Call me vain, but you can catch me doing every single thing I can to look and feel how I do right now, in my early 30s, for as long as humanly possible. What does that look like? Daily and weekly rituals that not only make me feel good but also serve as fun, less expensive versions of the spendy treatments I can’t do as frequently. Think self-tanning instead of spray tans, an in-shower hair gloss in lieu of a pricey salon version… I could go on.
Someone once told me one of the best things you can do to feel and look your absolute best is to dedicate one day a week to any self-care and/or DIY beauty practices that make you feel good and help maintain the results of any pricier treatments. On Sundays, for example, I put on a hair and face mask, take an everything shower, self-tan, and tint my eyebrows. It might sound silly, but turning this into a slow, weekly ritual has made a huge difference in how I feel heading into a fresh week, and it’s also helped maximize the results of the big-buck treatments I get, like hair coloring and facials.
Not surprisingly, I have a rotation of must-have products to fuel this “high-maintenance to be low-maintenance” beauty philosophy, and there’s no better place to restock than Dermstore’s Anniversary Sale, which runs through August 14 and offers up to 25% off of tons of crowd-favorite brands and formulas. Simply use code CHEERS at checkout, and enjoy your strategic savings. Below, shop the 12 products I rely on to feel and look my best, no salon and office appointments necessary. Keep scrolling!
I’m on such a high every six weeks when I go in to get my color done, but everyone knows that colored hair, especially red hair, fades and dulls infuriatingly fast. DPHue’s famed Glossy Glaze comes in a range of shades and helps me maintain salon-caliber richness and shine for as long as I need in between my color appointments. (It’s a fab pick-me-up for natural, non-colored hair as well!)
GRANDE Cosmetics
GrandeLash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum
Most days, I prefer to go makeup-free, which means no mascara. This lash serum seriously works and is my favorite cheat code for long, Bambi-like lashes. What’s more, I’ve found it to be far less irritating to my skin and eyes than other formulas I’ve tried.
I won’t get into too much detail with this one, but I love and depend on Fur’s Stubble Cream and Ingrown Concentrate to keep everything smooth, baby soft, and ingrown-free between my waxing appointments. It’s truly one of my best-kept beauty maintenance secrets, and no everything shower routine is complete without it, IMO.
EltaMD
UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
The simplest thing you can do to keep your skin looking its absolute best is to protect it from the sun’s damaging rays. I’ve talked to so many facialists and derms who say the number one thing you can do to slow down signs of aging (aside from lasers, injectables, and other spendy in-office treatments) is to wear your sunscreen every damn day. EltaMD’s iconic formula is one of the few facial sunscreens to never give me the ick.
St. Tropez
Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse
I love a good spray tan, but to stay within my budget, I save them for special occasions. I’ve been self-tanning since middle school, so it’s safe to say I’ve tested almost everything on the at-home bronzing market. St. Tropez’s Express Bronzing Mousse has remained a standout since my college days roughly 10 years ago. Just make sure you get yourself a mitt for stain-free hands and easy-breezy application.
Olaplex
No. 3 Hair Perfector
With new bond-building products launching left and right, I strayed from my Olaplex obsession for a good year or so, and oooohhhh, I regret it. No matter what damage-repairing products I tested, nothing was able to stop breakage in its track like this OG leave-in treatment. I’m known for my Olaplex slicked-back buns, and now that I’ve reinstated them once a week, my hair has returned to its resilient, super-shiny state.
AGENT NATEUR
Holi(mane) Marine Collagen
I used Agent Nateur’s pearl powder–infused marine collagen for nearly two months straight, and my hair and nails truly didn’t know what hit them. I swear this stuff just makes me look healthier, and it’s been so much easier to slowly wean myself off of costly beauty habits like nail and hair extensions.
COSMEDIX
Opti Crystal Liquid Crystal Eye Serum
Thanks to genetics, my dark circle–prone eyes are just getting worse and more shadowy as I get older. (Yay me.) Getting a light dose of filler to my under-eyes is really the only thing that’s made a significant difference, but if I had to name one eye product that has helped tighten, brighten, and lift my eye area on a daily, at-home basis, it’s the expert-adored Opti Crystal Liquid Crystal Eye Serum from Cosmedix. I apply a pea-sized amount at bedtime to my eye area and wake up feeling far less vampiric.
DERMAFLASH
Luxe+ Advanced Sonic Dermaplaning and Peach Fuzz Removal
Once you’ve discovered dermaplaning, you’ll never go back. I like to get professionally dermaplaned as an add-on during my bimonthly facials, but in between those appointments, I rely on this OG tool to banish my peach fuzz. Just wait until you apply your makeup and skincare on a completely smooth complexion—game-changing!
Dr Dennis Gross Skincare
Spectralite Faceware Pro
I’ve been using my at-home LED mask for a couple of years now, but I wish I’d jumped on the bandwagon so much sooner. The way it’s brightened my skin and reduced breakouts is borderline unbelievable. This FDA-cleared model has 162 blue and red LED lights to target a number of concerns—from acne-causing bacteria to improved collagen production.
HigherDOSE
Infrared Sauna Blanket
I spend over $100 each month to go to my nearest sauna studio (I’m completely obsessed with the post-session glow, increased circulation, and state of relaxation), so I’ve been waiting for the right moment to splurge on HigherDose’s top-rated Infrared Sauna Blanket. Twenty percent off feels like the perfect opportunity, and in the long run, it’s a more cost-effective solution compared to my current sauna membership.