Just in time for Thanksgiving break.
It’s no secret that a swipe of rich red lipstick from a golden tube or a spritz of sweet perfume from a glass bottle can instantly make you feel like a million bucks. While lavish products are worthy of all their glory, it’s often the unglamorous, staple products—scentless creams we slather all over our bodies or white strips we use to pull gunk out of our pores—that help us feel our best on the daily. Luckily, Tiktok has come up with a name for the underdogs of our beauty routines: “unsexy products.” Hundreds of creators have flocked to the app to share the “unsexy products that make them sexier,” often joking that the uglier you go to bed, the hotter you’ll wake up.
Here at InStyle, we, too, have our fair share of tried-and-true, holy grail, can't-live-without items that have become mainstays in our bedside tables, office drawers, and car glove boxes. Just in time for Thanksgiving break, we've compiled our favorites to help you embrace the season of cozy downtime.
Basic Concepts Tongue Scraper, $9.00 Shop Now
My dental routine is not complete until I've scraped my tongue. A simple few swipes at night, after I brush my teeth and before I use mouthwash, make my tongue look and feel clean. My biggest fear is smelling bad, whether body odor or bad breath, and this practice helps get rid of bacteria, which, in turn, reduces bad breath and improves overall mouth health.
Aquaphor Lip Repair Ointment, $5.00 Shop Now
If I could bring one thing onto a deserted island, it would be my Aquaphor lip balm. I keep one in every bag, on my bedside table, in my boyfriend's car—you name it. I hate the feeling of chapped lips, and this salve instantly makes my smackers feel soft and hydrated; it's also the only drugstore chapstick I've found that actually feels moisturizing. As a bonus, I sometimes use this on open wounds (I'm a serial nail picker) for relief.
Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturizing Lotion, $17.00 Shop Now
This is the only lotion my mom and aunts have used since they were young, and it is no surprise why. It's a quintessential soothing, moisturizing, scentless lotion that is perfect for sensitive skin. I apply it after I shower, and my skin drinks it up like water.
EcoTools Exfoliating Gloves, $4.00 Shop Now
I started using exfoliating gloves as a teenager, and I have never looked back. Nothing leaves my skin feeling softer or cleaner than these; the few times I've had to opt for a loofah or washcloth in a bind, I feel a negative difference. These gloves, in particular, are infused with avocado oil, which makes them exfoliating without being harsh or too abrasive.
Mont Bleu Crystal Nail Files, $10.00 Shop Now
A crystal nail file is as glamorous as we'll get in this round up. My aunt gifted me one of these when I was a teenager, and it has become one of my most coveted beauty items. Once you purchase a crystal nail file, you'll never buy an emery board again. This product gives my nails such a smooth, gentle shave and hasn't lost it's effectiveness over the years. A quick wipe down with an alcohol pad in between uses leaves it as good as new.
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch, $11.00 Shop Now
Our news editor, Tess Petak, used to be a serial face picker until she found Hero patches. Now, she says when she notices an unwanted guest on her face, she just sticks one of these bad boys on and goes about her day. And, when she just can’t resist the urge to pick, she places a patch on the popped blemish to absorb any remaining gunk, and it’s completely flat by the next day.
CeraVe Healing Ointment, $20.00 Shop Now
When Petak was on Accutane, she says she would rub the Cerave Healing Ointment all over her face before bed until she looked like a glazed donut. It did the trick, because her skin stayed hydrated during the entire treatment.
Schick Hydro Silk Dermaplaning Wand, $15.00 Shop Now
Petak says being a blonde comes with its perks, like not having to wax her eyebrows or upper lip. However, it also means her face (and body) is covered in peach fuzz. These razors have changed the game for her when it comes to makeup application. Ever since using these, she says her foundation goes on smoothly and doesn’t get splotchy during the day.
Tiger Balm Pain Relieving Ointment, $6.00 Shop Now
Our social media director, Taylor Ford, proclaims she is addicted to tiger balm. She says when her aunt first brought the ointment back from Hong Kong, she thought it was a secret potion. That is, until she saw it was available at most pharmacies—now, she keeps a jar in every bag and on her nightstand. Ford has been using the muscle rub to combat headaches for years now, and the smell alone gives her a calm feeling.
Quip Cordless Water Flosser, $65.00 Shop Now
Evergreen and special projects editor Emily Kelleher loves the feeling of having flossed but dreads the actual flossing (and has been scolded by her dentist more than once). She says using this water flosser is 1,000 times easier and more appealing. It has a great battery life (she hasn't had to charge it once in the six months she has used it) and a sleek design that easily stores and dislodges debris.
Naturium The Glow Getter: Multi-Oil Body Wash, $16.00 Shop Now
Associate social media editor Zizi Strater is "obsessed and literally can't live without" Naturium Body Washes. She says they are her go-to when she wants to feel clean. Though she loves a scented, fragrance-forward body wash, sometimes she needs a skin-care-grade body wash to get the job done. Every time she uses Naturium's body cleansers, all the sweat, grime, and pollution from living in the city is lifted from her body. The soap also contains ingredients that add glow and moisture to the skin, making it the perfect in-shower face wash in a pinch.