French broadcaster BFMTV reported this week that a new survey by NielsenIQ has found that roughly 45% of French citizens have had to reduce their spending on beauty products this year.

According to Nihal Ambad, the head of sales at the French beauty product chain Passion Beauté, prices for perfumery products have gone up by as much as 30%, and only special promotions have helped his company continue to make enough sales to remain open and in business.

The poll found that 41% of those surveyed were looking for cheaper products, and 13% admitted that to save money they had begun to produce their own soap and shampoos at home, with that number increasing to 21% for those under 35 years old.

The most popular items being made at home, according to the report are facials, shampoo, and soap.

Claire Marty, vice-president of Global Beauty Vertical at NielsenIQ said in an interview with BFMTV, “To curb their spending on hygiene and beauty, the French first opt to buy less expensive brands such as private labels, they also use promotional tickets or go shopping less often,” adding the remote working has also served to reduce the demand for beauty-care products.

Of the survey respondents, 55% reported that they would never stop buying cosmetics, and 45% specifically cited nail care products. The most strongly favored items according to the data were facial cosmetics (80%) and varnishes (82%).