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Going Flatting? The Beauty Products You Need!

23 January, 2022 - 03:46pm by - Head Pixie | 11 Comments

by BR Kellie

It wasn't until I went flatting for the first time, at the tender age of eighteen, that I suddenly realised how little I knew about what I needed. I had my clothing, my bedding, my makeup bag, my stereo; all the essentials, as far as I was concerned. Until I parked up in my new-found freedom, went to dry my wet mop and realised... no hair dryer. Then I went to pluck a stray eyebrow hair and... no tweezers.

With this in mind, and with so many people about to head out into the great wide world with university and polytech about to start, I've asked those who've gone before what it was they suddenly realised they needed and compiled our Ultimate Beauty Guide to Leaving Home. Starting with as previously mentioned...

Hair Tools

Hair dryers, straighteners, tongs... if you use them in the comfort of your familial home, you'll need them in the real world too. If money is tight, look for second hand, or buy a pair of straighteners on sale as they can do double duty as a curling iron and hair flattener (Remington's Proluxe are AMAZING and they're often half price at Farmers!).

Tweezers

You'd think this would be an obvious one, but those little metal pincers that you steal from your Mum's duchessto tidy your forehead beatles will be missed when they're no longer easily accessible. 

Hair Size Towels

As BR Nat put it: I only brought bath sheets, and they do not feel light balanced atop your head! (BR Kellie note: Actually... towels, bring towels too. I forgot those and had to do a mission home to steal some.) A microfibre hair turban won't add bulk to your limited living space, and it'll dry your hair quickly and gently. A must!

Makeup You Can No Longer Steal From Your Sister

This did not apply to me as I was the sister who had all the makeup, BUT friends who borrowed (cough - stole - cough) their sister's makeup discovered that it was a heck of a lot harder to put together a full face with just a bit of concealer, lippy and a scody old blue eyeshadow once they left home.

Moisturiser

I don't think I ever bought body moisturiser until I left home. Previous to that I just used whatever was sitting around that had been gifted to my mother for her birthday or Christmas. If you like to nourish your limbs, be sure to grab a bottle from ther supermarket before you move out. (NIVEA's latest is highly recommended and Top Rated, and affordable too!)

Shampoo & Conditioner

Communal shampoo and conditioner was a thing at my house. However, it was not a thing at any flat I ever lived in. Bring your own or be ready for the wrath of others when their expensive salon pretties start disappearing at a faster rate than usual.

Toothpaste

Most homes have a communal toothpaste, and your family members will not be happy with you if you swipe it when you skedaddle. Buy your own before moving out. (Same goes for laundry powder! And don't forget to steal a roll of loo paper just in case!)

Cotton buds/cotton balls/cotton rounds/razors

If you use them at home, you'll use them out of home - have a stash when you move and you won't be caught short.

Period Products

I grew up with two sisters and a mum, so when Aunty Flow popped in for a visit, there was a good chance there'd be something grabable within easy reach. This can not be guaranteed when you go it alone, so have a stash of whatever you prefer ready. (See also: painkillers.)

A Good Mirror

I took for granted the bathroom mirror at home. It was large enough that my sisters and I could gather round it for a pimple pushing session, or a makeup applying mission, or to see if our spaghetti string A-line dress and t-shirt looked okay with whatever footwear we had on (if we stood on the bath to get our full body in). My first flat had the dingiest bathroom you ever did see, making makeup application a nightmare, so before you move, buy a decent full-length mirror, and thank me later.

And there you have it! A goodly list of all the things you don't realise you need when you leave home... until you do.

So, were you like me and woefully unprepared for leaving home? What beauty products did you need to buy? Are you preparing to leave the nest? What won't you be leaving home without? Get chatting below!

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Comments

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11th February, 2022

I have not been flatting but been in hospital a lot , it's amazing how little you can make do with when you have to ! Great Article Gabrielle

3rd February, 2022

Actually I was really prepared when I went flatting. I took everything other than the kitchen sink from the bathroom.

2nd February, 2022

Oh yes - finding the right mirror is a must! when I went flatting, back in the dark ages, my blow dryer was the most desired must-own appliance. We all had the big side flicks to curl back and that could not be done without a good blow dryer. Eye liner, wooden hairbrush, and smellies were the next most important items for me. I had been using skincare since I was a child, due to dancing and acting at school, so I had lots of those things already (Ponds Skincare!).

1st February, 2022

Great ideas here - pity I wasn't going flatting again hahaha

1st February, 2022

My house is full of clutter I think I am not a travel light person though I would like to be. However I didn't even have a bed when I was sent off to Palmerston North it was a mattress sitting on concrete / wooden brick things- I sort of wasn't willingly sent there but it was a good thing in the end I studied and eventually got a diploma.

29th January, 2022

It takes me back to the 90s reading that article! I went to uni at 18 and flatted with guys and gals and I can tell you shampoo etiquette goes out the window and the worst culprits are the boys who don’t know dove from joico. Totally agree you need a full length mirror which can double as a makeup one for your room and you get some privacy away from the bathroom too.

24th January, 2022

When my big girl leaves me Ill have everything prepared for her. Im pushy about sunscreen. She uses Murad skincare system. Murad is expensive but it worked on my teenager with oily skin. I make sure her personal care products are provided. Shell never leave me without all her bases covered.

24th January, 2022

Deoderant, sunscreen, cleanser, body wash or whatever soap you use. Don't overemphasize how much make-up you need if you are a makeup junkie, you just need enough for a full face and save your money for a move, maybe a tallboy or some sort of desk with a good mirror to get ready. When I first started flatting it was awhile the bathroom didn't have a mirror and the dresser/vanities hadn't arrived so for a good week or two. My other flatmates and I were getting ready for work doing a full face of makeup and straightening our hair with only our tiny little compact mirrors (I didn't have any large palettes at the time) so I had the tiny mirror in my pressed powder foundation that was about 2.5" by 1.5" I didn't know how to do much makeup at the time or do it as well so at least the routine was short.

24th January, 2022

Deodorant is a must lol I think mum used to buy mine

24th January, 2022

That took me back lol. I had a job after school so was able to buy my own beauty products. Always loved going into a pharmacy and department store and buying make-up, not much has changed :-)

24th January, 2022

Flatting, leaving the nest. Memories. Awesome compiled list here. Since I started my first job at 15 I have always bought my own beauty/styling/supplies. When I left home I had everything on your list except the mirror. That's a good one.

MareeB
2nd February, 2022

Me too - DIC in Dunedin. I was there almost every day.

Macs
24th January, 2022

As for my son anyone know how to convice an inbetweener to use deodorant and cologne. Lol he thinks shower gel and Garnier banana hair mask is enough lol

MareeB
2nd February, 2022

So true - never let your flatties near your stuff. In one flat I had a shelf above my bed that looked like a chemists .