Life is a lot.
It’s unexpected Microsoft Teams pings and school notes and “just circling back” emails. It’s 3pm slumps and 3am spirals. It’s skin that suddenly decides to hold meetings of its own (why are we red? Why are we tight? Why are we… textured?).
When everything feels like it’s humming at a slightly-too-loud frequency, I want products that don’t just sit on my vanity looking chic. I want them to actively calm me down. Soothe my senses. Tell my nervous system to unclench its jaw.
These are the ones currently doing the heavy lifting. For my mind. For my muscles. For my moody little epidermis.
Charlotte Tilbury Calm Bliss Eau De Parfum 100ml, $265
I know. A perfume that calms you sounds like marketing poetry. But this one? It genuinely feels like a deep breath in a bottle.
The first time I wore it, I didn’t think “Ooh, sexy.” I thought, “Oh. That’s… peaceful.” It’s soft, warm and gently cocooning without veering into sleepy-lavender cliché territory. It sits close to the skin. It doesn’t shout. It hums.
I wear it on chaotic days when my to-do list looks like a novella. A couple of spritzes and I feel… steadier. Like I’ve lowered the lights in my brain. It’s the olfactory equivalent of someone saying, “You’re fine. Keep going.” And frankly, we all need more of that energy.
Jo Malone London Lavender & Moonflower Pillow Mist, $76
If you struggle to switch off at night, may I introduce you to this dreamy little number? A few spritzes on the pillow and the room fills with soft lavender wrapped in something slightly mysterious and floral. It’s not sharp or medicinal. It’s gentle. Lulling.
I find scent so powerful for signalling bedtime. This mist tells my brain: we are safe, we are horizontal, we are done for today. My shoulders drop. My breathing slows. It’s like tucking your senses in under a blanket.
Silk the Label Essential Sleep Mask, $85
I have worn many sleep masks in my time. Some slip off. Some squash your lashes. Some are basically decorative. This one is elite. It’s 100% 22 Momme 6A Mulberry Silk, yes, so it’s immediately cool and delicious against the skin. But the real genius is in the padding. It’s thick in the right places, with a clever little nose notch so you can breathe properly and achieve full blackout. I’m talking cinema-level darkness. The Velcro doesn’t snag my hair (a small miracle), and it stays put all night.
The result? I fall asleep faster. I stay asleep longer. My face isn’t scrunched into some stress expression when I wake up. It’s such a simple thing, but it has transformed my wind-down routine into something genuinely indulgent. Sleep is the original calming product. This just makes it better.
Kit: Functional Fragrances (Unwind, Energy, Calm), $36 ea
I love a multi-tasker. I love a rollerball. I especially love a rollerball that knows what I need before I do. The Functional Fragrances trio from Kit is essentially mood support in handbag form.
Unwind (Lavender & Eucalyptus, Sandalwood & Vetiver) is my nighttime ritual. I roll it onto my wrists and behind my ears, take one slow breath, and it’s like someone’s dimmed the mental lights. It’s herbaceous and grounding, not sugary-sweet. My racing thoughts get a gentle nudge toward bed. Energy (Sweet Orange & Mandarin, Cedarwood & Verbena) lives in my desk drawer. It’s citrusy but sophisticated — not “fruit salad”, more “I have plans and a purpose.” I reach for it at 3pm instead of a third coffee and it genuinely shifts my mood. Brighter. Clearer. Slightly more capable. Calm (Black Pepper & Eucalyptus, Incense & Cedarwood) is for those spike-of-stress moments. The ones where your shoulders are up near your ears. It’s warm, slightly spicy, very centring. I roll, inhale, and feel my body respond. Slower. Softer.
They’re made with pure Australian essential oils and free from parabens, silicones and sulphates, which means they feel as clean as they smell. Functional fragrance? Consider me converted.
Kit: Unwind Body Balm, $42
If “cocoon” was a texture, it would be this balm. It’s magnesium-rich (a mineral known for promoting relaxation), and when I massage it into tired legs at night, I swear I can feel my muscles sigh. There’s also Wild Indigo Extract to soothe overworked skin, Kangaroo Paw Flower Extract to support overnight renewal, and shea butter that makes everything feel deeply, properly hydrated.
The scent is grounding and herbaceous — myrrh, rosemary, lavender, sandalwood, amber. It smells like a very chic spa hidden in the bush. I use it after a long day hunched over a laptop, and it turns my hurried moisturising step into an actual ritual. My skin feels softer. My body feels heavier (in the best way). My brain gets the memo that we are done now.
Gua Sha facial massage tool (any brand you love)
A humble stone. A transformative ritual. Facial massage with a gua sha tool is one of the fastest ways I know to de-puff, boost circulation and shift stagnant lymph. But beyond the skin benefits (hello sculpted cheekbones), it’s deeply calming.
You have to go slowly. You have to use oil. You have to pay attention to your face.
I do it at night while watching something mindless. The repetitive strokes along my jaw and cheekbones melt tension I didn’t even realise I was holding. My face looks fresher. My mind feels quieter. It’s five minutes of self-contact in a world that constantly pulls us outward.
Frank Body Magnesium Body Scrub, $28
Exfoliation can sometimes feel aggressive. This doesn’t. Yes, it buffs away dry skin. Yes, you step out of the shower smoother than a dolphin. But thanks to the magnesium, it also feels oddly therapeutic. Like you’re scrubbing away the day’s tension along with the dead skin cells.
I use it in the evening when I’ve had a big week. The physical act of massaging it in — shoulders, arms, calves — feels grounding. Sensory. Present. And my skin is baby-soft afterwards, which is calming in its own right. Smooth skin = one less thing to be annoyed about.
Frank Body Body Therapy Oil, $28
This is my post-shower exhale. It’s lightweight but nourishing, and when I smooth it over damp skin, it seals everything in without leaving me greasy or stuck to my pyjamas. The scent is subtle and comforting, not overpowering.
There’s something inherently calming about body oil. It forces you to slow down. You can’t rush it. You have to use your hands. You have to actually touch your own body instead of sprinting to the next task. My skin feels supple and cared for. I feel… attended to. Which, frankly, is rare.
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask: Series 2, $679.99
This looks mildly terrifying. Let’s address that upfront. But once it’s on? It’s 10 minutes of mandated stillness. Red and near-infrared light work on boosting collagen and calming inflammation, while I lie there doing absolutely nothing. No scrolling. No folding laundry. Just light therapy and silence.
It’s surprisingly meditative. The warmth, the glow, the fact that I physically cannot do anything else while wearing it — it becomes a ritual of pause. Over time, I’ve noticed my skin looks calmer too. Less reactive. More even. It’s skincare that soothes on a cellular level and a psychological one. Win-win.
Salt Lab Magnesium Oil Spray Starter Bundle, $59
This is the low-effort, high-reward calming step. A few sprays on tight calves or tense shoulders before bed and you get that subtle magnesium magic without the need for a full massage session. It can tingle slightly (normal!), but once it settles, I feel looser. Less clenched.
It’s brilliant after workouts, long days in heels, or hours at a desk. My body feels supported. Encouraged to soften. And when your body softens, your mind often follows.
Life isn’t about eliminating stress entirely. (If you know how, please email me.) It’s about building tiny rituals that help you return to yourself. A scent. A balm. A mask. A mist. Little anchors in the day that say: breathe.
And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
