Grabbing yourself something small – a pastry, a fun drink, a beauty product, a bunch of flowers – has the surprising power to brighten an otherwise ordinary day. Enter little treat culture, a self-care phenomenon that’s become internet shorthand for indulging in something small. It’s all about romanticising everyday life and celebrating the small things that bring joy.
Brands are embracing the trend, too. McCafé, for one, is launching 10 new cold drinks this month dedicated to the delight of one little drink. It might sound frivolous, but research shows that allowing yourself a little treat has psychological benefits, delivering glimmers of happiness in stressful or uncertain times.
You don’t have to spend much to embrace the little treat lifestyle – your daily indulgence could be as simple as sitting in the sun for 10 minutes. But if you are in the mood to treat yourself, here are five suggestions that won’t stretch the budget.
Something for your skin
Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Beauty landed Down Under earlier this year, and it’s available exclusively at Mecca. Order online, or meander through its glittery new flagship stores in Melbourne and Sydney, where sampling scents and swabbing shades is part of the experience. For a little mood boost, Rhode’s peptide lip tint comes in at $35. It’s hydrating, with a sheer wash of colour and delivers shine without the tackiness.
Something to sip
Iced coffee has long been the default little drink, but the options are getting stranger. Case in point: McCafé is rolling out 10 new cold drinks nationwide from July 15, among them a Berry Blast and Sprite crafted soda – a blue raspberry number topped with cold foam that lands somewhere near a nostalgic ice-cream spider – and a Red Bull Dragonberry Energiser finished with freeze-dried dragon fruit. Purists can stick with the Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, shaken over ice with oat milk.
Something for home
A fresh bunch of flowers has an uncanny ability to brighten both your space and your mood. They bring colour, fragrance and a sense of occasion to even the most ordinary week.
Visit your local florist or order online from Daily Blooms, which offers same-day delivery of seasonal arrangements wrapped in biodegradable hessian. Otherwise, there’s Roses Only that delivers everything from tulips and native flowers to, naturally, roses across Australia.
Something vintage
Shopping second-hand gives you that little dopamine hit, without costing your wallet or the planet. You never know what you’ll score on the day – it could be a retro ceramic, vinyl, silk scarf, well-thumbed paperback, or Levi’s worn in all the right places. From neighbourhood op-shops to curated resale stores like Goodbyes, every visit comes with the possibility of an unexpected find.
Something to read
Bookstores serve as wonderful secludes to carve out a moment for yourself and get lost in literature. Perhaps your little treat might be picking up that book that’s been sitting on your Goodreads list for months.
Our rec? Opt for a cookbook. You can return to it time and again, and it’ll be a nice addition to your kitchen. Linger by Hetty Lui McKinnon and Baking and the Meaning of Life by Helen Goh are both 2025 releases worth picking up.
This article was produced by Broadsheet in partnership with McCafé.
Produced by Broadsheet in partnership with McCafé
Learn more about partner content on Broadsheet.
