No Salon, No Problem: Gadgets That Will Help Feel Your Best During Lockdown
No matter how much I want to nip out for a treatment, I can’t. The question I face is, will it even live up to the relaxing ‘get out the house’ experience we’ve had at regular appointments in our old lives?
The reality of face masks, gloves, anti-bac, extended waiting times are all part of the ‘new normal,’ and adjusting to this is going to take some time. However, I can’t help but think, unless I’m truly desperate for a wax or a haircut, could I hold off just that little longer?
The true answer to that is possibly - the feeling of anxiousness is present especially living in a busy town area where the crowds are starting to pick up. The oh-so-close proximity of people within arm's length is going to be a shock to the system after 3 months too BUT I know that itch to get back to beauty treatments is unshakeable.
With the itch in mind, we all want to live our best wellbeing life, protect our mental health and essentially get back to normality as soon as possible. We also know the profound affect beauty has on us as individuals; the salon could be your place to let out frustrations, have a good chat or simply a day out of your home. I know I used to look forward to my appointments!
Image by Shrima Patel
After going through my ‘missing going to restaurants and salon’ phase, I started to dig further into how I can feel my best whilst still at home on the beauty side. Something was missing... Since makeup is practically obsolete and concentrating on skincare has been an absolute treat; watching countless Caroline Hirons, Namvo and Nadine Baggot IGTV’s gave me some inspo.
How can I amp up my beauty routine whilst I have time...?
Gadgets!
So, over the past 4 months, I’ve been trying out a few face tools and electrical gadgets that have made a visible difference. Take it from an absolute beauty nerd, the depths taken on research, having high expectations on results and for someone to convince me on purchasing is hard work.
These are a few of my favourites and have become staples in my routine that have resulted in me feeling my best self. Plus, they’re long lasting!
Let’s face it, improving skin has been a priority over the last 3 months. You have free time to put a mask on during a zoom call (no one’s judging you right?), let skin breathe from makeup and target any specific concerns, all in the comfort of your own home. Yet something was missing, a professional finish. By that I mean an extra reduced pore glow, a sheen where my products just soaked in layer by layer.
That’s where this steamer came in.
How I use it:
Cleanse skin thoroughly
Steam with a hydrating gel mask
Remove with an eco- pad
Rinse with lukewarm water then a splash of cold to seal and minimise pores
Within 60 seconds after washing your face, finish with normal skincare routine
Taking 20 minutes to relax, using this consistently to deeply cleanse really has contributed towards my wellbeing when it comes to self-image.
Image by Shrima Patel
PHILIPS LUMEA PRESTIGE IPL LASER HAIR REMOVAL DEVICE
If you’ve been wanting to buy a laser hair removal device and still on the fence, this one’s for you.
Having brown skin and being of Indian heritage, more than average hair growth is bound to be in the genes. The way it makes you feel... well that’s another story!
After having a number of costly sessions, I realised eight wasn’t going to be enough. This was a longer journey. I had seen results on myself however so having this device I can use it at home and not pay extra for smaller areas seemed more appealing!
It’s worked extremely well and now I only see patches growing. I thought of this as an investment and after four sessions I had already made up the cost of going to a professional. Made sense.
How I use it:
Using the Philips IPL app, you have a tailored schedule for your treatments
Clean/shave/wax hair leaving no residue
Laser each area and you’ll see a bright flash (make sure you don’t have direct eye contact with this)
Voila! You're done. Make sure to wear SPF if skin is exposed.
Image by Shrima Patel
If you like treating yourself to a blow-dry then this tool could help you, before venturing into the ‘new normal’ salons. Affordable, easy to use and does two jobs in one go.
I've had this tool for a few years and when I FINALLY take the plunge to wash my hair, this is my go-to hair electrical. It gives volume, reduced frizz and can be used on damp hair, goodbye hairdryer and hello less achy arms...
How I use it:
Half air-dry hair
Clip into sections and work in heat protection
Lift, rotate and curve outwards on the ends, keep repeating until dry
To hold the blow-dry, I usually clip each piece once finished and hairspray
Unclip and run the tool again roughly to iron out any bends
Image by Shrima Patel
Even though this little scraper is non- electrical, it has still contributed to my overall feel-good regime 3 times a week. This nifty tool de-puffs my face, leaves me calm, allows my skincare to sink in better and has lifted areas for the better. If you use this consistently, you’ll see wonderful results and brighter skin due to it stimulating muscles.
Image by Shrima Patel
For reliable information on hair & beauty retail check out British Beauty Council’s website.
Disclaimer: We have an affiliate deal with Amazon to keep City Girl Network Magazine running. You can also support us via Patreon or a one-off donation.