Yearning to be pampered

It's time to treat yourself, before the season of treating others. Picture / Carolyn Robertson

Last call for self-indulgence. Before the season of goodwill to all mankind begins, get in with some unadulterated pampering, because next month is all about giving apparently being better than receiving. This month should be about receiving.

La Mer The Essence
$3800 for three vials

This is at the top of the wishlist. You could feed a family of four for some time with what it costs but that doesn't stop us wanting it. What it does to skin is unbelievable, helping improve clarity, texture, firmness and diminish lines and wrinkles. You can only buy it after you've been invited to view, and every customer to be invited has taken La Mer up on their offer to buy. However, it won't be long before us regular Joes can get it.

From Smith & Caughey's Queen St.

The Body Shop Cranberry Body Scrub
$36 for 200ml

The cranberry range is a special edition in time for Christmas. Once you get over smelling of a trussed-up turkey you realise it's a lovely, light fragrance combined with safflower, grapeseed and apricot oil, so skin is exfoliated, moisturised and scented.

From The Body Shop.

Chanel New York red rouge hydrabase creme lipstick
$49 for 3.5g

Everyone should have at least one red lipstick. New York Red could well be it. Inspired by the sophisticated Big Apple, this is one look-at-me colour but for all the right reasons. And the moisturising formula makes it a comfortable wear.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

Clinique Aromatics Elixir
$110 for 45ml

This chypre (woody) fragrance has cult status. At 35, it's no here today, gone tomorrow fragrance. Hailed as the first mood-enhancing tonic scent for the senses, the top note is rose and chamomile, followed by ylang ylang and jasmine with a base of patchouli, vetiver and amber. It's a fabulous antidote to all those florals and citrus fragrances about at the moment.

From selected department stores and pharmacies.

Clarins Make-up Your Way
$85 for the palette

This palette contains: six lipsticks (all sheer), four eyeshadows (all perfectly acceptable colours), one bronzing powder (can double as blusher), one powder, one eyeshadow brush (practically useless), one blusher brush (okay in an emergency), one lip brush and a mirror in a compact that packs away to next to nothing. Perfect for carting about during the party season. You never know when you'll need full war paint.

From selected department stores, pharmacies and beauty therapists.