As this interesting year comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on everything that has happened. I think we can all agree that this year has taken a toll on every one of us — I in particular have not been doing too hot. However, this year did help me understand the importance of self-care. Here are my top five favorite products that helped keep me a little bit more sane during this crazy year.
- Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer
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First and foremost, I want to talk about my holy grail of beauty products. This brush has quite literally kept me afloat through all of the quarantine. This revolutionary styling product allows you to create the most effortless blowout right in the comfort of your own home — something we found to be very important this year. There’s no shame in wanting to have nicely styled hair, even if it’s just for yourself! You can learn more about this product here.
- e.l.f Poreless Putty Primer
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We all remember the primer that broke the internet; well, it definitely lives up to its hype. This primer minimizes my pores and creates an incredibly smooth surface that allows my foundation to apply effortlessly. The best part? It’s only $8!
- Kiss Nails Masterpiece
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Something I learned to appreciate more over quarantine (strangely enough) happened to be press-on nails. I’ve always been super self-conscious about my natural nails; I’ve always wanted cute long nails, but no matter what I do, they always seem to break or chip on me. I’ve never been the biggest fan of acrylic nails because I have a bad habit of ripping them off — and we know how terrible that is for your natural nails. When I discovered this line of press-on nails, my whole life changed. I was finally able to have beautiful nails at a fraction of what a salon would charge. I chose this line specifically because of how gorgeous the designs are. However, any Kiss nail set offers the same idea, just different designs.
- Dermalogica’s Clear Start Micro-Pore Mist and Hydrating Lotion
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There’s no excuse as to why skincare should be forgotten. If anything, it should have been one of the main focuses in your beauty regime over the quarantine. Just because we aren’t going out and wearing makeup as much doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take care of your skin. I’ve always struggled to find products that work since I have very sensitive and breakout-prone skin, so I always had to be careful with what I put on my face. When I got introduced to Dermalogica, the way I viewed skincare changed forever. This brand carries amazing products, and oh boy, do they get the job done! I have honorable mentions: their Micro-Pore Mist and their Hydrating Lotion from the Clear Start line. First off, their toner mist minimizes pores, and the ingredients in it help to brighten the skin and even out your skin tone. Their moisturizer is an incredibly lightweight, almost water-like substance that immediately hydrates your skin. Both are an integral part of my skincare routine.
- Not Your Mother’s Matcha Green Tea Hair Mask
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Now that we are confined to being home all day, what better time to start taking care of our hair and begin an attempt at reversing years of heat damage? When I used to have bleached hair, my hair was absolutely fried; it felt so dry and matted to the touch. This mask saved my life. First off, when you open this mask, it smells divine. While applying this mask you instantly feel your hair begin to get smooth and silky — just imagine how it feels when you wash it off. I usually apply it in the shower after I condition and leave it in for about 10-15 minutes, depending on how I’m feeling. If my hair really needs that extra TLC, I’ll apply it before I go to bed and leave it on overnight. The results always amaze me; this mask truly leaves your hair insanely hydrated, smooth, shiny and soft.
This year has been tough on everybody. If you need a little bit of a “pick me up,” I suggest running over to your local Ulta and investing in these products!