In a pre-pandemic world, you probably had a different aesthetician for every personal grooming service, from waxing and hairstyling to nails and facials. But when COVID-19 locked down provinces and brought the personal-grooming industry to a halt, some of us chose to get creative (and brave enough) to tackle our own upkeep.
Waxing salons were some of the first spots to shutter their windows, and the last ones to get the green light to reopen. To adapt, many have returned to shaving, embracing their bodies au naturel or exploring the wonderful world of at-home beauty tech.
Of course, choosing to embrace bush confidence is everyone’s prerogative. But if being hairless is the way forward for you — and shaving is admittedly just too much these days — there are epilators. It’s a handy device that, just like waxing or sugaring techniques, pulls unwanted body hair straight out from the root. And there are many benefits to using one, canceling your salon membership and tossing that tedious razor. But that’s not the only at-home beauty tech solution out there. Here are our top tools you need to bring the salons home to you.
For your personal grooming needs:
Kiss those pricey bi-weekly trips to the salon (once they’re open again) goodbye with this powerful bad boy, which boasts weeks of salon-smooth skin at your fingertips.
Think of epilators, like this one, as a collection of tiny tweezers (40, to be exact) working all at once. They grip and pull out even the tiniest of hairs, resulting in the smoothest skin, sans razor burn or missed hairs. The ergonomic handle makes it easy to swivel across even the hardest-to-reach, sensitive areas. This particular tool is 100 per cent waterproof, meaning you can use it safely in the shower or bath when your hair follicles are open.
Better yet, it means not having to wait for an appointment or shuffle your day around a trip to the wax bar — and it’s compact enough to take with you on vacay, when that’s a thing again.
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For facial toning:
Using customized microcurrents, the NuFACE Facial Toning Device helps improve facial contour, tone, as well as reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Save money on going to salons with this portable tool.
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An ancient Chinese technique, Gua Sha brings new life to dull, devitalized and aging skin. These sculpting stones are made from white jade and bian stone, and help reduce puffiness, smooth lines and wrinkles, increase elasticity and relieve muscle tension.
Related: Why you should be using a Gua Sha every morning.
Similar to the Gua Sha tool, this facial roller by Herbivore Botanicals also helps support lymphatic drainage and refuse the appearance of puffiness. They’re popularly used over sheet masks to help serums penetrate into the skin.
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For clear, glowing skin:
Achieve a deeper clean with the adorable, mini version of the popular Foreo Luna. Made in three different colourways, the Luna is made of hygienic silicone and features a powered-up motor to help deeply and gently cleanse the skin for an at-home facial.
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Hello, hydration! Bring the spa home to you with this micro-steam device by cult-classic beauty brand, Dr. Dennis Gross. It’s ideal for unclogging pores, improving uneven texture and increasing skin moisture. Plus, it’s absolutely luxurious.
LED light therapy has proven benefits including smoothing wrinkles, firming skin, diminishing discolouration and clearing acne. This funky mask helps you accomplish all of that, plus the added benefit of laying down to relax during the minutes-long treatment.
If robot masks and facial rollers aren’t your thing, maybe this PMD tool will do the trick. Using patented spinning disc technology and vacuum suction, this at-home device helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and enlarged pores.
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Give your skin a break from chemical exfoliants in favour of these facial razors that remove peach fuzz and gently exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells. The technique is called dermaplaning and can be achieved outside of the salon, helping improve skin texture and relieve dullness.
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For your at-home mani and pedi:
Get perfect nails at home with the Sally Hansen Salon Gel Polish™ Gel Starter Kit. Enjoy chip-free, no-dry-time nails for up to two weeks. The starter kit includes everything you need to get your at-home nail salon started.
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