2017 was a year full of trials, errors, and ultimately, finding ourselves. I know I went through a lot this year (maybe not like 2016, because that year was a real bitch) but there were hardships. Through all of my ups and downs, I got to find my peace by testing beauty products/services. I went ahead and rounded up a few secrets and must have services/products to try in 2018.
These are 7 things I loved this year!
1. Deodorant is the Answer to Chub Rub!
Don’t just take my word for it but test it out for yourself! When I went to NYC this past summer I knew I was setting myself up for disaster when I decided I’d wear shorts to roam the city but my friend told me that deodorant was the answer and she was right! Rub some deodorant on both inner thighs and go on with your day. This is literally the best thing I learned all year.
2. Hair Masks Help Split Ends
I interviewed Carla from Venus Style Salon and during her consultation she touched on my horrible split ends. I grabbed a deep conditioner/overnight cream, per her recommendation for my hair, and went ahead and saturated my hair with this. Once my hair was fully saturated, I wrapped it up in a bun and let it soak for 10-15 minutes and then went on with my regular routine (shampoo, conditioner, rinse, etc.)
PRO – TIP: Use this for dry and dandruff prone scalp to prevent further dryness or dandruff.
3. Tea Tree Oil Fixes E V E R Y T H I N G
Tea tree oil is the best thing for everything! I use this with my moisturizer and cleanser to help with my breakouts but this also helps with dandruff and dry cuticles. I like to mix tea tree oil with my products to make sure the oil isn’t too harsh on my skin.
4. Waxing is the BEST
After I waxed my kitty I never went back to shaving. The hair growth is drastically slower and not just in your conchita but even your underarms. Of course, there are a few things I wish I knew before waxing, but to be honest, I’ll never go back to shaving.
5. Threading is Your BFF
To all my latinxs you know thick dark hair is a given so you have to constantly try and keep your hairiness to what is “socially acceptable”. I have always suffered from thick brows so I always struggled with a unibrow. Waxing my brows was my go-to but when I got threaded for the first time, that was life-changing. It was so clean and crisp and the hairs were cut so sharp I really can’t talk about it enough.
BONUS INFO: This is not painless but the outcome is totally worth the pain.
6. Cruelty-Free Doesn’t Mean Low Quality
I use to think that cruelty-free products were something I had to go and find in the farthest places of the world and I really thought that they were low quality but when you really look for it, a lot of high-end companies are cruelty-free. So if you want to start your new years right, it’s not too hard to switch some products out. I even did a full face tutorial on cruelty-free products, which may help you find a place to start.
7. Gel Nail Polish is My Holy Grail
“SHE’S VEGAN…AGAIN” GEL POLISH WITH GOLD FOIL ACCENT NAIL
I have been attempting to stop my horrible nail biting habit and the only way I could stop it is by having nail polish on all the time. Obviously, nail polish chips within a few days so I tried a gel mani and the rest is history! Gel polish, although pricier than regular polish, is totally worth it because it lasts 2-3 weeks with minimal to no chips and it helped my nail-biting habit!
This year was about getting to know what works best for me and what I loved in 2017 but maybe you can try some of these tricks/ services and see if they work for you as well.
