A bunch of you have asked why I haven’t written a blog on Skincare/Make-up “Must-Haves” for the holiday season.
This is a reasonable question – for 10 months of the year, there is a drought of new products, then BOOM. Its a month before Thanksgiving, and every brand – big, small, infamous – flood the market with their advent calendars, value for money options, tester kits, new launches etc etc.
What am I waiting for?
If I’m honest (and its depressingly hard not to be), no one needs to buy any more product NOW that they can’t also buy in the January sale.
I know!! How very Indian of me.
And if you are a British etailer, you are responding to British consumers tightening their purses that you start your sale NOW. Cue Net-a-porter, House of Fraser, Cultbeauty etc etc.
What’s in the sale?
There are 3 categories: first, starter kits which are great if you want to try new brands. Secondly, masks, masks and more masks. Third, so many lipsticks, that I keep wondering if they are going out of fashion entirely.
Few fragrances appear to be on sale. That’s fine. I will wait till the Harrods sale. Here are a few that I’ve added to my shopping cart.
Drunk Elephant nearly full sized products
When Drunk Elephant put their products on sale, they go in my basket first. I have never tried Drunk Elephant anything – I find the price point too high – and this is a simple and inexpensive way of establishing whether I want to fully commit to a regime. Think of it like going for coffee with a first date – the option to walk away or continue on to chocolate cake are both on the table.
Shelf Control Night Kit
Emma Hardie Skincare Brightening Collection
Having never tried this brand’s products, I don’t know what the fuss surrounding their cleansing balm is about. This is the perfect way to find out. The pack contains the brand’s signature Moringa Cleansing Balm, Exfoliating Seeds, a Clay Mask and a Vitamin C cream. NO guesses as to what I am excited to test. Its the Vitamin C cream.
Aurelia Probiotic Skincare
With over 40 beauty awards, this is definitely on my “to test” list for next year. It is convenient that its also on sale. Its (apparently) worht GBP 100 and GBP 56 sounds good to me. The pack has just two products – a concentrate (or serum) and Night oil. That is taking “minimal” beauty to a new level.
Joanna Vargas sheet masks
This has a mixture of the brand’s masks, which is genius. Why more brands don’t do this is beyond me.
SKYN ICELAND Mask with Vitamin C
This mask is an “Arctic Hydration Rubberizing Mask with Vitamin C.” It says “Vitamin C” and that’s reason enough to add this to my basket.
The price reduction is admittedly rubbish at only GBP 6. I believe I am buying this product mainly because it uses the word “rubberizing” to describe a mask and NOT the Michelin man. As you know, “rubber” is a noun and quite evidently, not a verb. I am open to new ideas and I’ll let you know if this Icelandic mask (with its Vitamin C) is able to convince me to commit grammar-related sacrilege.
Source: Costume specialists
Herbivore Superfruit Night Treatment
Overnight masks are having a moment, which is not surprising given (i) the low value for money proposition that sheet masks present and (ii) how many folks absolutely hate sheet masks. This has aloe vera as well as prickly pear oil, in significant quantities, so definitely on my “to test” list for next year.
The colour cosmetics sale
Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks
This has three of the brand’s new launches, including J K Rowling. This makes the perfect secret Santa Christmas present. The shades suit everyone, so I may have to rethink my strategic decision to part with these, and keep them to myself.
Tom Ford lipsticks
Many retailers have a similar reduction on Tom Ford lipsticks. The most comprehensively stocked retailer is still House of Frasers. It has reduced Tom Ford lipsticks from GBP 40 to GBP 28.
Ultra Rich Lip colour
The Louboutin Nail polish sale
Net-a-porter have a 30% discount on 3 nail colours. I may simply buy all three for how vicious the bottles look. I feel everyone needs an intimidating addition to their bathroom shelf.
Top L to R (click on names) Jazz Doll, Edgypopi, Lady Peep
That’s it from me for this year. Drop me a line if you have any queries.
Thank you Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels