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Welcome to our sanctuary of self-care! In a world where hustle culture often reigns supreme, it's crucial to carve out moments dedicated solely to nurturing ourselves. Amidst the chaos of daily life, personal care products become our allies in this journey toward self-preservation and inner harmony. Join us as we delve into the realm of skincare, grooming, and wellness, exploring the transformative power of these products not just on our bodies, but on our minds and souls. Discover how the simple act of caring for ourselves can be a profound act of self-love and empowerment. Let's embark on this odyssey of self-discovery together, one moisturiser, serum, and face mask at a time.
And by no means am I an amazing "lifestyle girly" but I feel like I'm getting there (I wish I was more aesthetic, I really do, and I'm trying, but I'm also rustic too and that's okay). This post is a little different, i.e., not something I'd normally do, but I'm all about being authentic, relatable, and vulnerable at the moment so I am going to share with you ALL my favourite personal care products as of May 2024.
One of my ABSOLUTE favourite brands (and it has been since about 2020 in New Zealand) is Glow Lab and their products make my skin LOOK and FEEL fantastic! Here's what I use:
Glow Lab Brightening Exfoliator 100ml: The only thing negative I have to say about this is that I wish it came in a bigger bottle. I use it on my face, my body sometimes, and afterwards, my skin feels fresh and smooth. It also helps get rid of any redness in my skin too! Cost $7.50 AUD.
Glow Lab Creme Cleanser 100ml: I just love how clean this makes my face feel and I use it every single day! I swear by it. Cost $11.39 AUD.
Glow Lab Facial Moustriser 100ml: This is such a silky moisturiser and it mixes really well with my bronzing drops too and gives my skin that glassy extra look to it. I wouldn't have it any other way. Cost $7.50 AUD.
Glow Lab Body Scrub Coconut Sugar 200ml: Ahh I love body scrubs and things that make my whole body feel like I've just shed my snake skin and this one does that. I'm not a fan of eating coconut because I don't like the texture, but I am a fan of how it smells and this scrub is great. Pop some on a loofah in the shower and away you go! Cost $14 AUD.
Glow Lab Night Cream with Vitamin C 50ml: Want to make yourself sleepy before bed and have your skin feeling refreshed after doing so? Well, this night cream does just that. I used to hate having to do skin care before bed but now I absolutely love it because of this product. It makes me sleepy and makes my skin feel good plus I can trust that my skin is soaking up all the good stuff as I sleep. Cost $13.37 AUD.
Hair Products!
I have curly hair and it's a struggle, products are expensive and they don't last a long time, but here are some of my faves that I've been using recently!
Kerastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Shampoo 250 ml: It's soooo hydrating! Cost $57 AUD.
Kerastase Curl Manifesto Beurre Haute Nutrition Hair Mask 200ml: Now, I tend to go for masks over conditioners because they work a lot better for me and my curls, but you can also opt-in for the normal conditioner too! Cost $74.56 AUD
Kerastase Curl Manifesto Creme De Jour Fondamentale Hair Cream Daily Moisturizing Frizz-Reducing Leave-in Treatment - For Curly Hair 150ml: THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVOURITE LEAVE IN CONDITIONER EVER, I feel so good whenever this is in my hair. Once I've washed my hair and if I want to leave it curly, I will scrunch this into my curls on soaking wet hair and it keeps the curls in really well. Cost $62 AUD.
Garnier Fructis Hair Food Macadamia 390ml: This is something on the cheaper side but still does a good job and it's like a conditioner, hair mask, and leave-in all in one + you can source this at any supermarket really! I also like the smell too (there's plenty of other flavours. Cost $21.23 AUD.
Cake The Curl Friend Defining Curl Cream 177ml: Ahh this is kinda more like a gel and I also scrunch this into my curls - I don't use it a lot though because it can be irritating but when I do it holds my curls really well and keeps the frizz to a minimum! Cost $22 AUD.
Kevin Murphy Young Again Anti Frizz 100ml: I've bought one of these since I've lived in Australia and it is GREAT for the humidity for my hair and it's lasted so long. It is a bit steep in price, but for how long I've had, it is great (you only need a small amount too). So good. Cost $81.75.
Make Up Things/General
Jade Roller - I don't have a specific product in mind as I think mine might have actually just been from Kmart or Target, but it's a green jade roller for my face and if you put it in the freezer then roll it on your face, it feels so fresh. I tend to only use it before doing my make-up or going out but I probably should use it a lot more! Check out "this one" on Amazon for $15.10 for a 4pk of goodies!
McCo Beauty Super Glow Bronzing Drops 30ml: this was something I had never used before BUT let me tell you how this gives my face such a tan glow and makes me look WAY less pale. All you have to do is shake the bottle then mix it with your favourite moisturiser (as I said before, mine is the Glow Lab one) and rub it on your face. Do be careful not to have white clothing near it though as it can stain. Cost $32 AUD.
MAANGE Makeup Brushes (set of 18): I've been looking for some good quality make up brushes for a while and these are really good, easy to clean and well-priced plus they're actually the first set that is labelled and when you're a bit of a forgetful person, that really helps so you know what product to dip it in! Cost $21.99 AUD.
Skin Control Pimple Patch AM & PM 36pk: Did you know that I was REALLY late to the party on pimple patches? I didn't know they were a thing until like 2022, well I probably did know, but I wasn't aware of how quickly they work, and yes for the majority of the time you should let pimples air normally and leave them alone but if you have an event or a date or something, this is a good way to get rid of them fast. Cost $5.67 AUD.
Morphe Equalizer Foundation Primer 30ml: Ahh I hate having to use primer, but this one feels so nice on my face and honestly a game changer for how long my make-up stays on after using this one! Cost $25 AUD (plus it doesn't break the bank).
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit Light to Med: Something I learned how to do really late in life was contour and I'm glad I can do it now as this kit is excellent! There are only 6 palettes but they do work really well to achieve a desired contour look! Cost $69 AUD.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Highlighter Stick (Dripping in Gold): Hands down, one of the BEST highlighter sticks I've ever bought. It makes me feel so shiny and pretty. Cost $53 AUD.
And lastly, a big shout out to "Lush" products in general for being vegan, cruelty-free, and wonderful on our skin! I love Lush, pls sponsor my blog I'd love you forever. Every mask I've ever used from here has been amazing, and so has every bath bomb but we no longer have a bath and that sucks. If I'm ever lucky enough to own a house, my one necessity is a bath and maybe a spa bath but ya know, we'll take what we can get because I am super grateful for having a roof over my head and two showers in said house! But the housing market, not for millennials, clearly.
So there you have it, my favourite personal care/beauty products as of May 2024! I'm sure they will change over time, but a lot of these brands I am super loyal to and glad they exist so please keep making vegan and cruelty-free products!
I'd also like to include a few blog posts that inspired this one today for you to check out sometime!
The 23 Best Beauty Products of 2024, According to Vogue’s Beauty Team by Kiana Murden
The 2024 100 Greatest Skin Care Products of All Time by James Manso
The Best Affordable Skincare Brands On The Market by Maddison Hockey
The 15 best affordable skincare brands of 2024 our beauty experts love by Maiya Pascouche
Indulge In A Self-Care Day With These 21 Personal Care Products by Rachelle Yang
Let me know in the comments below what your favourite personal care product is AND if you've tried any of these!
As we reach the end of our exploration into the realm of personal care products and their profound connection to self-care, one truth remains undeniable: prioritising our well-being is not just a luxury, but a necessity. Through the rituals of skincare, grooming, and wellness, we not only tend to our physical bodies but also nourish our souls. Each product becomes a vessel for self-love, a reminder that our worthiness is not contingent on productivity or external validation, but on our ability to honour and cherish ourselves. So let us continue this journey with intentionality and compassion, embracing the transformative power of self-care in all its forms. Together, let's cultivate a life rich in self-love, self-acceptance, and self-empowerment. Because in the end, the most important relationship we'll ever have is the one we have with ourselves. And our products ;)
Much love,
Ash xx
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