These are extremely stressful times. COVID-19 has changed the way we live and function, and though we are slowly getting accustomed to this whole new world, sometimes it can all be a bit much. Hence, in these pandemic-stricken times, it’s imperative that we pay proper attention to ourselves and our needs. Taking some time off for self-care, whether it’s a quick skincare routine, or a morning grooming session can do wonders for our mental health! These simple little self-care activities can make us feel a whole lot better, more stable, and in tune with ourselves. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of must-have self-care gadgets that’ll make your me-time just a little bit more special and relaxing. Enjoy!
If you are an athlete, someone who works out but doesn’t have time for indulgences, or maybe just a guy who doesn’t want to get a mask from Sephora, then this conceptual Nike LED mask was made keeping your wellness needs in mind. This also makes life easier for those with special needs and disabilities, it allows them to take care of their skin without being dependent on someone to drive them to a facility. People who are at high risk of catching COVID-19 may not be able to go out right after quarantine ends and that is when such personal gadgets can elevate their life quality at home. Also, an LED face mask means no need to touch your face! This beauty device was aimed at expanding passion and potential through the CMF (color, material, finish) so the user can get comfortable quickly by identifying with Nike’s existing sporty and refreshing image.
The Beast grooming kit isn’t for the faint-hearted. This set of grooming tools is made strictly for the alpha male, with its chiseled, sharp forms and matte black demeanor. The grooming kit has a very ‘Don’t Mess’ quality about it and comprises a beard trimmer, nose-hair trimmer, razor, and a brush+bowl set. Even the product branding is designed to intimidate and dominate!
This gives a completely new meaning to the word ‘papercut’! Say hello to the Paper Razor, a sustainable alternative to the disposable plastic razor. The Paper Razor, as its name suggests, comes with an all-paper body and sports a metal blade-head on top. Designed to be flat-packed, the single-use razor comes completely unfolded and can easily be put together in a matter of seconds by merely folding in the sides and the top to create a rigid, ergonomic razor with a grippy handle. Its origami-inspired design gives it as much strength and maneuverability as a plastic razor while minimizing the use of plastic by as much as 98%. The result? A razor that can be easily flat-packed and shipped, used and then disposed of… safely, of course.
Meet the SpearWax… It’s the comb-equivalent of a toothbrush that has a toothpaste ejector attached to it, or a loofah that has a bar of soap inside it. The SpearWax, simply put, puts expert styling in the power of your hands by revisiting how the comb functions. SpearWax’s comb, unlike other combs, wasn’t made to just orient your hair in a direction, it was made to condition your hair into the right shape. The comb sits in a proprietary wax solution at all times, and when you pop it out and comb your hair with it, the wax gives your hair a spectacular sheen and definition. In short, it takes you from bedhead to professionally styled in just under a minute so you could literally jump out of bed and into a Zoom meeting while looking your best.
Roughly 80% of the shampoo, shower gel, handwash, liquid detergent, dishwashing liquid you buy is just plain water. Imagine paying money to have 80% water and 20% chemicals shipped to you from various parts of the country. Sounds counterproductive, right? Cleanyst tries to hack that system. Practically a Nespresso-esque device for all your household liquids, Cleanyst lets you produce your own shampoos, detergents, handwashes, and conditioners at home. The necessary chemicals (usually a combination of alkalis, foaming agents, disinfectants, and oils or glycerin) get shipped to you in a slim bag that you load into the Cleanyst, and the machine’s interface lets you choose what you want to concoct.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to step on the scale and perhaps didn’t feel confident? It can make many of us feel conscious to get on a weighing scale, it feels like everyone is watching you and judging you based on a number – that may or may not be true, but privacy is a right and Privacy weighing scale is here to make you feel more comfortable. You don’t have to weight (see what I did there?) to see if the room is empty enough before you step up! So this simple yet ingenious weighing machine protects that right to personal information for us with a simple shallow wall around the number screen, this way only those standing on the scale can see the result. Now that is the kind of wall we don’t mind building!
The hair on your beard is nearly thrice as thick as the hair growing on your head… which means it’s 3x more difficult to manage. While a quick shampoo and comb-down can fix the hair on your head, maintaining and grooming a beard is much more time-consuming and ritualistic. You need to trim, tone, condition, and wax your beard to keep those hairs in line (I say this with utmost confidence as a beard-man myself). Designed to manage that mane around your mandible, the Aberlite Pro is a nifty, comb-shaped device that uses a combination of PTC heating and negative-ionic conditioning technology to smooth that beard. All you need to do is plug it in, set the appropriate heat setting, and comb away. The handle of the brush has an ionizer built into it, coating your beard hair with negative ions and an anti-static coating as you run the brush-up and down.
Standing out against an ocean of over-designed appliances is Séjour, a series of self-care appliances for frequent travelers. Séjour focuses on the need of the hour, i.e., being convenient and easy to pack/use. Coming as a kit comprising a hairdryer, straightener, and trimmer, the three appliances fit perfectly inside a slim tray that can be easily placed in suitcases along with your clothes. They even use a single universal cable that can connect to the appliance that’s needed. Visually, Séjour aims at looking like a reliable, no-nonsense set of appliances. The lack of “visual fluff” feels almost therapeutic, and its beautiful earthy colors give it a realistic demeanor.
Here’s an image of the first-ever hair-dryer by Alexander Godefroy and it’s easy to see that we’ve done little to give it a radical makeover. Well, all that changes with the Squared Dryer by Jiyoun Kim & Junyoung Jang. The new, unapologetically radical, slender hairdryer is a boon for every dressing table. Unlike its bulbous, bulky ancestor, the entire hairdryer is slender, foldable, and has the footprint of a small square box. The air blows out as a result in a vertical channel, allowing you to cover a larger part of your hair when held upright. Easy to slide into dresser drawers, or just as easily display proudly on top of the dressing table, the Squared Dryer even comes with a slick snap-on container for wire-management so that that unsightly cord isn’t all over the place.
You can call me a fan of Fulden Dehneli’s work because everything she has designed so far always has a personal story or deeper meaning apart from improved functionality. Her designs, be it TV or a face mask, always leave you feeling good and the latest one to evoke that emotion is BOOP – an aromatherapy oil diffuser that has been specifically made for kids! When you hear the word ‘boop’ you would usually associate it with a gentle, swift touch on the nose. The oil diffuser was called so because Dehneli wanted it to embody that ‘boop’ feeling in a physical product that made you feel as if someone gave you a loving pat. Aromatherapy is a proven natural solution to create a healthy environment while enhancing the mood. It adds to the ambiance while soothing the nervous system with the essential oil blend. Aromatherapy is known to induce calm, reduce discomfort, and promote good sleep for every user but usually, the diffusers’ aesthetics are chosen for grown-ups. This product combines an oil diffuser with a white noise machine for a more multidimensional effect.
