1. Braun Epilator: Silk-Epil 9
This is the one epilator I swear by. I absolutely, definitely recommend it. Why? Because it has a wide head with 40 tiny tweezers that get the job done in no time. I had a Silk-Epil 3 that I had purchased a decade ago (when I was still watching my budget very, very carefully) and it was still in mint condition despite the countless times I’d used it (because it’s Braun), so I never bothered to look to upgrade.
One day it struck me to check out the newer models (no offense Philips, but my husband had replaced his Norelco multiple times) so I was intrigued. I came across Silk-Epil 9 and was sold.
It features an epilator, a shaver and a trimmer. You can easily find these features in older models but the best part about 9 is that it’s cordless, rechargeable and wet & dry (meaning you can use it in the shower which after a couple of times, makes hair removal practically painless). I have never looked at wax-strips since. Ha!
2. Tramontina Frying Pan
It’s non-stick, has a thick and heavy base and is oven and even dishwasher safe! Who has ever heard of a PFOA-Free nonstick frying pan that’s dishwasher safe!? I purchased it because after all the research, I found many, many reviews recommending it.
3. Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue
I have dry skin, and was in search of a tinted moisturizer/bb cream for regular use. My requirements were simple.
- has to be sheer (I don’t have acne or too many dark spots that I’d need to hide),
- must not give me dry patches,
- has to have mineral SPF and must be tinted
- must not have harsh, weirdly spelled/sourced chemicals
- definitely has to be cruelty-free.
I also depend a lot on reviews. IT Cosmetics CC Cream Your Skin But Better has rated very high for a very long time. I tried it but it’s too thick (almost foundation-like) so I moved on the second most popular option. (This was 3-4 years ago). I have loved Complexion Rescue since. Fun fact: I even got it for my mom to get her hooked.
4. Instant Pot
If you don’t have an Instant Pot in today’s day and age, you are missing out big time. From thoroughly cooking frozen meats to making perfect cheese cakes, an Instant Pot does it all.
The thing I like the most about my Instant Pot is that it has pre-programmed times and set algorithms for cooking everything. Whether I’m cooking half a cup of rice, or 6 cups, the setting remains the same. Another big plus for me is that I don’t need to thaw any meat before tossing it in the Pot. It will always come out perfect.
5. Hoover Steam Cleaner
This Steam Cleaner is a game changer. With kids in the house, you have to learn to live with (and clean-up) spills every other day. (To be honest, grown-ups and pets are accident prone too). This steam cleaner has saved the day many a times, from when the kids spilled olive oil on the living room rug, my cup of tea on the bed, and a half gallon of milk not too far from the oil spill.
Please follow the instructions as it is only meant to be used on rugs and upholstery+ etc. I, however, have successfully used it to clean my bathroom tiles. It leaves them squeaky clean. The floor is still wet for around 30minutes after being steam-cleaned but that’s a small price to pay.