue have been quick to point out that Superdrug were a sponsor for the show but is all this really inextricably linked? Generally it’s the case that people just want to look their best and if procedures are more affordable than ever then people are going to take advantage of that.

It has been said that those in the workplace wanting a career climb are feeling the pressures evermore to look their best. We spoke to a contact working for a well known corporate on the topic who commented:

If you look tired, regardless of age, thoughts about your competency in the workplace are going to arise. No one wants to look like they’re not coping and actually they may well be. If lines on your face are letting you down and conveying the wrong message, fix it. – Anon.

Superdrug’s response to the media attention is as follows:

“We’re launching this service in response to customer demand for anti-wrinkle and skin rejuvenation treatments. We’re listening to what people are telling us they would like which is the reassurance that if they choose to have aesthetic treatments then it will be administered by highly qualified nurse practitioners in a private consultation room,” said Caris Newson, head of health and wellbeing services at Superdrug. “We know from our research among 10,000 customers that feeling confident about how you look is linked to a person’s wellbeing, and that’s different for all of us. For some it might mean having their eyebrows threaded or getting their nails done, for others taking new vitamins or getting fitter, or it might be about smoothing out fine lines.”

Business savvy perhaps if the demand from their consumers is accurate.

Too much to soon? Or are Superdrug copping the wrath because they’re simply the first high street retail chain to bring this mass market demand mainstream? Tell us your thoughts…