Quick Summary: Some beauty products earn their place through results. Others simply make you happy – and that counts (especially alongside results). We asked seven beauty lovers to share the beauty products that spark joy in their everyday routines, from a nostalgic shower oil to a viral hydrating mist.
Not every aspect of a product needs to “do a job” or have a direct skin result.
Some are there because they work, sure. But the ones we actually look forward to using tend to earn their place in a deeper way that results alone don’t reach – through a scent, a texture, a memory, or a frosted-glass bottle that is just weighted and nice in the hand.
So instead of asking what works hardest, we asked seven beauty lovers: which beauty products spark joy for you? Here’s what they reached for, in their own words.
Important you know: This article may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase – at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we love and use ourselves.
What It Means for a Beauty Product to Spark Joy
The phrase belongs to Marie Kondo, who built a tidying and organisation philosophy around keeping only what genuinely brings you joy.
A product that sparks joy isn’t necessarily the most effective or the most talked-about, though sometimes it is.
It’s usually the one you’re looking forward to using after a long day, and has an element of “I just can’t explain it, but you need to try it”.
Wanting More Than Results Alone
Results are the baseline – we all want that. But the products that earn a permanent spot on the shelf tend to tick a few more boxes than just “works”.
Some of these aspects aren’t just experiential alone. Texture has a lot to do with how we apply and feel and enjoy a product, yes, but the texture might directly be linked to the product’s ability to, lock in moisture for our skin, or cushion flare ups on sensitive skin days.
There’s the efficacious aspect, alongside the intrigue, joy, fun, ease of use – all important in their own right.
Scent can make or break a product experience, especially when we have such strong scent recall and association. For example, rose scent to some is nostalgic, classy, where to others it might feel aged or clunky.
Colour and packaging influence how premium something feels, and clever technology – like encapsulation, slow-release actives (for more gentle results), or a mist nozzle that spritzes evenly – adds a layer of satisfaction to the whole experience.
Read: Metallic Lips, Sharp Liners, and Nostalgia Marketing: Inside Kylie Jenner’s King Kylie Comeback
Then there’s the more emotional aspect. Price plays its part, whether that’s the thrill of a proper splurge or the smugness of a good-value staple you got on a killer-deal.
Brand and values matter too – knowing you’re supporting a small, women-owned or Australian-made label, or even feeling part of a wider community connected by a shared experience or skin concern often gone underaddressed, adds meaning that results alone don’t touch.
This includes celeb-adjacent or influencer beauty brands, when we’re tied to the story or talent behind the brand, or even when our favourite beauty writer or content creator shares about something new.
Add it all up, and you get why “does it spark joy” holds more weight than “does it work” alone.
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
Some products are a one-way ticket back to another version of yourself or another moment in time. For Jess (@the.opalista), this almond shower oil is exactly that.
“I first remember using this product on my first trip to Singapore when I was about 18 – the hotel was a splurge and they had this shower oil in the bathroom. It felt so luxurious – the smell, the lather and hydration! Now that I can afford it, every time I use it, it transports me back to an overseas adventure and my younger self.”
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
There’s something lovely about a product that doubles as a memory. The joy here isn’t only in the almond scent or the way the oil transforms and turns to a soft lather – it’s in the “I remember when I first used this”, exactly how some people purchase a new travel fragrance before going on holiday, to forever tie a scent to a new memory.
Muse by Gaia Jelly Cloud Milky Cleanser
Liv Labi (@smells_like_money_) makes a strong case that the right cleanser can set the tone for your whole morning routine, which in turn can flow on through your whole day.
“It’s a bouncy cream cleanser that somehow feels elastic? The texture is so luscious, the smell is subtle but gives refreshing luxury spa vibes, and the frosted glass bottle with the pump top lid is so much nicer to use than cleansers with a flip top or screw cap. I use this in the shower and stand there grinning every single time. It doesn’t hurt that it leaves my skin feeling bouncy and smooth in a way I didn’t know was possible from a cleanser.”
Muse by Gaia Jelly Cloud Milky Cleanser
Even the smallest design details, like a pump instead of a flip top or a weighty frosted bottle are part of why we love what we love.
Muse by Gaia is a handcrafted Australian brand, so this one supports a small local maker too. Scrolling through their whole range will quickly tip you off to the brands ability to create joy-centered, thoughtful products.
The Eve Collective Hydrate Tallow Whip
For Yianna (@ytromis), the joy is in knowing exactly what’s going on her skin and in backing a small Australian business while she’s at it.
“Amongst many things, this beef tallow whip features only 3 ingredients! Organic grass fed beef tallow, kakadu plum oil and lemon myrtle essential oil. The joy of knowing exactly what’s going into my skin is second to none. I’ve been using this product as the seasons have been changing and it has done wonders for my dry skin, a moisturiser that truly feels like it hydrates for hours on end. I started off using the Soothe but have incorporated the Hydrate – for its antibacterial properties and have noticed fewer blemishes and a radiant glow within the past few weeks of using it daily. Anyway I digress – this product is definitely a lifelong staple for me and it is extra special knowing I’m supporting a local, small business too.”
The Eve Collective Hydrate Tallow Whip
The Eve Collective is a mother-daughter team in Western Australia making tallow-based skincare with native botanicals like kakadu plum, often cited as one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C.
BePlain Mung Bean Cleansing Oil
Frances Nam (@francesnam_) finds her joy in the ritual itself and familiar and satisfying textures that cleansing at the end of a day brings.
“There’s nothing quite like “taking off the day” with a good cleansing oil! I love the silky texture of this oil as I first massage it onto my face, and then the feeling of it gently lifting out any gritty build up that’s accumulated in my pores. But the best part is washing it all off knowing my skin is prepped and ready for the rest of my skincare ritual.”
BePlain Mung Bean Cleansing Oil
If you’ve never thought of cleansing, especially taking your sunscreen or makeup off, as a pleasure rather than a chore, this might be a sign you haven’t found your ideal cleansing-fit.
The first cleanse of a double cleanse – oil to melt away SPF, makeup, and the day’s grime – is one of the more underrated small joys in a skincare routine when it works as stated, and doesn’t leave behind any makeup residue or panda eyes.
Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Capsule Mist
Aruba Rizwan (@aruba.rizwan) is quote “highkey obsessed”, and she’s not alone – this mist taps one of the most-hyped skincare ingredients of the moment and one of the format trends, encapsulation.
“I just LOVEEE using this. The thought of washing my face and then patting it dry – only to spray this as my first step (of skincare and makeup even)!! I love how easy it is to use – not all sprays have an even spritz so this feels very satisfying to spray all over my face and the instant hydration I feel is just the best 🙂 it ensures my face is glowing, and also my makeup doesn’t crease or break given I have textured and acne prone skin. It also has PDRN which is THE IT skincare ingredient right now so it’s really a ‘full package’ product. I am using this at least 3 times a day in highkey obsessed.”
The mist pairs PDRN – a salmon-DNA-derived ingredient that’s almost unmissable on skintok and trending shop tabs – with hyaluronic acid and collagen for a hit of lightweight hydration.
The joy, as Aruba describes it, is partly sensory, coming from the packaging itself (a fine, even spritz), and the feel and experience on the skin seals the deal.
Go-To Very Luxe Repair Mask
Seyi French (@Seyi_Rania) is a mum on the go, so her joy comes with a side of practicality – one product that can do several jobs and feels great.
“Where do I start?! This mask is my one stop shop that supports my skin barrier through providing rich nourishment and makes me look like I’ve had a full night’s sleep. I’m a mum always on the go and tend to be drawn to products that have multi use benefits. For example, this mask is great for a morning hydration boost by putting on a thick layer and leaving it on for 10-15 mins then I wash it off and apply my face oil and SPF, keeping it simple!”
“In the evenings, I am inclined to use this as my LAST step in my routine and leave it on overnight to be washed off in the morning. Instead of buying several products, I get multiple skin benefits from this mask and I absolutely love it. It smells like a dream, it feels like a warm hug and my skin would be lost without it.”
Go-To Very Luxe Repair Mask
Go-To was created around barrier-friendly ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, lipids (like in their best-selling Face Hero), and provitamin B5.
It’s a smart pick for the joy-meets-practicality crowd, especially if you don’t want to give up your luxe textures and botanical scents.
Thirsty Turtl Pacific Dusk Overnight Barrier Cream
Minnie (@minnieisaac_) shares the product she keeps coming back to – a blue-tinted barrier cream from a women-owned, First Nations co-founded Australian brand we’ve covered (and reviewed) before.
“Nostalgic oceanic scents have a way of pulling me into products. They feel not strong or overwhelming in a way that lingers or feels like it could potentially irritate the skin, yet they’re still comforting, and they lean into the freshness and clean feeling that I like my skincare routine to bring me. The Thirsty Turtle Overnight Dust Mask is gorgeously fluffy and almost mousse-like. The texture is fun, super restorative (so still seals in moisture on the skin), and it has a soft blue tint that is always fun to see.
This ticks so many of the joy-boxes for me (scent, texture, colour, values-led, ease of use). I’ve been through a few bottles now and find myself regularly recommending it to people looking for a more elevated step in their routine. Being women-owned, using First Nation ingredients, and being an Australian brand also means I feel great sharing about them. Being easy to use if often glossed over, but the large pump surface area and how much it dispenses is the cherry on top, being extra friendly to sore hands at the end of a long day. Of course it goes without saying, the results are absolutely there too.”
Thirsty Turtl Pacific Dusk Overnight Barrier Cream
Joy Is a Good Enough Reason
If you’ve found yourself constantly refining your skincare routine, chasing the newest ingredient or the “most effective” (or most promised-filled) formula, you might have left behind products you genuinely loved using along the way.
You might even look back and think the age old “my skin looked and felt better before I started on my skincare journey”. You’re not alone.
And though you don’t need our permission, here’s the reminder anyway: it’s completely valid to choose a product because it sparks joy.
Like covered by our writers, maybe it’s the nostalgic scent, the texture, the packaging, or simply that it’s the one you always reach for without thinking and feels reliable when skin can be unpredictable.
Those reasons can matter just as much as impressive ingredient lists, because the skincare products that work best are often the ones we use consistently, and consistency is one of the biggest contributors to seeing results over time.
Read: How Long Does Skincare Take to Work? A Realistic Timeline for *That* Viral Ingredient
If a product makes you excited to stick to your routine day after day (and month after month), that’s doing more for your skin than the next “perfect” product you switch between every marketing cycle.
So if this article has reminded you of an old favourite or encouraged you to appreciate the little moments in your routine again, we’d call that a win.
Skincare doesn’t have to be all optimisation. Sometimes, joy is reason enough.
Feel welcome to share in the comments below any products that spark joy for you, or bring comfort in the skincare noise. We’re all ears.
WRS Team x
Leave a Reply