Anya Hindmarch x Boots, Trader Joe's Dupes + The Best Budget Beauty Buys for Blue Monday 🐞

Forget the most depressing day of the year 😀 We’re fighting off the January blues and surrendering to the marketing Gods with these budget must-haves...

A note from Donna 💌

Happy Blue (FFS) Monday!

I say FFS because I know that Blue Monday is just another marketing term. Another day with a label. Another reason, ironically, to inspire us to spend more money.

I also see the hypocrisy of me actually jumping on the trend in order to give this Substack a hook. All the while complaining about it.

But here we are.

A quick Google of “What is Blue Monday” and AI tells me that:

Blue Monday is the unofficial name for the third Monday in January, promoted as the most depressing day of the year due to cold weather, post-holiday debt, and failing New Year’s resolutions, but it’s largely considered a myth or marketing ploy without scientific basis, though it taps into real seasonal feelings of low mood and motivation.

Cold weather - tick. Even Florida, where I live is experiencing a cold snap.

Post-holiday debt - tick. No more said on that.

Failing New Year’s resolutions - tick. I need to work on my “no-phone before bed/breakfast” resolution. How about you?

So we need things to make us smile!

One thing that will definitely do that for you is the limited edition Boots x Anya Hindmarch collaboration. Not just because of the adorable packaging. I mean just look 👀

But also because everything is under £10!

Everything from Boots’ toothpaste and hand wash to tweezers and tissues has had a joy-over by Anya Hindmarch. I only wish that I was in London to go and see it for myself.

If you’re in London before March 8th, you can visit the Boots x Anya Hindmarch pop-up store on London’s Pont Street. After that you’ll be able to shop the collection online at boots.com. But be quick. It’s limited edition so won’t be around for long!

The collaboration also see the launch of the latest limited-edition Boots x Anya Universal Bag.

Extra kudos if you get your hands on one of the Universal Bags! I predict they’ll sell fast. Perhaps it’ll be the UK version of the Trader Joe’s one which I hear everyone in the UK is going mad about?

Talking of which, for those in the US or if you’re planning on visiting, Trader Joe’s has some brilliant Sephora dupes which I’ve written about below. PLUS The Beauty Ed® team are sharing their fav budget beauty buys too.

I hope this makes your Monday less Blue and that you have a great week!

Donna 🐞

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🐞 12 Budget Buys

❤️Paloma’s Pampering Products

Yes, Blue Monday might be considered a myth and/or marketing stunt, but guess what? I’ve fallen right into the trap! I think January is really not the time to be making resolutions and cutting out things like sweet treats, because it’s miserable enough as is (no offence to the January babies - I love Capricorns!) But I do think the best thing we can do for ourselves is have a little pamper, but maybe not break the bank with our purchases.

Laneige Cream Skin Cerapeptide Mist (currently on sale for £8.40, usually £10.50)

Laneige is a hydration-first, Korean skincare brand (and I don’t know if you need more convincing than that!) I love a face mist, and this one from Laneige is without a doubt the best one I’ve tried. The unique Cerapeptide blend combines ceramides and peptides (ingredients we LOVE for hydration, elasticity, and glow). It’s super milky, and after the first spritz, your skin looks way more radiant. It is the perfect pick-me-up for dull, dry, winter skin.

Daise Vanilla Body Scrub (£7.99)

I posted this body scrub from Daise on my Instagram story last week and had SO many DMs from followers who went out and bought one and were raving about it, so I thought it’s only right I share it here too! There’s nothing more comforting than a nice steamy shower, and I think a body scrub always adds a little level of luxury. The texture of this one is unlike any scrub I’ve tried before - not overly harsh, but you can definitely see and feel a difference in your skin. To really seal in the softness, they also have a Vanilla Body Butter too!

e.l.f Glossy Lip Stain (£7)

I have this thing where I just won’t be without some kind of product on my lip - I don’t care if it’s just a clear balm. But, I think in the winter we can all benefit from a little pop of colour and this lip stain from e.l.f is moisturising, long-lasting and comes in a variety of fabulous shades. I personally am into Berry Queen but they have more neutral shades too, if you’re not a Berry Queen yourself - check them out here!

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♡Gia’s Mood Boosting Beauty Picks

Blue Monday is, technically, a marketing invention. And yet. January has a particular talent for feeling endless: the cold that seeps into your bones, the quiet guilt of abandoned resolutions, the sense that everyone else is coping better than you are. In London, it’s usually raining too, just to really drive the point home.

I do not believe beauty alone fixes moods. But I do believe in small, sensory shifts; the kind that make the day feel more tolerable, if not suddenly joyful. When everything feels a bit grey, one good product can change the tone.

These are the two products I reach for when January starts to drag.

Garnier Hair Food Plumping Watermelon Mask (£8.99)

Hair is always my first port of call. Washing it, masking it, standing under hot water, and letting the day rinse off, it’s the closest thing I have to a reset button. A good hair product doesn’t solve anything, but it does make you feel more put together, which counts for a lot in winter.

Garnier’s Hair Food masks are excellent. I discovered them last summer, when chlorine and sea salt had left my hair dry and unimpressed, and I’ve kept them in rotation ever since. The watermelon mask is my favourite: light enough not to weigh hair down, but genuinely hydrating.

It’s silicone-free, vegan, and made with 97% natural-origin ingredients, which helps keep things fresh rather than coated. I use it as a rinse-out mask, leaving it on for three to five minutes, before my conditioner. The result is hair that looks smoother, softer, and more awake, which is sometimes all you need!

Sanctuary Spa Lily & Rose Body Scrub (£5)

Winter skin is unforgiving. Between freezing air outside and overheated homes inside, it needs more care than we tend to give it. This is where a good body scrub earns its place.

Sanctuary’s Lily & Rose Body Scrub feels like a small luxury without the price tag. The natural pumice exfoliates properly, and the essential oils leave skin smooth and comfortable rather than tight. The rose scent is soft and calming, the kind of smell that makes an ordinary shower feel intentional.

Used at the start of your routine on damp skin, it does exactly what it promises: clears away dullness, softens skin, and makes you feel marginally more human.

January does not need grand reinvention. Sometimes it just needs warm water, a decent mask, and a body scrub that smells good. For less than £10, that’s a small luxury worth having.

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🤍Hayley’s Budget CVS Haul

Beauty is meant to be fun, empowering, and self-expressive. Sometimes, though, the sticker shock is real and can make trying new products feel intimidating. Luckily, there are some amazing go-to products that won’t break the bank. Below are a few of my staples - and if you’re in the States, don’t forget to use the CVS Pharmacy Rewards program and your ExtraCare® coupons for even more savings!

e.l.f. Hydrating Core Lip Shine: $8.00

I’m a self-proclaimed lip product snob and never leave the house without at least a hint of tint. With such an oversaturated category, it can be hard to know what’s actually worth buying—but this e.l.f. lippie is a clear standout. It’s a true all-in-one essential, delivering the perfect wash of color while the adorable heart-shaped jelly core nourishes lips with Vitamin E. This is a 10/10 product I always keep in my pocket, day or night.

NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil: $6.29

If you’ve been following along, you know I love easy, multi-purpose products—and this one is a must-have. Simply glide it onto the crease and blend quickly with your ring finger (insider pro tip: the ring finger is the gentlest, so it won’t tug at the delicate skin around the eyes). I also like to run it along my lower lash line for a soft, effortless finish. In seconds, you’re done. With such a fun range (16 shades!!), you can keep it natural or go bold depending on your mood.

Ardell Naked Lashes: $5.19

When I have a special occasion or just feel like turning up the glam, I reach for false lashes. They can be intimidating at first, but the right pair makes all the difference. I’ve tried just about every brand out there and always come back to Ardell. Their lashes are easy to apply, incredibly flattering, and come in a wide range of styles, so there’s truly something for everyone. It’s no surprise that almost every makeup artist keeps these in their kit. P.S. I like to use Duo glue for application, it never lets me down.

Xoxo, Hayley and of course, Bear 🐾

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🐞 Donna’s Fav Trader Joe’s Dupes

I always say that Trader Joe’s is a bit like a Brit’s version of a budget M & S. Everything they sell is their own brand. Everything has quality, clean ingredients (which is rare to find in American supermarkets sadly). Plus there are some great dupes in there too!

Here are mine:

Honey Hydration Face Mask $7.99

This is a blatent rip off of the Farmacy Honey Potion Plus Ceramide Hydration Mask $45, packaging and all. While I haven’t tried the latter, the TJ’s version is surpisingly non-gloopy or stick. It has a luxe texture. And I love how it feels warming on your skin when you apply it.

Hair Oil $5.99

I’m a big fan of hair oil as long as you use it correctly. A little goes a long way and avoid applying it to your roots unless you’re using it as a treatment. This one is multi-purpose which I love. It can be used to protect hair against heat damage, applied on dry hair to tame frizz and also used as a scalp treatment too. An absolutely brilliant dupe of Ouai Hair Oil $32. The only sticking point is the TJ version takes ages to come out of the pump on the first application. Which is a small price to pay for the $26 price difference!

Vanilla Lip Mask $5.99

This is gorgeous! Richly textured but not tacky. I was worried that the vanilla scent would be sickly, but it’s perfectly blended and subtle. I’ve always been a big fan of the Laneige Vanilla Lip Mask $24, but honestly, I can’t see why I need or should pay $18 more for it!

Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum $8.99

I do love a hyaluronic serum, especially now I’m approaching 50 and my skin is getting drier - it needs all the moisture it can get. Hyaluronic Acid is great for trapping in the skin moisture so I apply one before my moisturiser and SPF each morning. The Sephora Collection Dewy Bubble Serum with Hyaluronic + Polyglutamic Acids $21 is a more expensive version, with added ingredients. But honestly? If you’re looking for skin hydration, the TJ version will do the trick!

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