Amazon is one of my favourite stores of all time. From electronics to beauty products, everything available to New Zealand on there is so much cheaper than we can buy in the country. I’ve been exclusively buying my camera equipment on there for years because our mark up is so ridiculous. I know a lot of kiwis overlook shopping on Amazon since it can take some hunting, but it’s well worth the time if you have some to spare.
Today I’ve put together my guide to Amazon – more specifically my top 10 products to buy for under $50. With a mix of beauty and electronics, these are products I either swear by or have friends that do. What is even better, most of these come directly from the brand and arrive quickly. You really can’t go wrong.
1. Herbivore Orchid, Lapis and Phoenix Oils
Herbivore has been a favourite of mine back since I wrote up my “Herbivore Botanicals: Is It Worth The Hype?” post back in 2018. I just ran out of the Orchid Facial Oil after a long hard winter on my skin and I my skin is already craving it. Apply this at night after a face mask, or when you’re feeling particularly dry and in the morning your skin is left glowing. I love using oils for hydration because I feel like they’re more heavy-duty, even though this particular one is very lightweight. Each of the Herbivore Facial Oils offer hydration specific to your skin type so everyone can enjoy. Lapis is for easily irritated skin, Orchid is for lightweight hydration and Phoenix is for deep renewal. Plus, they look damn fine on your bedroom counter.
2. Banila Co. Clean It Zero
I can’t believe I haven’t written more about this on my blog before but this is my HOLY GRAIL of face washes. I first discovered it when I was living in South Korea after reading too many Korean beauty product reviews. The solid balm lathers into an oil which can remove even the most stubborn mascara in seconds. Every time I run out of this my face breaks out because I can never get it as clean as I do with Clean It Zero. Plus, since it’s an oil product your skin is left moisturised. An absolute must-buy in my opinion and I can’t imagine the day I stop restocking it.
3. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
Oribe is a cult status haircare label that isn’t so well known in New Zealand, so I’m here to introduce. Oribe’s stand out product is their Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray which you spray on dry hair to create texture which has hairstylists worldwide swear by. The formula can be built up to go from subtle beach spray to serious volume so it’s a perfect universal hair product to keep handy. The Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil is also worth its weight in *ahem* gold and I’ve heard great things about the Maximista Thickening Spray – perfect for thin hair beauties like myself.
4. SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro SD Card
Hands down the best Amazon investment for your future as a photographer is a SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro SD Card. I have bought mine from Amazon for years and considering they’re always double the price to buy in New Zealand it’s a no brainer. There are all sorts of sizes including 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB. You can even get up to 1T in space! Crazy.
5. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater Duo
It’s Summer, it’s hot, and we all know the struggle of trying to do our make up while we internally melt. My solution? Mario Badescu’s Facial Spray. This baby has been a cult make up product for years and it’s no secret as to why – it’s so refreshing! Made to keep you cool while you apply your make up, or to freshen your make up on the go (they have a travel size that’s perfect for your handbag). Plus, the rosewater smells amazing.
6. Crest 3D White Dental Whitening Kit
The Crest 3D White Dental Whitening Kit takes me back to the OG days of Youtube when it was the secret to every beauty guru’s blinding white smile. Back then the price of these was close to $100 which made committing to a pack a pretty serious deal. Nowadays, thanks to Amazon you can pick up your own for just $45. For a pack of 44, that’s not bad at all.
7. LORAC PRO Palette Eyeshadow Kit
If there’s one eyeshadow palette to take with you, it’s this. I bought this for myself over 5 years ago and it’s still my most loved. This LORAC PRO Palette contains extremely pigmented, soft eyeshadows that are easy to blend. The top contains all matte shades and the bottom is shimmers for versatility. I always default to a brown smokey eye which is why this is my most used ever – I can have my look done in under 5 minutes and can choose to vamp it up with either a gold or copper tone. Next on my wishlist: the LORAC Mega PRO Palette.
8. Indian Healing Clay Aztec Secret 1 lbs Clay
I have to admit I haven’t tried this myself, but with all the amazing reviews and coming in at just under $10 you can’t lose. Even Kourtney Kardashian swears by it! Clay masks are always high on my list when it comes to self-care because they’re great at clearing out your pores and personally, my face loves them. I love to apply one every Sunday night to detoxify my skin for the week ahead. This one is made from 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay so you know it can be trusted, and it can even be used on your body too.
9. OUAI Leave-In Conditioner
The hype is real. I didn’t know how much I loved this until I ran out of it and I’ve been meaning to repurchase it ever since. It’s a must-try. After washing my hair I spray this through the ends and brush, then wait for my hair to air dry. It’s lightweight which makes it great for fine hair like mine, and it does a great job of detangling and moisturising in a way that I’m left with no frizz. *Quickly adds last product to cart*
10. Glossier Haloscope in Quartz
Last but not least, the famous Glossier Haloscope in Quartz. I had heard all the hype regarding this product but it wasn’t until my friend Renee came back to visit recently that I finally tried it out. The fact that Glossier doesn’t ship to NZ is a bummer but you can get around this with Amazon. I love no-fuss products and as a Glossier product, this doesn’t disappoint. This beautiful stick highlighter blends easily into your skin effortlessly if you use your fingers. It looks great in flash photos too. Winning!
