Well, I have, and the thought of missed opportunities to buy extra shoes sent me into a depressive tailspin. My shrink, of course, had a glorious week following my lost $ and kept encouraging me to come back for more sessions, thereby fuelling more tailspin.

I exaggerate, of course, but you can see what a poor treatment or purchase can do to your fragile state of mind. Unless you experience a spa treatment that is as exceptional as an Armani Privé gown or vintage champagne, chances are you’ll wish you spent your money elsewhere.

Well, Sphatika may be one of your best karmic bets. It is a day spa nestled in a buzzing block near Columbus Circle in New York, and the treatments use only pristine, chemical-free natural products and oils.

Now they’ve launched an exceptional skincare line that is made with natural quartz crystals. The line includes:

A Gold Finishing Serum ($185)
Daily Moisturizer ($85)
Vitamin A Night Crème* ($125)
Treatment Serum ($65)
Moisture Mask ($65)
Gommage/ Exfoliating Crème ($65)
Eye Treatment Crème ($80)
Rose Foam Facial Cleanser* ($55)
Citrus Facial Cleansing Foam* ($45)
Facial Cleansing Crème ($58)
Facial Toner ($58)
Citrus Toner* ($45)
Body Cleansing Foam ($65)
Milk Bath Oil ($65)
Body Lotion ($55)
Hemp Oil ($55)

* These are products I love

Founder Janet-League Katzin, has held herself to the highest product quality standards and is insistent about chemical-free ingredients. “It’s hard but perfectly possible to have a product with synthetic-free preservative,” she says.

Products contain antioxidants and uplifting essential oils (which to me is the best part because of the soothing aromatherapy effect). You may want to go to the spa to try out a signature treatment and then decide if you want to purchase the goods. A treatment like the “Royal Sphatika Signature Experience” costs a pricey $375, but makes a great and lavish gift for your psyche.

The spa also has a Healing Music CD Series that is designed to soothe those nerves that are typically worked up by yelling at Manhattan cabbies and ex-boyfriends. Played by bass flutist Chaitanya Sheerin, the music is as sonorous as a languid morning in the rural countryside, and peaceful as a dove.

www.sphatika.com (Note: “Sphatika” is the Sanskrit word for “crystal”)

Since the age of 19, I have tried a more lotions and potions for my eye zone than I would care to legally disclose to my boyfriend. My skin has gone through trench warfare from the constant use of dermatological acids, injections and laser treatments. So when I discovered the incredibly potent quartet of products from Emerge Labs called the “i” line, I felt St. Peter had kicked me through the pearly gates of heaven.

As you get older, evidence of aging usually catches up to the eye area first. No one knows this better than Cleo Londono, director of Metamorphosis Day Spa in New York City, who swiftly proceeded to create four weapons to combat aging and to fight fine lines, dark circles, puffiness and discoloration around the eyes while promoting rejuvenation and protection. Here is his arsenal:

* iRevitalizer reduces dark circles and puffiness while helping combat fine lines and wrinkles;
* iBrightener helps eliminate discoloration under the eyes and at the same time, hydrate and firm the skin under the eyes;
* iLift reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness and diminishes dry crepe-like skin around the eye by “lifting;” and
* iProtect prevents photo aging of the eye area by shutting out UVA and UVB rays. It also promotes healthy skin by repairing, treating and preventing the aging effects of environmental exposure.

I used all four and particularly loved the iBrightener and was able to see results within two weeks. The iLift worked faster than a quick-drying top coat for your nails (note that you should ideally use products for at least four weeks to see any results.)

I really put these products to the test by staying up for 24 hours (full disclosure of activities available upon request) and my eyes were none the worse for the wear. But, be careful. I did get an allergic reaction when I (accidentally) combined my glycolic acid lotion with the iBrightener. Blame that tequila…

Oh, and if fighting the hands of Father Time is not enough of a good thing, purchasing any of these i-treatments will enable Emerge Labs to give back 10 percent to Plant for the Planet’s Billion Tree Campaign. Visit www.emergeskincare.com to purchase and learn more about the alternative to blepharoplasty.

You can toss that bottle of Black Satin nail polish out the window (too bad you spent your theatre money on getting that limited edition bottle last year, but maybe you can use it for the Jackson Pollock creation you’ve always wanted to do).

You can get a shimmery gold nail polish called Gold Fiction for $30; or get the Nail Vernis colors for $19 each. (Les Vernis Nail Colors come in Kaleidoscopic, a greenish gold metallic like a metallic version of the ROTC uniform; and Fantastic, a deep wine color like the kegged Burgundy in Bordeaux).

Peter Philips, the new makeup designer, has created everything gold for the fall makeup collection, including two limited-edition gold items. The Gold Fever face powder goes for $50.

Of course the trick is to use the makeup judiciously so you don’t end up looking like the Oscar Statue.

Available in July, at www.chanel.com and fine department stores.

The gloss is as clear as cellophane, but the tip of the wand is an eye catching prettier-than-a-lollipop pink. Sweep the wand once on your lips and the self-tailoring smart gloss will reveal the natural tint of your lips (if it’s brown, you may want to check your blood sugar levels at the nearest ER).

So all those years you’ve been stocking up on lip gloss with rose or raspberry tints are now a lesson that you should have been looking for your inner beauty. Get yours for $18 at www.sephora.com or www.triciasawyer.com so you can kiss clearly now.

Unfortunately, Veet In-Shower Hair Removal Cream (www.veet.us) is one of them. I was excited to try it as much as I was excited to shove my wedding cake all over my husband’s face; but although this hair remover does give you stubble-free skin for a few days, I felt I was much better off shaving.

The cream contains water-resistant ingredients and the aim is to slather it on those pesky areas where even one-night-stands fear to tread. I applied the lotion and stepped into the shower carefully, as though I were a burglar in my own bathtub. The water dissolved the cream quickly and I was hoping I’d be left with the skin of a Chinese porcelain plate, but it took three tries (and chugging two bottles of white wine) to finally get those pesky, unwelcome hairs off.

The good thing is that the hairs stayed off for a good three days, and the hair that did grow back didn’t do so with the vengeance of King Kong who just saw Naomi Watts disappear around the corner.
So would I buy this product? Hmmm on the fence. If you hate shaving, this might be your Elmer’s Glue fix, but I am a diehard razor gal. Of course, there is nothing more socially embarrassing than showing hair where you shouldn’t (remember Julia Roberts’ horrific armpit fiasco where she looked like she came back from the Grizzly Bear Day Spa?) so there’s no harm in packing a few tubes of these if sharp objects make you faint.

The Magic Mitt is made with micro-fibers that are several times thinner than human hair and when they become wet, they can remove surface tension of oils in makeup. Our mascara disappeared like Michael Jackson’s original nose and our stubborn blush, foundation and cheek stain became passe with just one use. The mitt also promotes the health of the skin because its natural acid mantle is unaffected.

Makeup tools are becoming more efficient and portable, thanks to technological advances and some good intramural-style competition, and we can luckily profit. This tool is perfect for a long hike (dip the mitt into the gurgling brook and erase traces of makeup), or that spur of the moment elopement. It could even be the “one product to grab from your house in the event of a fire.”
The cotton balls and liquid makeup remover can crouch under your floorboards in shame.

Jane Iredale’s Magic Mitt retails for $15 at various retailers. Check www.janeiredale.com for locations.