9 beauty products you’ve never heard of

The bi-product of burnt oak has been used for centuries in Japan. Binchotan charcoal is an effective water purifier and is used in numerous personal care products to improve circulation, deodorize and detoxify. The best-selling product is the bacteria-fighting Binchotan Charcoal Toothbrush, but I’m keen to try the Eye Mask for sleep and the cleansing Facial Puff.

Binchotan Cleansing Facial Soap, US $29.

Rough, dry feet? Scaly skin? Calloused heels? Slip your feet into these two peel-infused plastic booties, leave for an hour, soak and dry. Wait a week and watch your foot skin moult like a snake’s. Reviews rave about this product’s effectiveness but consumers warn that you’ll want to hide your peeling feet until your baby-soft ones are born.

Baby Foot One-Hour Treatment, US $25.

It’s hard to find a natural deodorant that works– trust us, we've tried them all. Up until recently, I’d never heard of deodorant paste. This naturally anti-bacterial paste is made with a concoction of baking soda, glycerine and essential oils. Massage the paste onto the skin and feel how it immediately dries to a powder-like texture, keeping pits dry and smelling great. A paste is a nice alternative to the sprays, sticks, roll-ons and crystals that are accumulating in your bathroom cabinet.

PurelyGreat Women's Lavender Cream Deodorant, $13.

When you think of face scrubs you probably think of physical beads that slough off dead skin, right? Well not all exfoliators are created equal. Canadian company Viva has come up with an amazing plant-based gel exfoliant that contains no beads or ground pits. The product starts as a gel and as you massage it onto your face it pulls off dead skin cells and balls them up. Simply rinse and your skin is left looking bright and feeling silky soft--all without a bead in sight!

Amaze Gel, $59.

Water-activated powder cleansers are earning top spots in the skincare sphere. Simply choose your liquid and mix for a bespoke cleansing experience. Tapioca beads are suspended in natural powder of white clay and chickpea for a gentle and effective exfoliating cleanse. Use water to activate or mix with green tea, rosewater or avocado oil for extra special skincare.

Kaia Tapioca Beads, $30.

Don’t want to dish out the dough for a Clairsonic? No worries! There are less expensive alternatives like this little silicone pad. Flexible and with tiny bristles, this pink pad will give you a gentle, yet effective, deep pore cleanse when used with a daily face wash. And at $8, you’ve got nothing to lose.

Precision Pore Cleansing Pad, $8.

As the website says, this product fixes everything. This multi-tasking beauty balm works on faces, bodies, chapped lips, dry hands, dehydrated cuticles, babies’ bottoms, and even as a massage oil. Everyone needs an "everything balm"; an effective all-in-one moisturizing product.

Trilogy Everything Balm, US $17.

An ergonomic brush and bristles pointing every which way eliminates any chance of clumpy lashes. This breakthrough mascara has a unique adjustable brush that can be angled for convenience, making application easy and effective, and resulting in full, clump-free lashes.

Avon Mega Effects Mascara, $12.

Sometimes we just need to simplify our beauty regimen. This long-lasting shampoo bar cleans hair without harsh ingredients. With no plastic packaging, the all-natural product makes an easy travel companion and it will set you back less than 10 bucks. Who would’ve thought a good old-fashioned bar of soap could do the trick?!

J.R. Liggetts Shampoo Bar, US $7.