Dear Esther,
My friends and I put £20 a month into a savings account and at this time of year (ie this coming Saturday) we take our £240 to the shops to spend on ourselves after a fancy cocktail/lunch situation. The rules of this shopping trip is that the purchase must be a total indulgence and something you would otherwise talk yourself out of buying, and ideally you blow the dosh on one single thing.
Clothes are out for me at the minute and I was thinking I would go for some really fancy skin care. Is there anything you or your Spikers would recommend? Or is there some other treat I should go for?
I realise 200 quid is not a lot of money for some of us but it’s quite the splurge for me.
Would love your help!
Andrea x
I LOVE this idea! It’s quite spenny but I really like the Charlotte tilbury magic cream. Happy shopping and lunching! X
Such a great idea! You could set yourself up with a bit of a Bobbi Brown system for that – I started using some of their products a few years ago and haven’t looked back (under eye repair cream, moisture milk and vitamin enriched face base are all excellent). Their counter staff are amazing apparently. Or maybe a handbag – aurora london do gorgeous bags you’ll use every day. Enjoy!! X
I am always shocked, shocked by the price of the very best (alas, expensive really is better) perfumes, so I would blow it all on something I couldn’t normally justify, like Boy by Chanel, Aventus by Creed (but not the inferior Aventus For Her), Rose by Francis Kurkdijian or one of the spendy Tom Ford ones. And in terms of Pleasure Per Penny, perfume makes complete economic sense. Honestly.
Great idea! I love love the Drunk Elephant Lala or whatever it’s called moisturiser ( with a lavender lid), and also the vitamin C serum is delicious. The dr Dennis gross daily exfoliating pads are amazing and totally worth the ££ I reckon, and the By Terry skincare range is a total treat. You can get all that at Space NK. Happy shopping!
Skinceuticals Phloretin CF
This is a brilliant idea.
If you like make up, how about a make up lesson and products at somewhere really good? If you’re in London, I recommend Trish McEvoy at Liberty. For £240 you could have a lesson (redeemable against products) and pretty much every product you wanted.
Otherwise I got I would go for a beautiful scarf or purse, probably Liberty again (I have Liberty on the brain). Or sunglasses?
I also love the perfume suggestion above.
I realise none of this is skincare- sorry!
Sisley Black Rose Face Mask. Even if you don’t buy try and talk them into a sample. It’s amazing and smells like everything expensive should smell.
What a brilliant idea.
Not beauty at all, but I got a pair of wireless headphones for Christmas and they’re life-changingly enjoyable. I listen to a funny podcast on my way into work, lovely music on the way home, and a mix of the two doing boring jobs at home during naptime. And no wires means no annoying tangles with scarves, handbag straps etc. I’d never have spent the money on myself; it feels like a real treat.
Hi Dee – I got some too and aren’t they amazing! I listen to podcasts and audio books on my dog walks now so pootle along the lanes educating myself about all sorts with my phone safely stashed in my pocket.
I don’t know that this would cover the whole amount, but for me treats from L’Occitane are a treat and are not cheap so perhaps some nice things from there. Also if I have ever had a financial windfall and it has allowed I have bought a small piece of jewellery and now have a small collection of pieces that I attach to the memories of those windfalls so that is another possible idea for a future year perhaps? I think that this is a lovely idea that you and your friends have, have a fun day!
Fabulous idea! Now that the world has Beauty Pie (thank you for the introduction Esther!), there’s no need to spend ££££ on skincare or make-up. So I would probably buy shoes/boots or a new bag. That said, I love the perfume and jewellery suggestions above. Happy shopping!
Brilliant idea! Keihl’s Crème de Corps (the yellow one) in the massive pump bottle, which is £48. It’s excellent, doesn’t really smell of anything, lasts for ages, and the pump bottle means you will actually use it, because it’s so quick to splurt out into the hand. I used it as a facial moisturiser too until I hit 40 and needed a bit more oomph AND if you get some at this time of year, use it neat until about May, then pump about half of what’s left into another bottle and dilute a bit with warm water (shake well), use that through the summer and there should still be enough original left to last you till January again. And you still have £150 to spend on everything else!
Jewellery for me too, although if you’re going to London, the perfume shops on Elizabeth Street, like ‘Jo Loves’ (the brand now owned and developed by Jo Malone), or the amazing shop ‘Les Senteurs’ opposite are worth a visit.
This is such a brilliant idea – I might pinch it for myself! I’d go to Selfridges or Liberty and one of the swanky make-up stands and have a make-over done (you’d need to book this I think in advance) and then get some gorgeous new products that make you happy every time you use them. Charlotte Tilbury spring to mind. Have a wonderful time!
I would get Liberty’s pyjamas. Seems luxurious and splurgy. And useful!
All the above sounds amazing. I’d also add to the list a cashmere dressing gown which you could love and stay cosy in for years and years. Think M and S and the White company do them for about your budget.
Wow! I have spent the last few hours completely absorbed in a last-minute, must-get-done now work project and have just this minute raised my head to take a breath. First call: The Spike. And all these wonderful suggestions! I will research them all but I must say, perfume hasn’t been on the radar and sounds like a great idea. Thank you so much, everyone.
Our little New Year Splurge day is really fab if anyone fancies doing it with their crew. I know we should be all about the self-care etc. but if I had a spare £240 I’d be buying new boots for the boys or paying more to the credit card blah blah. … this way I can shed all feelings of responsibility and just enjoy.
Thanks again all x
Definitely perfume. And wear it everyday – even if you are at home alone or just in jeans and a sweatshirt. I love Creed, too, and Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle.
£200 will be hard to spend on a single skincare item unless you go super high end and tbh I would avoid that as you don’t want to lay out that kind of money without knowing the product is amazing and works on you. I second perfume and jewellery suggestions. But if anyone cares my top recommendation for a skin care item is the neal’s yard wild rose beauty balm. It is heavenly. You can use it to cleanse, moisturise as a mask or as a healing balm on mild chaps and dry skin or on abrasions. It is soft and not irritating and my skin is really glowing and clear since I have had it in my arsenal. To the point people have complimented me on my skin and as a life long acne sufferer this is rare! It is about £40, so not cheap but maybe not the splurge you’re after.
Get a Frederic Malle perfume or spent it on a good new skincare wardrobe – £240 on a single skincare products is INSANE. Also, Aromatherapy Associates Bath oils are heaven.