The Ultimate Shelter in Place Beauty & Self Care Guide
I’ve been getting a ton of DMs about with your nails, hair, lashes, etc. while sheltering in place, so I’ve rounded up all of my best beauty and self care recommendations to help you come out the other end of this weird time looking and feeling your best!
The Ultimate Shelter in Place Beauty & Self Care Guide
FOR YOUR NAILS
Need to get your nails done? Long before social distancing and quarantine life began, I started using glue on nails. Back in May 2019 I jokingly bought and put on a pair of them. I was in need of a new manicure but had to wait a week in order to time it right with a trip. They were metallic lavender from the drugstore and everywhere I went people died for them.
Fast forward to today, almost one year later, and they’re one of my favorite things ever. I think I’ve been to a salon for gels once since then (which is saying a lot considering I used to go every 3 weeks like clockwork). I’ve always hated getting my nails done because the amount of time it takes gives me anxiety, but I also hate not having my nails done. These are the perfect happy medium!
My favorite ones are by a brand called Static Nails and sold at Nordstrom. I’ve bought the KISS brand from the drugstore also and those are good but the color selection is total rubbish and half of the options are “decorated” which is very much not my vibe. Static Nails are slightly more expensive but there are lots of really beautiful color options and different shapes (round, square, coffin) so it’s worth it in my opinion.
Answers to the questions everyone always asks:
For me they last 3 weeks. I get tired of them and excited to try out a new color long before any of them pop off. I do high intensity workouts 5+ times per week, type all day long, hand wash dishes a few times per day (yay San Francisco), cook almost all my meals, etc. and yes, they last at the very least 2+ weeks
I only use glue on nails, never press on. I tried a pair of press on and to me it felt *very* weird
You have to prep your nails in order for them to last. If you glue a smooth, slippery piece of plastic to your smooth, slippery nail, it’s going to come off very easily. I file mine down and then file the top of them to create texture and something for the fake nail to hold onto. I also swipe a swab of alcohol or nail dehydrator over my nail prior to applying the glue to make sure there’s no moisture left over from lotion, polish remover, etc.
I apply the glue to both the back of the nail and my own nail. This helps them to stay longer. The more glue you use, the longer they will stay
You can file them down if they are too long for you. But I’d recommend getting a shorter style if you want them shorter, of course!
They look real. People are always SO shocked when I say they’re glue ons. Every set comes with 28-30 nails in different sizes so that you can find the correct size for each finger
I recommend using these all day everyday, but especially now that they’re really the only choice we’ve all got! If you follow my above instructions I promise you will not be disappointed.
Click here to see what’s currently available and buy your own!
PS. if you want step by step instructions with visuals, check out my @skincarethatilike highlight.
FOR YOUR LASHES
If you have lash extensions and can’t get a fill, or even if you don’t, now is a great time to start using a lash serum if you aren’t already. Especially because they take around 4 weeks to start showing results, and I have a feeling we’re going to be in the current situation for (at least) 4 more weeks.
After around 3 years of nonstop lash extensions I started using Latisse to grow my natural lashes instead and was amazed at how well it worked. I used it for many years and loved it but, as someone who travels frequently, I didn’t love the individual applicators.
Side note: the single use sterile applicators are for safety purposes which is important to acknowledge IMO.
So I decided to test out something new to see if I could accomplish the same thing in a more convenient way. This one had great reviews and a bunch of people told me over on @ckanani that they use and love it so this won. It’s been a few months now and I find it to be just a great as Latisse! People still think I have lash extensions and that my real lashes can’t possibly be my natural lashes. But it’s easier to acquire and much easier to travel with so if you’re in the same situation I would recommend giving this a shot.
Click here to buy it at Sephora and here to purchase at Ulta.
FOR YOUR HAIR
Worried about not being able to color your hair while sheltering in place? This is a tough one depending on your hair color and what you are trying to achieve. One thing you should absolutely not do is use any hair dye, highlight, etc. from a drug store. It is absolutely horrible for your hair and it can be very difficult, time consuming, and pricey to have a hair dresser fix.
What I recommend doing instead is using this Morrocanoil Color Depositing Hair Mask. It’s a hydrating mask that also deposits temporary color. There are seven different color options, everything from natural everyday shades to “fashion colors” like aquamarine and hibiscus. I’ve tried a few different colors and had amazing results! It’s not only incredibly hydrating but it also adds shine and fights frizz.
Right now is a fantastic time to give it a shot, especially because it’s temporary color! You can even buy mini sizes if you want to get a few colors to test out before buying full size.
Click here to see what’s currently available and buy your own!
I also highly recommend buying a using an Aquis Hair Turban, both during this time and always! It is proven to cut drying time by 50% and is much healthier for your hair than having it up in a towel or naked in the air. It works to reduce frizz and breakage while helping hair to look smoother, shinier, and softer.
I personally leave it on until I am ready to blow dry, at least 30 minutes sometimes much longer, and then I use my blow dry brush to dry it fully. I love it because I hate to blow dry my hair when it is soaking wet but I hate even more to let it air dry (air drying is bad for your hair, if you didn’t already know).
Click here to buy at Sephora and here to buy at Ulta.
Want to grow your hair out? A hair vitamin isn’t necessary for everyone, but if you are looking to grow your hair out ASAP this is a great way to do it. And, again, now is the time since it takes awhile to start seeing results!
Viviscal’s Hair Growth Program works wonders, truly. I randomly tried it after Keltie Knight (from Entertainment Tonight) recommended it in a private Facebook group and couldn’t believe how well it worked. My hair grew like crazy and so did my nails. Click here to see the latest prices.
One thing to note here is that if you are sensitive to Biotin you should not take these. Most people can take Biotin with no problem but I’m in the small group of people that break out from it which is why I no longer take these.
READ NEXT: How to Get Shiny Hair - The Best Healthy Hair Products and Tools
FOR YOUR BROWS
For brows I recommend basically just leaving them as is for the time being. The last thing you want to do is over pluck them and spend the next decade trying to get them back to normal. If you need to, pluck the stray hairs that are very obviously out of place, but I would personally not do much else.
One thing that’s fairly idiot proof and easy to do is use brow shaping scissors. I sometimes experiment with brow growth serums which makes my brow hairs grow pretty long. When they get long they start looking unruly, so I always have these brow shaping scissors on hand. I say they’re idiot proof because you aren’t actually removing hair from the cuticle. Worst case you over-trim and have to wait a week or whatever for them to grow back out.
Click here to buy on Amazon or here to buy from Revolve (much quicker shipping at the moment).
I also tint my own brows which is something I personally cannot live without. Often people are surprised by this because my hair is already dark, but no matter how dark your hair is there are many brow hairs you cannot see that are lighter in color (from sun exposure or a handful of other reasons). Tinting them makes them look so much more full and makes it so that I don’t have to spend much time filling them in on a daily basis.
It can be dangerous to do this yourself and the product I use even says not to use on your eyebrows because if you get it in your eyes you could go blind. So I am definitely not advising you do this. But I am confident in my own ability to do it safely, and am going to link the product I use in case others are in the same boat. The color that I use is the medium-dark brown (M-40).
Click here to see the product.
If you do feel a strong desire to actually remove hairs, I recommend using one of these instead of plucking. I actually use them on my entire face — it helps remove any dead skin sitting on top and gets rid of peach fuzz which in turn helps your skincare penetrate and your makeup sit prettier.
FOR EVERYTHING ELSE
Calm
If you are feeling stressed out (who isn’t?), now is a fantastic time to buy some Calm. Calm is an anti-stress drink mix. I'm up in WA at my parent's house and when I flew up it was a super last minute decision so I had less than an hour to pack before heading to the airport. I forgot basically everything but you know what I didn't forget? Calm. Because I knew I would need it!
Calm is a magnesium supplement. Consuming a proper amount of magnesium can be vital because it plays a role in over 300 cellular processes, like helping to maintain balanced functioning of the brain and nervous system. Drinking this helps boost the nutrients your body may be lacking for stress relief, restful sleep and more relaxed muscles. As with most things, not all magnesium supplements are created equal. Most are combined with a bunch of crap, but calm is natural, vegan, gluten free, non-GMO, blah blah blah.
It has yet to solve all of my problems (bummer!) but I do believe it makes a big difference. Enough of a difference that I've continued to purchase it repeatedly and am never without it! They have some fun recipes on the Amazon page but I just drink mine like I do tea - mixed with hot water.
I have it in the lemon flavor but when I posted about Calm on @skincarethatilike a bunch of friends said they have the raspberry lemon flavor and LOVE it.
Probiotics
If you aren’t already taking probiotic supplements, I recommend adding those to your list too. Having an imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system is often linked to disease. Probiotics help to properly balance that bacteria, resulting in a wide range of health benefits.
There are a lot of different strains so the benefits aren't necessarily universal but at a high level they aid digestion and nutrient absorption, help maintain gut health, and boost your immune system. Some studies also claim they can help you lose weight and belly fat, and even improve some mental health conditions. There are skin health benefits as well, with studies showing that oral consumption of certain strains increases hydration, alleviates wrinkles, and improves elasticity.
These are the probiotic supplements I take every morning. They're shelf stable so no refrigeration is required, unlike the majority of other options.
For Breakouts
I also recommend probiotics in the form of skincare, especially if you are having issues with breakouts as I’ve heard many are! I'm sure you know probiotics are important for gut health, but did you know they can benefit your skin too? They act as a protective shield, strengthen your skin's ability to repair itself, help with collagen production, and reduce inflammation which in turn limits flare-ups and helps prevent aging. Glowbiotics products include a potent blend of prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and nutrients formulated to deliver proven results. And you know I love proven results!
And best of all — I’ve got a 20% off code! Click here to read my Glowbiotics review and which products I recommend.
Hand Cream
Dry hands from washing them 100 times per day? Click here for the only thing that’s been working for me!
Retinol
Another good thing to do right now is to start using a retinol if you are not already. There’s almost always a ramp up period while your skin adjusts to it and since we’re all stuck at home for the foreseeable future there is no time like the present!
Retinol is one of the most important skincare ingredients in existence, as it is one of the most widely researched and proven. It has a long list of benefits, including:
They are anti-aging
They improve uneven skin tone
They promote cell turnover
They improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
They improve the appearance of blemishes
If you want more information, I have a lot of detailed info in my post about the 3 most important skincare ingredients (and why). Click here to read that.
In January I bought one of Shani Darden’s retinols. If you’re not familiar, she’s a celebrity esthetician. Tons of really beautiful people like Jessica Alba credit their skin to her and her retinol so I couldn’t resist giving it a shot. I loved it and just ordered another one!
She has two different options depending on how sensitive your skin is. If your skin is sensitive or you’re completely new to retinols, click here. If you don’t have sensitive skin, click here (this is the one I use).
READ NEXT: The 3 Most Important Skincare Ingredients (And Why)
Facial Steamer
If you want to have a more luxurious at home skincare experience, I very highly recommend this facial steamer. It makes your house feel like a spa and is such a treat.
Steaming your face does a bunch of different things like cleanse your pores, help remove toxins (like acne-causing bacteria!), improve circulation, hydrate, and help your skin to better absorb your skin care products. It also makes you feel fancy AF.
This one that I own is less than $30, decently pretty looking, decently small, and has an almost 5-star rating after over 1K reviews. Click here to see availability.
Skin Zyme
The mask I use with my facial steamer is Jan Marini’s Skin Zyme. It’s also my favorite face mask of all time — literally.
I originally got just a sample of it per my friend Rachael’s recommendation to use post-microneedle treatment. It's exfoliating and eats away at your dead skin cells without harming you. Perfect for when you're peeling since you definitely do not want to pick at your peeling skin.
But it's not just for use post-treatment. I now own the full size version and die for it. I use it with my steamer every Friday night and my skin never feels better than it does after that. Made from papaya enzymes, this mask is incredibly resurfacing and reveals healthier, smoother, more polished skin in just 20 minutes or less. It's also said to help with acne, hyperpigmentation, and scar reduction. It's hydrating too! Very, very highly recommend.
Click here to buy it at Dermstore or here to buy at Skincare.
And because I got the question a few times on Instagram, some other face masks I love and recommend are this, this, this, this, this, this, this, and this.
READ NEXT: The Best Face Masks
Silk Pillowcase + Eye Mask
Hopefully you already sleep on a silk pillowcase but if not, now is the time! It is incredibly important for both your hair and your skin and well worth the investment since you spend 1/3 of your life in bed!
Why? Because unlike non-silk alternatives, your hair and delicate facial skin is able to glide along the silk without tugging (tugging = wrinkles) as you move around throughout the night. Because of this I usually don’t have to do much to my hair in the morning, since when I wake up it looks the same as it did before bed. The silk also won’t strip out any products (haircare or skincare) that you have on which is important when you use nice products. It not only doesn’t hurt your hair and skin, but it actually contributes to making it healthier! If you want shiny, healthy hair and wrinkle prevention, it’s a must.
I also own and recommend their silk sleep mask. It's especially helpful when traveling or during a global pandemic where you may or may not find yourself wanting to sleep at weird (and possibly daylight) hours. I can't personally sleep when it's light out and this blocks it out. I find it to be incredibly soothing, too. When I have nights I can't sleep I'll put this on because it covers your eyes and prevents you from opening them which I often do repeatedly when restless.
Since it's made of pure silk, it's also great for your skin and hair. It allows your delicate facial skin to glide along the silk without tugging (I would definitely not use a cheap alternative for this reason!), it doesn't strip out products you've applied, and it can even help with hydration. I highly recommend!
Candles
If you’re in the market for some candles, I recommend these! I discovered the line at Capers in West Seattle over the holidays and couldn't love it more. Since I'm a sucker for anything travel inspired, I fell in love with their Escapist collection which is inspired by different places around the world. This Santorini one, for example, is made to smell like Santorini and described as “reminiscent of the earthy fruity aromas of Santorini’s abundant fig trees and lush native currants”.
The scents are fantastic, made with fine perfume oils and essential oils, and the candles are hand poured in Brooklyn, New York. They're made of 100% soy wax (apparently that's good?) and have a burn time of up to 70 hours.
The Santorini candle is amazing, as is Maui, Tuileries, and Santa Fe! They truly smell SO good - in a mature, luxurious way, not like cheap crappy candles do (I hate those). There are some non-travel candles which I did not smell but I'm willing to bet they're great also.
And the best news of all, I just discovered they’re available at Nordstrom (yay free shipping) and they sell a set that just happens to be my three favorite ones. SO AWESOME.
Click here for the trio I recommend or here for all of the options.
For Your Mouth
Since we’re stuck on the couch, why not whiten our teeth while we wait?! Click here for the white strips I use.
This is random but is something I absolutely love so let’s talk about it. Mouthwash! I’m not actually a mouthwash kind of girl, never have been, but this one has completely changed my mind. It’s a prescription strength formula that protects against gingivitis and bleeding gums, plus it guarantees 12 hours of fresh breath and leaves your mouth feeling so fresh and so clean, clean. You’ve just got to try it out in order to understand.
For Your Body
Want to treat your body also? My first recommendation is this body exfoliant. It makes your skin soft AF, is 100% natural and cruelty free, hydrates, prevents stretch marks, cellulite, breakouts, psoriasis and dry skin. Always lovely but especially lovely during winter.
Next, body lotion! If your skin is feeling dry from this lovely winter weather, this lotion is AMAZING. This one specifically is for normal to dry skin but there's an even more intense version for very dry skin that I love, too. I feel a bit like a broken record here but I have very dry skin, made even worse from frequent traveling, plus eczema on occasion, and La Roche Posay’s entire Lipikar line is a lifesaver for me. According to their site it's the number one body care line in European pharmacies and I can definitely see why.
Both lotions contain prebiotic thermal water, shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide. This one is lightweight and fast absorbing, while the intensive repair version for very dry skin is much richer. They both work to provide all day hydration (48 hour hydration for the intensive version) and help to deeply replenish your skin. I use it primarily as a body lotion but they say you can use it as a face lotion too.
Both versions are fragrance free, paraben free, allergy tested, and suitable for sensitive skin. With eczema most lotions burn but the prebiotic thermal water in this makes it very soothing. It's honestly amazing.
Click here for all the different places you can purchase it.
This last item is out of stock currently but it’s one of my top five favorite products ever AND it literally makes me happy when I smell it (something we could all use right now, I’m sure) so I’m going to mention it. I originally purchased this in Paris. I bought it at the pharmacy one day and then went right back the following day to buy four more. It is THE BEST.
If you aren’t familiar, NUXE is a Parisian skincare brand most widely known for their iconic Huile Prodigieuse dry oil (the original version of this). Both this and the original are luxurious multi-purpose oils that nourish, repair, and soften skin and hair. Made from a unique combo of vitamin E and seven 100% botanical precious plant oils, it can be used by all skin types and all year long to alleviate stretch marks, deep condition hair, and much more. I personally use it as a body moisturizer post-shower, plus an occasional spritz to the hair. I use it alone or lately I have been mixing it with the above mentioned lotion (and sometimes also these tanning drops).
The fragrance of the original oil is part of the reason it sprung to stardom in 1991, with a sweet smell of orange blossom, rose, lily, and vanilla. It’s great, I have the shimmer shower oil in that scent and love it (I will link that too). But the new floral scent is actually to die for. They describe it as a delicate and fresh floral scent with notes of grapefruit zest, magnolia and musk.
I don’t even like scented things usually and my mom especially hates scents because they give her a headache. But I brought this Santa Fe with me and my mom not only said she liked it but she let me apply it on my arms and legs in an ENCLOSED CAR she was riding in. For the first time in 31 years. If that doesn’t sell ya on it, I don’t know what will.
Click here to check availability and (if in stock) buy.
If you’re in need of a razor (I was), Billie is still shipping! I just ordered one to my parent’s house since I forgot mine at my San Francisco apartment.
I feel like there is SO MUCH hype about these razors on Instagram that it’s hard to figure out what is real and what is not. Is it life changing? No. It’s a razor. Is it cuter than most razors? Yes. Cheaper? Yes, much. Does it simplify my life? Yes, because refill blades are auto-delivered to me for free. So I like it and recommend it.
The gist is that for $9 you get a razor, a magnetic holder, plus an extra razor cartridge. Then moving forward for $9 they auto-mail you four replacement cartridges — only as often as you need (depending on how frequently you shave). You can skip, adjust, or cancel anytime. It’s half the price of most other razors, has 5 blades, and is encased in 360° of charcoal shave soap to float over your skin. They also have a line of body care made of natural, toxin-free, premium quality ingredients. I have the shave cream and it’s great.
IMO there’s really no reason *not* to use it, especially given the low price point and the fact that I can almost guarantee it’s cheaper than what you’re using now. And especially because it will save you a trip to the drug store right now while we should all be staying home as much as possible!
Barefoot Dreams Blanket
I couldn’t put together a shelter in place without one of the best home purchases one can make — a Barefoot Dreams blanket. My mom sells luxury linens and home goods for a living so we have a million blankets from some of the best companies in the world. Which is my favorite? BAREFOOT DREAMS! Hands down. It feels like what I imagine being hugged by a cloud feels like and there’s truly nothing better for lounging.
Click here to buy at Amazon and here to buy at Nordstrom.
I of course love all Barefoot Dreams products, not just the blankets. In fact, this sweater has been one of the best sellers on my site year round for 2-3 years now. I have it in numerous colors and could not love it more!
Their sweaters and loungewear are not the cheapest but it is absolutely, without a doubt worth every penny. Especially during this crazy, stressful time. Treat yourself! (Plus they aren’t just for lounging — I wear my sweaters commuting, traveling, to dinner, around town, everywhere).
Want more? Click here for all skincare posts and here for all beauty posts!
And if you’re in the market for high quality gold filled jewelry you can wear everyday without issue, please click here to visit our jewelry shop! I really appreciate the support (especially right now).
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