This is proving to be an odd year.

And yes, we are just a month in. Anywho, most websites still have sales on and I think, this maybe the last weekend for most high-end designer websites.

These are five things that I have purchased or are on my wishlist. Enjoy!

Pat McGrath Divine Rose II

Pat McGrath released her new Divine Rose palettes and lipsticks a couple of days ago. I love the lipstick and the matte lipgloss. I love three things about Pat McGrath:

• you get 4g of lipstick vs 3.3g which is your typically average sized lipstick
• pigmented lipsticks are seriously long-lasting. In my test of micellar waters, I used a Pat McGrath burnt red lipstick and so few micellar waters were able to remove the entire pigmented colour
• lipsticks are not drying compared to other formulations, that will remain unnamed (for now).

These are the lip products I bought:

Mattetrance lipstick (4g) GBP 38.

Liquilust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick GBP 29

This is a matte liquid lipstick with full coverage and is long-lasting. The formulation is not as drying as other popular brands. I have bought Divine Nude (Lush Nude Beige). Available for sale at Pat McGrath online

Paco Rabanne handbag

I am going to an Indian wedding in a fortnight, so obviously I have to meet the two main conditions for entrance:

• Not have COVID-19 and have a piece of paper proving that
• Have the wardrobe (including shoes, handbags and jewellery) to dress myself up as Christmas tree, at the drop of a hat.

Naturally, I have had to shop for the wedding: I have everything to wear but my accessories are not per se matching-matching. Currently, they wouldn’t garner the approval of any Indian aunty.

PACO RABANNE Sparkle paillette-embellished chainmail shoulder bag

Available for sale on Net-a-porter for AED 1,264 (US$ 344) from AED 4,214 (US$ 1,150). That is a 70% reduction.

Very similar bags are also available at full-price at Paco Rabanne’s website. I love this light pink sparkle bag (US$1,200)

The marketing blurb is, “This clutch is handmade from linked iridescent pink and transparent pink paillettes. It is adorned with a silver metallic chain with the “PR” logo, allowing it to be carried in the hand, over the shoulder or crossbody. It comes with a removable logo pouch with a magnetic closure and patch pocket.“

The shoes I mocked but now need because they are 75% off…

I often mock D&G and not because of their outlandish political views or that they are favoured by the ex-First Lady, Melania Trump, but because their designs or so over-priced and over the top.

Perfect for an Indian wedding? I think so. These were initially priced at £1,143 and are now a relative bargain at £285. Available at the outnet

Huda Beauty’s new faux filter foundation

Obviously I will be wearing a face mask to the wedding and peripheral events. I am Indian, not a white supremacist with a death wish to contract COVID-19. The current feedback from this fragrance-free improved foundation is that there is no transfer of the foundation to the face mask. It is a tad pricey and frankly, I have never bought a Huda Beauty foundation, but I am looking forward to using it. Available for sale at cultbeauty for £34.

New fragrance launch: Jo Malone Scarlet Poppy Cologne Intense (£86 for 50ml)

Just in time for Valentine’s Day (you would like to believe) and Chinese New Year (more likely), Jo Malone have launched a new poppy based fragrance. The verbiage is, “this ravishing scent has been inspired by its extravagant blooms, and amplified by velvety iris. Barley and tonka bean add a double hit of sweet decadence while a burst of succulent fig draws us into this opulent and moreish fragrance.”

And of course, I love, love the bottle.