Rated & Ranked | Weekend Self-care: 8 Winners and Losers of February 2025
Check out the best self-care products tested in February - with special feminine touches to celebrate International Women's Day and Women's History Month.
The best way to balance the world’s darkness is by creating beauty and joy within and around yourself. Whether it’s daily stress or PTSD, self-care is mental healthcare.
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In Healing After Trauma: Self-care as a Coping Mechanism, I share how basic but proactive self-care routines soothed me after battling demons:
Now, I’m sharing my favorite ways to handle stress of everyday life at 40.
This special edition of Rated & Ranked1 adds some feminine grace notes to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
Check out my winners and losers below.
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💔 Least Loved: Righteous Roots Rx Hair Oil 💔
Righteous Roots Hair Oil is a product I started using during COVID as many experienced hair thinning and hair loss after recovering from the virus.
It may be least loved this month - but it’s still a worthy contender.
Previously known as Hair RX, this natural oil made my hair grow like the most luscious, wild weed and did wonders for my curls:
As I lost patience for the time-consuming Curly Girl Method, this product disappeared from rotation - until my hair’s thirst needed quenching to shine.
It’s even multifunctional. It’s a great product to break the cast of a gel (scrunch the crunch) but it also works as a detangler prior to showering. A GREAT treat is to apply the oil from root to ends, then work in your favorite conditioner, throw on a heat for a pre-shower deep condition.
After not using it for years, I revisited the oil - massaging into my scalp, down to the ends. However, I forgot how important it is not to get any of this on your face - and have the clogged pore to prove it.
I’ll keep this product on hand as an oil, but as for hair thinning, my research says the Nutrafol and Nioxin win this one.
Rating: 📕📗📘 📃 (3.33 books)
💫 TATCHA’s The Serum Stick | 7th 💫
As mentioned last edition, I love TATCHA. The Rice Wash Facial Cleanser is my holy grail with it’s texture and skin softening goodness. My day ends with a layer of Indigo Overnight Repair.
Naturally, for my 40th birthday, I treated myself to The Serum Stick to smooth fine lines, plump my skin and brighten my under eye circles.
I love this for my eyes, but was left underwhelmed by the product overall.
It feels luxurious on your skin - which it should be for the price of $49.00 (it was on sale when I purchased).
Is this hygienic? The instructions advise you to roll the stick on your face to “moisturize dry spots on the go” - but is your skin clean? Then to replace the cap? Other application methods were ineffective. The website advises you to wipe the serum stick with a cloth before replacing the lid - costing product and maybe not killing germs?
The skin under my eyes has never felt this soft - without causing breakouts (applied at night to clean skin).
Sometimes, the pilling is bad - even after waiting the 10-15 minute interval between layers. Even my secret weapon didn’t always help absorption.
Not a major difference in skin health or appearance.
However, my friends with more olive skin-tones claim to do really well with this.
If your skin is thirsty, or you know how to address any of the above, I imagine your skin will love this.
If you have sensitive skin or budgetary concerns, pass.
I’ll use under my eyes at night when my face is clean but doubt I will repurchase.
(This feels blasphemous - forgive me TATCHA)
Rating: 📕📗📘📖 (3.5 books)
⭐️ Kitsch Heatless Curler Set | 6th ⭐️
There is a trick to this one and my hair does hold curls and patterns well. I’m not sure this will work for everyone’s hair.
The product does come with instructions, but I would add:
Blow drying your roots and leaving the rest of your hair lightly damp.
Add a thermal roller to the top layer or clip your bangs into ringlet. Spray in place.
Clip Roller to top of head and follow included instructions. Not all sets include a claw clip, but any large claw clip should do.
Use additional clips to stay in place.
Hair spray a decent amount.
For hair lacking texture, I would suggest a mousse or some sort of addition.
My hair is bouncy, wavy and beautiful after using, but the process requires time and effort.
It’s not as intense as the Curly Girl Method and the results appear worth it - depending on your hair.
But with this much effort, I may as well look for more large thermal rollers.
Rating: 📕📗📘📖 (3.7 books)
🌟 Sweet Sweat Waist Trimmer | 5th 🌟
The Sweet Sweat band does more than pull sweat from your body during a good workout. This is a simple product, a simple win you can apply in a few simple ways.
I ought to check with
in advance, but I believe these are meant to help abs look more sculpted.And, as the ladies know, before events, this is crucial to kick up your confidence and rock that dress.
But I also use it in February and March to remind me to workout.
If I wrap this around my waist, it’s a reminder I need to move.
It eliminates excuses to workout while encouraging more rewards.
It’s amazing support for my posture, keeping my lower back in good form.
The care is super easy - and super important.
Spray it down after use and pat with clean towel
Hang to dry
Tuck in a laundry bag before washing machine.
Definitely hang dry - do not put in the dryer.
And I can’t imagine it’s great for your skin to wear it for hours straight.
Easy wins all around.
Rating: 📕📗📘📙 📃 (4.15 books)
🏅 Honorable Mention: Threshold Peony & Cherry Blossom Candle | 4th 🏅
Nothing ushers in spring vibes like the fragrance of peonies and cherry blossoms - two of my favorite scents. Target’s Threshold makes a simple pink version that’s affordable. Paraffin and palm wax, these candles come in multiple sizes and aesthetics - but usually in this lovely pink and always with romantic vibes.
From three pick pillar candles to tea lights, Threshold has it all.
Rating: 📕📗📘📙📖 (4.5 books)
🥉 ProSource Fit Acupressure Mat & Pillow | 3rd 🥉
This acupressure mat is a staple in my self-care and wellness arsenal. Placing the pillow under my head, I meditate while laying on this. Within seven minutes, my entire back is warm and tingling as my muscles relax.
If my neck hurts or lower back hurts, adding this prickly pillow relaxes the muscles.
I even purchased a second set - one to stash at my parents’ house and the other to promote healing of a sprained ankle.
An acupressure mat:
Forces you to ground yourself in the present and focus.
Promotes wellness by breaking up lymphatic fluid
Loosens tightness, relaxes muscles and, last week, relieved a crick in my neck.
Facilitates meditation.
Relax and the tiny yet exquisite pain fades in seconds.
Rating: 📕📗📘📙📖 (4.7 books)
🥈 February’s Runner Up: Laneige Bouncy & Firm Lip Treatment🥈
When searching for a new lip treatment, I intended to move away from Laneige for once. But then the algorithm angels fed me something delicious - a Peony and Collagen bouncing and firming line from Laneige.
The applicator is one of my favorite features - it even has little hygienic storage slot in the lid.
For the first time in my life lips are bouncy and, with nightly use, they stay that way.
Best applicator I have ever seen. You know exactly where to grab it, it’s a quick wipe to clean and replace. What’s the point of applicators stored in germs?
The texture is more jelly-like than gel. It’s different but worth it. However, be careful to not stray too close to your lip line, lest you clog any pores.
We’ve all discovered the magic of Hyaluronic acid, but this baby has 5D Hyaluronic acid. According to Sephora, “five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid” means more intense hydration.
It also has peptides and ceramide capsules (the molecular makeup I think - there are not pills to take, to be clear).
I love peony. The lovely scent, the soft flower… peonies enhance my femininity.
No parabens or the ingredients we can’t pronounce.
This will be a subscription product for me.
Rating: 📕📗📘📙📖 (4.75 books)
🥇 February’s Champion: Medicine Mama’s VMAGIC Balm🥇
As we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, I’m thrilled this ranks first. Ladies, our vaginas deserve - and require - care.
Fortunately, VMAGIC is magic for your V - and your vagina is magical.
This all natural VMAGIC (brilliant name) Vulva Balm hydrates and soothes your vaginal lips - which apparently disappear over time.
This headline is REAL, from the New York Post, NOT The Onion:
Women are just finding out they lose part of their vaginas during menopause.
Yes, our grandmothers failed to report that their vaginas were disappearing.
It’s also a very unexplored topic scientifically so thanks, Medicine Mama,
, and McKenzie Beard of NY Post for highlighting vaginal health!
So let’s pamper our cookies now - no matter your age, you want this preventative and soothing treat. It’s also:
Organic
Fragrance- and hormone-free
Ingredients include:
Olive Oil
Beeswax
Medicine Mama's Proprietary Honey & Propolis Blend
But this balm is phenomenal.
Go glide through life more smoothly.
Happy Women’s History Month! Treat Yourself, ladies!
Rating: 📕📗📘📙📚 (4.8 books)
Alright, I have so many amazing self-care products to test and review for the next Rated & Ranked - and a special self-care feature on feminine care!
Ladies, if you have any questions, please pass them along. I will ask the experts for you and report back!
Do you have any self care products you love? Any suggestions for questions you’d like answered? Let me know if the comments or chat - especially men!
Before you go… click the ❤️ (heart) below.
xoxo
Allison 💋
Next time in Rated & Ranked:
Weighted blankets and wraps
What are some of your favorite self-care products? Recommendations and questions are always welcome!
Drop your suggestions in the comments!
Products:
Editor’s Note: We use links from Amazon. When someone purchases a product through my links, I receive 3 -10% of the profits before Stripe and banking fees. It seems like a good idea. Buy through me - I benefit. Thanks.
Medicine Mama’s VMAGIC Vulva Balm
TATCHA Indigo Overnight Repair
Products are tested over a 30 day period and rated according to effectiveness, value for price, impact of mental and emotional health, according to me.
📕📗📘📙📚 - 5 points
📕📗📘📙 - 4 points
📕📗📘 - 3 points
📕📗 - 2 points
📕 - 1 point
📖 / 📃- less than 1 point, as indicated.
You have such a lovely energy Allison! It really shines through in your photos, your beautiful soul shines! ✨