6 DIY Products That Will Turn You Into a Beauty Pro During Isolation

Master a DIY mani.

Always wanted the skills to give yourself a mani that rivals your favorite salon? Olive & June Superbloom Studio Box ($50) is the kit you need, that you’ve never had time to actually try until now. Although it’s available year-round in a chic, millennial-pink box, we’re loving this limited-edition springtime box, which will become your permanent mani station. Inside, you get a top coat, cuticle serum, clean-up brush, flat-edge clippers, dual-grit nail file, nail buffer bar, polish remover pot, and a placemat so everything stays mess-free. You also get the brand’s new Poppy polish bottle handle, which helps give you more control and steadiness as you paint, and with both hands. Plus, you get to choose one shade from Olive & June’s 25 signature colors or six dreamy new pastels for spring, part of the Superbloom collection. And because brand founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle truly thought of everything, the kit even features a built-in cell phone shelf so you can follow along with YouTube tutorials or FaceTime with friends as you paint.

Master DIY body waxing.

Waxing may be another task we tend to make appointments for, but Flamingo’s Body Wax Kit ($10) allows us to both save some money and get baby-smooth skin on your legs, arms, armpits—there’s a separate kit for the bikini area—from the comfort of our own homes. The modern kit features 24 soft-gel wax strips that come ready to use, which means you don’t have to heat up a pot of goo or mix anything up with a wooden stick. Just hold your skin taut, apply the strip and pull it off fast—it’s not pain-free of course, but super easy to do. They’re also double-sided, so good for at least two pulls. And because the brand believes post-care is just as important as the hair removal process, the kit also comes with six post-wax cloths that remove excess wax and comfort the skin. For pro tips to make the process even easier, take a peek at the brand’s Wax Guide before getting started.

Master DIY balayage.

Highlights are typically best left to the pros, but the Madison Reed Light Works Balayage Highlighting Kit ($45; $36 with Madison Reed membership) makes it possible to achieve at home, and for a much lower price tag. Permanent and ammonia-free, the two-step process works on everyone from the darkest brunettes to the lightest blonds—natural or color-treated—who want sun-kissed, golden-toned highlights. The brand’s unique, wishbone-shaped applicator lets you paint the highlights on in a more natural way versus a stripy, too-uniform one, and the kit also comes with a toning glaze to help refine the color, and gradually washes away after about 20 washes. You can also include a Bond Building Cleansing Treatment to make sure your newly highlighted strands stay strong and soft.  

Master DIY nail art.

Leave it to the super talented artists at your favorite salon to ever-so-precisely paint flowers, geometric shapes and designs on your nails—Color Street ($13) lets you get the look at home for a fraction of the cost and less time (once you nail the application technique). Available in a ton of different designs—including glitter, which we know is impossible to get off when it’s regular polish—these adhesive strips are made of 100-percent nail polish and blend a base coat, top coat and color into one formula that lasts up to 10 days and easily comes off with standard nail polish remover. If you have smaller nail beds like me, it takes a little practice to get them looking perfect, so why not try now while you’re stuck at home? And if your nail beds are on the larger side, the strips can gently be stretched for a snug fit. Check out a tutorial here.

Master DIY false lashes.

Whether you’re a lash extension gal and can’t get in to get a fill right now or you’ve always been curious about falsies and never had time to try the trend, we’ve got the perfect thing: Lashify! Not only is it beloved by celebrities and a red-carpet staple—Renee Zellweger, Janelle Monáe and Sigourney Weaver all sported the faux lashes at this year’s Oscars—but editors and beauty gurus love it too. For $145, you get the Control Kit, which includes the application wand, two sets of gossamer lashes in different lengths so you can see what you like best (you also get to pick the style: everyday, bold or curly), the Flexible Bond “glue” and Glass, the brand’s waterproof lash extender. On average, it takes about three tries to get the application down pat, but once you do, you’ll be hooked! From there, you can order lash refills starting at $20 (each set wears for about a week)—you don’t have to purchase the Control Kit again unless you lose it—and additional glue, etc. as you run out. There’s also a membership option, which unlocks exclusive deals and subscription-based ordering. Check out an in-depth tutorial here.

Master a DIY blowout.

One of the biggest complaints we hear from readers? “I can’t do my own blowout.” Well, you CAN with the innovative Dyson Airwrap Styler Complete ($550). Yes, the price is steep, but the eight-piece system gives you the total hairstyling package—everything you need to achieve bouncy, voluminous waves or smooth, polished strands—for salon-worthy looks. Included in the kit: two 1.2-inch and 1.6-inch barrels (clockwise and counter-clockwise), a firm smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, round volumizing brush (great for achieving more volume at the root) and pre-styling dryer. Using the brand’s state-of-the-art technology and powerful motor, something called the Coanda effect attracts hair to the barrel like a magnet and wraps it for you, drying damp hair with controlled heat so it never gets too hot, causing damage. It takes a little practice to get used to it—after all, it’s a completely new styling method—but the result is so worth it!