At the outset, I would like to remind you that:
Right, now that is out of the way, I can tell you what I have my eyes on. If you are a regular reader, you’ll be unsurprised that shoes feature so heavily. I have a wedding to attend to in February and it is so hard to not buy all the glitzy and glamorous shoes on sale. I have been exceptionally disciplined and not splurged on a pair of Valentino shoes – I just cannot justify their existence – given that even a fraction of their price would be a meaningful contribution to a foodbank. Before you think I am altruism incarnate, I have a couple of Christian Louboutin’s that I have never even worn.
Are there more bargains to be found?
I would say that there are more bargains on clothing and shoes but not so much on beauty and skincare products (excluding advent calendars etc). I think the combination of offers pre-Thanksgiving or as part of a Thanksgiving promotion, is the best time to buy skincare and beauty products, especially expensive tools/devices
Beauty products to buy…
The best bargains are Huda Beauty’s advent calendar and L’Occitane’s Ramadan giftset
Huda Beauty Advent Calendar
The original price of this calendar was US$ 175 and a rough calculation indicates that the contents are worth US$ 250+. The sale price is currently US$ 123 in the US – that’s a 30% reduction from US$ 175 – but stacks up pretty favourably against US$ 250.
If you are a Huda Beauty fan, I don’t need to tell you this is a fantastic deal – but I will 🙂 The calendar contains 12 products including a full-sized Mercury Retrograde palette that retails at c.US$ 70, so you are essentially paying about US$ 65 for 11 products. I know, bargain.
What irks me (as it usually does) is that the same calendar costs me AED 529 (or US$ 144), which is about US$ 20 more expensive. I don’t get why there is a price disparity, but I am still going to buy the discounted price calendar.
Available at Huda Beauty online.
Calendar contains WISHFUL Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub, Huda Beauty Hoodie #23 Lenghtie Lashes, Huda Beauty Lip Contour in shade Icon, WISHFUL Thirst Trap Cocoon Mask, WISHFUL Get Even Rose oil (10 ml), KAYALI MUSK | 12 (10 ml), Huda Beauty Medium Nude Obsessions Palette, Huda Beauty Melted Shadow in shade Pink Champagne & Bubble Bath and Life Liner Duo Pencil & Liquid Line, Huda Beauty Mini Liquid Matte in shade Bombshell, Huda Beauty Power Bullet in shade El Cinco De Mayo, KAYALI VANILLA | 28 (10 ml), Huda Beauty Mercury Retrograde Eyeshadow PaletteL’Occitane Ramadan calendar
When I lived in Zurich I used to live in the L’Occitane store, mainly because there was so little choice. It was either Neutrogena’s sticky and unusable handcream for US$ 2 or Molton Brown’s hand lotion for US$ 20+. L’Occitane bridged that gap both in terms of quality and price. The fragrance of the products was and is still amazing.
This is the Ramadan calendar on sale for AED 299 (or US$ 80). It contains 30 products – most are not full sized, but unlike other advent calendars I am pretty sure that I am going to use most of these products. It works out at about US$ 2,70 per product.
Available online at L’Occitane.
Almond Delicious Soap 50g, Cocon de Sérénité Relaxing Pillow Mist 15ml, Aqua Réotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream 8ml, Gel To-Foam Facial Cleanser 30ml, Shea Ultra Rich Body Cream 20ml, Divine Cream 4ml, Néroli & Orchidée Eau de Toilette 7.5ml, Rose Eau De Toilette 7.5ml, Verbena Eau de Toilette 10 ml, Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel 35ml
Almond Shower Oil 35ml, Almond Supple Skin Oil 15 ml, Almond Milk Concentrate 20ml, Cherry Blossom Body Lotion 35ml, Almond Delicious Hand & Nail Cream 10ml,
Cherry Blossom Cerisier Irisé Body Milk 10ml, Shea Hand Cream 10ml, Rose Hand Cream 10ml, Verbena Hand Cream 10ml, Immortelle Overnight Serum 5ml, Shea Butter Foot Cream 10ml, Shea Light Comforting Face Cream 5ml, Shea Butter Shower Cream 30ml, Verbena Shower Gel 30ml, Shea Butter Body Lotion 30ml, Verbena Body Lotion 30ml, Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap - Milk 25g, Verbena Leaf Soap 25g, Aromachologie Shampoo 35ml, Almond Shampoo 50mlThe shoes…
I am a short person and whilst I have had a lengthy love affair with flats/ballerinas – they frankly do nothing for either my posture or finished appearance If anything, I feel as if there should be a mandated prohibiting short people from ever wearing ballerinas. Here are a few that I love.
I am going to start with the shoes that I absolutely love (but are too expensive) to more reasonably priced offerings.
Absurdly ridiculously priced: Valentino rockstuds
These are priced at AED 2,790 or US$ 760 on the outnet. This is supposed to be a 43% discount from US$ 1,330. I love these shoes and how beautiful they look but the pricing is ridiculous and not to mention the fact that when I do have the opportunity to regularly wear these shoes they may be out of fashion.
This is available in numerous sizes on the outnet.com
In hindsight, only marginally ridiculously priced
These pair of at least 4 inch sandals are cUS$ 370, which given they are covered in crystals, it is not such a bad deal. They are reduced from US$ 900, which makes this a worthy purchsase. Although note that this is not a timeless classic and is at least 2-3 seasons out of fashion. This is available in numerous sizes on the outnet.com
The slingbacks that are the equivalent of cute guys
I love Ferragamo slingbacks and this is the first time I have ever seen them at 50% off. For me these would be a wardrobe staple for a long, long time.
Double bow slingbacks for £250 from £500 (available at ferragamo.com).
Max Mara slingbacks
The Max Mara were suggested to me by my close friend and they are adorable. The blue suede shoes are quite appropriate for a jig to David Bowie’s “let’s dance.” If you have never heard that song, then please, stop reading my blog. You are unquestionably young (and I hate you already). (I am kidding and definitely don’t stop reading).
The ones that you wish got away
No conversation on slingbacks can be complete without a reference to L K Bennett. These are annoyingly reliable and reasonably priced (£78 or AED 400). Its hard not to buy these shoes.
That’s the end of my January shopping spree, which feels like just shoes…but that’s what I buy in the sale!!