I’m not much of a drinker, and I know better by now than to join a gym, and so my traditional concession to dry January/new year’s resolution energy is to do “low buy January”, when participants aim to buy only essentials for a month.
It’s an enormous privilege to have the choice, but also useful to be reminded that one can abstain, cut back and live perfectly well without pricey extras. Of course, the year’s darkest and glummest month – mostly spent housebound and sober – may be the very worst time to be embracing austerity. But it is still possible to feel indulgent during long evenings at home, only on a reduced post-Christmas budget.
Running a bath is the obvious answer, and making it decadent needn’t cost more than a few quid. Dove has recently reformulated its bath care and I’m a big fan. I’m typing this with my hair still damp from a soak in its Restoring Care Bath Soak with Coconut and Cacao (RRP £5.99 but seemingly always half price somewhere convenient).
I also love Dove’s Purely Pampering Shea Butter Bath Soak with warm vanilla (from £2.49). Like its stablemates, this finds the right balance between the fat, childish, bubble-beard suds I crave, and added moisture to prevent my skin from desiccating afterwards. It also smells delicious (without being pudding-sickly) and doesn’t leave residue round the bath. For the money, you can’t go wrong.
If baths aren’t luxurious enough without a scented candle, I urge you to try those from M&S. There’s little I don’t like across its entire Apothecary range, but the candles (£8, then £6 for refills thereafter, or a pack containing both for £12.50) represent excellent value for the quality. Restore and Calm are my favourites – both are herby, heady and relaxing – and the tasteful, recyclable packaging is aesthetically pleasing.
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If you’d like a decent face pack to apply before you lounge in front of January’s always superior evening TV schedule, you can mind your pennies here, too. All Garnier’s sheet masks (from £3.49) are great, and as an admirer of Hada Labo’s Japanese skincare – all of it based on hydrating, multi-molecular hyaluronic acid – I can enthusiastically recommend its fragrance-free sheet mask (£3.29) as a satisfying way to spend three saved quid of booze money.
In 15 minutes, expect a plumper, softer, juicy looking complexion, ready for bed – or a party that absolutely no one is throwing.
Photographer’s assistant: Harry Brayne. Candle: Calm by Marks and Spencer
