WINTER 2025 UPDATES - Best products List

It’s been a while since my last blog post, and I’ve been getting the itch to share my thoughts about products, and hot tips lately - really, to anyone who’ll listen. I’m often asked about which lotions and potions to use on hair, skin, face, and everything in between, so I thought it’d be most effective to have everything in one place to remember and refer back to. So here we are.

in a time where over-consumption is so prevalent, I want to emphasize that this list isn’t about buying everything - it’s about offering suggestions for products that truly work. Nobody needs all of these (except for maybe a hairstylist lol), but if you’re looking for something specific, I hope this guide helps you find a reliable option.

Here are MY favourites:

Best Repairing Hair Treatment - K18

Best Heat Protectant - BedHead Some Like It Hot Heat Protection Spray

Best Leave-in Conditioner/Detangler - Revlon Professional Uniq One

Best Repairing AND Colour Protecting Shampoo & Conditioner - Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate

Best Deep Cleansing Shampoo - Ouai Detox

Best Everyday Shampoos & Conditioners - Biolage HydraSource (most affordable), Redken All Soft, KMS Moisture Repair

Best Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner - Goldwell Just Smooth

Best Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner - Aloxxi Bombshell

Best Purple Shampoo & Conditioner - Oligo Blacklights

Best Luxury Shampoo & Conditioner Brands - Pureology, L’Oreal Professionelle

Best Hydrating Hair Masks - Amika Soulfood, ColorWow Money Mask, Moroccanoil

Best Dry Shampoo - Living Proof PHD

Best Volumizing Dry Shampoo - Sexy Hair Big Dry Shampoo

Best Volumizing Mousses - Goldwell Top Whip, Kenra Volume Extra, Redken Full Frame

Best Humidity Products - ColourWow Humidity Shield, Kenra Anti-Humidity Spray

Best Texturizing Spray - Sexy Hair High Tide

Best Flexible-wear Hairspray(s) - Fave4 Workable Wear (most affordable), Moroccanoil Luminous in Medium

Best Roundbrush - Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion Speed XL

Best Hair Curling Iron Brand - Mint Professional Hair Tools

Best Flat Iron - Schwarzkopf

Best Moisturizer AND Primer for sensitive skin - Embryolisse Lait - Crème Concentré

Best Setting Powders - Huda Beauty, Patrick Starr

Best Mascara - Essence Lash Princess (Teal or Purple imo), Maybelline LashSensational

Best Waterproof Mascara - L’Oreal Paris Telescopic

Best High-End Mascara - YSL Lash Clash, Benefit Bang

Best Affordable Foundations AND Dupe Brand: Elf

(Note: Some categories may not be present, because I haven’t found a product I absolutely love for MOST people in that specific category, but there’s also a chance that I forgot. I will continue updating it for the next little bit if something pops into my mind. Please me know if you’d like me to add another category, or if you have a product recommendation.)

Now that I’ve shared a roundup of my favourite beauty and hair products, let’s dive into why these are must-haves in my repertoire - starting with K18.

My favourite overall hair treatment is K18, specifically for repair. I’m all about offering and recommending products to my clients that deliver results without draining their pockets or just collecting dust on the bathroom counter. In these times, we want products that show real results for the money we’ve spent, and K18 is an effective, long-lasting treatment that’s easy to use.

What makes K18 unique?

K18 uses a bioactive peptide that mimics the natural structure of keratin in the hair. This peptide travels deep into the inner layers of your hair (the cortex) and reconnects broken polypeptide chains that have been damaged by chemical treatments, heat styling, and environmental factors.

Is it different from Olaplex?

Yes! While both products restore disulfide bonds, they take distinctly different approaches. Olaplex focuses on repairing the disulfide bonds, which are part of the hair’s structure responsible for its strength, shape, and stability. K18, on the other hand, permanently rebuilds the internal keratin structure at a molecular level, improving the hair’s strength, resilience, and overall health. Both products complement each other well, because they do different things to the hair.

How to use K18 at home to get the most out of your product:

1. After shampooing, do not condition—this seals your hair, and those little bioactive peptides will just hang out on your cuticle. Gently towel dry your hair.

2. Use the less is more approach to avoid weighing down your hair or wasting product. For shorter, finer hair, start with one pump; for thicker hair, you can use up to two.

3. Emulsify the product between your hands until it turns white—like a zinc oxide-based sunscreen. Then, distribute the product evenly from your ends up to the roots.

4. Wait 4 minutes. These little bioactive guys need time to do their job.

5. Continue with the rest of your haircare routine and apply products over top. There’s no need to rinse. If you have thicker hair and prefer using a regular conditioner instead of a leave-in, feel free to rinse the product out and follow your usual routine.

I hope this helps clarify how K18 works and how you can get the best results from it!