I’m the first to say that I’m a sucker for a good marketing campaign. You gift wrap your cleanser in a millennial pink travel kit and add stickers—and I’ll use it forever. You paint your serum caps mint green, fuchsia and tangerine, and I’ll re-purchase the products just for the novelty of it. You put your bright blue face mask in a crinkly, old-timey aluminium tube, and I’ll be sure to photograph it every time I use it. But over time, I’ve come to realise this: it’s definitely fun to collect something that acts like an objet d’art on your vanity, but sometimes the products that really work are the ones that sit dusty on the bottom shelf. They’re awkwardly packaged, have cheesy infomercials, and seem more medicinal than spa-like—but they really do work. Here are some my favourites that often get forgotten about.
This Ayurvedic cream can be used for literally anything that ails you
Kailas Jeevan is the original jack of all trades. It’s an ointment with camphor, sandalwood, coconut oil, neem and natural herbs with antiseptic, astringent, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. And even Aditi Rao Hydari is a fan despite the obvious un-coolness, “You’re going to laugh—I can’t do without this ointment called Kailas Jeevan. I have it in every bag and every drawer and swear by its miraculous healing powers,” she told us in 2016. Priyanka Chopra keeps it stashed away for an emergency too. “Now this is truly one of those Ayurveda products that can cure everything from acne and burns to a cough and everything in between. And it can be used both externally and also consumed internally. I always have a ton of this with me. Trust me when I say, a dollop of this will keep many doctors away,” she told an American magazine that same year. I’ve been using the cream on a hair curler-induced burn myself, and it calms, hydrates and reduces redness almost immediately. Trust me, I’m not laughing this one off.
This Amazon-favourite face mask renders skin shine free
The label on this old-school tub says that it is the ‘world’s most powerful facial,’ followed by a ‘FEEL YOUR FACE PULSATE’ in all caps. Safe to say, the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is not for those with sensitive skin types or easily irritated skin. But the bentonite clay, when mixed with water or apple cider vinegar, is super absorbent and sucks all the excess oil off the face. The clay by itself won’t do much to get rid of acne, but the apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial properties that might. Essentially, if your skin is having a particularly oily few days, especially in the T-zone area, slapping this mask on will leave skin matte and primed for makeup application.
These bright drugstore-favourite pads are ideal for getting limbs summer-ready
You know those pesky rough patches on the back of your forearms? They’re likely keratosis pilaris. Keratin plugs settle into the skin causing bumps, and they’re usually not easily removed by physical exfoliation. Enter: stridex pads. They look, smell and feel like the ones you use to clean the kitchen counter, but they’re safe to use on the skin, I promise. These pads are soaked in salicylic acid, so they’re great to regulate sebum on the face, but they’re a tad bit too strong if you’ve got dry or reactive skin. Swipe them over the arms, legs and butt instead to let the powerful BHA clean up bumps and clogged pores while also lightly exfoliating your skin to leave you with brighter-looking limbs.
This bedside table mainstay is a solid manicure extender
You can use Vaseline for just about anything. Have chapped lips? Slap it on. Need to heal a cut? It works. Have ingrown hairs? It’ll be a salve. I have found it ideal for dry cuticles—massage it onto the nail bed and fingernails just before bed. Polish will last longer, and hangnails will be a thing of the past.
If you can forgive the jingle, this cream will make dark spots vanish
Studies have shown that curcumin, the chemical compound found in turmeric, can clear up acne because of its antibacterial properties, and decrease UV damage as an antioxidant. It’s the star ingredient in many a DIY face mask, and can even help wounds heal faster by decreasing oxidation and lowering the stress response. In this case, the yellow-orange cream in Vicco Turmeric includes turmeric in a formula that won’t stain the skin or require any messy mixing. Slather it on a freshly picked zit to reduce inflammation and redness while healing the skin underneath. And it dries down powdery and colourless, so you can cover the whole area with concealer without worrying about pilling too.
Also read:
Confession: My nightly skincare routine takes 17 products and 38 minutes
This is what the future of makeup, skincare and haircare looks like
This is what your acne means based on its location on your face
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