25 Items I Bought From Sephora, Nordstrom, and Amazon to Replace Beauty Services

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(Image credit: @c__bellamy)

Most Wanted is a weekly series in which one Who What Wear team member or friend of the brand will share the top 25 fashion and beauty finds on their current wish list.

When I was a teenager, I’d take on any at-home beauty treatment. Waxing my own legs? Sure! Dying the tips of my hair black? I can do that! Gluing in extensions? Can’t be that hard! I don’t know if it was because I was overly confident in my skills or just plain naive (probably the latter).

Now, though, I know what’s at stake: My face! And hair! And body! And mental state! Which is why I’ve passed the baton to experts because they’re… experts. But now that everyone is stuck at home and all my professionals have closed up shop for the foreseeable future, my brows are getting less defined by the day. Deep down I knew it was only a matter of time before I got in touch with my younger self and took matters into my own hands. So far, so good, except for a minor blip (aka giving myself a pretty visible bruise on my chin) using one particular skin tool. But more on that below…

Indulgent Facials 

To be clear, I’ve never gotten regular facials. My job has its perks and I’m gifted treatments I would never justify paying for myself, so I like to think that I’ve become pretty well-versed in giving myself a professional-level facial at home. Now more than ever, it’s important to indulge. So clear your Zoom hangs and opt for some much-needed TLC at home.

Spa Massages

I’m not one to get massages a lot, but before social distancing happened, I was trying to go once a month. I always left feeling like a new woman, which actually makes sense because a lot of massages focus on the lymphatic system, which is a key driver in staying healthy. It transports white blood cells throughout the body and helps eliminate built-up toxins—that’s why it’s so important to keep it functioning. It’ll make you feel lean, energetic and boost your immune system. While I can’t really give myself a deep-tissue massage (or ask my husband to), I’ve made it a point to incorporate my own at-home rituals to help flush out toxins and keep my body feeling its best.

Manis and Pedis

I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten used to getting a gel manicure every two weeks and a pedicure every four weeks, so let’s just say… My nails have been struggling. I used to do my own all the time—and was fairly good!—but my skills are rusty. So I’ve been relying on these goodies to make my nails look less haggard and more professional-looking.

Salon Blowouts

I haven’t gotten my hair cut in longer than I’d like to admit, but I was getting used to treating myself to blowouts every once in a while. I have to say, I really miss it. I’m basically useless when it comes to my hair—I usually just let my locks air dry and call it a day. But how else am I going to keep busy during this weird time if I'm not attempting to perfect my hair?

Brow Tints and Waxes

Turns out, I’m not actually able to get in touch with the younger version of myself who’d be totally down to wax her brows. I’m older and wiser now and just too damn nervous to do it myself. I’ve been seeing the same brow pro for years now, and I can’t stomach the thought of messing up all her work. So this is what’s getting me through until I’m able to go in for an appointment again.

Golden Spray Tans

I don’t usually get spray tans. Not that there’s anything wrong with them—they're just not part of my regular routine. But if I have a special event or trip, I like to treat myself to an airbrush appointment. Now that I can’t go on any of my preplanned trips, I’m still going to enjoy a tan. It’s the little things.

Next up, the dos and don'ts of waxing at home so it isn't an epic fail.

Group Executive Director, Branded Content and Beauty

Caitie Schlisserman is an L.A.-based executive director with over a decade of branded content and editorial experience. She joined Who What Wear in 2014 as the first branded content editor and has worked her way up to overseeing a team of talented branded content editors and the beauty department of the media revenue team. Before Who What Wear, Caitie helped launch FabFitFun's first subscription box and worked at a beauty startup where she assisted in successfully launching the editorial department.