Last Updated on July 19, 2024 by Paola Castillo
Beauty upkeep can sometimes be time-consuming or cost a lot of money to maintain. However, when you learn how to pamper yourself, your routine doesn’t have to feel like a luxury or inconvenience anymore.
Whether it’s for nail care, facials, or dermaplaning, we’ve come up with solutions to keep you looking and feeling your best self, even if you’re at home! For your convenience, we’ve also included some of our favorite product suggestions.
1. Nails:
The first thing that is always a must is nail care. Depending on your needs, you can go the routes of either manicures or pedicures. Even though you’re at home, you can still achieve salon-level results with the right polish.
Regular Nail Polish:
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Everyone has their own preference when it comes to the type of nails they want. Regular nail polish is great because it’s easy to remove with a little bit of nail polish remover and delivers great results with the least amount of time. However, it does tend to not last as long as other alternatives. Another alternative is just changing it up to a new color! Think of it as doing something that is fun while still treating yourself and leaving your nails healthy.
There are a bunch of brands to choose from for regular nail polish. Among the more affordable brands are Essie, ella + mila, and OPI. They all have great shade ranges and can be pretty long-wearing. We also like the brand Lights lacquer, which was created by a YouTuber named Kathleen Lights. This brand is super inventive with great collections and a story behind all of it. Not to mention, they also have some amazing shades and cruelty-free formulas.
If you’re looking for a more high-end brand, the best is Deborah Lippmann’s line of nail polish. Although they tend to be more on the expensive side of things, this line is known for being super easy to apply while also strengthening the nails underneath.
Gel and Dipping Powder Nail polish:
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The two most popular styles now in a nail salon are the gel manicure and dipping powder. Gel is a great way to leave your nails beautiful for a long time but can cause damage sometimes if not properly removed. The best way to remove it is by soaking each nail in acetone with a cotton ball and then wrapping it with tin foil. Otherwise, dip powder is also a great alternative, since this newer technique is supposed to strengthen nails while still providing long-lasting results. However, both options can sometimes be hard to maintain and can cost a lot of money over time. Just remember, you can accomplish great results using either method while also saving money at home.
Below, we’ve included a great set that has everything for gel manicures, including LED lighting, gel polish, and top/before coat. You can also buy dip powder colors so that you can achieve the same salon look at home.
1. Beetles Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit
2. Saint-Acior Gel Nail Polish Starter Kit
Overall Essentials for Complete Manicure and Pedicure :
For a complete manicure, there are a bunch of fun essentials you can add to the list to make it feel like a full spa experience.
Start off with cuticle remover tools as well as a cuticle remover solution to make it easier to remove those pesky overgrown cuticles.
Next, use a nail file. One of our favorites is the special tempered glass style, which is better for nail growth, gentle on nails, and long-lasting.
The last thing is cuticle oil, which you can add on at the end of the nails once you’ve hydrated the area around your nails.
If you want to create an at-home spa for a pedicure, there are also some more fun items to add to this list. The first is a Pumice stone that can make feet soft by removing calluses or cracked heels.
Another exciting thing to add is a foot spa bath to fully soak your feet in during the pedicure. We really love this particular item because it creates a relaxing experience like the one from a real nail salon.
And to top it all off, use a foot soaking solution that has more amazing benefits, including softer feet.
2. Facials:
Facials are a great way to relax and unwind while treating your skin to amazing benefits. However, facials can sometimes be an expensive habit to maintain. An alternative is bringing the spa facials to your own home. Here are a few options and fun ways to create an at-home facial that’s still completely relaxing.
Facial Steamer:
An amazing tool that adds to a facial is a facial steamer. It helps in opening up pores and clearing nasal pathways. This particular one comes with extraction tools as well to aid in removing any acne you may have. It also has three different modes and a separate space to heat towels. Overall, it makes for an easy way to start the experience and unwind.
Masks:
There are hundreds of masks on the market that all treat different needs. It’s really about finding the right ones for you and your needs (possibly including treating clogged pores, dryness, or fine lines). Here are some of our favorites for you to try!
One of the best mud masks for clearing skin is the GlamGlow SuperMud mask. This is simply an amazing mask that clears pores, reduces redness, and leaves pores feeling smaller. It’s an intense mask, but you immediately see results after only one use.
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One of our favorite masks is the Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue mask by Fresh. This is an all-around mask that gives you radiance while also hydrating your skin. It alleviates dull or uneven skin and leaves a smoother and brighter complexion. You’ll probably notice results immediately after using it. This mask has a blend of Kombu Seaweed Flakes, Red Algae Particles, and Lotus Seeds that work to leave your skin supple, hydrated, and glowing.
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A great mask for anti-aging is the 24K Gold Mask by Peter Thomas Roth. This is a luxury mask that makes your at-home facial come to life. It works to firm and lift your skin with 24K and colloidal gold for an opulent, radiant glow. It’s the ultimate anti-aging treatment and originates from the time of Cleopatra, who used the powerful anti-aging benefits of 24K gold to firm, lift, and brighten her skin.
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Face Roller:
A great appeal to any facial experience is the face massage that comes with it. A great way to substitute that is with jade or rose quartz rollers. These are great to do every day, even if you’re not doing a full facial, because they have great benefits for your skin. These face rollers aid in lymphatic drainage and reduce the appearance of both puffiness and wrinkles. They also support natural collagen production and can drain congestion as well.
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Facial globe rollers:
Another element to add to the experience is facial globe rollers. They perform best when chilled in the freezer and then applied to the face. This cooling technique is great for the skin and has different (and amazing!) benefits. It can naturally even out skin tone or discoloration (creating younger and more radiant skin) while also tightening your skin, improving blood flow, and keeping your skin hydrated by locking in moisture.
Gel Beaded Eye Mask:
This is a small step that can be added in your facial at the beginning or the end if you want to relieve any puffiness around the eyes. Just in case you wake up one morning with more puffiness than usual, it’s also a great mask for any day use. This mask aids in relieving swollen eyes, migraines, and even sinus discomfort with its cooling and gentle beads.
3. Dermaplaning:
The last thing (a fairly new trend) is dermaplaning. This trend emphasizes shaving the excess dead skin cells and hair from the top layer of your face. It leaves your skin smooth by evening skin tone and results in an even smoother application with makeup. This is also something you can go to the spa to have professionally done.
However, it is a technique that can be easily done at home with the right tools. The best way to dermaplane is by washing your face beforehand and then using an oil on your face so that the blade glides on the skin. Then holding the skin back to tighten the desired area, you can apply the blade and with soft small strokes to slowly remove the hair. This technique also gently exfoliates your skin as well and can leave your skin naturally brighter. The best tools are a sharp thin blade (like the one featured below) that are used only, which reduces the risk of spreading bacteria. This blade can also be used to trim up brows and the areas around them. Using this razor and tweezers, you can easily maintain your brows with a quick maintenance upkeep of shaving excess hairs.
Conclusion
Sometimes it can seem impossible or too tedious to actually keep up with everything in your beauty routine. But in reality, it’s a great opportunity to treat yourself and to create your own personalized self-care routine. Hopefully, this gave you guys some ideas and motivation to implement into your own upkeep routine!
Here are a few hand-picked articles for you to read next:
- Best Skincare Routine Order for Healthy and Supple Skin
- Effortless Glow: How to Achieve the Perfect No-Makeup Makeup Look
- 8 Best Moisturizers for Oily, Dry and Mature Skin Types
This article is part of the “Self-Care” series. Click here to learn more.
Meet Kourtney, a writer specializing in sex and relationships. Known for her honest and insightful approach, she explores themes of intimacy and personal growth. Her work combines personal anecdotes, expert opinions, and practical advice, helping readers navigate the complexities of modern relationships and embrace their desires. Kourtney's writing serves as a guide for those seeking authentic and fulfilling connections.