65 Beauty Products So Good You'll Use Every Last Drop

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26-05-2025

Olay Super Serum Body Wash has niacinamide, shea butter, and collagen peptides in a formula made to provide 24-hour hydration so you don't have to slather on tons of lotion post-shower just to avoid feeling like a dehydrated dinosaur.
Plus, Olay Super Cream with Sunscreen SPF 30 so you're covered in more ways than one when you leave the house. Yes yes, it will help protect your skin from the sun but its formula also has collagen and niacinamide to target fine lines and dark spots. BUT it's lightweight enough to wear under a full face of makeup. Have you met a harder worker?
A tinted lip balm fools you into thinking it's Clinique's $25 "Almost Lipstick" Black Honey thanks to the lovely, sophisticated hue it'll turn your lips. This is great for people who 1) always want a little lip color, 2) hate a sticky feel, and 3) love a bargain.
E.l.f. Soft Glam Foundation has buildable full coverage without *looking* like you put on a layer or two (I should know, it's become my go-to!). Its satiny finish leaves you looking all dewy and has garnered some compliments from friends who see me often enough to tell the difference! After all, finding your holy-grail foundation is a JOURNEY. Might as well try the affordable, effective ones first!
Gold Bond's firming neck and chest cream *gently* hydrates, exfoliates, and tightens the skin that's more sensitive than the rest of your body but less sensitive than the skin on your face. This makes for a lovely, quite effective in-between formula packed with aloe, salicylic acid, and jojoba oil so you don't have to use your precious face cream all over your neck too.
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel delivers some serious depuffing power in a wallet-friendly formula (thank you, caffeine and hyaluronic acid) that compares to $$$ eye creams.
And Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder made with natural rice starches and pineapple, kiwi, and papaya extracts that'll foam up and *gently* polish skin, giving you similar results to the $68 Dermalogica version. You can use it up to four times a week to see (and feel) the benefits without harsh scrubs or panicking a little bit at your Ulta total.
E.l.f. Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara if you've tried pricier versions but have shied away from rebuying because of $$$. Seriously, just try this! It's so good that I'm currently on my THIRD tube.
A "Soft" perfume rollerball that's definitely made an appearance or five in your FYP scroll. It's only $5 and smells totally delightful (it gets compared to sweet treats like waffle cones). BUT! That's not the only reason to love it. It reminds reviewers of the $65 bottle of Pink Sugar 👀 and layers like a dream.
And a Creamy Coconut fragrance rollerball everyone will assume you paid full price for the $25 Sol de Janeiro fragrance. Even if your immediate plans don't entail sitting on a beach and drinking out of an actual coconut, you can still catch a whiff of the island vibe with this sweet scent.
Venus Visage Teeth Whitening Pens you simply apply and let sit a minute or two to dry. Buh-bye annoying, sliding strips and coffee stains. Reviewers note that this helps target hard-to-reach areas on uneven teeth that strips can't!
Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener, a quick, easy fix for concealing and brightening your under-eye dark circles because you don't wanna have to do a full face every single day. This "invisible" coverage oft gets compared to the $33 Becca version.
A fungal nail renewal formula so your old dogs can breathe easily now that it's sandal weather once again. Bust out those flip-flops with the can opener on the bottom and ease into a summer where you're anywhere but inside.
And a bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel saves you a trip to the salon for an industrial-strength pedicure just because you wanna wear your new sandals to brunch.
Essence's Lash Princess mascara, which is a cult-fave because of its 1) astounding results (like, extensions-level results) and 2) surprisingly cheap price. Simple as that!
An intoxicating Baccarat Rouge 540-inspired Cremo Body Wash helps you smell luxe without blowing your whole beauty budget for the month. It has a blend of white jasmine, red currant, and sweet amber that reviewers say stacks up to the real deal and sticks with them throughout the day.
Eos' Shea Butter Vanilla Cashmere Body Lotion with an intoxicating scent and formula that'll soak in and keep you hydrated. Oh, and that scent?! People compare it to brands like Philosophy and Bath & Body Works.
Plus, Eos' Cashmere Skin Collection Shave Oil that, for the uninitiated, makes it so much easier to shave because your razor just GLIDES and gets a super close shave, all while you can eyeball *where* you're shaving. Then, your skin is a lot softer and supple feeling than post–shaving cream. (Psst, it smells like whipped vanilla, musk, and caramel scent.)
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream contains caffeine, coconut oil, and guarana extract, which all make a lovely combo to help smooth, firm, and add a glow to your skin. Reviewers especially love the intoxicating scent and sometimes opt out of wearing perfume because the vanilla/salted caramel/pistachio scent is quite strong.
The SAEM Iceland Hydrating Eye Stick, a cooling eye stick made with *actual* Icelandic glacial water to depuff your tired under eyes. Oh, and it just feels really, really refreshing.
E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter frees up a bit of coin if you've been eyeing Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter as a glow-getter on a budget. This stuff has hyaluronic acid and squalane to give you that lit-from-within for less than the cost of a pricey chopped salad from that place beside your office.
An 8-in-1 mani in a bottle creates a long-lasting flush of color that'll make it seem like you went and got a pro mani. But really, you brushed it on while you caught up on Summer House for a much nicer result than the last time you tried that with a regular polish.
Burt's Bees after-sun soothing lotion because sometimes you get sunburned even when you think you're being great about reapplying sunblock. Or maybe you just recruited your laziest friend to help you reapply on your back. Both are highly possible!
Sliick Ingrown Rescue Solution halts painful (and unsightly) ingrown hairs before you realize they've rudely shown up on your first beach day of the year. AND it's half the price of holy grail Tend Skin!
Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Anti-Frizz Serum staves off humidity-induced frizz in a super lightweight argan oil formula. After all, you wanna keep your sleek style without weighing down your head. Reviewers say it also helps define waves and curls.
A soothing saline nasal gel infused with aloe to help relieve your poor nostrils from constant blowing and sniffling that's just kinda par of the course with the season right now.
Neutrogena Dry-Touch SPF 70 Sunscreen because if you haven't yet founds your holy-grail sunscreen, this matte and quick-absorbing formula could be it! Plus, it's fine for your face and body if you're sick of having to use two different SPFs.
Wonderskin Wonder Blading One Step Lip Stain Masque goes on like a cool lip stain and then peels off to reveal gorgeous, long-lasting color. It's easy to use, even if coloring in the lines has never been your strong suit.
La Pure Waterproof Eyeliner Stamp I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend it to you because practicing a cat-eye flick is HARD.
An Elizavecca hair treatment givew you "rich girl hair" thanks to its collagen and ceramide 3 formula. And it'll take just a few minutes of your time, like as little as five minutes post-shampoo. Because time is money, money is power, and power is pizza. (In case you were curious, lots of reviewers say they prefer it over $$$ Olaplex.)
L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion provides a super glowy, sunkissed look EVEN if work and maintaining a social life has you feeling like a vampire. No need to keep swinging by Sephora for a free sample of Drunk Elephant's bronzing drops because reviewers say this is a great cheaper alt. (We've all pulled that sample trick!)
E.l.f.'s Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops made to help plump up (hydrating hibiscus complex and hyaluronic acid) and brighten (niacinamide) your complexion for similar results to the $35 Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Drops. Reviewers say it works great alone *or* mixed in with foundation.
A Briotech spray helps soothe rosacea, eczema, rashes, sunburns, and other skin irritations for when your skin is just not cooperating thanks to hypochlorous acid (it's in your white blood cells and helps soothe inflammation). Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray is also what some call a miracle in a bottle. But Briotech is in a cheaper bottle.
Seoul Ceuticals Snail Repair Cream brightens dull skin, fades discoloration, and adds plumpness thanks to its snail mucin extract (which is packed with hyaluronic acid and glycolic acid).
Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Primer keeps that complicated smoky eye look you copied from an MUA's TikTok intact long into the night. Because the last thing you want is to look back at professional photographer's pics from your cousin's wedding and see your eye makeup a mess. (Though we can't say the same for your dancefloor moves.)
A pomade hair wax stick is a super easy-to-apply product that will keep all your flyaways and frizzies controlled whenever you put your hair up into a ponytail or bun. This is DEFINITELY going to come in handy for sweaty summer days.
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover painlessly rids the area around your nails of dead skin but also soothe skin with aloe and chamomile. It's a gentle but super effective quick fix!
A tub of O'Keeffe's hand cream gives your ragged cuticles and dry paws a major overhaul because they always seem to get super dry.
And O'Keeffe's foot cream is a new trick to treat your old dogs before they clock in ALL kinds of lovely warm-weather walks.
Minimo Glow Lemon Cake Turmeric Skin Brightening Face Scrub is a gentle scrub in case you realize that the skincare isn't really skincare-ing for you right now and could part with some dead skin to help your serums seep in better.
A trio of Tree of Life Vitamin C, Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid serums work together to give your skin a glow-up without — according to reviewers — irritating your skin woes.
Bio-Oil — it may just become your hypoallergenic, nongreasy, and dermatologist-recommended go-to for lessening the appearance of scars and stretch marks. Or it can also just serve as an amazing body moisturizer.
A CeraVe salicylic acid body wash exfoliates any rough, bumpy skin (minus the microbeads) to leave you feeling smoother and moisturized thanks to moisturizing hyaluronic acid and calming niacinamide. Plus, it's an allergy-tested formula!
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo contains ketoconazole 1% (an antifungal ingredient) that helps stop the flaky mess, once and for all so you don't have to worry about your beautiful noggin looking like a snow globe. (It sounds fun in theory.)
Elta MD tinted sunscreen is oft recommended by dermatologists — even for folks with sensitive skin. Ask about any derm and they'll say the best thing you can do to preventing skin aging signs and they'll tell ya to wear SPF. (Get outta here, UV damage.)
E.l.f.'s hydrating Power Grip Primer costs you very little but has some truly stunning results thanks to its just-tacky-enough texture that makes your foundation adhere and stay PUT.
CND SolarOil Cuticle Oil does your personal beauty counter, cuticles, and skin good. The skin *around* your nails deserves the royal treatment too! it's a mix of sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and jojoba soften the cuticle and strengthen your nails.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Oil-Free Foundation offers up medium coverage that stays put on your normal-to-oily skin.
Cosrx Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence, a lightweight but SUPER hydrating face serum made to work on all skin types — yep, even sensitive skin. It addresses acne scars, dark spots, and fine lines. Plus! The snail mucin is harvested in an ethically and environmentally friendly way.
Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 transforms damaged hair for a touchable, visible difference when you leave it on for at least 10 minutes because it helps relink broken bonds. There's a reason this stuff sounds familiar.
Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer erases dark circles, redness, and acne. If a full face of makeup isn't for you, but you would like a lil' bit of convenient, easy-to-use coverage, check it out.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray gives you a waterproof coat to stave off frizz and give you a glass-like sheen thanks to its anti-humidity powers for 72 hours (or 2–3 shampoos).
Eight Saints Skincare Cloud Whip is a fragrance-free vitamin C moisturizer made to minimize the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and sun spots, but reviewers also praise its ability to keep feeling soft and smooth.
Laneige glowy lip balm has a legion of devoted fans thanks to its subtly tinted and not-so-subtly hydrating formula. Plus! It has a great scent you'll go back for again and again.
Verb Ghost Oil makes quick work of taming frizz and flyaways. This is THE BEST hair oil if you have coarse, thick hair like me. Reviewers with hair textures up to 4c rave about it! It'll make your hair look sleeker *and* feel softer — especially after the roughest blow-dry session of your life.
And Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil has more than 43,000 5-star reviews and some very glam reviewer pics to reinforce that praise. This weightless styling oil not only adds shine and pumps up your color's vibrancy — it also adds heat protection for up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tgin Miracle Repairx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask For Damaged Hair nurtures and protects your natural hair texture after other products have failed you. Gotta love something that does major work for you before you even start styling.
Exa High Fidelity Foundation gives a soft satin finish with anti-pollution ingredients that work OT to protect your skin.
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water is a great swap for when your bottle of Bioderma runs out RIGHT AFTER you just spent a lot of money on groceries. It's also super gentle while tackling waterproof makeup, dirt, and oil.
Essence's "What the Fake!" Plumping Lip Filler gives your pout a fuller look in a ~tingly~ formula with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.
Essence's Drop of Sunshine Bronzing Drops helps you fake that you spent the weekend taking in the sunshine instead of sick and holed up on your couch catching up on all the horror movies you've been meaning to watch. And at $33 cheaper than the Drunk Elephant version, you might just go ahead and invest in a second or third bottle now. Reviewers say it's super hydrating and buildable!
A multipurpose blush stick helps create the lovely watercolor blush trend. Y'know what's even lovelier? Paying $7 for this instead of the $18 Pixi Beauty version so you can build and blend color to your heart's content.
B.tan Self-Tanner for some super-easy-to-apply color that'll develop in an hour. No need to book a (costly) spray tan appointment. (Psst, reviewers who've previously sworn by St. Tropez products have made the switch!)
Mise En Scene Perfect Serum, a K-beauty product that's probably come across your radar for its stunning before-and-after results *and* lower price tag than a comparable $46 Gisou hair oil. Locking down a cheap but transformative hair oil will soften the blow of putting off having your split ends snipped off for a few more months.
Catrice's Magic Shaper Face Cream Palette to help you build out and highlight your face's gorgeous assets for a mere $8 instead of $88 with a similar Makeup Forever palette. Listen, you don't have to spend a bunch of money to LOOK it. And a palette like this is gonna last you a while.