The Best Personal Care Gear for Your First Home
Buying guides for the gear you use every day: hair, shaving and the recovery kit for after moving weekend.
80 guidesRefreshed 5 October 2026
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The three that matter first
Updated Sep 2026
Home haircuts with a clipper like the Philips Series 5000 are the rare upgrade that pays you back, and most households have more than one head of hair to cut.
Updated Sep 2026
The Remington Shine Therapy is the budget pick, and the guide explains when the ghd platinum+ is actually worth it.
Updated Sep 2026
Foil or rotary is the decision that matters, and the guide settles it by skin type and beard thickness.
Moving in together, or alone for the first time, turns the bathroom shelf into contested territory, and the gear that survives is the gear that gets used daily. The Philips clipper that ends barber shop scheduling, the Remington Proluxe dryer, a cordless water flosser: small machines, permanent rotation.
The dearer end of the shelf deserves more scepticism, which is what these guides are for. The guides for LED face masks like the NVBOTY and IPL devices like the LYSMOSKI spell out their limits plainly, and a TENS machine is the rare wellness gadget with a physio's logic behind it.
The home salon
Heat styling without the salon markup: the ghd platinum+ won our straightener guide, the Remington Shine Therapy is the budget alternative, the MBHAIR 9mm wand handles the curls, and the Remington Flexibrush does the blow dry.
Silk Bonnets
Lip StainsSeven long-wear lip stains and tints listed on Amazon Australia, from a hydrating everyday NYX to a viral peel-off Wonderskin, ranked on colour, staying power, comfort and price.
Lip LinersA first-home-buyer's guide to the best lip liners in Australia, from a reliable everyday NYX pencil to a long-wear wet n wild stain and a Rimmel value pick, with real owner ratings and live Amazon Australia prices.
Cuticle Oils
Micellar WaterSeven water based micellar waters sold on Amazon Australia, compared on live star ratings, review depth, bottle size and ingredient list. Bioderma Sensibio H2O leads, Garnier's 700 mL bottle is the value buy, and Neutrogena Hydro Boost is the cheapest way to try the format.
Lip Gloss
Lip BalmsEight lip balms compared on the specifications you can verify before you buy: format, size, pack count, flavour and sun protection factor. Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick takes the top spot as the unflavoured everyday balm, LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask covers overnight care, and the Carmex three pack is the cheap stick you can leave in three places at once.
Face MasksEight skincare face masks worth buying in Australia, sorted by format rather than brand: overnight hydrogel, cellulose sheet, daily sheet tubs, clay jars and gentle wash off tubes. Every rating, price, pack size and spec came off the live Amazon Australia listing, and the guide includes a uses per pack table so you can see what you are actually getting for the money.
Manual Eyelash CurlersEight manual eyelash curlers currently listed on Amazon Australia, ranked on customer rating, Australian review depth, spare pad supply and frame geometry. The Shiseido leads for almond and monolid eye shapes, the Tweezerman Classic is the safe all rounder, and the e.l.f. Pro is the cheapest and most reviewed of the eight.
BB CreamEight BB creams sold in Australia, sorted by the two things that actually decide whether you wear the tube: coverage and finish. Every rating, review count and price came from a live listing check.
Skin TintsEight skin tints and tinted moisturisers on Amazon Australia, sorted by coverage, finish, shade depth and price, with an Australian shade matching method for buying one online.
Purple ShampooSeven violet toning shampoos for blonde, lightened, silver and grey hair on Amazon Australia, compared on pigment strength, bottle size in millilitres and star ratings. Includes a washes per bottle table, a decision table by hair situation, and the Australian salon brands worth knowing.
Nail PolishSeven nail polishes you can order on Amazon Australia today, from a long-wear OPI system to a no-lamp gel look, an Australian brand and a peel-off set for kids.
Hand CreamsEight hand creams listed on Amazon Australia, sorted by texture and format so you buy the right tube for the moment you are actually in rather than the one with the nicest box.
Hair Masks
FoundationSeven foundations listed on Amazon Australia, compared across five formats: liquid, powder compact, stick, cushion and cream compact, with a format matrix that tells you which one suits your skin and your mornings.
Face ScrubsSix face scrubs stocked on Amazon Australia, sorted by what actually does the scrubbing rather than by marketing. Acure leads on rating depth, St. Ives on tube size, Sukin on price, with a grit ladder so you can pick the texture before you pick the brand.
Eyeshadow Palettes
Eyebrow PencilsSeven eyebrow pencils and brow pens on Amazon Australia, chosen on live buy box prices, Australian star ratings and listing specs, with a format matrix and an Australian shade name decoder.
Curl CreamsSeven curl creams and curl definers you can order in Australia right now, checked for stock, price and rating on the day of writing, with a curl pattern to cream weight matrix so you buy the right weight for your hair instead of the prettiest bottle.
Cleansing OilsSeven cleansing oils actually available on Amazon Australia, sorted by star rating, bottle size and what the ingredient panel says rather than what the front label promises. DHC leads for anyone who wants a fragrance-free bottle and no more research.
Clarifying Shampoos
BronzersSeven bronzers currently listed on Amazon Australia, compared on star rating, review count, finish, undertone and pan size, spanning pressed powder, baked powder, cream stick and liquid.
Body OilsEight moisturising body oils you can actually buy on Amazon Australia, ranked on format, scent, bottle size and live shopper ratings. Massage, shimmer and tanning oils excluded.
Body LotionsSeven body lotions compared on Amazon Australia by star rating, bottle size, scent and buy box price, sorted by the situation you are actually buying for.
BlushSeven blushes worth buying on Amazon Australia across powder, liquid and stick, with customer ratings, shade guidance for Australian skin tones, and a listing size table so you know how much product you are actually getting.
Women's Perfume
MascaraEight mascaras on Amazon Australia, ranked by star average, review depth and what each formula actually claims to do. Maybelline Sky High leads on both rating and review volume, with more specialised options for short lashes, straight lashes, summer heat and fair colouring.
Hair BrushesEight hair brushes for Australian bathrooms, sorted by the job each one actually does: wet detangling, curl definition, thick hair, long hair, fine hair and blow-drying.
Concealer
Setting Spray
Men's CologneSeven men's colognes on Amazon AU, ranked on price, star ratings and review counts. Versace Eros is the one bottle answer, Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey is the office pick, and Nautica Voyage is the cheapest way in. Plus plain English guidance on eau de toilette versus eau de parfum, scent families, day versus night wear, bottle size value, decants and layering.
Dry ShampooA data-led guide to the best dry shampoos on Amazon Australia, covering aerosol, non-aerosol and powder formulas, with tinted picks that skip the white cast on dark hair and a genuine budget can.
Press On Nails
Magnetic LashesSix magnetic lash kits sold on Amazon Australia, compared on magnet system, reuse, price and real star ratings, with clear picks for beginners, tight budgets and the polished magnetic-eyeliner look.
Nose and Ear Hair Trimmers
Wax WarmerA research-backed guide to the best at-home wax warmers on Amazon Australia, covering digital pots, metal salon machines and complete beginner kits, with picks for every budget.
Sauna BlanketsA first-home-buyer's guide to infrared sauna blankets you can actually buy on Amazon Australia, with a best overall, a value pick and a budget option, plus what to check before you buy.
Head ShaverA researched, Australia specific guide to the best bald scalp head shavers, ranking six rotary and flexing head units on Amazon ratings, price and who each one suits.
Electric Nail File and Nail DrillA research-backed guide to the best electric nail files (e-files) on Amazon Australia for 2026, covering cordless and corded drills for gel removal, acrylics, natural nails and thick toenails, with live prices, star ratings and honest flaws for each pick.
Microcurrent Facial DevicesA practical, Australia first guide to microcurrent facial devices, comparing six Amazon AU picks across price, power and ease of use so you can lift and contour at home.
Cellulite Massagers
Hair StraightenersThe best hair straighteners in Australia 2026: the Remington Shine Therapy for the budget ceramic pick, the ghd platinum+ for the salon-benchmark mid-range, and the Cloud Nine Original Iron for low-heat premium styling. Ceramic vs titanium plates, heat settings by hair type, and which plate width suits thick, fine or coloured hair. Three Amazon AU buy-box picks across every budget.
Gua Sha Tools
Nail Clippers
Hot BrushesThe Revlon One-Step Volumiser is our top hot brush for most Australians: it dries and styles in one pass, has a genuine AU plug and tens of thousands of reviews. The TYMO STYLUX is the value pick for waves and curls, and the VS Sassoon Hot Air Brush n' Style is the cheapest way in.
Nail Buffers
Heated Eyelash Curlers
Dermaplaners
Hair RollersHeatless, foam, self grip and thermal rollers compared for Australian shoppers. The Kitsch Satin Heatless set is our top all round pick, the Conair Foam 48-pack is the most reviewed classic, and Kamay's covers the budget. Eight picks across every roller type and budget.
Blackhead RemoversA pore vacuum is the fastest at home fix for visible blackheads, but a stainless steel extraction tool or a 2% BHA exfoliant often clears them more safely. We compared the best blackhead removers on Amazon Australia by real ratings, price, and how they actually treat your skin.
Callus RemoverAfter studying Amazon AU ratings, review counts and listing specs, the PRITECH rechargeable electric file is our top callus remover for most Australians, the IRILEKI is the value electric pick, and the AprElm glass file is the cheapest way to smooth feet at home.
Beard OilWe compared the best beard oils on Amazon Australia using real ratings and ingredient lists. The 18.21 Man Made Noble Oud is our premium pick, Slick Byron Bay is the standout AU-made value, and L'Oreal Barber Club is the smart budget buy.
Tweezers
Hair Diffusers
Hair Clippers
Jade Roller and Gua Sha
Dry Body Brushes
Makeup Brush Sets
Teeth Whitening Kits
Scalp Massagers
Curling WandsA curling wand is clipless: you wrap the hair around the barrel and hold, rather than clamping it, and the curl you end up with depends almost entirely on the barrel. A thin barrel makes tight ringlets, a thick or tapered one makes loose beachy waves, an automatic wand does the wrapping for you, and a multi-barrel set covers several looks from one kit. We compared six wands on barrel size and shape, ceramic and tourmaline coatings, heat control, automatic versus manual, dual voltage for travel, and value. They run from a 41 dollar thin ringlet wand up to the 215 dollar ghd Creative Curl.
Hair Dryer BrushesA hair dryer brush combines a hairdryer and a round brush in one tool, so you dry and style in a single pass for an at-home salon blow-dry without juggling a separate dryer and brush. We weighed barrel shape and size, wattage, the attachments each one ships with, ionic care for frizz and shine, and the heat and cool-shot settings that set the style. These five run from a 46 dollar Remington Flexibrush up to the 150 dollar BaByliss Beliss rotating styler.Clippers, shavers and the DIY haircut
Every kind of hair removal: home haircuts with the Philips Series 5000, Braun's Series 5 foil shaver, the Philips epilator if you want weeks rather than days, and IPL if you're done paying for salon sessions.
EpilatorThe corded Philips Epilator Series 2000 BRE237/00 and five wet and dry Braun Silk-épil 7 and 9 models (7-030, 7-081, 9-241 3D, 7-041 and 9 Flex 9-041 3D) are compared using maker pages and Amazon AU listings, with seller and import details. The guide also explains epilation, pain, technique and skin care.
IPL hair removal devicesAt-home IPL devices use pulses of light that the pigment in your hair absorbs, heating the follicle to slow regrowth over a course of treatments, so they deliver permanent hair reduction rather than instant permanent removal. We weighed how each device manages comfort with ice-cooling, the attachments and modes it ships with, whether it is corded or cordless, and how smart its skin-tone sensing is. Just as important, IPL only suits some skin-and-hair combinations, and we are honest about that throughout. These six run from an 85 dollar LYSMOSKI ice-cooling device up to the 700 dollar Philips Lumea Series 9900 flagship.Skin, steam and light therapy
The honest end of the skincare gadget aisle: the GETANYE nano ionic steamer, and an LED face mask guide that says plainly that results are gradual and not a medical treatment.
Facial SteamersA facial steamer pushes warm, usually nano-ionic mist over your face to open pores, hydrate the skin, soften blackheads and prep skin so cleansers and serums absorb better: an at-home spa facial for a fraction of the salon price. We weighed nano-ionic versus plain warm mist, the extras each one ships with (blackhead kits, face brushes, aromatherapy baskets), water-tank size and run time, warm-up time, and the form factor: handheld and benchtop units for personal use versus a professional steamer on wheels. These six run from a 53 dollar GETANYE up to the 280 dollar TASALON salon-grade steamer.
LED Face MasksAn LED face mask bathes your skin in specific wavelengths of light (red for collagen and fine lines, blue for breakouts, near-infrared for deeper recovery) in sessions of around ten minutes at home. The honest version: results are gradual, the science on consumer-strength devices is mixed, and nothing here is a medical treatment. We weighed wavelength coverage, LED count, comfort, cleaning and the review base behind each mask, and we explain why the two clinic-grade names everyone asks about, Omnilux and CurrentBody, are better bought direct from their own sites. These six run from a 189 dollar NVBOTY up to the 629 dollar Shark CryoGlow.Recovery and slow Sundays
For sore backs and moving weekend regret: the RENPHO massage gun, a heated Nekteck foot massager, and a Tiptop Health TENS unit for drug free pain relief.
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Personal Care questions, answered straight
What personal care gear should I buy first after moving into my first home?
Start with the three items that replace a recurring bill: the Philips Series 5000 clipper, the Remington Shine Therapy straightener and the Braun Series 5-51 shaver. Everything else on this page can wait for a payday.
Are home haircuts with a clipper actually worth it?
If your household needs two or three haircuts every few weeks, the saving on barber visits compounds fast. Start with a clipper like the Philips Series 5000 and a forgiving guard length.
Do LED face masks and IPL devices actually work?
Honestly: sort of, with caveats. LED masks deliver gradual results and the science on consumer strength devices is mixed. Nothing in that guide is a medical treatment. IPL delivers permanent hair reduction rather than instant removal, and it only suits some skin and hair combinations, which the IPL guide discusses.
From the editor
The shelf always ends up 80 per cent product, 20 per cent things with plugs. Buy the plugs carefully and the percentages look after themselves.
Anish Puri, NestPathKeep furnishing: more rooms
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