The Personal Care Essentials That Have Elevated My Beauty Routine

Oh my goodness, these are the softest cotton pads I have ever used. I really didn’t get the hype before I started using them, but once you test, you’ll never turn to regular cotton rounds again. Crafted from 28 layers of 100% natural cotton and 123,000 handpicked fibers, these are incredibly absorbent—great for applying toner or swiping various liquids around the face.

It’s often said that drying your face with a used towel is bad for you, as you can end up transferring dirt and bacteria to freshly cleaned skin. So instead of using a new towel each day, I opt for these disposable face towelettes by Clean Skin Club. When I began using these a few years back, I noticed fewer breakouts and less skin texture.

Here are the aforementioned compressed facial sponges I like! Not too soft without being harsh on the skin, these deliver gentle exfoliation while helping rinse away your cleanser. Because they’re nearly paper-thin, these are easy to travel with.

Though we’re long past the days of COVID-19 lockdowns, I still carry hand sanitizer with me wherever I go. I was drawn to the sleek design of Noshinku’s pocket-size bottle, but keep using it for its nourishing, natural formula and fabulous scents. Lavendula is my current favorite, but I also have a penchant for Limon.

This silicone scrubber is my body cleansing agent of choice. I just pour a bit of my body wash directly onto its bristled surface, which instantly emulsifies the wash into a rich lather as you massage skin. It’s easy to hold and to wash—just throw it in your dishwasher for good measure. I wash mine once a month.

When I want to feel squeaky clean, I love using an African bath sponge. These have a fine net-like texture to help remove buildup on the skin to unclog pores and exfoliate all over. The sponge is also quite long, allowing you to easily scrub hard-to-reach areas like the middle of your back.

Who knew an electric flosser would be the thing to get me to actually floss daily? This one by Flaus is my current go-to: It uses 18,000 sonic vibrations to move the floss between your teeth quickly. The device itself is pretty lightweight and fits easily into the mouth to reach even the molars in the back.

In 2024, I finally hopped on the tongue scraping train after hearing about it loads from colleagues. I went straight to Amazon, as one does, and found this $5 stainless steel option. It’s simple enough to use—just run the tool along your tongue from back to front to remove food particles as the last step in your oral routine. After using, my mouth really does feel fresher, and I’m pretty sure my breath smells better.

I grew up in a really big Listerine family, but I honestly found using it too intense. I much prefer a more gentle rinse like this one by Moon. Free of alcohol and fluoride, this harnesses charcoal, antioxidants, and essential oils to detox your mouth and whiten your teeth. Plus, it has a fresh, minty taste sans the burn.

All toothbrushes are not created equal! I’ve just started using Suri’s electric options, which uses recyclable, plant-based brush heads (made from castor oil and corn starch) powered by 33,000 sonic vibrations. One of my favorite features, however, is the travel case that uses a UV light to kill 99.9% of bacteria.

Many of my beauty editor friends rave about the benefits of mouth taping (it encourages nasal breathing while you sleep, helps relax facial muscles, and can enhance sleep quality), so I naturally had to start doing it as well. I like the tape that’s shaped like an H because it allows me to take sips of water from my Stanley cup straw while I’m wearing it.

My lashes and brows love Augustinus Bader’s serum. “This formula contains sunflower oil, biotin, panthenol, and castor oil—all ingredients that support healthy hair growth,” board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo previously said, also citing hyaluronic acid and aloe, which help draw moisture in. I love applying a serum to these delicate hairs as a way to condition them before all the brow gels and mascaras coming their way.

I like to keep a bottle of castor oil on hand, as its one of the most versatile multipurpose oils. If my hair is dry, I often lather my hair in it before washdays (or oil my scalp with it when wearing protective styles). Castor oil is great for moisture retention, so I like to sweep it on my brows and lashes as well; its conditioning benefits make it an excellent cuticle conditioning oil. And if I decide to start navel oiling, castor oil is perfect.

The Kiehl’s Truly Targeted solution is arguably skin care rather than personal care, but I love it so much I had to put it on this list. I don’t break out often, but when I do, I am sure to cover it with some sort of blemish treatment. Powered by 2% salicylic acid and 4% niacinamide, this creates an invisible barrier over your zits to shrink them and reduce redness. I prefer this when I’m out an about over a hydrocolloid pimple patch.

I don’t think we talk about flushable wipes enough! I love these towels by Cottonelle. They are soft, durable, and more effective than your average toilet paper. If I’m not somewhere with a bidet, these are the next best thing.

The thing about introducing new supplements to your routine is that you suddenly need a place to store them—especially for travel. I was gifted a little leather case like this one, and I love it so much. You can place your pills and capsules in each daily compartment, and there’s even an eighth section for extras just in case.

Tweezers are pretty self-explanatory! I somehow lost my favorite pair at the start of 2024 and was reminded how important having one on hand is. You never know when you’ll need to pluck a stray hair, apply false eyelashes, or grab some tiny thing without your fingers. Truly an underrated beauty tool.

I love having an everything ointment on hand. You want something really gentle, with skin-strengthening benefits. That way, its safe to apply to skin that’s just received a facial treatment (like laser or a chemical peel), is dry and flaky, or even has minor burns. My favorite is La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Balm because it has a rich cream texture, but I’d also recommend Aquaphor or Cerave if you prefer a traditional ointment.