self-care

25 Famous Women on Their Guilty Pleasures and Indulgences

“A slice of American cheese.” —Martha Stewart Photo: Getty Images

While most of us can always enjoy a classic guilty-pleasure activity like having a piece of chocolate before bed or watching an episode of Selling Sunset, some celebrities take indulgence to an entirely different level. All about self-love and self-care, these are the moments in life when you can step back and think about what makes you feel good and choose to embrace it. Whether it be luxurious skin care, a single cigarette, trashy reality TV, or (my personal favorite) a trip to Costco, it’s important that we let ourselves indulge in the things we love. It’s self-care, not selfishness! Below, 25 celebrities share their guilty pleasures and their favorite ways to relax and reward themselves, including “Treat Yo’ Self” originator Retta, Barbie Ferreira, and Beyoncé. And if Oprah taught us anything, it’s that baths are the best form of self-care out there, if all else fails.

Oprah

“Bathing is my hobby. So any kind of bath salts, bath oils, anything for the bath you can get me … I do have a hand-carved tub out of marble and onyx … However, it was carved to the shape of my body. I told you: Bathing is my hobby … I’m serious about it.” The Late Late Show With James Corden, March 2018

Barbie Ferreira

“I invest in skin care — it’s the greatest gift you can give yourself. And I love fancy lashes for special occasions.” Elle, October 2020

Meghan Markle

“French fries and vino are my vices.” —Delish, June 2018

Padma Lakshmi

“I don’t know if it’d be called an indulgence, but I make my own perfume with essential oils because a lot of store-bought perfumes give me a headache. It’s what makes me feel like me. I make my own formula with a mix of geranium and neroli and mir [sic] and rose in different proportions.” Town & Country, February 2017

Brenda Song

“I love sweets, especially pastries and chocolate. A half-croissant sparks joy. At work, I always have dark chocolate in my purse as a little pick-me-up.” —the Cut, January 2022

Martha Stewart

“My guilty pleasure is not at all interesting: It’s a spoon of really good organic peanut butter, or a slice of American cheese from my housekeeper’s drawer. I steal American slices sometimes — in the plastic, it’s so horrible. But it’s such a good snack. I eat pickled herring as a late-night snack before I go to bed because it’s savory and good. I like liverwurst, and I know how bad it is now. I love squeezing it out of the tube and just eating calves’ liverwurst.” Town & Country, June 2017

Beyoncé

“I always treat myself to one meal on Sundays, when I can have whatever I want. Usually it’s pizza, which is my favorite indulgence.” Shape, April 2013

Pat McGrath

“For my beauty splurge, I go to amazing spas around the world. I’m a spa-holic.” Time, September 2017

Dascha Polanco

“I love fragrances. That’s one thing that I splurge on that I don’t regret ever. I love the scientific component of fragrances and what it takes to make them and their history. And I love what fragrances do for my confidence when I walk into a room and I leave behind my scent, and people are like, “Oh my God. It’s amazing.” It’s like my shield, and that’s why I say, “Y’all can criticize me all y’all want on everything, but I smell good. You can’t take this shit away from me.” —the Cut, June 2021

Gwyneth Paltrow

“My one light American Spirit that I smoke once a week, on Saturday night.” Harper’s Bazaar, May 2013

Chloe Kim

“I love laying in bed and doing nothing and eating. So if I have my computer with me, and food, and comfy pajamas, then I’m good. I can probably survive for years and years.” —Refinery29, September 2018

Retta

On her ideal “Treat Yo’ Self” day: “I am an avid handbag purchaser. So my first stop would [be] Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci. I say this as though I don’t do this every other week. I definitely have an obsession with handbags and I say that it’s because they always fit. The clothes that I like, the styles that I like, they may not always make it in my size, but they always make handbags my size.” Time, October 2017

 Lucy Boynton

“My biggest beauty indulgence is how much I dye my hair. The blonde maintenance is never ending. I see Mark Selley at Nicky Clarke. He’s probably the only reason I still have hair left on my head.” Elle, 2021

Roxane Gay

“I watch Law & Order: SVU over and over. I’ve seen most of the show’s episodes at least … 20 times each. I suppose I should be embarrassed about this but I am not. I love a good procedural drama and the range of Mariska Hargitay’s haircuts.” Entertainment Weekly, January 2017

Kerry Washington

“I really love massage — that’s my favorite splurge, I’m a big massage girl. Growing up, it was really about mani-pedis. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, but my mom always had her nails done. And my mom’s not a high-fashion person, she’s a retired college professor, really very classically elegant. But she always had her nails done. I think for her, it was less about looking a certain way, although obviously it made her look polished, but it was more about her time and trying to be good to herself. That little bit of massage, that little bit of elegance, that little bit of her saying ‘I’m going to do something special for me,’ as a working mom and a professional who could barely carve out time for herself. It was her saying, ‘This is my time.’” Beauty Launchpad, August 2016

Cynthia Erivo

“I probably own 20 or 30 bags. As for shoes — is it too much to say I have about 100 pairs?” —Oprah Daily, October 2018

Vera Wang

“My evening really begins when I take a long, hot bath. I light a candle, and I turn on the news and try to catch up. It’s when I can breathe from the day to the night, and that means a lot to me.” Harper’s Bazaar, October 2012

NeNe Leakes

“I’m a big potato-chip girl. I don’t like chocolate and cakes and all that, but I have to have my potato chips. I’ve got bags in the back of my car right now! But I never beat myself up about it, because, look: You can’t give up every damn thing. You need something in your life that you like just because you like it!” Glamour, October 2012

Shay Mitchell

“If I have time, I really go full out with my skin care. Why not? It feels good. You’re going to see quite a few masks. I love the drama of it.” Vogue, November 2021

Shonda Rhimes

“I actually like being alone. I spend most evenings reading and taking long baths … The bathtub is the most important thing in my new house. It took me weeks to pick that bathtub.” O, The Oprah Magazine, December 2006

Saweetie

“This is nasty, but I like cleaning out my own whiteheads and blackheads. I have this amazing tool that’s shaped like a hook that really helps get everything out, so that’s definitely a guilty pleasure.” —Who What Wear, April 2021

Ina Garten

“I’m often asked what my guilty pleasures are and I have to admit that really good bread and butter is definitely on the list. When I want to treat myself, I go online and order a huge crusty loaf of sourdough bread from Poilane, the best bakery in Paris. It’s enormous — it weighs about four pounds! — it’s made in their wood-burning ovens, and they FedEx it almost daily right to your door. When it arrives, I cut the loaf in quarters and freeze some for later. Poilane’s bread is dense and flavorful and it’s as good toasted with butter and jam as it is sliced for sandwiches or grilled for bruschetta. Of all the gifts I’ve ever given, a loaf of fresh bread shipped from Poilane was definitely everyone’s favorite! The raisin and walnut breads are also amazing? It’s like a trip to Paris without the jet lag!” —Facebook, March 2013

Mariah Carey

“I bathe in milk. Yes, sometimes I use milk as a beauty treatment. I don’t want to give away all my secrets.” —the Guardian, June 2018

Kris Jenner

“Costco is a passion. Costco is like a massage.” —the New York Times, May 2015

Cardi B

“I like to do absolutely nothing. I don’t want nobody to invite me nowhere. I don’t want to do my fucking makeup. I don’t want to put tight clothes on. I don’t want to wear heels. I don’t want to do shit. But if I can be with my dude and have a little nasty time, I love that too.” —CR Fashion Book, December 2018

25 Famous Women on Their Guilty Pleasures and Indulgences