At Home Beauty to Treat Yourself (And Save Some Cash) After Gifting Season
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
As the festive season wraps up (seriously, where did those two weeks go?), the peak gifting period comes to a sad end and the new year begins, it’s time to turn the focus back to *you*.
Welcome to 2025: the year of self-care, self-love and picking up a few simple but effective healthy habits to start the new year off right.
This is the year we’ll invest more on beauty must-haves like serums (the heroes of our skincare routines) while embracing budget-friendly DIY beauty treatments like at-home manis and blowouts.
Because who says indulgence can’t also be smart?
What better way to kick off the year than by giving yourself a little extra love and attention?
Here’s just a few ways you can start—right now…
With an At Home Nail Spa.
The at-home manicure is making a well-deserved comeback—and for good reason.
Not only is it a more budget-friendly option (because let’s face it, post-gifting season, our wallets could use a breather from those $75 BIAB appointments), but it’s also a gentler alternative for our nails.
Consider it a win for both your bank account and your nail health.
Here’s some at-home mani products to try:
OPI Infinite Shine Gel-Like Lacquer.
OPIs infinite Shine Gel-Like Lacquer range is here to give you a ‘flawless mani at home’.
It offers up to 11 DAYS of chip-resistant wear, and is easy to remove.
Its high-gloss finish means your nails will look like you just rolled out of the salon for more than a week without having to dish out the salon cost.
And if your nails are looking a little worse for wear, help revive them with the OPI Repair Mode 9mL.
OPI xPRESS/on Iconic Shades.
Towards the end of last year, the Adore Beauty team was spotted flaunting flawless, glossy nails on the regular. Their secret?
OPI’s game-changing press-on nails. This nostalgic ‘90s beauty trend is back in a big way—only this time, the quality is MUCH, much better.
Gone are the days of press-on nails popping off into oblivion as soon as you open the fridge or do any sort of low-effort activity.
OPI’s version stays put and delivers a salon-quality finish in minutes.
We have no doubt this press-on nail revival will continue to dominate in 2025 (seriously, they’re everywhere), and when it comes to the best of the best, OPI nails it every time. Pun intended.
Revive Skin After Holiday Season.
Bring some hydration and life back into the skin after the festive season.
If all the gluttonous drinking, swimming, feasting and having fun (it really is the best time of the year) has taken a toll on your skin leaving it looking dehydrated and lacklustre, it’s time to hit refresh.
Pep up the skin and give yourself an at-home facial and an at home facial kit MUST include sheet masks.
These hydrating sheet masks can help instantly restore the look of hydration and glow (or soothe post-swim skin) giving your skin the TLC it deserves.
To pep up skin try:
What: Aspect Intense Hydration Sheet Mask (5 pack) - hydrates and instantly restores dull and dehydrated skin. It also helps calm and soothe the look of temporarily reddened skin, so if some recent beach swims and harsh sun have been unkind to your face - add these to cart. The Aspect cosmeceutical sheet masks deliver the look of a hydrating facial, in only 20 minutes.
What: La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Mask B5 Sheet Masks 5 Pack 5x25g - the iconic Cicaplast range has extended to a 5 pack sheet mask - we thank you for your service La Roche-Posay. The Cicaplast sheet masks are enriched with madecassoside (an anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing ingredient) panthenol and La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water (Contains antioxidants and natural prebiotics to hydrate, soothe and care for sensitive skin). Can be used by all but particularly designed for dry, dehydrated skin.
Unwind and Get Back Some ‘Me Time’ With Relaxing Bath Products.
The extended overseas family have departed, the hosting has come to an end, time for a much-needed relaxing bath.
To unwind from the two crazy whirlwind weeks that just was, soak your post-holiday blues in these bath essentials...
What: philosophy fresh cream shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath - if smelling sweet is your goal this summer - this shower gel will help you do it with its notes of whipping cream, sugar and vanilla. This philosophy multi-use shower product creates a rich lather that will give you the ultimate relaxing bubble bath experience and leave your skin smelling delish.
What: iKOU De-stress Eco-Luxury Candle Small - what better way to top off your bath experience than taking in the scent of a candle that is literally called 'De-stress'. Made from natural wax, hand poured (in the Blue Mountains, Australia) candle with notes of lemon, lavender, geranium, clementine & patchouli to help soothe, calm and relax the mind.
Give Yourself an At-Home Celebrity Blowout.
How to do bombshell hair? You need the right hot tools.
Is it just us or does it feel like 2024 was the year of Sabrina Carpenter beauty inspiration? From her blush to her bombshell hair...
A few of my colleagues had mentioned that they were starting to buy, use and love Mermade Hair products so what better way to try the Sabrina Carpenter hair look at home than with a Mermade hot tool like a thermal brush?!
Achieve your version of a Sabrina-esque bombshell mane with Mermade Hair's affordable hair styling tools like the Mermade Hair Infrared Thermal Brush or the Mermade Hair USB-C Velcro Roller if you need to amp up hair on the go!
Invite a Fresh New Scent Into Your Home to Mark the New Year.
Give your home space a New Year refresh with a gorgeous scent you can spritz when needed or a diffuser that captivates the room - the perfect solution rather than turning a candle on and off every day.
May we recommend Scent Australia?
I personally have the Scent Australia Figtree reed diffuser and am obsessed with it. I recently had a friend stay with me over the holidays and loved that every time we came home we could smell it (and my house smells amazing all.day).
Now, every time I walk into the room it smells like a fresh new year and reminds me of that fun week!
I can also vouch for the Scent Australia diffusers being one of the best I’ve ever used in terms of lasting power.
I've owned other diffusers that didn't last that long or I felt like after a few days I couldn't even smell anymore unless I went up really close…
So if you’re after a diffuser that’s a bit stronger, try one from this range.
Otherwise for all our room spray fans, the Scent Australia Home Santal 66 Room Spray - 50ml brings that chic and sexy santal fragrance that's sure to elevate any space - and don't we all want to start the new year more sexy, chic and elevated?
For a Private Solo Pamper.
For a bit more private me time, some healthy pleasure has not only been proven to help unwind but increase wellbeing - exactly what our nervous systems need for the start of the new year.
And we think this is the best way of all to really treat yourself.
Try:
- Vush Gloss - A bullet-sized vibrator in the shape of a lip gloss that's designed to be both discrete and travel-friendly.
- Lovehoney Mon Ami Pleasure Air Rose - A rose-shaped clitoral stimulating vibrator that utilised Womanizer’s award-winning, patented Pleasure Air Technology™ to bring you unwavering pleasure. Contains 10 intensity modes and is made from body-safe silicone.
- Smile Makers The Billionaire (Rechargeable) - An ultra smooth, multi use waterproof vibrator for powerful internal and external stimulation. Is also cruelty-free, FDA-approved, food-grade, phthalate-free and vegan silicone.
Want more inspo on the best ways to practice (and purchase) self-care? Check these out next:
