I'm going a little past the essentials like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and tooth brush and toothpaste as I'm assuming these are products every girl uses on a daily basis. The essentials I want to talk about are those that will maintain your health and beauty in the best of ways, the necessities that will make YOU feel better.
1. Face Wash
So, this one is a little obvious. Not only does washing your face every morning and night clean it and get rid of all the dirt and makeup you have left on your skin, but it also gives you a refreshed feeling! My personal favorite face wash right now is Biore Deep Poor Charcoal Cleanser. The charcoal in the cleanser pulls out deeper impurities and is able to trap them! It just leaves my face feeling so smooth and clean after every wash.
2. Face Masks
Face masks are my favorite nighttime ritual. Not only do these relax you, but they are also very good for your skin. My favorite brand of face masks are Freeman's Feeling Beautiful facial masks. One of my most used is the Facial Clay Mask in Chocolate & Strawberry. This one tones skin and diminishes pores while moisturizing my skin. My Cucumber Peel-Off Mask clarifies and renews skin. Using face masks every now and then will assure you a relaxing night in and provide your skin with different rewards.
3. Pore Strips
If you're like me, then your skin is known for blackheads on your nose. However, I don't think someone has ever made a comment to me about them or noticed them because I am a firm believer in using pore strips. These babies are amazing and do exactly what they promise. The ones I use are Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips. Warning, these little suckers do hurt just a tad when pulling them off, but the benefits are so worth it.
4. Bubble Bath and Bath Bombs
Bubble Baths are my go-to nighttime stress relievers. We go through hectic days sometimes, and the stress never seems to fade. When I'm having a really bad day, and I can't seem to find an escape, I make sure to end the night with a bubble bath, lighting some candles, listening to soft music and reading a book. It relaxes me instantly and is also a nice body soak. Currently, I use Bath & Body Works Sleep Lavender Vanilla Body Wash & Foam Bath because its essential oils help calm high levels of stress and help me sleep better. Let's not forget about bath bombs, though, and I hope you all know I'm talking about the famous Lush products. These are so fun to use in the bath. My favorite is the Twilight bomb because the lavender relaxes me and helps keep me calm. If you've never used one of these babies, I HIGHLY suggest either Twilight, Sakura or Butterball.
5. Teeth Whitening Strips
Teeth have always been a big thing to me. Having a beautiful, white smile is something I've aimed to have for a while. I never had the opportunity to get braces, so the straightness of my teeth isn't exactly what I want, but the whiteness is spot on. I use Crest 3D White Whitestrips in Luxe, Professional Effects. These do cause sensitivity, so be careful, but the outcome from using these for only a week showed me a whiter smile. If you have a big event coming up and want that gorgeous, white smile, Crest 3D White Whitestrips 1hr Express will definitely help you out, but beware — these cause lots of sensitivity!
6. Nail Polish
I've never been one to like having unpainted toes or nails. In high school, my friend Heather and I would exclaim to each other when we didn't have time to paint our nails, "Don't look at my toes!" I guess it's just one of those girl things. However, I think having a pretty mani and pedi is essential to making yourself relax and feel better. The time it takes to sit down and paint your nails and toes is just enough to relax you. I think having a favorite polish is essential, too. Mine right now is Essie's Wicked (352).
7. Jewelry
And last but definitely not least, I think every girl should have jewelry in their beauty essentials list! I'm more of a simple girl when it comes to jewelry, wearing mostly studs and small earrings, leaving the necklaces to short lockets and bracelets to pearls. My favorite jewelry accessory has to be anklets, and I try to wear one like every day... It's almost overbearing. But truthfully, I believe that jewelry adds a lot to a girl's outfit and can even tell a little bit about them.
Truthfully, girls, if you don't have these beauty essentials in your life, I hope you'll go out and get some of them. My suggestions are merely my opinion of how they work and help me, so don't feel inclined to get them, but at least you have some idea on what to get!
