'Beauty fatigue is real. But these 8 products have me genuinely excited again.'

I’ve been writing about all things beauty for three years now, and don’t get me wrong — dream job. I honestly love what I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m immune to the old ‘too much of a good thing’. 

The last few months I’ve felt a bit, well, tired, of the endless stream of new beauty products. There are only so many things you can say about an oil cleanser, and can you REALLY get that hyped up about a lip balm?

I just felt like it had been a very long time since something had given me a raging beauty boner, but then — just like buses, they come all at once!

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So here’s a passionately curated collection of genuinely rave-worthy beauty buys.

Some old, and some brand spanking new. Things I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to my best friend, that ignited those little sparks of joy once again.

Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara, $48.

Image: Supplied

I have tried about 15 mascaras in the last two years, and while some were better than others, nothing really stood out. Even the ones people were raving about felt a bit ‘meh’... and then, I found this. Photographed here on my left eye only, and holy s**t. In just a couple of strokes, this is about the best mascara I’ve ever tried. 11/10.

Vela Days Microfibre Cleansing Bands, $20.

Image: Vela Days/Supplied.

Sooo I heard about these things that stop water running down your arms when you cleanse your face at the sink, and before I owned them, I thought, how silly! HOW UNNECESSARY.

But then, when I recently moved, my new neighbour gave me a little welcome package which had all the makings of a margarita, some skincare, and *these* — and what can I say? Best neighbour EVER! But also: life changed.

Turns out that in winter, they are actually the difference between me washing my face or not, and I’m even tempted to buy a second set for when the other ones are the wash. I truly take back everything I said.

The Jojoba Company Ultimate Serum, $70.

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I have been trialling this serum for the last week and I am OBSESSED. I’ve been a die-hard fan of the Jojoba Co Ultimate Youth Potion for about four years now, but silly old me never dipped my toe into the rest of the range because I honestly thought it started and finished with oil. 

The Ultimate Serum contains an ingredient called Humacoll 21 which is a 100 per cent match to the amino acid sequence of human collagen. Used alone, this serum promises to skin elasticity and collagen production by 20 per cent, but apply it before you apply topical retinoids and it increases to 45 per cent.

Nothing like some nerdy clinical studies to get you pumped to try a product.

Hair Shots Keratin Bond Repair, $40.

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I want, nay, REQUIRE bond restoring technology, but sadly my hair hates all the ‘plex’ type shampoos and conditioners, which is where THIS comes in. It’s genius, actually. A little bottle of pure, potent, hair-repair actives, you just add a few drops to your favourite conditioner to ‘upgrade’ it into a more high-performance formula.

It’s just like using a savey cleanser and moisturiser, but sneaking some spendy serums in to get results! 

You can purchase different shots in singles, trios, or get them all in the ‘celebrity’ box so you can cocktail up your perfect product like some sort of hair care mixologist. So clever.

Heat Healer Body Belt, $298.

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Believe me when I say I have lived in this thing for the last two weeks. First, it was for the infrared heat to help ease the crippling ovulation pain I get, which is significantly worse than my period. 

Then, I spun it round and used the PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) to alleviate nagging lower back pain, which is definitely due to having two massive five-year-olds that still want to be carried all the time.

Then, I hitched it up around my stomach and switched the setting, to use the red LED light to improve the appearance of my post-twin skin.

Hell, sometimes I use it just because I’m cold! 

iS Clinical Warming Honey Cleanser, $77.

Image: Supplied.

If you (like me) are a fan of retinoids, skin needling, herbal peels or anything else which can promote a bit of dryness/shedding, THIS is your new best friend. I liken it to a gentle cleanser and enzyme exfoliant in one, with papaya extracts dissolving the proteins in the dead skin cells, leaving you glowing and smooth. 

I’ve also experienced a spate of hormonal breakouts of late, so I’m enjoying the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of 40 per cent pure honey, too.

Hairification Pure Grow Range, from $20.

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This hit the shelves of Coles just this week, and I JUMPED on it. I used to work for a company specialising in anti-hair loss products so I know my way around an ingredient list or two! European larch extract is a key player in the fight against thinning hair, and combined with ginseng and caffeine, this formula looks really good.

After three rounds of COVID, my hair is looking quite sparse on the sides, so I’m going to use the range religiously for the next few months and hopefully see some new growth. Game changer for supermarket hair care I reckon.

Benefit Hubba Hubba Brow Enhancing Serum, $105.

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It has taken me about five years to get on the brow bandwagon, but I’m finally here! Better late than never, right? But there’s just one problem… some of us were just discovering beauty when the obscenely thin, over-plucked brows of the 90s were in… and it shows. 

The girls over here never quite recovered, but there’s hope for them yet, with Benefit’s new brow serum. I've only just started using it so I can’t offer my personal experience, but the brand notes that 96 per cent of trial participants said their brows were fuller after 12 weeks.

There you go my loves, hopefully you’ve unearthed an exciting new discovery for your beauty needs here, too.

Wanna be virtual besties? You can find me in the You Beauty Facebook group, or connect with me on Instagram here.

Feature image: Supplied/Carly Sophia.