- Glycolic acid toner on a Q-tip to clean out my belly button. Belly buttons STINK and get full of oil and dead skin, it can build up and cause infections and pimples. Clean those belly buttons!!
- Bushbalm brand In grown hair oil for my Brazilian area, but also for my keratosis pilaris (combined with glycolic acid toner). It’s great for helping to fade dark marks caused by pimples down there too.
As a surgical nurse, I want to say THANK YOU. I never realized how many people don’t clean their belly buttons until I started having to prep abdomens for surgery. Truly shocking.
It is!! I’ve had a few surgeries for endometriosis and naturally I have lots of scar tissue in my belly button, and it’s shocking to me when people learn they have to clean them out!! It’s like cleaning behind your ears. Not often seen, but up close it can smell pretty rank!
I had no idea until I got an infection and it hurt! I do wash it every time I shower now. But I'm not gonna lie I makes me a bit nauseous that's why I never touched my belly button.
Just be super gentle! I know the feeling, it’s a VERY sensitive area to touch. If all you can manage is this, just dry your belly button as well as you can after a shower as trapped moisture breeds bacteria. You can use a cotton ball or cotton pad for this if a q tip causes too much pressure for you.
Omg thank you for this tip! Having to clean mine is the worst feeling ever. Like I'd rather poke myself in the eye with my mascara brush than touch my belly button haha
Lay in your back and drop a few drops of rubbing alcohol or peroxide in your belly button a few times a week.
If you have a stone it will eventually loosen and fall out. If you don’t, it will prevent you from getting one and keep your belly button clean.
Rubbing alcohol will also dry up the moisture so that you don’t have to touch your belly button.
It’s ok - not many of us are taught this. Just be gentle. It’s normal for bellybuttons to get red with the slightest bit of touch. Lots of blood flow there.
Just soak a Q tip in glycolic acid toner and stick it in, gently swirl it around to break up some dead skin. Take the dry end and dry your belly button and try to get as much dead skin out as possible.
With that said, try keeping your belly button dry as much as possible as dampness and trapped water can also breed bacteria :)
Surely this is only for people with deeper bellybuttons? I’ve gone 38 years without purposefully cleaning it and I’ve never seen any fluff and there are no bad smells
I just accidentally started to clean it bc I noticed the bad smell when I was kid and I am grossed out by [stink.My](http://stink.My) mom didnt teach me so I assumed no one actually does it
I make sure to wash my belly button in the shower with soap daily! It never ceases to amaze me how so many people fail to remember to clean their belly button 🤨
Omg I never realized it until at 23 I had to have an emergency surgery through my naval. They said to clean daily. It stank! Now I’m obsessed with keeping it clean and stanky free.
OMG! when I was like 8wks postpartum my 2nd kid I could not figure out why I stank SO BAD. I thought I was washing thoroughly in the shower and was already back to my regular skincare/exercise routine. My toddler pulled down my exercise shorts while I breastfeeding one day and started playing with my belly button and I was absolutely disgusted with myself lol the dirt and sweat that had built was horrible.
So yes, please, wash your belly buttons lmao
How good is that bushbalm bc I’ve been considering trying but I’ve got serious ingrown hairs on my parts like my hair is thiccc every wax I’ve gotta spend an hour pulling ingrowns and I’ve used so many products & exfoliation 😭
I feel you. I have VERY coarse hair and very deep roots. I get sugared every 3-4 weeks and still get ingrowns sometimes - it’s just how deep the roots go, plus kinky hair, means sometimes it grows sideways. Plus, tight clothing and sweating also can create ingrowns and irritation.
I love the Bushbalm oil for a few reasons:
- It’s very moisturizing
- Its very soothing
- It’s thick and not messy and my skin drinks it up.
The main reason it works is due to tea tree oil - the other oils in it are just to moisturize, sooth, and soften the skin. This combination is why it works for me personally.
However I do use Korean exfoliation sheets I got from Amazon to exfoliate daily, with soap!! This is important. I also try to keep the area from sweating/chafing in the summer so I use a non-talc powder just to create a sort of barrier after my skin is clean and dry. (Not over wet oil). You can also try to use spray anti-perspirant if you find you get ingrowns along your panty line - it’ll create a barrier and prevent sweat and chafing. Gotta wash it off with soap and water daily to prevent clogged pores though.
I have a deep bellybutton, anyway one time I got a yeast infection in my bellybutton lol :( luckily it’s such a small area, nystatin cream fixed it really quickly, but that was years ago and ever since that I pay way more attention to my bellybutton. I use qtips to dry it after a shower. Glycolic acid is a good tip, I’ve used diluted tea tree oil too
Good luck! For me my #1 best weapon to fight KP is hydration. I use my toner first, let it dry, then I use the ingrown hair oil (any body oil is fine but I love the added tea tree oil for clarifying my skin) and seal it in with a heavy cream.
The creams I use are like the sol de janiero knock off creams from Costco, or like the bath and body works body creams. I swear they work so well on my bumpy arms! Also Working Hands cream or anything with urea like Eucerin. Doesn’t have to be expensive.
Love goldbonds soft feet with urea. Used to have such dry feet and this makes them so soft. I use it every day after showering and exfoliate once a week.
Vitamin e oil for finger nails/skin. Laroche posay lipikar ap + lotion for face and body. Fino hair mask. Glycolic pads for kp. Cereve sa cream for kp. Using a high quality shampoo/conditioner changed my hair. Brush your teeth before coffee to reduce staining. Go to the dentist every 6 months. Floss. Low impact work outs that prioritize stretching, balance and strength rather than trying to burn as many cals as possible. Eat enough or you will bloat no matter how skinny you are. Prioritize sleep. Lower stress. Sunscreen.
All of this helps me to look better now at 29 than I did in my early 20s! I feel better too🤍
LaRoche Posay Lipikar AP+ is the GOAT. I put it everywhere, including my lips. When it's super hot and humid I use Bioderma Atoderm gel cream and layer a tiiiiiny bit of the Lrp on top. It locks in moisture and makes a great base for makeup.
Literally agree with everything you said!!
Also!! Get a quality facial and get educated on your skin type/ make sure you’re using skin type appropriate products! I spent so long stripping and irritating my skin not realizing how sensitive and dry I am!!
These are FANTASTIC. The bloating because of not eating enough is real, I thought I was bloating from food so I stopped eating making it WORSE. Also the cerave SA FOOT cream is what I use for KP, it’s brilliant.
Those little floss sticks instead of a long "roll" of floss. They're so much easier for me to use.
got2b clear gel for baby hairs, comes in a tube that looks like a mascara, you're meant to use it on baby hair and flyaways and your hairline. I use it on my brows and it has a better lasting power than any previous brow gel I've used.
My dentist tells me floss sticks are better than not flossing at all, but not as good as regular floss because they don’t wrap around the tooth. He recommends [these](https://a.co/d/0dt4bYoP) or they have a slightly cheaper version and a slightly more expensive metal version kind of like a pipe cleaner.
Yep don’t let perfect be the enemy of good!
At my household we use traditional rolled floss (coco floss to be exact).
I don’t like the amount of single use plastic floss sticks introduces, and the micro brushes doesn’t work for my partner because they don’t fit the microscopic (lol) amount of space between his teeth lol.
But everyone should use whatever will enable them to consistently floss.
My dentist and my kids’ dentist (U.S.) are very snooty about these, but I figure flossing sticks we actually use are way better than long strings of floss we won’t really use.
Really?? That's interesting. I've never used flossing sticks so I have 0 idea! I do like interdental brushes and water flossing (this one occasionally but it feels nice and helps when you get wisdom teeth so you can clean the gum flaps more easily). My favourite regular floss is satin tape. I take my flossing routine very seriously 😂😂😂😂
Tbh, use what you find comfy and can stick with it, that's what matters 🤷🏻♀️
Not sure where to get it anywhere outside Germany, I also don't know what it's called in English 😭 But it's the yellow got2b tube that looks like a mascara 🫣
Adding to this... So, for one, I see those spoolies all the time in Walmart. It might depend on what area you're in. For two, though, there's floss strands. Basically there's floss with a thin, bendy plastic "needle" at the end that's made for people with braces or even just close teeth to thread into hard-to-reach areas.
Seconding this one! I’ve been using that for a while after seeing it recommended on reddit, and it’s so good! My posture has improved massively, and I have way less pain in my neck now.
Good luck! I hope it works for you too!
I’ve been using it for 5 minutes every morning and evening, and try to use the stretchy bar at least once a day as well (though I have a dupe from a different brand for that one)
I’ve been using face masks 1-2x a day, mainly because I have a surplus of Asian beauty brand face masks and just have to use them up, but now that I’ve been doing one face mask every morning and evening I can’t go back. It just really hydrated my skin and gives me a glowing plump look that I love
I bought a heap half price to try and been using one every second night and I can't believe I haven't used them before, they make such a big difference to my skin in the morning
I don’t really look for a specific “ingredient” for face masks, I enjoy trying a bunch of different masks so it’s not the ingredient that I look at. I get a lot of my face masks from TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Stylevana, YesStyle, or Olive Young- all my masks are Asian beauty brands! So far I’ve tried the following masks and I love them all: skin1004 water-gel sheet mask, round lab moisturizing birch juice face mask, mary&may houttynia face mask, grace day morning collagen mask.
A way to accomplish this for cheaper is to buy a reusable silicon mask and apply your favorite products inside that. Helps the product really sink in and gives me the same plumping effect.
Same! Until one years ago I religiously avoided anything containing petrolatum, paraffinum or silicones. Then I found Dr Dray on youtube and everything changed 😂
If it helps, I’ve used Vaseline on my face ,especially around my eyes and mouth at night as a moisturizer.
I’m 55 , and people think I’m years younger. (Pics on my profile)
Southern women have used Vaseline for ages! It’s great.
Most people who say “people think I’m years-younger “ are deluding themselves. I however have checked out your pictures and yes you actually do look 40 youngish. Gorgeous
I was literally terrified of the same thing. I get rashes when I apply mineral oil and don’t let my skin breathe so I was nervous. For some reason this doesn’t do it. I apply any face cream and eye cream I want and then put a light Vaseline coat over all of it. My face, neck, and chest. I can wear it day and night and nothing. I actually break out less than before. Can’t guarantee because everyone is different but I can’t believe my life that it works for me lol.
I had Mirena and it was brutal. The insertion took a long time and was so painful I almost passed out. They let me drive home by myself and the pain was still so bad I had to pull over. Then the pain lasted for about two weeks and it was so bad I wasn’t able to go to my friends wedding.
Mirena is def not easy or pain free during insertion. I mean, its still an IUD. I dealt with a lot pain from insertion with mine but I highly doubt copper would better on that front.
Also ugh tmi if you need a IUD horror story : I had two in me at one for a day. They didn't remove the old one before putting the new one in. They insisted the old one was "gone". I had to advocate for myself to get ultrasounds done to confirm the two in me. Then needed both removed and another put in.
Moral of the story make sure you have your doc show you the old one they removed before putting a new one in
Yeah, I had a copper one for 11 years. My periods did suck for the first few months but everything after that was smooth sailing 👌 people talk about their horror stories more than people talk about when things go as expected. Not to invalidate anyone, just that they're the minority.
I have a hormonal one. I won’t lie, the pain is awful, but for me it was 5 minutes of awful pain and two days of manageable recovery to get to years of low-stress protection. Worth the trade off in the end, for me.
There’s a class action suit being built against paraguard for causing (among other things) infertility, so yeah I’d avoid it unless you absolutely know you never want to conceive.
TMI, but the Tower 28 Rescue Spray for butt acne and spots lol. I feel like out of all the products I’ve tried, this has made some difference for me. I got the idea from another reddit thread where a girl said she was an NSFW content creator who used hypochlorous acid spray to keep those spots at bay, lol.
Vitamin E. I have dry skin. So I add a little vitamin e in the extra dry areas. On my lips also. Really anywhere on my body. It’s also amazing to heal chemical burns.
Oils oils oils. Facial oil, body oil, even cuticle oil. But I use the right kinds so I swear I don’t look greasy. But my skin loves oils and it feels like they are rarely talked about!
Would you mind sharing any oils you recommend?
I’ve been using hemp seed oil, which works fantastic for me, but leaves me smelling like a nugget of cannabis
I stashed a bunch of jojoba oil pens around the house that I use on my nails whenever it pops into my head. It’s made a massive difference in nail strength for me
reusable fabric makeup remover wipes. Affordable and Life changing. I bought them at Aldi and using these changed my skin. Now my skin is shiny and glowy
I use them gently every day to wash my face, whether I wore makeup or not. use upward motions. you would never believe how dirty your face actually is!
The microfiber makeup removing wipes sold at Dollar store and other places are just as good as the name brand ones, and, like all microfiber, they can be washed in the washer with or without bleach, and tossed in the dryer.
Lanolin for my lips. A huge tub is super cheap and is by far the most effective chapstick I've ever used when applied in a thin layer, with the added benefit of looking like a gloss. At night, I'll slather on a thick layer and it actually does what all the overnight lip masks promised, but never delivered for me.
I've had terribly chapped lips my whole life, no matter how much water I drink or whatever products I've tried. Lanolin plus gentle exfoliation every few days has nearly entirely solved the problem!
I’m a lactation consultant and we give samples to moms in the hospital. I always tell them it’s good for chapped lips (hospital seems dry) and if you have a cold and your nose is red and chapped from blowing it is completely better looking in the morning.
It also works great on your nails to help strengthen them by keeping water out of them. I use it after removing nail polish and never had an issue with weak nails after I started using it.
Haha! That would be good, but just to clarify, it is NOT the yeast infection cream. Just an anti-chafing gel, I guess it’s meant to be used on thighs or something.
Arnica gel for under my eyes. Works amazingly for dark bags!
*edit* removed the word “bruises” in the first sentence. I made it sound like I get punched daily! I don’t I use it for dark circles
I’ve had my gel for at least three years. Lasts forever.
https://www.supportplus.com/FF8772.html
There is arnica lotion, too, I believe? Just was told to get arnica and I grabbed the first one I saw. (If anyone wonders I’m not affiliated with this or any brand. Any brand of anything, actually 😂)
Oh I know! My dad is a doctor, and I grew up around that stuff. Some people use it on their face every single day! I use it like once a month for my feet and underarms.
Did you know they now have a hibiclens foam?
Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment (DCT) - comes in a little pinkish-tan jar. You can only buy it online. My mom has been using it since the 90's and now I do, too. It deeply, deeply hydrates your lips. The Laniege lip mask is a complete joke compared to Blistex DCT.
I heard a derma say that whenever we use salicylic acid cleanser anywhere on our body, we’re supposed to let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Safe to say it’s been a game-changer for my skin! 💕
Eucerin tinted SPF - This stuff makes my skin look insanely good, very “glass skin”… I wear it with some spot concealer. Stands up to beach days and swimming too.
I’m a big fan of Glycolic Acid (I use The Ordinary one) all over but especially my underarms. And following that up with Lume deodorant (it has an odd scent that goes away after a bit). My skin looks amazing and smells great all the time with this, even if I start sweating from activity.
I use straight up rosewater from the Arab grocery for toner. It's been working well for the last 8 months and it's only $2.99.
Edit: Cortas Rosewater specifically
First Aid Beauty exfoliating pads. When I go for facials now there’s never any extractions to do when they cleanse because they’re like magic skin perfectors
I have not personally tried thus . But, my adult daughters promise that if you use dry shampoo when removing your peach fuzz on the face ...if you have any lol . That it's an absolute game changer.
I know some tiktok brand sells a product that lights up all your peach fuzz so you can make sure to get it all when Dermaplaning. I’d never thought to try dry shampoo for that, but I’d be afraid of it clogging pores
I saw a tt about using micellar water in a spray bottle and misting the scalp then blowdrying. As a brunette, I'm curious how if anyone has tried this before. Dry shampoo gives me yuck buildup.
I am a brunette too and tried this a couple weeks ago - wasn’t a fan of the texture and my hair still looked sort of greasy/weird. I used an off brand micellar water though - not sure if brand matters.
I've been using this now since batiste and many other brands were found to have waaaaay higher levels of a group 1 carcinogenic substance (Benzene) in them than what was legal, there was a whole thing about it just recently including a class action lawsuit, its so prevalent I just do not trust them any more.
I like having my nails done but I hate that nail polish chips within like 2 days. I can do gel, but my favorite thing in the world for my nails is semi cured gel nail strips. You put them on your nail and finish the cure with a UV nail light. I use the brand dashing diva “glaze” line. It’s so nice because you can have designs without all the hard work, and they last 2 weeks and look professional lol. They also harden and it keeps my nails so strong I’m able to grow out my natural nails and they look even more like I went to the nail salon lol
Kefir, best thing for gut health, after all everything is linked to the gut. I noticed a significant decrease in redness on my face a week after drinking it consistently and I no longer get breakouts on my chin which were a problem in the past. Honestly a miracle drink I can't stress it enough
It honestly depends on the person because it has a slight laxative effect if you drink too much. I drink a glass every other day but I often end up overdrinking bc I just love the taste. Depends where you're from, I'm from Poland, everyone drinks it here and the most popular brand is Krasnystaw. But in general just make sure it has at least 2g fat and no added sugar/flavours
Oldies but goodies. These worked for acne when I was a teen and there were NO products available. Natural Vitamin E for zits. Dried them right up. And for a facial, Phillips milk of magnesia. Draws out oil and impurities and magnesium is good for your skin.
No longer have oily skin, pretty dry these days, but they worked for me when there wasn't much available.
Oh man, Milk of Magnesia facial for 15 minutes prior to putting on makeup is the best oily girl’s hack. When I do that it takes my skin much longer to turn into a grease slick.
- Water flosser instead of floss
- CeraVe Healing Ointment for everything (instead of Aquaphor or Vaseline)
- Sulfate shampoo (not really a secret but everyone seems to think they need sulfate-free shampoo)
- Got2B farewell flyaways hair mascara.
- Tongue scraper.. I swear, it's SO worth it!
- Ketocornazole shampoo as a forehead mask a couple of times per week.. for "fungal acne".
- Eyebrow razors for face shaving.
- Glycolic acid on the body. Exfoliates, helps with KP, make the sweat less smelly, and prevent ingrowns.
- Scrunchies on my wrists when I wash my face.
- A self tanning mitt on a bath brush, secured with a rubber band or hair tie, when I need to apply sunscreen on my back.
- Shower cap after applied conditioner.. for some reason, it makes my hair feel even softer.. why, I don't know.
- Water in a mist bottle.. before the hydrating serum.
- Honey as a face mask.
- And one that I'm doing now temporarily because I don't have much money: Shower oil on dry skin as a first step in the double cleanse method. Then add some water and emulsify. Works like any cleansing oil made for the face.
Mine are only a secret bc of the price but I don’t think anyone would be shocked or surprised . They are also an accumulation over the yrs of investments
I have 2 tria lasers ( skin, hair removal) , nuface, microneedle, Myo lift, red light celluluma knockoff. Occasionally I get dysport but haven’t done that since 2019
I use sesame seed oil after showering it keeps the moisture in the skin and keeps it soft . This is one I’m surprised to hear from friends or colleagues isn’t common and usually people give me a weird response like what ? No way would I use that. A lot of misconceptions abt body oil . And how one can use it
Yes the lasers for home use (but medical grade ; as a healthcare provider who works with lasers I did my research before I bought) . Tbh I bought those along time ago and haven’t used them in yrs but need to bring them back out.
The hair removal laser worked but now need to retreat after 10+yrs . This laser does hurt alot at least for me . I needed to use the highest setting and it does hurt. The more you do it the less it hurts because you are removing less and less hair. Definitely easier the first time I did this years ago …. Now knowing it will be painful and older more accepting of my body hair it’s a lot harder to complete lol
The Skin laser I probably bought too young and now in my 40s could probably benefit. The skin laser is like microneedling but deeper so probably better for my lower face now . I never felt any pain when I used it less invasive but will leave your face red . But now we have soo many wonderful products to help with the redness it’s not a worry just do it at night and wake up to beautiful skin that will continue to plump and tighten/lift over 3 months
The body oil is just a sesame seed oil from neutragena but there are lots out there now. After you shower before you towel off you apply the oil all over the skin / body for maximum effectiveness air dry or pat dry with towel then apply your lotion . If you live somewhere humid probably don’t need to apply lotion .
You’ll have a nice clean scent and hydrated skin bouncy shimmery healthy looking skin on your whole body .
I should note these lasers I bought a long time ago and I know for sure the hair removal only works on fair skin with dark hair . I would assume bc of the era I bought the lasers the laser for my skin is probably for fairer skin tones too . Sorry all my melanin blessed beauty’s but luckily there are a lot more options today for you all as opposed to your aunties day .
I have dark chocolate brown hair but, if I am running a little behind in going to the salon . I just use a brown eyeshadow on my roots and grays . But , also around the temple area . Works great . Plus, you don't have the gunky feel that you get from the root sprays in a can . That stuff feels so,gross . Makes you want to run as fast as possible to the salon . I have very thick and coarse hair maybe that makes a difference in how it feels in my hair.
You should try Ions brunette shampoo it’s amazingggg!!! It’s brown so it tones your hair I love it I’ve been using it for about a week my hair is so brunette lol no orangy tones and it’s so soft
Life Flo magnesium body lotion. I have a whole shelf of body lotions/creams but this really moisturizes my skin while also giving me a magnesium boost that’s helps relax my muscles and go to bed.
Honest beauty calm and heal melting balm. I use this every night as a moisturizer and it gives my skin such a nice glow.
Getting the proper level of magnesium has been life-changing for me. No more muscle spasms, heart palpitations went away, much faster recovery from exercise. I've been using the Diva Stuff Dream Whip, it has magnesium and melatonin and smells like lavender and sleepytime!
Dr Lipp Nipple Balm - it’s scentless and tasteless. I use it for everything (except my nipples ironically). I use it for lip balm and has been my HG for about 10yrs now.
I use it on burns and scratches, dry cuticles, mosquito bites, to keep my eyebrows down or flyaways.
I’ve tried other lanolin products but always go back to this specific one because it’s pure and I like the consistency.
Those little face razors to dermaplane with are fantastic to use on that one patch of hair that you missed when you shaved
Floss sticks instead of regular dental floss, I have a small jaw so actual floss gives me a really hard time especially with how tight so of my teeth are.
Coconut oil to shave. I have super dry skin and tend to procrastinate shaving so I end up with a lot of hair. Exfoliating and then using coconut oil has left me with the smoothest and softest skin I have had in AGES. And since it's an oil, you don't have to keep reapplying product when you rinse your legs the way you might with shaving cream
I bought a glycolic acid soap bar off Amazon and it's helped with my chicken skin SO much, it's fantastic
The blue tub of Nivea cream to slug my face with. My skin is incredibly dry, like crack and peel levels of dry and with retinol it's worse. So I slather my face in it and it's been super helpful. It can be a little bit difficult to use if your skin is wet with water since it's so heavy in oils but if you use a face oil prior, it's so smooth and easy to work with
Spearmint oil on my chin and upper lip has drastically reduced facial hair growth. I used to tweeze the odd stiff or dark hair continuously . Now they grow in light and soft and when I get the odd stubborn one it comes out really easily. I tweeze maybe once a month now compared to every other day before. As an added bonus the oil is also good for acne as well.
Castor oil for your eye lashes and browse. Rub it in every night and it will definitely make your hair grow, forget the growth serums. Also apply after your eye cream to lock in the moisture for crease free eyes. Rub into the eye lids at night to help if you have dry eye. The difference is fantastic
Embiolyse as a primer, moisturiser, best makevup remover and use as a face mask to plump up your skin. It's a cheap amazing product
some super good brands are..
1. redken - if you want your hair to look really healthy and shiny, they have shampoo and conditioner for your specific hair type. my mom buys it by the gallon (expensive, but so worth it).
2. amika - the humidity spray is SO GOOD I SWEAR- been using this everytime i use heat and it works perfectly :)
3. elf - literally so affordable. the halo glow, camo blush, lip oils, and their brushes are to die for
4. covergirl - the yummy gloss and literally all of their mascaras are so gooddd
5. sunbum - lip balm, spray sunscreen, and body lotion
6. dove - the coconut and the shea butter body washes smell soooo good. and i've been using their 0 aluminum deoderant for years.
7. tree hut - their body scrubs smell heavenly and get rid of all the nasty dead skin. my favorites are the poppy one and the coco colado ones.
l'ange - i have a straightener and a curling wand from this brand and people ask me where i get my hair done everytime i use this curler. 3 years strong with both and i have not had any issues with them and they're very simplistic!
i hope this helps!! :)
Aloe Vera gel. I have oily skin and fine wavy hair and this has been a great product for moisturizing my skin without breaking me out and taming my hair so it isn’t a frizzy mess.
Origins Super Spot Remover for zits. It’s intense but it works magic. Ice a zit for 5 mins, rub this on, and within an hour it’s shrinking and beginning to dry up.
Lime juice for rinsing hair. I do this whenever my hair is feeling like it has buildup. Shampoo, douse scalp with juice (I just use cheap generic bottled juice), let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Great for dandruff, oily hair, product buildup, and leaves your hair super shiny.
[Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab hair gloss](https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/body-beauty/). They aren’t cheap but my fine thin hair absolutely loves them. They aren’t too heavy and they have the most wonderful scent options.
I own an arsenal of skincare products. One day I decided to take a break and stopped using it all. My skin has never been clearer. I have gone back to face wash, moisturizer and eye cream. I learned less is more.
1. QV ceramide wash.
The best to wash face with. Non drying but I feel clean after, and so cheap. I haven’t used anything else for a long time and my skin is great.
2. Cancer council spf 50+ (gold bottle) .
Incredible product. Better than any upmarket brands. Cheap. In fact free for me as it gets refunded by my health insurance. Enough said.
Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula! I use it on any dry spots on my body, in my nose when it’s extra dry, lips, and when my face is dry I smear it all over on top of my moisturizer and my skin glows! It’s my all time must have product
- Glycolic acid toner on a Q-tip to clean out my belly button. Belly buttons STINK and get full of oil and dead skin, it can build up and cause infections and pimples. Clean those belly buttons!! - Bushbalm brand In grown hair oil for my Brazilian area, but also for my keratosis pilaris (combined with glycolic acid toner). It’s great for helping to fade dark marks caused by pimples down there too.
As a surgical nurse, I want to say THANK YOU. I never realized how many people don’t clean their belly buttons until I started having to prep abdomens for surgery. Truly shocking.
It is!! I’ve had a few surgeries for endometriosis and naturally I have lots of scar tissue in my belly button, and it’s shocking to me when people learn they have to clean them out!! It’s like cleaning behind your ears. Not often seen, but up close it can smell pretty rank!
I had no idea until I got an infection and it hurt! I do wash it every time I shower now. But I'm not gonna lie I makes me a bit nauseous that's why I never touched my belly button.
Just be super gentle! I know the feeling, it’s a VERY sensitive area to touch. If all you can manage is this, just dry your belly button as well as you can after a shower as trapped moisture breeds bacteria. You can use a cotton ball or cotton pad for this if a q tip causes too much pressure for you.
Omg thank you for this tip! Having to clean mine is the worst feeling ever. Like I'd rather poke myself in the eye with my mascara brush than touch my belly button haha
Lay in your back and drop a few drops of rubbing alcohol or peroxide in your belly button a few times a week. If you have a stone it will eventually loosen and fall out. If you don’t, it will prevent you from getting one and keep your belly button clean. Rubbing alcohol will also dry up the moisture so that you don’t have to touch your belly button.
I found at least one other person! Reading this thread is even making me nauseated.
Wait … we are supposed to do that???!! *runs to the bathroom 🧼*
It’s ok - not many of us are taught this. Just be gentle. It’s normal for bellybuttons to get red with the slightest bit of touch. Lots of blood flow there. Just soak a Q tip in glycolic acid toner and stick it in, gently swirl it around to break up some dead skin. Take the dry end and dry your belly button and try to get as much dead skin out as possible. With that said, try keeping your belly button dry as much as possible as dampness and trapped water can also breed bacteria :)
Surely this is only for people with deeper bellybuttons? I’ve gone 38 years without purposefully cleaning it and I’ve never seen any fluff and there are no bad smells
Anatomy definitely plays a roll.
I think I all depends on the person. My belly button is very flat and open?(I guess. no folds or anything). No smell. I checked. lol
I just accidentally started to clean it bc I noticed the bad smell when I was kid and I am grossed out by [stink.My](http://stink.My) mom didnt teach me so I assumed no one actually does it
Mine was like this until I had laparoscopic surgery and they “redid” my belly button. It’s never like that anymore but I still clean it.
Yes! Same here. We pull some nasty stuff out of them!!!
I make sure to wash my belly button in the shower with soap daily! It never ceases to amaze me how so many people fail to remember to clean their belly button 🤨
Omg I never realized it until at 23 I had to have an emergency surgery through my naval. They said to clean daily. It stank! Now I’m obsessed with keeping it clean and stanky free.
OMG! when I was like 8wks postpartum my 2nd kid I could not figure out why I stank SO BAD. I thought I was washing thoroughly in the shower and was already back to my regular skincare/exercise routine. My toddler pulled down my exercise shorts while I breastfeeding one day and started playing with my belly button and I was absolutely disgusted with myself lol the dirt and sweat that had built was horrible. So yes, please, wash your belly buttons lmao
How good is that bushbalm bc I’ve been considering trying but I’ve got serious ingrown hairs on my parts like my hair is thiccc every wax I’ve gotta spend an hour pulling ingrowns and I’ve used so many products & exfoliation 😭
I feel you. I have VERY coarse hair and very deep roots. I get sugared every 3-4 weeks and still get ingrowns sometimes - it’s just how deep the roots go, plus kinky hair, means sometimes it grows sideways. Plus, tight clothing and sweating also can create ingrowns and irritation. I love the Bushbalm oil for a few reasons: - It’s very moisturizing - Its very soothing - It’s thick and not messy and my skin drinks it up. The main reason it works is due to tea tree oil - the other oils in it are just to moisturize, sooth, and soften the skin. This combination is why it works for me personally. However I do use Korean exfoliation sheets I got from Amazon to exfoliate daily, with soap!! This is important. I also try to keep the area from sweating/chafing in the summer so I use a non-talc powder just to create a sort of barrier after my skin is clean and dry. (Not over wet oil). You can also try to use spray anti-perspirant if you find you get ingrowns along your panty line - it’ll create a barrier and prevent sweat and chafing. Gotta wash it off with soap and water daily to prevent clogged pores though.
I have a deep bellybutton, anyway one time I got a yeast infection in my bellybutton lol :( luckily it’s such a small area, nystatin cream fixed it really quickly, but that was years ago and ever since that I pay way more attention to my bellybutton. I use qtips to dry it after a shower. Glycolic acid is a good tip, I’ve used diluted tea tree oil too
YESSSSS I clean my belly button all the time and the idea of not doing it grosses me out
I too clean my belly button. I'm an innie so yep sweat etc . It can too get stinky
Saving this comment for the KP! I never know how to deal with mine besides GA and salicylic
Good luck! For me my #1 best weapon to fight KP is hydration. I use my toner first, let it dry, then I use the ingrown hair oil (any body oil is fine but I love the added tea tree oil for clarifying my skin) and seal it in with a heavy cream. The creams I use are like the sol de janiero knock off creams from Costco, or like the bath and body works body creams. I swear they work so well on my bumpy arms! Also Working Hands cream or anything with urea like Eucerin. Doesn’t have to be expensive.
Omg I do this to my belly button! 🤪
That is great belly button cleaning advice! I always have toner on hand so I’m going to start doing this.
Urea cream for my feet. No more callouses. My feet are soft and smooth!
Love goldbonds soft feet with urea. Used to have such dry feet and this makes them so soft. I use it every day after showering and exfoliate once a week.
Yea ideally 25-% urea or above for real effectiveness.
Flexitol
Vitamin e oil for finger nails/skin. Laroche posay lipikar ap + lotion for face and body. Fino hair mask. Glycolic pads for kp. Cereve sa cream for kp. Using a high quality shampoo/conditioner changed my hair. Brush your teeth before coffee to reduce staining. Go to the dentist every 6 months. Floss. Low impact work outs that prioritize stretching, balance and strength rather than trying to burn as many cals as possible. Eat enough or you will bloat no matter how skinny you are. Prioritize sleep. Lower stress. Sunscreen. All of this helps me to look better now at 29 than I did in my early 20s! I feel better too🤍
LaRoche Posay Lipikar AP+ is the GOAT. I put it everywhere, including my lips. When it's super hot and humid I use Bioderma Atoderm gel cream and layer a tiiiiiny bit of the Lrp on top. It locks in moisture and makes a great base for makeup. Literally agree with everything you said!!
Ooo I gotta try !
Also!! Get a quality facial and get educated on your skin type/ make sure you’re using skin type appropriate products! I spent so long stripping and irritating my skin not realizing how sensitive and dry I am!!
These are FANTASTIC. The bloating because of not eating enough is real, I thought I was bloating from food so I stopped eating making it WORSE. Also the cerave SA FOOT cream is what I use for KP, it’s brilliant.
Those little floss sticks instead of a long "roll" of floss. They're so much easier for me to use. got2b clear gel for baby hairs, comes in a tube that looks like a mascara, you're meant to use it on baby hair and flyaways and your hairline. I use it on my brows and it has a better lasting power than any previous brow gel I've used.
My dentist tells me floss sticks are better than not flossing at all, but not as good as regular floss because they don’t wrap around the tooth. He recommends [these](https://a.co/d/0dt4bYoP) or they have a slightly cheaper version and a slightly more expensive metal version kind of like a pipe cleaner.
Yep don’t let perfect be the enemy of good! At my household we use traditional rolled floss (coco floss to be exact). I don’t like the amount of single use plastic floss sticks introduces, and the micro brushes doesn’t work for my partner because they don’t fit the microscopic (lol) amount of space between his teeth lol. But everyone should use whatever will enable them to consistently floss.
I use these, they’re great.
Interdental brushes are the best. Much more expensive than floss but I reuse them
Literally. I'm in the UK and all dentists I've been to recommend interdental brushes besides regular floss. My gums love them tbh
My dentist and my kids’ dentist (U.S.) are very snooty about these, but I figure flossing sticks we actually use are way better than long strings of floss we won’t really use.
Really?? That's interesting. I've never used flossing sticks so I have 0 idea! I do like interdental brushes and water flossing (this one occasionally but it feels nice and helps when you get wisdom teeth so you can clean the gum flaps more easily). My favourite regular floss is satin tape. I take my flossing routine very seriously 😂😂😂😂 Tbh, use what you find comfy and can stick with it, that's what matters 🤷🏻♀️
second floss sticks! they actually make me want to floss lol
Where do you buy it?
Not sure where to get it anywhere outside Germany, I also don't know what it's called in English 😭 But it's the yellow got2b tube that looks like a mascara 🫣
Like a tiny spoolie ? Vs the like, grab and go ones?
Yes! I’ve seen them online but not in stores, I think they’re somewhat new yet
Adding to this... So, for one, I see those spoolies all the time in Walmart. It might depend on what area you're in. For two, though, there's floss strands. Basically there's floss with a thin, bendy plastic "needle" at the end that's made for people with braces or even just close teeth to thread into hard-to-reach areas.
my friend recommended it to me as well, didn’t know it was for baby hair haha
[удалено]
It's a known position to help with migraines too!
Seconding this one! I’ve been using that for a while after seeing it recommended on reddit, and it’s so good! My posture has improved massively, and I have way less pain in my neck now.
You motivated me to buy one! I hope I can see the changes you've witnessed.
Good luck! I hope it works for you too! I’ve been using it for 5 minutes every morning and evening, and try to use the stretchy bar at least once a day as well (though I have a dupe from a different brand for that one)
How do you use it? Like what’s your routine? I have one but I didn’t find it did much, maybe I’m not using it properly or often enough
Thank you!!
I’ve been using face masks 1-2x a day, mainly because I have a surplus of Asian beauty brand face masks and just have to use them up, but now that I’ve been doing one face mask every morning and evening I can’t go back. It just really hydrated my skin and gives me a glowing plump look that I love
I bought a heap half price to try and been using one every second night and I can't believe I haven't used them before, they make such a big difference to my skin in the morning
What kind of masks do you use (what ingredients do you look for) and where do you buy them?
I don’t really look for a specific “ingredient” for face masks, I enjoy trying a bunch of different masks so it’s not the ingredient that I look at. I get a lot of my face masks from TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Stylevana, YesStyle, or Olive Young- all my masks are Asian beauty brands! So far I’ve tried the following masks and I love them all: skin1004 water-gel sheet mask, round lab moisturizing birch juice face mask, mary&may houttynia face mask, grace day morning collagen mask.
A way to accomplish this for cheaper is to buy a reusable silicon mask and apply your favorite products inside that. Helps the product really sink in and gives me the same plumping effect.
Vaseline. I smother myself in it
Same! Until one years ago I religiously avoided anything containing petrolatum, paraffinum or silicones. Then I found Dr Dray on youtube and everything changed 😂
Head to toe Aquaphor for me
May I ask if you also apply it to your face? I have always wanted to try it, but I am concerned that I may breakout since my skin is prone to acne.
If acne prone, I’d use your regular moisturizer first then Vaseline after. It’s supposed to lock it in, it’s called slugging!
If it helps, I’ve used Vaseline on my face ,especially around my eyes and mouth at night as a moisturizer. I’m 55 , and people think I’m years younger. (Pics on my profile) Southern women have used Vaseline for ages! It’s great.
Most people who say “people think I’m years-younger “ are deluding themselves. I however have checked out your pictures and yes you actually do look 40 youngish. Gorgeous
💕💕💕 Thank you! Very sweet! I also highly recommend sun protection for everyone. Sunscreen and lots of moisture!
I was literally terrified of the same thing. I get rashes when I apply mineral oil and don’t let my skin breathe so I was nervous. For some reason this doesn’t do it. I apply any face cream and eye cream I want and then put a light Vaseline coat over all of it. My face, neck, and chest. I can wear it day and night and nothing. I actually break out less than before. Can’t guarantee because everyone is different but I can’t believe my life that it works for me lol.
i know people that apply aquaphor to their face
A non-hormonal IUD. Kids age you 😂
Like a copper one? I’m scared because I have heard horror stories of the pain
I've heard horror stories about those more than the plastic mirena. Ive heard lots of bleeding for up to months. Mirena makes my period go away
I had Mirena and it was brutal. The insertion took a long time and was so painful I almost passed out. They let me drive home by myself and the pain was still so bad I had to pull over. Then the pain lasted for about two weeks and it was so bad I wasn’t able to go to my friends wedding.
Mirena is def not easy or pain free during insertion. I mean, its still an IUD. I dealt with a lot pain from insertion with mine but I highly doubt copper would better on that front. Also ugh tmi if you need a IUD horror story : I had two in me at one for a day. They didn't remove the old one before putting the new one in. They insisted the old one was "gone". I had to advocate for myself to get ultrasounds done to confirm the two in me. Then needed both removed and another put in. Moral of the story make sure you have your doc show you the old one they removed before putting a new one in
Yes copper was awful for me- likely the reason conceiving will be exceptionally difficult for me
Could you expand on this if you don’t mind? I have the copper and I’ve been concerned about my fertility too
Yeah, I had a copper one for 11 years. My periods did suck for the first few months but everything after that was smooth sailing 👌 people talk about their horror stories more than people talk about when things go as expected. Not to invalidate anyone, just that they're the minority.
I have a hormonal one. I won’t lie, the pain is awful, but for me it was 5 minutes of awful pain and two days of manageable recovery to get to years of low-stress protection. Worth the trade off in the end, for me.
There’s a class action suit being built against paraguard for causing (among other things) infertility, so yeah I’d avoid it unless you absolutely know you never want to conceive.
Right. My secret is being child free haha
TMI, but the Tower 28 Rescue Spray for butt acne and spots lol. I feel like out of all the products I’ve tried, this has made some difference for me. I got the idea from another reddit thread where a girl said she was an NSFW content creator who used hypochlorous acid spray to keep those spots at bay, lol.
Inner thigh stuff/boils too?
I use the Tower 28 rescue spray on my back acne too! Noticed it was easier to spray on after a shower. Have seen a difference!
I use The Ordinary glycolic acid on my butt everyday to prevent butt acne.
Vitamin E. I have dry skin. So I add a little vitamin e in the extra dry areas. On my lips also. Really anywhere on my body. It’s also amazing to heal chemical burns.
I use Apricot Kernel Oil for the Vitamin E & A works everywhere!
Oils oils oils. Facial oil, body oil, even cuticle oil. But I use the right kinds so I swear I don’t look greasy. But my skin loves oils and it feels like they are rarely talked about!
Would you mind sharing any oils you recommend? I’ve been using hemp seed oil, which works fantastic for me, but leaves me smelling like a nugget of cannabis
I stashed a bunch of jojoba oil pens around the house that I use on my nails whenever it pops into my head. It’s made a massive difference in nail strength for me
Love my oils! Depending on the season, part of the body, mood, I use coconut, apricot, rose seed, shea, etc.
reusable fabric makeup remover wipes. Affordable and Life changing. I bought them at Aldi and using these changed my skin. Now my skin is shiny and glowy I use them gently every day to wash my face, whether I wore makeup or not. use upward motions. you would never believe how dirty your face actually is!
The microfiber makeup removing wipes sold at Dollar store and other places are just as good as the name brand ones, and, like all microfiber, they can be washed in the washer with or without bleach, and tossed in the dryer.
Lanolin for my lips. A huge tub is super cheap and is by far the most effective chapstick I've ever used when applied in a thin layer, with the added benefit of looking like a gloss. At night, I'll slather on a thick layer and it actually does what all the overnight lip masks promised, but never delivered for me. I've had terribly chapped lips my whole life, no matter how much water I drink or whatever products I've tried. Lanolin plus gentle exfoliation every few days has nearly entirely solved the problem!
I’m a lactation consultant and we give samples to moms in the hospital. I always tell them it’s good for chapped lips (hospital seems dry) and if you have a cold and your nose is red and chapped from blowing it is completely better looking in the morning.
It really is a miracle substance!
I just pulled an old tube of lanolin lip gloss out of my makeup drawer because I have been having SUCH DRY lips, and it worked like a charm.
I'm glad it helped, lanolin is just the best!
It also works great on your nails to help strengthen them by keeping water out of them. I use it after removing nail polish and never had an issue with weak nails after I started using it.
This might be a little old-school, but using Monistat anti-chafing gel as a primer. Just a teeny bit.
I've heard of this! Haha at least it keeps your face fungal free!
Haha! That would be good, but just to clarify, it is NOT the yeast infection cream. Just an anti-chafing gel, I guess it’s meant to be used on thighs or something.
This is an old-school makeup alley hack from back in the day!
This is such a great tip... I've done it for YEARS
I have this but have never thought to use as a primer - what would the benefit be to use it as a primer?
I read many moons ago that the ingredients are very similar to the original Smashbox primer.
Urea cream on strawberry skin(KP) on the back of my arms and my butt. Fast results
What urea cream do you use?
I just bought the 40% “Amazon pick”
Arnica gel for under my eyes. Works amazingly for dark bags! *edit* removed the word “bruises” in the first sentence. I made it sound like I get punched daily! I don’t I use it for dark circles
which brand?
I’ve had my gel for at least three years. Lasts forever. https://www.supportplus.com/FF8772.html There is arnica lotion, too, I believe? Just was told to get arnica and I grabbed the first one I saw. (If anyone wonders I’m not affiliated with this or any brand. Any brand of anything, actually 😂)
Dial bar soap for a first wash in the shower
Omg I thought I was the only one on the planet who did this... I sweat and STINK so bar soap it is for the first wash, then I use nice body wash
What is a 'first wash'?
Similar to double cleansing. They use an antibacterial soap to curb odor causing bacteria, then followup with a moisturizing or scented soap.
I started using the dial orange liquid for my face and I swear to god this is the best my face has ever looked
ME TOO. Or hibiclens. Anything to kill bacteria.
Hibiclens is magic
Absolutely only use Hibiclens maybe once a week. It's surgical cleanser, it's way too strong for regular use.
Oh I know! My dad is a doctor, and I grew up around that stuff. Some people use it on their face every single day! I use it like once a month for my feet and underarms. Did you know they now have a hibiclens foam?
A foam?! 🤯
I use hibiclens on my face for fungal acne I get in one spot near my hairline it makes a difference
My arm pits require this often 🤦🏻♀️
I use the Megababe Charcoal bar soap in all my creases!
Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment (DCT) - comes in a little pinkish-tan jar. You can only buy it online. My mom has been using it since the 90's and now I do, too. It deeply, deeply hydrates your lips. The Laniege lip mask is a complete joke compared to Blistex DCT.
I heard a derma say that whenever we use salicylic acid cleanser anywhere on our body, we’re supposed to let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Safe to say it’s been a game-changer for my skin! 💕
Eucerin tinted SPF - This stuff makes my skin look insanely good, very “glass skin”… I wear it with some spot concealer. Stands up to beach days and swimming too. I’m a big fan of Glycolic Acid (I use The Ordinary one) all over but especially my underarms. And following that up with Lume deodorant (it has an odd scent that goes away after a bit). My skin looks amazing and smells great all the time with this, even if I start sweating from activity.
Do they have lighter shades? I always find tinted SPF to be too orangey for my cool-toned fair skin
I use straight up rosewater from the Arab grocery for toner. It's been working well for the last 8 months and it's only $2.99. Edit: Cortas Rosewater specifically
I love rose water so much. It's also what I spray on my beauty blender when I'm blending my concealer
I've heard adding a clove to the bottle is good too, worth a try
using a tongue scraper (like a metal one) when i brush my teeth makes me feel so much cleaner
First Aid Beauty exfoliating pads. When I go for facials now there’s never any extractions to do when they cleanse because they’re like magic skin perfectors
FAB KP exfoliating line is one of my go to recommendations for my clients with "strawberry skin"
Erborian BB cream.
This is so good isn’t it. Looks like your own skin but better.
Lumify eye drops. Best beauty secret I have, but you cannot over use them. Save for a hangover or photo shoot day.
I have not personally tried thus . But, my adult daughters promise that if you use dry shampoo when removing your peach fuzz on the face ...if you have any lol . That it's an absolute game changer.
I know some tiktok brand sells a product that lights up all your peach fuzz so you can make sure to get it all when Dermaplaning. I’d never thought to try dry shampoo for that, but I’d be afraid of it clogging pores
I saw a tt about using micellar water in a spray bottle and misting the scalp then blowdrying. As a brunette, I'm curious how if anyone has tried this before. Dry shampoo gives me yuck buildup.
I am a brunette too and tried this a couple weeks ago - wasn’t a fan of the texture and my hair still looked sort of greasy/weird. I used an off brand micellar water though - not sure if brand matters.
Corn starch for dry shampoo. God bless the YouTube dermatologist who said to just use this instead of expensive dry shampoos. Totally works better.
I've been using this now since batiste and many other brands were found to have waaaaay higher levels of a group 1 carcinogenic substance (Benzene) in them than what was legal, there was a whole thing about it just recently including a class action lawsuit, its so prevalent I just do not trust them any more.
Wow I didn't even know that! Scary
100% COCOA POWDER FOR THE BRUNETTES!!! started using it 10 years ago, never needed to buy dry shampoo!!!
I like having my nails done but I hate that nail polish chips within like 2 days. I can do gel, but my favorite thing in the world for my nails is semi cured gel nail strips. You put them on your nail and finish the cure with a UV nail light. I use the brand dashing diva “glaze” line. It’s so nice because you can have designs without all the hard work, and they last 2 weeks and look professional lol. They also harden and it keeps my nails so strong I’m able to grow out my natural nails and they look even more like I went to the nail salon lol
Hypochlorous Acid * facial spray has been a game changer for me, as well as beef tallow as an under eye cream.
Kefir, best thing for gut health, after all everything is linked to the gut. I noticed a significant decrease in redness on my face a week after drinking it consistently and I no longer get breakouts on my chin which were a problem in the past. Honestly a miracle drink I can't stress it enough
How often do you drink it? Is there a certain one you like?!
It honestly depends on the person because it has a slight laxative effect if you drink too much. I drink a glass every other day but I often end up overdrinking bc I just love the taste. Depends where you're from, I'm from Poland, everyone drinks it here and the most popular brand is Krasnystaw. But in general just make sure it has at least 2g fat and no added sugar/flavours
I like to put chia seeds in mine. Let them sit for a while and it’s like a boba drink
Oldies but goodies. These worked for acne when I was a teen and there were NO products available. Natural Vitamin E for zits. Dried them right up. And for a facial, Phillips milk of magnesia. Draws out oil and impurities and magnesium is good for your skin. No longer have oily skin, pretty dry these days, but they worked for me when there wasn't much available.
Oh man, Milk of Magnesia facial for 15 minutes prior to putting on makeup is the best oily girl’s hack. When I do that it takes my skin much longer to turn into a grease slick.
My tret medication
- Water flosser instead of floss - CeraVe Healing Ointment for everything (instead of Aquaphor or Vaseline) - Sulfate shampoo (not really a secret but everyone seems to think they need sulfate-free shampoo)
Rosy Vaseline! I use it on my lips and cheeks
Using shampoo with sulphate - works best for me.
- Got2B farewell flyaways hair mascara. - Tongue scraper.. I swear, it's SO worth it! - Ketocornazole shampoo as a forehead mask a couple of times per week.. for "fungal acne". - Eyebrow razors for face shaving. - Glycolic acid on the body. Exfoliates, helps with KP, make the sweat less smelly, and prevent ingrowns. - Scrunchies on my wrists when I wash my face. - A self tanning mitt on a bath brush, secured with a rubber band or hair tie, when I need to apply sunscreen on my back. - Shower cap after applied conditioner.. for some reason, it makes my hair feel even softer.. why, I don't know. - Water in a mist bottle.. before the hydrating serum. - Honey as a face mask. - And one that I'm doing now temporarily because I don't have much money: Shower oil on dry skin as a first step in the double cleanse method. Then add some water and emulsify. Works like any cleansing oil made for the face.
Stridex pads. Can be used for your face, chest, armpits and feet.
what do you use this for? i have heard about it a lot.
It's a chemical exfoliant, which can help with cell turnover for the skin. It also helps reduce smell in your armpits and feet.
You can also use these after shaving to prevent razor bumps. Same with glycolic acid.
Mine are only a secret bc of the price but I don’t think anyone would be shocked or surprised . They are also an accumulation over the yrs of investments I have 2 tria lasers ( skin, hair removal) , nuface, microneedle, Myo lift, red light celluluma knockoff. Occasionally I get dysport but haven’t done that since 2019 I use sesame seed oil after showering it keeps the moisture in the skin and keeps it soft . This is one I’m surprised to hear from friends or colleagues isn’t common and usually people give me a weird response like what ? No way would I use that. A lot of misconceptions abt body oil . And how one can use it
You use the lasers at home? And what about body oil?
Yes the lasers for home use (but medical grade ; as a healthcare provider who works with lasers I did my research before I bought) . Tbh I bought those along time ago and haven’t used them in yrs but need to bring them back out. The hair removal laser worked but now need to retreat after 10+yrs . This laser does hurt alot at least for me . I needed to use the highest setting and it does hurt. The more you do it the less it hurts because you are removing less and less hair. Definitely easier the first time I did this years ago …. Now knowing it will be painful and older more accepting of my body hair it’s a lot harder to complete lol The Skin laser I probably bought too young and now in my 40s could probably benefit. The skin laser is like microneedling but deeper so probably better for my lower face now . I never felt any pain when I used it less invasive but will leave your face red . But now we have soo many wonderful products to help with the redness it’s not a worry just do it at night and wake up to beautiful skin that will continue to plump and tighten/lift over 3 months The body oil is just a sesame seed oil from neutragena but there are lots out there now. After you shower before you towel off you apply the oil all over the skin / body for maximum effectiveness air dry or pat dry with towel then apply your lotion . If you live somewhere humid probably don’t need to apply lotion . You’ll have a nice clean scent and hydrated skin bouncy shimmery healthy looking skin on your whole body . I should note these lasers I bought a long time ago and I know for sure the hair removal only works on fair skin with dark hair . I would assume bc of the era I bought the lasers the laser for my skin is probably for fairer skin tones too . Sorry all my melanin blessed beauty’s but luckily there are a lot more options today for you all as opposed to your aunties day .
I have dark chocolate brown hair but, if I am running a little behind in going to the salon . I just use a brown eyeshadow on my roots and grays . But , also around the temple area . Works great . Plus, you don't have the gunky feel that you get from the root sprays in a can . That stuff feels so,gross . Makes you want to run as fast as possible to the salon . I have very thick and coarse hair maybe that makes a difference in how it feels in my hair.
You should try Ions brunette shampoo it’s amazingggg!!! It’s brown so it tones your hair I love it I’ve been using it for about a week my hair is so brunette lol no orangy tones and it’s so soft
Lush silky underwear for chafing. It’s moisturizing but drying, I don’t know how to explain it.
It’s lovely right?
It is!
Life Flo magnesium body lotion. I have a whole shelf of body lotions/creams but this really moisturizes my skin while also giving me a magnesium boost that’s helps relax my muscles and go to bed. Honest beauty calm and heal melting balm. I use this every night as a moisturizer and it gives my skin such a nice glow.
Getting the proper level of magnesium has been life-changing for me. No more muscle spasms, heart palpitations went away, much faster recovery from exercise. I've been using the Diva Stuff Dream Whip, it has magnesium and melatonin and smells like lavender and sleepytime!
Dr Lipp Nipple Balm - it’s scentless and tasteless. I use it for everything (except my nipples ironically). I use it for lip balm and has been my HG for about 10yrs now. I use it on burns and scratches, dry cuticles, mosquito bites, to keep my eyebrows down or flyaways. I’ve tried other lanolin products but always go back to this specific one because it’s pure and I like the consistency.
Those little face razors to dermaplane with are fantastic to use on that one patch of hair that you missed when you shaved Floss sticks instead of regular dental floss, I have a small jaw so actual floss gives me a really hard time especially with how tight so of my teeth are. Coconut oil to shave. I have super dry skin and tend to procrastinate shaving so I end up with a lot of hair. Exfoliating and then using coconut oil has left me with the smoothest and softest skin I have had in AGES. And since it's an oil, you don't have to keep reapplying product when you rinse your legs the way you might with shaving cream I bought a glycolic acid soap bar off Amazon and it's helped with my chicken skin SO much, it's fantastic The blue tub of Nivea cream to slug my face with. My skin is incredibly dry, like crack and peel levels of dry and with retinol it's worse. So I slather my face in it and it's been super helpful. It can be a little bit difficult to use if your skin is wet with water since it's so heavy in oils but if you use a face oil prior, it's so smooth and easy to work with
TRETINOIN!!
Spearmint oil on my chin and upper lip has drastically reduced facial hair growth. I used to tweeze the odd stiff or dark hair continuously . Now they grow in light and soft and when I get the odd stubborn one it comes out really easily. I tweeze maybe once a month now compared to every other day before. As an added bonus the oil is also good for acne as well.
Glycerin
Castor oil for your eye lashes and browse. Rub it in every night and it will definitely make your hair grow, forget the growth serums. Also apply after your eye cream to lock in the moisture for crease free eyes. Rub into the eye lids at night to help if you have dry eye. The difference is fantastic Embiolyse as a primer, moisturiser, best makevup remover and use as a face mask to plump up your skin. It's a cheap amazing product
some super good brands are.. 1. redken - if you want your hair to look really healthy and shiny, they have shampoo and conditioner for your specific hair type. my mom buys it by the gallon (expensive, but so worth it). 2. amika - the humidity spray is SO GOOD I SWEAR- been using this everytime i use heat and it works perfectly :) 3. elf - literally so affordable. the halo glow, camo blush, lip oils, and their brushes are to die for 4. covergirl - the yummy gloss and literally all of their mascaras are so gooddd 5. sunbum - lip balm, spray sunscreen, and body lotion 6. dove - the coconut and the shea butter body washes smell soooo good. and i've been using their 0 aluminum deoderant for years. 7. tree hut - their body scrubs smell heavenly and get rid of all the nasty dead skin. my favorites are the poppy one and the coco colado ones. l'ange - i have a straightener and a curling wand from this brand and people ask me where i get my hair done everytime i use this curler. 3 years strong with both and i have not had any issues with them and they're very simplistic! i hope this helps!! :)
Caudalie grape water face spray. It. Is. AMAZING!
The best!!!
Aloe Vera gel. I have oily skin and fine wavy hair and this has been a great product for moisturizing my skin without breaking me out and taming my hair so it isn’t a frizzy mess. Origins Super Spot Remover for zits. It’s intense but it works magic. Ice a zit for 5 mins, rub this on, and within an hour it’s shrinking and beginning to dry up. Lime juice for rinsing hair. I do this whenever my hair is feeling like it has buildup. Shampoo, douse scalp with juice (I just use cheap generic bottled juice), let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Great for dandruff, oily hair, product buildup, and leaves your hair super shiny.
What aloe gel do you use?
Vaseline
[Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab hair gloss](https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/body-beauty/). They aren’t cheap but my fine thin hair absolutely loves them. They aren’t too heavy and they have the most wonderful scent options.
Soaking my hair and scalp in ogx oil before a hair wash. Ideally sleep with it on. Makes my hair so healthy and shiny.
Visine. I don’t wear contacts, but I use it before a night out to brighten the whites of my eyes. It makes such a difference!
I own an arsenal of skincare products. One day I decided to take a break and stopped using it all. My skin has never been clearer. I have gone back to face wash, moisturizer and eye cream. I learned less is more.
Supergoop glow screen! I don’t have to wear foundation or bb cream or anything, it makes me skin glow.
1. QV ceramide wash. The best to wash face with. Non drying but I feel clean after, and so cheap. I haven’t used anything else for a long time and my skin is great. 2. Cancer council spf 50+ (gold bottle) . Incredible product. Better than any upmarket brands. Cheap. In fact free for me as it gets refunded by my health insurance. Enough said.
Honey. It is a bit messy but works great on a damp face. Leave on for a while, rinse off, and the skin is moisturized.
Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula! I use it on any dry spots on my body, in my nose when it’s extra dry, lips, and when my face is dry I smear it all over on top of my moisturizer and my skin glows! It’s my all time must have product
Revlon has the best tweezer in the world. Don't remember the name, but it is all black.
It’s not an item. It would be exercise and proper sleep. And diet…those improve my skin so much more than anything.
This improves everything in your life.