Ope Wright

My go-to affordable e.l.f. makeup for Halloween looks and party nights - long-lasting, vegan, cruelty-free and all under $15. As a braider I'm always getting clients ready for big nights, and these are the products I actually trust.

My favourite guides and kitchen herbal picks for natural, everyday wellness.

My go-to list of winter skincare must-haves for cold, dry weather — the hydrating, protective picks I actually reach for when the temperature drops. I focus on reliable moisturizers, lip care, and gentle barrier-repair staples (like CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, and Vanicream) that hold up in winter and won't break the bank.

My go-to list of small gifts under $15 - the practical little things I actually buy for friends, coworkers, teachers, and family during the holidays. Mostly everyday beauty, hair, and home items that people really use, all under $15 so I can grab several and still stay in budget. Grouped into quick-gift beauty, hair and scalp, and a couple of non-beauty everyday essentials, with my most-repurchased picks first.

My working list of the braiding and natural-hair products I actually reach for - edges control, braiding gel, mousse, satin bonnets, scalp oil, and the combs I swap into my kit. I'm a professional braider in Gaborone and these are the items that hold up through clients' edges, protect hair under wraps overnight, and make the braid day smoother. Grouped into edges-and-hold products and braid-styling-and-tools, with the items I repurchase most often first.

My own shortlist of reliable under-$25 finds - the everyday skincare, makeup, and one or two non-beauty staples I actually repurchase. I tend to grab these for myself and for quick gifts, so they're split into a skincare-and-essentials side and the cheap makeup I wear again and again.

The gifts I actually buy each December for my friends, family, and coworkers - a small mix of beauty, home, and everyday things that people really use, picked with three boys and a full braiding schedule in mind. I'm not great at shopping under pressure, so I keep this list updated early and hand it to anyone who asks what to get me. Every pick is something I've tested myself or would feel good giving to someone I care about.

My go-to list of TikTok viral finds I actually use - beauty, hair, home, and everyday picks that hold up past the hype. As a braid stylist and mom of three, I only keep things that save me time, make a long day easier, or feel like a real little treat, and this is the list I'd hand to a friend. I add to it as new things prove themselves, so it stays practical instead of just pretty trends.

My everyday sneaker list - the comfortable, classic pairs I actually rotate between errands, long days on my feet, and casual outfits. Nike Air Force 1 and Air Max for cushioned daily wear, a retro New Balance for an easy vintage look, and Puma Suede and RS-X when I want personality.

The everyday back-to-school items I keep buying each term for my kids - socks and a backpack that actually last the school week, plus a lunchbox and water bottle that work through the Botswana heat. I put the durable gear and the lunch-and-hydration pieces in separate sections because that is how I shop for term one: get the things that have to take a beating, then sort out what goes in their lunch bag.

My go-to Nike store picks for sportswear, running shoes, training gear, and everyday sneakers — iconic Nike footwear and active essentials from Nike.com for workouts, running, gym training, and casual everyday wear. Great for best Nike sneakers, Nike running shoes for men, Nike training shoes, Nike Air Max, Nike Air Force 1, Nike Dunk Low, Nike Pegasus runners, and Nike Metcon workout shoes. Updated Nike store recommendations — save this list for Nike sneaker shopping, gym gear, and everyday athletic wear inspiration.

I put together this list around the Puma shoes I actually wear for training and everyday days. It covers my go-to casual sneakers and the running shoes I pick for road running and longer sessions, and most of them come from Puma.com, which is where I buy them.

My favorite athletic looks and sporty outfits - my go-to athleisure picks for training, running, workouts, gym wear, and active everyday style. A mix of Lululemon leggings and running shorts, New Balance running shoes (Fresh Foam 1080, 990), and Nike training/workout shoes for the gym, the run, and athleisure-to-street outfits.

My Everyday Sportswear & Athleisure Picks - a working collection of my favorite sportswear, retro and classic sneakers, and athleisure essentials I come back to for everyday casual and streetwear outfits. Reliable activewear, gym clothes, running shoes, and everyday athletic pieces that hold up through workouts and daily wear, organized in a “Retro and classic sneakers” section: iconic picks from Nike, Adidas (Samba, Gazelle, Campus 00s), New Balance (327, 530), and Nike Air Max for sporty, comfortable, easy-to-pair everyday sneaker looks.

My beauty and skincare list - the everyday moisturizers and skincare I actually repurchase, plus the two beauty stores I shop when I want a proper browse. CeraVe, Neutrogena, and Olay for the basics, and Sephora and Ulta Beauty when I want everything in one place.

My travel planning list - the sites I actually use to put a trip together. Booking.com and Hotels.com for hotel rooms with free cancellation, VRBO when I want a whole home with a kitchen, Tripadvisor for real reviews before I decide, and KAYAK to compare flights, hotels, and car rentals across options.