If there’s one good thing to have come out of COVID-19, it’s the ‘free’ time we’ve had to spend on beauty.
After all, in the long list of things to do in lockdown, self-pampering makes up a good portion. Plus, with salons closed at one time or another across the states (nobody longer than Melbourne though — you troopers!) many of our professional treatments had to be swapped for a little DIY.
But while tinting your brows at home and removing gel polish became part and parcel, there were a few unexpected beauty products that proved just as popular…
Just For Men Moustache & Beard
Almost everyone with the ability to grow facial hair took it upon themselves to grow a ‘COVID-beard’. Only some found their whiskers to be whiter than others, prompting a DIY dye job to feign fullness.
Read reviews: Just For Men Moustache & Beard
Vagisil Sensitive Daily Intimate Wash
While it’s no surprise that sanitation products were selling out all over the place, it appears we also extended this need to our nether regions, with a rise in wipes and washes for intimate areas too.
Read reviews: Vagisil Sensitive Daily Intimate Wash
Colourless Max Effect
Used to remove permanent dye from the hair, Colourless Max Effect proved popular for a myriad of reasons. With hairdresser visits far and few between, some of us wanted to try going back to our natural colour; others needed a fresh base before DIY’ing at home. And some of us made grave mistakes after a bottle of wine on a Saturday night that needing rectifying before our Zoom call on Monday.
Read reviews: Colourless Max Effect
Milky Foot
Usually reserved for summer sandal prep, people got their foot exfoliation treatment in early this year. Perhaps it was the fact they could peel in peace at home, or maybe that the smooth-soled result just felt so damn good in slippers.
Read reviews: Milky Foot
NatraSan Antibacterial Instant Hand Sanitiser
What’s not surprising? Everyone’s need for hand sanitiser. What is? Turns out we’re pretty picky about which hand sanitiser. Because while this choice does kill 99.99 per cent of germs in 10 seconds (impressive), it also doesn’t dry out your hands (even more impressive), making it a must-have.
Read reviews: NatraSan Antibacterial Instant Hand Sanitiser
Waxaway Ready To Use Sensitive Wax Strips
It may be back to business as usual for our body hair removal services (we’ll never take laser for granted again!), but with face masks still recommended (and mandatory for most), any upper lip, scraggly chins and overgrown brows are still being taken care of at home. Lucky these strips make it easy!
Read reviews: Waxaway Ready To Use Sensitive Wax Strips
Bump eRaiser Medi Paste
With DIY hair removal often comes ingrown hairs, razor bumps and pimples. Lucky for most, they discovered Bump eRaiser Medi Paste which helps to reduce swelling and redness, while salicylic acid, tea tree oil, triclosan and vitamin A draw out the infection rapidly without causing trauma to the skin.
Read reviews: Bump eRaiser Medi Paste
Kiss 100 Nails – Short Square
After many of us spent the first weeks of lockdown figuring out how to get our gels and acrilycs off, we soon after sought a replacement for length and strength. These false, French-manicure style nails were the answer (and considering the price point, they may just become a staple).
Read reviews: Kiss 100 Nails – Short Square
Surprising for me is that I bought hair dye during lockdown. For years I've preferred to go to a hairdresser, but figured because I wasn't going anywhere, I would try DIY colour. I was actually happy with the results.
Didn't do my mo waxing as wasn't going out much. Now I can participate in Movember! I'm a lady not a dude- tragic.
Literally not one of those listed. Just because I have no use for them. Though face masking…ya. And nothing changed, I was never in "lock down". Always did DIY hair styling: cut n freelights. Beard, never xD
I let my hair go grey and didn't mind at all girls.
Waxing is essential
I’ll admit that I cut my own hair! It had grown way too long, and there were so many split ends. It was driving me insane, so I cut several inches off it! I actually didn’t do a bad job. It was sitting just below shoulder length. It’s grown a bit since then. Now that Melbourne hairdressers have reopened, I’ll try to book myself in sometime soon. In the meantime, I just tie it up.
Tinted lashes and brows
I bought a lot of sheet masks, cut and coloured my hair and dyed my eyebrows…it was fun to try out a few things I would normally get done at the salon but I'm ready to have someone fuss over me instead!
i highlighted my hair during lockdown
I think I pretty much carried on as per normal. Even the hand washing and use of hand sanitizer was normal for me as I had been looking after R who had no immunity so hand washing and sanitizer was important.
Nothing much changed for me except using lots of hand sanitizer when out grocery shopping. Plus I cut my own hair even though my hairdresser was still open because I didn't feel safe going there during lockdown.
I tried a few more than usual at home treatments too.
I’ve been shaving but I have been wanting to start doing laser treatment
Really like the Bump eRaiser Medi Paste never heard of it before. Have days where I do pamper myself with a facial and manicure and pedicure you always feel better when you do.
I did lots of pampering at home – face masks, foot peels, pedicures and nose strips
I stocked up on sheet masks and got a laser hair removal device
I did a home hair colour treatment and ended up a little more red/orange than I would have liked but it has since washed out.
I can imagine the hand sanitiser was extremely popular!
Ha yes those foot peels are good when you're working from home!
That foot peel is bizarrely enjoyable – peeling your skin off in sheets – I didn't do it during lockdown but I can see the appeal 🙂
None of these for me but I have bought the Milky foot thing in the past for my boyfriend. He liked it!
We were lucky in QLD and I only had 6 weeks off work, I did pamper myself more than usual which was nice
I've tried Milky Foot, lots of masks & I've been taking a lot of baths. I still wear a mask whenever I go out, so I haven't worn lippy in ages.
I had never heard of Bump eRaiser Medi Paste, I will check this one out.
I haven't tried any of these. I have used more masks than usual during covid though. Face masks and hair masks 🙂
I did buy more sanitiser so I didn’t fall short.
Always enjoy using a clay face mask or a sheet face mask.
Beard dye… Really??? I never knew this was a thing!?!?!
I always do waxing at home.
i didn't buy face maks, but used them as i had tubes at home more often
I just wish there was a way to put on fake nails that didn't damage my natural nails. I end up hating my bare nails so much from the glue damage that I just end up over-covering it and getting exhausted.
So many different brands of hand sanitizers flooded the market
I used more sheet masks .
I love DIY!
Huge fan of Milky Foot 🙂
I was the opposite and took a break from more products.
I used rinses until I perfected my dyeing technique whilst I had just a few 'silver' hairs. I eventually had to go to permanent dyes. I have continued this to save me $$$. I am going to try adding highlights to my hair next. Fingers crossed that I don't look like a tiger.
Except for people like me who were stood down. I don't expect to be back at work until 2021.
Agreed. I saw on TV that unless you can smell the Alcohol or read the label saying Alcohol is the number 1 ingredient, it isn't worth buying. Especially if it is sticky. It is supposed to dry straight away.
I use my Vagisil mainly for cleaning my 'toys'. I have tried Waxaway which is quite good but I do prefer Marzena.
Interesting to see that Vagisil saw a spike in popularity during lockdown. However, I doubt women were more concerned with the cleanliness of their “nether regions” during this time. It’s just down to using next best substitute when regular washes and hand soaps were being bought up like crazy. We all had to get a bit creative during the lockdown panic buying.
I think hand sanitiser was about the only one of these items I bought during lockdown
I'm housebound due to illness so I was in lockdown before it became a thing.
Didn’t use any of these
Have tried at last foot peel! Was given to me, so "had to" haha. Japanese brand though. It is amazing =0