'Vanity Tax' On Cosmetics And Beauty Services Congressman Proposes | #DontTaxMyBeauty

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"Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe has proposed that a 10- to 30-percent excise tax on cosmetic products as an alternative to imposing additional tax on fuel products," reports Patricia Lourdes Viray on Philstar.com.

Batocabe added that the proposed "vanity tax" will also be imposed on "beauty services such as liposuctions, facelifts, nose jobs, and breast augmentation." He argued that "it would be better to impose a 'vanity tax' on those who want to look good, which is a luxury."

GMA News Online quoted Batocabe as saying, "Ang lipstick P300, dagdagan mo ng P30. Siguro naman ang isang taong nagli-lipstick ay di naman magiging pabigat ang P30 sa kanya, para sa isang lipstick. O ang makeup, dagdagan mo ng 10 porsiyento, di rin pabigat. Kung talagang mabigat na, 'wag ka na mag-makeup, mabubuhay ka naman (For instance, if lipstick costs P300, you add P30 to the price. I suppose for someone who uses lipstick, P30 won't be a burden. If you add a 10-percent tax on makeup, it won't be such a burden either. Because if makeup costs are a burden, then don't use makeup, you'll still live)."

Besides, Batocabe added, if there's a vanity tax, "only those who avail of aesthetic services and buy beauty products, who are mostly the rich, will feel its impact."

However, a lot of people don't really like Batocabe's vanity tax proposal. They vented out on Twitter using the hashtag, "#DontTaxMyBeauty," which trended on Tuesday night, January 10. Below are some of their reactions, which point out that Batocabe's proposed vanity tax will affect a lot of women from all walks of life.

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