Non-Essential [non·ee·sen·ti·al] noun - a thing (more often than not a beauty related item) that is in essence absolutely unnecessary, usually purse weepingly expensive but makes us feel, look or smell puuurty and therefore we wish to possess. An additional extra that when bolted onto a regime makes the world of difference in our eyes, but nought to others. Ex) The Diptyque Figuier Candle is the epitome of a non-essential but allows me to have the cleansing scent of Space NK in my own home which therefore makes it a justified purchase. Now onto the rest…
Bathtime is probably the most non-essential filled beauty sport there is; after all, the product ends up being glugged down the drain but there’s something about the ritual of sewing salts in your bath that just makes the relief that little bit better when you lower into your tub. Bubbles are out, salts are in and the Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts are top of my ‘special occassion’ pamper pile. Pricey mind, at £35 from Cult Beauty, but after a pre-bedtime soak the other day I slept through the night without one toss or turn and spent the following morning suspiciously eying up this pot of salts pondering what wonderous stuff it contained. Lavender, lemongrass and powdered amethyst if you were wondering.
Face masks are a particular forte of mine, but alas serve up a pretty small section in my routine each week; applied once or twice if they’re lucky for 10 minutes max before they too wave goodbye down the plughole. They’re something I like to go mid-range on, but the OSKIA Renaissance Mask tips over that limit at £48.50 for the full-size from Oskia. Ouch. It brings it with plumped up, juicy looking skin after just one go and I promise my love for it has nothing to do with the fact it changes colour on application. But this one just slips into the non-essential category as there’s a tonne of miracle masks out there that perform a near enough identical task – REN Glycolatic Radiance Renewal Mask, I’m looking at you.
Next a tool that provokes a more often than not, a hilarious conversation with anyone who enters my bathroom and spots it hanging out with my skincare stash. “What the hell is that?” is the frequent enquiry, “a Ying Yu Jade Facial Roller* of course”, I retort. Dur. Another piece of Cult Beauty booty and £25, it’s billed as a gym workout for the face and claims to mix the healing properties of jade with gentle massage aiding the bodies drainage organs. I do have to admit after a long day, or even a good cry (tried and tested baby) there’s nothing better than a quick roller of this on the ol’ eye bags. But feel free to give this one a miss if you’re satisfied with two cold spoons from the fridge as a sore eye solution.
The priciest foundation in my stash – that’s easy, Tom Ford’s Traceless Foundation* and at £60 that’s an amount that even beats Chantecaille’s Just Skin. Woah. I would never even reach to swatch a stick foundation at a counter but a quick demo at a TF makeover showed just how versatile this stuff is. Sheered out over a well moisturised base with a brush gives just the right veil of everyday coverage or applied directly from the bullet ramps up it’s flawless-isfying power. I actually like using this as a concealer – it was the only thing I reached for when a ripe blemish erupted last week, but alas it’s expensive and therefore deemed a non essential reserved to be added to Christmas lists and your basket in moments of madness only.
The long and short of it – you want them? Yes. You need them? No. Story of my life – but that’s half the fun I guess. Now lets all just erase this post from our memories, archive for payday if you can’t shake it off and higher priority beauty programming will resume tomorrow. 8am, be there or be square.Â
*PR Sample
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