One lovely beauty product for friend's 40th?

[SpicyNoodles]

Very good friend turns 40 on Sunday. Birthday dinner out so need a gift by then.

She's a very discerning lady ...expensive/luxury tastes traditionally...but due to messy divorce, se is currently a skint single parent who doesn't have much money and doesn't treat herself at all.

I've got her a lovely book I know she wanted and a few small, sentimental and inexpensive gifts, but I'd really like to treat her to a posh toiletries item or small set, perhaps?

She doesn't have any brand allegiances. I'm loathe to buy a fragrance or facial skincare, as she is quite particular. Ditto make-up. But maybe a single, lovely body care or other luxurious beauty item she wouldn't normally indulge in? I want to surprise her, though.

Any ideas?

Budget up to £50? Could go slightly higher for something lovely.

Percy and reed hair stuff, it's lovely and smells amazing.

What about the Clarins body scrub and hand and nail treatment. Would be less that £50. Maybe a lipstick along with it

How about some Jo Loves body lotion, jo malones new brand, the pomelo fragrance is lovely. Have the same to buy for a friend, it is beautifully packaged too. Hopefully someone is selling on ebay, as i dont have one close by.

Philosophy has lovely toiletries -John Lewis stocks it if you wanted to smell first as various fragrances. I also like the Liz Earle body wash

L’Occitane Almond shower oil. They also do quite a few gift sets with a few different products.

Have a look at the gift sets at Liberty - the brands are top notch and would all be gift wrapped - you can’t really go wrong www.libertylondon.com/uk/department/beauty/discover/gift-sets/

I bought some beautiful bath foam, lotion etc in The White Company today. They wrapped it beautifully too.

Oh yes, its my 40th this month too and Id love the almond shower oil.

Laura Mercier bath/body stuff is lovely OP. I know she's known more for make up but I found her bath stuff really good - subtle scent and v luxurious.

My MIL gave me Guerlain Meteorites for my 40th and I absolutely love them. I use them every day, and the packaging and the scent gives me real pleasure as well as the actual product.

This Nuxe shimmery body oil
Is lovely:

https://m.johnlewis.com/nuxe-shimmering-dry-oil-huile-prodigieuse-or-50ml/p3160783?sku=236776496&skwcid=2dx92700026893101561&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrqfOieKv1wIVkhoYCh0qEQSeEAQYAiABEgLxZPDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or joe malone fragrance 😍

People rave about Hourglass ambient lighting prssed powder. I haven’t tried it but would be thrilled if someone bought me some!

L'Occitane Almond Supple Oil. Divine for this time of year in keeping your skin soft and lovely. And the Shea shower creme is lovely. And the Shea hand cream works a treat.

Anything from Votary. I love the facial oil and super seed cleansing oil.

Something from Charlotte Tilbury as they'll engrave the packaging for you

Judydreams - I was going to suggest Guerlain Meteorites - I have never owned them, always coveted!!!

Failing that, Jo Malone is always well received.

It might help if you tell us a bit about her and her style?

I would love L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil and Dior apricot nail creme, gorgeous treats for pleasure every day.

I don't know how long it takes for delivery but this is an amazing deal for elemis which is lovely:

www.qvcuk.com/product.232340.html

I’m going to go against the tide here, and suggest you steer clear of scented things. Preferences for perfume/body cream are so very personal.

I’d go for a top-shelf brand serum or moisturiser (like La Mer, SKII). A small one at those prices, obviously. And then you might be lucky to find an offer of gift with purchase, which are always lovely.

Or one of the classics like the Guerlain beads mentioned earlier, or touche eclat?

I gave my best friend a bottle of Jo Malone and she loved it
I would too if anyone knows me and wants to nudge my husband!

Some lovely people bought me the Aromatherapy Associates bath oil called Inner Strength. Smells amazing and also I really loved the sentiment. Nothing more pleasurable than a long soak in a bath that smells heavenly.

I know you said not makeup but would you consider something low risk/ suits all, like an Urban Decay Naked eye shadow pallette if she doesn't already have one?