April 2020 Shopping guide – Part One

Welcome to April’s edition of the self-partner guide! This is the first part of a series of blogs on shopping.

Who is thinking of shopping?

When life gets too much (e.g.,) now, one of my primary mechanisms to cope with worry, fear and overwhelming anxiety, is shopping.

I ask myself, “What should I save up for?” Or, “is this supremely expensive skincare product something that I should immediately splurge on?”

Like many of you, I have a bucket list of hideously expensive stuff that I am planning on purchasing. But…

(always a but).

Covid-19’s rock-star entrance onto the world stage has untethered my bucket list from reality and turned it into virtual confetti.

The current pandemic forces me to reconcile with the only truth that matters: my life is finite and even if I wear Chanel protective gear, I will still die.

This harrowing, singular truth has forced me to revisit my bucket list, which now reads as a rather soulless, depraved vacuous list. Don’t get me wrong, if a cure for Covid-19 is found tomorrow that 7 billion people can access at US$ 0.001 – US$ 0.02, I’ll painstakingly reassemble this list.

In the interim, this is / was my list:

Valentino’s rockstuds

Much like my first high school crush, I have difficulties in pinpointing the exact moment when I fell out of love with these shoes.  I have narrowed it down to three non-mutually exclusive events:

Dr Barbara Strum  Hylauronic Serum

This is a limited edition “red” packaged bottle that was released in celebration of Chinese New Year.  At US$ 800, this product is $200 more than the $600 unemployment benefit being handed out in the USA. And the last time I checked, over 10 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits in March.

Ten million is more than (e.g.) the population of Switzerland or New Zealand or Denmark.

Oh, and there are many many cheaper options for Hyaluronic Acid. In retrospect, I should have written that first.  My bad, Dr. Strum.

GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator

As long as I have been checking, this product is frequently out of stock on Sephora’s USA website.  Apparently, it does the impossible of combining physical/mechanical exfoliators with a strong chemical exfoliator, Glycolic Acid.

I am not a big fan of physical exfoliation because their abrasive action can be too much for Asian skin. I mean it’s my face and not the sole of my foot that requires 20 layers of dead skin to be removed. Also (now), the price point of US$ 125 is ridiculous and offensive, mainly because there are cheaper and arguably better products out there. Personally, I love fresh’s Vitamin Nectar mask which is a mild exfoliant.

We have much to thank Gywenth Paltrow (founder of Goop) – standing up to to Harvey Weinstein and shedding (what I thought was impossible to do) a positive light on Brad Pitt. However, I I will still pass on this product.

Prada Hemp Canvas & Plexiglass Handbag

In the cold light of day or under the shadow of Covid-19, this is a shockingly poor choice of handbags.  Exactly what purpose this bag serves that a reusable 10 pence Marks & Spencer bag does not do is beyond me.

These Hermes earrings

In fairness, these earrings do come in 15 colours, of which Jaune Mimosa, is one of them.

(In case you are wondering what Jaune Mimosa is – its Canary yellow in the world outside Hermes’ marketing department.)

I love Hermes. I love some of their perfumes, scarves and bags and even their ridiculously priced US$ 75 lipsticks.

But why would anyone buy these hideous earrings at US$ 400? If I wanted a pair of earrings that looked as if I had just bought them from Topshop, then guess what Hermes? I would buy them for US$ 10 from Topshop, saving myself US$ 390.

If you have any ridiculous bucket lists, then I would love to hear from you. Drop me a line at email@happyskindays.com