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While we're in the midst of tax season, female readers may be familiar with something that won't show up on an annual return: the Pink Tax.
Go down to your local CVS, department store, salon, or even your dry cleaners, and you'll find that products marketed towards women cost more money than those geared for men. That includes everything from cosmetics and bathroom supplies to clothing and salon services.
This is the Pink Tax, aka The Woman's Tax: the additional costs women pay for nearly identical products. It may be a few cents here and a few cents there, but added up, it can put a dent in your bank account.
Skeptics say that some women's products and services are intrinsically more expensive, but the numbers are stark in any case. Last year, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs revealed in a comparison study of 400 male/female products that the women's versions cost more at least 42% of the time, and that women pay at least 7% more than men do on these purchases.
Which products are most commonly susceptible to the dreaded Pink Tax? Read on to find out the items for which women always pay more.
Flickr/p_a_hHair is hair, but women will pay more for razors and razor blades than men do. Compare the refillable Schick Hydro razor line: The men's Schick Hydro 5 costs $8.52 while the women's Schick Hydro Silk checks in at $9.59.
Additionally, a 4-pack blade replacement for the men's version costs about $12.60, while women will pay $15.61. Added up, women will pay $4.08 more for the initial razor and one pack of new blades. Mind you, both razor handles are nearly identical in appearance (except for color) and have five blades with a lubricating strip. There's nothing in its design or performance to suggest why the women's version should cost more than it does.
Another example of two very similar products from the same brand costing more for women is face creams and anti-aging moisturizers. The Daily Share compared two from Neutrogena: The men's Age Fighter face moisturizer cost $10.35/oz. while the women's Healthy Skin anti-wrinkle cream cost $11.42/oz. Both products share most of the same ingredients, including Retinol.
The Daily Share also showed the disparity between how much women and men pay for haircuts and salon styling. According to the site, the national average men's haircut costs $28; for women, that price jumps to $44.
