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Writer's pictureDarlene Peramo

My Best 2020 Purchases: Health & Beauty

Updated: Apr 28, 2021

SURPRISE, SURPRISE! If you thought most of my spending history is on skincare, it's not. If you thought makeup, not that either. If you thought clothes or getting my nails done, we need some serious time to get to know each other better. Fun fact: 1 out of 3 clothing pieces I own are either hand-me-downs from my dad or brother (they're seriously comfy), thrifted, gifted, or given by my best friend.


SO, WHAT DO I EASILY SPLURGE ON?

🤍 groceries

💛 small kitchen appliances & gadgets

💚 beauty tools (sunglasses do count)


I am seriously strategic about my shopping decisions #indecisiveshopper. I cautiously look at every potential purchase as an investment.



Before making my way to checkout or confirming my payment online, I ask myself these questions:

Will my body be nourished? (If I'm about to eat out, when is the last time I ate out?)

Will this enhance my health?

Will this motivate me to be a better person?

Can I use this as an educational piece for content?

Will my purchase matter in 5 years?

Can I afford this? Is this reasonably priced?

Can I wait a week/month to buy it then?

Do I really need this?


This is a positive example of how overthinking acts as a talent and an adulting skill.

Care to disagree?



Known for being passionate about all things skin and beauty, I've grown to adopt holistic beauty in nutrition school. While I understand the need and effectiveness of skincare, a lot of the work comes down to daily habits beyond topical care. I fear going to bed without at least washing my face, but I was slacking in physical activity while my screen time went through the roof. These were some key triggers to my overall perception of myself in front of the mirror (body image & dark circles) and ultimately self-confidence.



Here are the best purchases I made in 2020 that I absolutely have no regrets over!!!


1) @Glowawayskin 100% pure silk exfoliating body mitt. If you have dry, flaky, rough arms and legs, OR self-tan, OR shave, OR love clean beauty, OR want to save money on exfoliating products, this is ALL YOU NEED! I use this mitt every week. It works by taking a nice warm or hot shower, then soaking the mitt, you scrub the mitt up and down your skin with medium pressure. You will be amazed by what this mitt sheds off right before your eyes: DEAD SKIN. Whether you think this is disgusting or fascinating, it is inevitably satisfying to see. I do not pair this mitt with any soap or exfoliating products. Trust me, this is not the mitt shedding its fibres.









2) Wayfair mini trampoline, aka a rebounder. I'll admit to not prioritizing exercise compared to my efforts to eating nutritiously. After doing so much research and figuring out if it will fit in my small apartment, I got one. Out of a list of 100 benefits (literally), rebounding is a low-impact cardio exercise, the easiest way to break out a sweat, strengthens the joints, promotes lymphatic drainage (think puffy face), and massages the intestines (TMI but constipation sucks). I rebound 5 times a week, to a minimum of 5 songs, but more commonly these days it's been up to 10 songs. Yes, I count time in songs because I feel pressured when I keep track of time: I want my time while exercising to be enjoyable and genuinely celebrate my body's abilities I tend to take for granted.




3) Fitbit fitness tracker. To be completely honest, this was all I wanted for my 21st birthday. If I must address, I am team android. Another thing, Apple watches are seriously past my student budget. I settled for the basic Inspire model because all I wanted was a step tracker (I was fed up relying on my phone's health tracker). Knowing how many steps I do in a day is the easiest way to motivate me to get moving. Especially when I'm rebounding, I am even more motivated to push my limits and achieve higher step goals. To my surprise, my best friend gifted me the Versa 2 in pink for my graduation/birthday gift. Needless to say, I told her I bought a Fitbit the day she gave me her gift (haha). I thought I was low maintenance, but the Versa 2 is seriously my biggest health gadget obsession. I have it on almost 24/7, especially when I sleep. It not only tracks my sleep and heart rate accurately, but I utilize the "Relax" app before bed when I find myself with racing thoughts. Conveniently, I can set up wakeup alarms, where there's also this option called "Smart wake" which wakes me up at the best time according to my heart rate! Other features of the Versa 2 series are that I can connect it to Spotify and change songs from there (perfect when I rebound), tell me the weather of the day, connects to Amazon Alexa. If you're wondering, yes all the Fitbit watches are waterproof.




4) Amazon mini frother, particularly in tiffany blue. This is a super easy purchase decision. I'll explain in 3 points: (1) I can finally make lattes (2) cuts down my cleanup time after baking (3) effortlessly beat eggs and make buttercream frosting. BONUS: this one I got came with latte stencils, 2 types of attachments, and a frother stand.







5) @Wearmepro blue light blocking glasses aka the OGs. Yup, I'm guilty of checking my phone seconds after waking up and right before sleeping. I am making progress in the morning by not checking my phone notifications, but at night, it is a serious habit that will take time. If you read my SOJOS Vision review blog post, I went in-depth about blue light and its effects on sleep. That said, it's reassuring to know that I can protect my eyes and mitigate sleep disruptions by simply wearing glasses. I love it when health can be fashionable!





Watch my Instagram Reel HERE





Let me know in the comments below what are the best purchases you made in 2020. They don't have to be beauty or health-related. Any crazy purchases?

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