5 Beauty Products and Treatments I Swear By

I am picky when it comes to my products and treatments.

I hate products with a strong scent (unless it's vanilla!). I research and test out everything before I commit. These are the beauty products and treatments I swear by, along with my unfiltered take on them all.

1. K-Tip Hair Extensions

Starting at the top because this one is my favorite: K-Tip Extensions. I've had K-Tips installed for over 12 years. The longest I ever went without them was 5 months during the pandemic. 

I am the biggest advocate of hair extensions and the right hair extensions. I have only ever had k-tips, so I cannot speak for other types, but my hair has gotten longer, thicker, and healthier since I got them installed.

K-Tips are installed by melting the keratin tips around small sections of hair, and they're virtually seamless. I can wear my hair up, half-up, in a bun, and nobody can see them. I'm always met with shock when people find out that it's not all my hair!!

Having long, thick hair just gives me a confidence boost and levels up every outfit. This is definitely the pricest item on this list, but it is worth every penny.

2. Laser Hair Removal

I've tried almost every method of hair removal, and laser stays on top. 

I go to a plastic surgeon's office here on Long Island, and it was the best decision I've ever made. 

While the promise of "six appointments and you'll be hair-free forever" isn't exactly true, it turns into occasional maintenance appointments, it is still night and day compared to before.

Not having to shave as often saves much more time when getting ready.

3. Self-Tanning Lotions

I'm an Albanian-Italian, olive-skinned girl. I look like a pale Victorian child in the winters and a golden goddess in the summers... If you're Mediterranean, you get it. 

Tanning lotions have saved me during those dark and dreary winter months, so I look and feel like myself. It just adds that pop back. 

I really have tried every self-tanner under the sun. 

This one is my new favorite tanning lotion. It's the perfect shade without being too orange.

Plus, since it's a moisturizer, you can leave it on all day anddd... it's unscented!! So no gross DHA smell lingering for hours or transferring on your clothes.

4. At-Home Gel Polish

Essie Gel Couture has changed the game for me. 

I stopped going to the nail salon in 2023 after too many disappointing experiences. I tried gel, builder gel, and acrylics at many, many different salons and ended up paying lots of money to go home with bloodied hands.

Regular polish doesn't last long enough, fake nails pop off, and I've heard too many TikTok horror stories about contact dermatitis from gel polish that requires an LED light at home. 

Ever since I found Essie Gel Couture, I have not looked back. It comes in so many colors. All you need is the base coat and the top coat, and it lasts for about 2 weeks. 

5. Talc-Free Bronzers

I never cared about Talc in makeup until recently. After doing my own research, I decided I'd rather avoid talc whenever I can. That being said, I'm not totally eliminating it from my entire makeup routine, but bronzer is one product I wear almost every single day... so switching to a talc-free formula was an easy change.

After trial and error with different options, I have fallen in LOVE with this one from NARS. It blends in beautifully and has the perfect lightweight finish that works whether I'm wearing it alone for a beach day or using it to complete a full glam look for a night out. 

Will avoiding talc completely change your life? Probably not. But if there's a version of a product I already love that uses ingredients I feel better about, that's the one I'm going to choose.

It's one of those small swaps that gives me a little extra peace of mind without sacrificing how my makeup looks!

Saving You From Buyer’s Remorse

When it comes to beauty, I don't believe in buying something just because it's trending. If it's on this list, it's because I've tried it, loved it, and repurchased it (again and again).

I'm always on the hunt for products that actually live up to the hype, so this list will definitely keep growing. As I discover new favorites, I'll keep updating it with my honest, unfiltered opinions.

Life's too short, and beauty products are too expensive to waste money on things that don't work!

What are some of your favorite beauty finds? Comment and let me know!

Unfiltered always,

Kelly Elizabeth | The Unfiltered Blonde