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My Skincare and Haircare Products as an American Living in Italy Trying to Budget
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items Updated for 2025! With access to so many great products (but also not being sure where to start) here are my go-to products living in Rome!
Sections
3
Skin Care
Hair Care
Body Care
Skin Care
I will be honest with you, I am easily influenced by dermatologists on tiktok! Luckily many products are a lot cheaper here at Italian pharmacies!
I can't decide if I'm too harsh or too easy on my skin, but my face seems happy with this as my face wash! Even after a very sweaty day and lots of sunscreen I feel like my face is clean after a double wash!
CeraVe Hydrating Face Wash with Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin for Normal to Dry Skin - 12 fl oz
I also really like this face cleanser, I like to use it a few times a week and the hydrating cleanser on the other days!
CeraVe SA Face Wash Salicylic Acid Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide - 8 fl oz
I started using this a few years ago and never looked back! I use this at night after all other skin care, or if I'm not using any serums, I'll apply to a damp face. My pillow cases are greasy in the morning sometimes but worth it in my opinion!
La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm Vitamin B5 Soothing Therapeutic Cream for Dry Skin and Irritated Skin - Unscented - 1.35oz
Currently this is the only serum I use, my biggest skin issue is dry skin and random acne, I use this 2x a week in summer, more often if I'm wearing makeup throughout the day!
La Roche Posay Acne Treatment Salicylic Acid Face Serum - 1oz
I think this is the biggest contributor to my overall facial skin health! When I'm consistent with using NuFace (which I was lucky to get on a super Black Friday sale) I have less acne and my skin is tighter and brighter! I use the Cosx snail muscin ...
NuFACE® Mini Starter Kit - Mini Facial Toning Device
I've tried just about every other gel for my NuFace and this is what I tolerate best! It seems most effective to me when paired with damp skin, and then the Cicablast lotion to lock in all the moisture
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence - 3.38 fl oz - Ulta Beauty
This is my cure all for most everything! I have some eczema around my eyes and this is the only thing that gives me relief!! I also use it on scabs, blisters, and other skin issues for repairs
Homeoplasmine XL 40g Magic Cream for Dry Skin
I gave this a try last summer because I felt like I wanted a change and a sunscreen that would be doing something more for my skin. I'm so glad I did because the hype is so real! This tube also lasts me longer than my previous La Roche Posay even tho...
BEAUTY OF JOSEON - Relief Sun : Rice + Probiotic SPF50+ PA++++
Hair Care
Italy has been hard on my hair, or maybe just life has been hard (Italian bureaucracy is not for the weak) 😂 I love having access to some great products here in Europe and I feel pretty solid about my routine now
Luckily the Kerastase brand is more affordable here, though it is still a splurge when I have to restock. However this products lasts me a long time so I only buy it about 2-3 times a year even though I use it every time I was my hair
Nectar Thermique Heat Protecting Cream
I upgraded recently to this heat protectant during the summer sales and I love it! I am guilty of heat styling my hair almost every time and this gives me peace of mind that my hair is protected and the style holds well over night!
Thermique Régénérant Heat Protectant
Another product I picked up during the summer sales, I am so glad I tried K18! My hair has been damaged with rough ends for some reason (hard water? Low iron? Stress? Mercury in retrograde) since moving to Italy and after using this for a few weeks m...
Full-Size Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask 50mL | K18Hair
This is hands down the best smelling dry shampoo I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot!) Klorane dry shampoo is a solid choice, effective, reasonably priced, and smells soooo good!!
Detox Dry Shampoo with Aquatic Mint
I throw my hair in this in the shower after I've conditioned and applied hair protectant! It's really easy to keep my hair out of the way and is better for my hair that a usual bath towel!
Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel - Purple
I am not sure what magic they put in this shampoo but after using only this for a week while visiting my parents, my hair was extra curly and happy, I thought maybe it was just being out of the hard water (which I am sure helped) but I have been usin...
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Shampoo Con 5 ... - Douglas
To go with the shampoo, the bond repair conditioner is perfect for the rest of the days I don't use K18. I use a hydrating mask sometimes to pair with this as I feel like my hair can use more hydration, but the structure and strength of my hair has b...
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Balsamo Con 10 ... - Douglas
Yes, I was seduced by the “hairfluencers” to pick this up! I use this once a week or so, or really whenever I feel like smelling like a delicious banana! This hair mask is a very positive sensory experience for me, and I feel like it helps!
Garnier Ultimate Blends Banana Hair Mask 390ml
That's right, I put this bad boy in hair care. Why? Because using this toner on my scalp once a week has made a huge difference on dandruff, itchy scalp, and it also gets rid of the hard water/product build up! I usually forget to put it on sooner so...
The Ordinary - Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner - 240ml
Body Care
No you're not seeing double! I just really love this stuff for everything except what it was originally designed for, apparently! I am a sweaty lady in general and using this on my armpits after a showing has helped with discoloration and smell. Its ...
The Ordinary - Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner - 240ml
Last year I started getting really weird eczema around my eye and on my eyelids. I tried moisturizing to no avail. Something, somewhere, suggested this and I figured it was worth a try. Lo and behold a few days of using this with a sensitive lotion o...
BASE LAB Hypochlorous Acid Spray 8 oz