More than half of Brits want to change the way they look

• 58% of people want to change their bodies
• Cost cited as biggest barrier to following a beauty regime
• Two thirds of people spend over six minutes showering

Brits are suffering from bad body image with more than 35 million* of us wanting to change our bodies, according to research released today by Mira Showers.  3 million* people, around 5% of the population, also state that they 'hate' their body.

The big barrier to body beauty

The credit crunch is providing the biggest barrier to getting body beautiful, with 46% of us stating that we do not have enough money for a beauty regime, this figure rises to a whopping 60% of women.  Those in Wales are feeling the pinch the most, with 55% citing cost as the main barrier. The cost of a beauty regime is also a problem for 54% of 18-24 year olds, who feel they cannot afford a preen regime.
Two thirds of Brits are 'water wasters', taking over six minutes to shower, with almost a third showering for more than 11 minutes, using over 100 litres*2 of water each time.  By becoming a water saver and taking no more than three minutes to wash (like 7% of Brits), you not only save 74 litres*2  of water each time, but also money, with lower energy costs for water heating and less metred water to pay for.

Death of the Metrosexual?

Despite recent talk of men becoming increasingly concerned about and caring for their looks, the research shows that 'metrosexual' men may be scarce - a third of men have no interest in sticking to a beauty regime. Four out of ten men spend less than 10 minutes a week on a beauty regime, with a total of 63% spending less than 20 minutes - a contrast to ladies, 83% of whom spend over ten minutes a week looking good. 
With men spending just over an hour in the shower over the course of the week, even those not concerned with spending time on beauty can take steps to enhance their health and looks, with simple exercises such as head massage and skin toning activities that can be carried out during your daily shower.
Beauty Expert Tricia Welch says: "A shower is a cheap, easy and quick way to help your body look and feel fantastic and 71% see showers as key to their beauty regime.  This is great news as showering alone improves blood flow and circulation, ensuring toxins are removed from the body and that oxygen is sent to the body's tissues.  In addition there are a number of things you can do as part of your daily shower to help improve your appearance and wellbeing, tackling cellulite and tightening and toning the skin -- especially important in summer when we bare all in our bikinis."
 

For more information contact mira@lucrecommunications.com or call 0208 332 9690 and speak to Corinne, Hannah or Nicola.
 

*Population figures from Office of National Statistics
*2  Water usage based on figures from http://www.easyanswer.net/ariel/uk/shower/closed.asp

The research surveyed 1,000 UK adults, was conducted by The Leadership Factor and took place in August 2008.  YourSayPays is a research panel operated by The Leadership Factor, the UK's leading source of customer satisfaction data. For further details www.leadershipfactor.com or tel 01484 467004 for further details.

Additional findings:

• Women have the biggest body woes, with almost two thirds (65%) unhappy with what they see in the shower, and for around five in ten people this is nothing new, with dissatisfaction emerging more than five years ago.  For guys however, the pressure to look good is more recent, with around a third (36%), starting to lack body confidence in the last five years.
   
• Those in the Republic of Ireland are most unhappy with their bodies, more than three quarters (77%) would like to change, whereas those above the border in Northern Ireland feel the most body beautiful with only four in ten dissatisfied (43%).
   
• Time is also a big barrier to beauty, with a third (31%) of us putting ourselves last, stating that we simply do not have enough time for a beauty regime. 25-34 year olds find it trickiest to fit a beauty regime -- 40% feel time is a problem.
   
• People aged 18-24 pamper and preen the most with a quarter spending more than 51 minutes a week on their regime. 18-24s also spend longest showering -- 19% spend more than 16 minutes.  The average being 6-10 minutes
   
• Seven out of ten people (69%) feel that taking a shower helps them feel confident and look good at work and 55% believe it's essential to have a shower before heading to the office.  However, despite this less than half of people (49%) shower daily. 

Tricia Welch's seven steps to make the most of your one stop shower spa

• Energise & repair - showering increases the heart rate and blood flow, improving circulation and stimulating the senses so you feel more mentally alert. It helps detoxify too, removing waste products from the body while sending oxygen and nutrients to the tissues to repair damage.  To add extra zest, mix six to eight drops of orange, lemon, grapefruit or mandarin essential oil in 50ml of water then sprinkle it into the shower tray before you switch on your shower.
   
• Head case - an in-shower scalp massage clears tension and feeds the hair by increasing blood flow and nutrients. Place fingertips on the hair line and make tiny rubbing circles all over the underlying bone. Rinse, then hold of handfuls of hair, tugging it upwards to awaken the scalp. Finish by applying firm but soothing, pressure movements with the pads of the fingers on top of the head.
   
• Express facial - for clear, bright skin slather a creamy cleanser all over your face and neck, massaging it into your skin with firm circular movements (avoid the delicate eye area). Next, press a clean tissue into your skin to increase absorption before wiping off the excess. Continue showering so that the steam can aid the deep cleaning process and  finish by rinsing with tepid water.
   
• Tackle cellulite - 80% of women suffer the lumps and bumps of cellulite on thighs and bottom. Either tackle it before you shower; dry body-brushing stimulate the skin's lymphatic system to eliminate waste -- use a firm, natural bristle brush with firm, upward sweeping movements, or alternatively, use a loofah or textured mitt on dampened skin and rub gently with sweeping, upward strokes.
   
• The poorest area of circulation is your legs, so to give them a much needed boost, and put back the spring in your step, aim the shower head at your feet first, then move the shower stream steadily up your body and repeat three times.
   
• Tighten & tone - As you shower, switch between hot and cold to maintain the skin's elasticity by opening and closing the pores. Warm water dilates the blood vessels increasing blood flow to skin and muscles while cold water stimulates, constricting blood vessels, sending the flow towards the internal organs, helping them function more efficiently. Completing your shower with a blast of cold will leave you feeling tingling fresh and toned all over.
   
• Deep clean - Zap stubborn zits on blemish prone areas like back and shoulders with a weekly deep exfoliation using a homemade salt and oil scrub. Skin will be more receptive to moisturising with nourishing body lotions and creams while creating an even surface for the application of self tan. To make this cheap and simple scrub, mix half a cup of oil with a cup of sea salt and a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil.
   
• Shower zen - research shows that relaxation and regeneration are considered as important as cleansing during the evening showering process. Take a warm shower before bed and spend a minute luxuriating in the warm, running water, breathing slowly and deeply. To combat stress, visualise a calm, beautiful scene and imagine yourself there.

Tricia Welch has been a beauty writer and editor for the national press and women's glossy magazines for over 20 years. Writing for titles from Marie Claire to Zest, Tricia was formerly beauty and style editor of OK! Magazine, and has written health and beauty columns for The Sunday Mirror, M Magazine and Top Sante.