1. A creamy, effortlessly buildable L'Oreal Paris eyeshadow stick available in eight universally complementary neutral colors that work well with everything in your wardrobe. No brushes, no stress, just instant eye magic.

Target

Promising review: "Finally found a great eyeshadow stick. Super easy application, pretty and buildable colors, feels creamy going on and never gets caked." —K

Price: $8.49 (originally $9.99; available in eight colors)

2. An Honest Beauty mascara and lash primer in one because no, you do not suck at applying mascara — you just need a good primer to set the stage. This double-duty wonder lifts, separates, and adds volume like a total pro, giving you lashes that go whoosh without the clumps.

Target

Promising review: "This is better than any department store mascara I’ve ever tried, and I’ve tried a lot. The primer helps lengthen and it stays put. And the safe ingredients make this an even better choice." —Erin

Price: $24.49

3. A NUDESTIX dewy blush stick if you're in the market for an ultra-blendable, creamy lil' cutie you can toss in your purse or pocket for touchups on the fly. It's basically your cheeks' BFF, as it's always down to make you look effortlessly flushed (in the best way).

Target

Promising review: "Glides on easily and blends to perfection!" —Natalie

Price: $35 (available in five shades)

4. A Tarte Shape Tape concealer, aka the stuff of under-eye legend. This lil’ miracle worker brightens, smooths, and covers, turning "I didn’t sleep" into "I woke up like this." One swipe and your blemishes won’t know what hit ‘em. Trust me, your dark circles are shaking.

Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/tartecosmetics/p/DCFPPR1PUkM/?hl=en&img_index=1

Promising review: "It is absolutely amazing. It helps cover my dark circles under my eyes and brightens. Makes me look younger. I have redness in certain places and my foundation isn’t enough coverage. It covers it perfectly." —Owen

Price:$32 (available in 30 shades)

5. An E.l.f. Pout Clout lip plumping pen if you personally find the whole process of lining your lips and then applying lipstick super intimidating (honestly, same). This little pen is the shortcut to juicy, plump lips, delivering a hint of color, a touch of cooling tingle, and a whole lotta confidence.

Target

Promising review: "Great pigmentation, moisturizing, and has a wonderful cooling effect similar to a Chapstick with menthol but not as intense. I'm gonna buy every color available, e.l.f. Please keep this product forever!!!!" —J Johnson

Price: $8 (available in eight colors)

6. Or a tinted lip oil for when you want that I woke up like this hydrated glow on your lips. No liner, no mirror, no problem. It’s the easiest way to fake effort while feeling fancy.

Target

Promising review: "Love this! So smooth on the lips and very hydrating. Nice little tint of color. Really impressed with it." —Abby 

Price: $8.99 (available in four colors)

7. A conditioning brow gel if your arches need a little extra love to stay bold, fluffy, and perfectly in place all day. Think of it as the magic wand they so deserve... plus it's great for no (or minimal) makeup days.

Target

Promising review: "This is so amazing! I'm not a makeup person but I highly recommend! It goes on thick, and it matches my light brown eyebrows perfectly." —Ty

Price: $21.49 (available in five shades)

8. A waterproof Stila all-day liquid eyeliner with a fine, flexible tip so you can easily draw a wing sharp enough to cut through the drama and stay *chef's kiss* from sunrise to sunset (and maybe even beyond). This is one of the best eyeliners I've ever tried and is great for practicing since it's easily removable.

Target

Promising review: "Amazing! Literally my new favorite eyeliner. It goes so super smooth and draws the perfect line. And it doesn’t smudge. Highly recommend." —Taylor

Price: $14

9. And, of course, a trusty pack of Neutrogena makeup-removing wipes to do quick cleanup while perfecting your technique. Getting better at makeup is all about practice and the willingness to get creative and make "mistakes!" I love these as they're super gentle on my skin and leave me feeling fresh as a daisy.

Target

Promising review: "Neutrogena face wipes are great for gently removing eye makeup. I also like how cool and smooth they feel in your face as a 'wake up' in the morning." —Rozzi

Price: $2.19+ (available in three sizes)

10. A BB cream with SPF 42, which I *adore* and use nearly every time I get ready. It helps protect skin from the sun, blends so freakin' well, and eliminates the need for applying primer and foundation. My makeup routine got 10x easier once I started using this.

Target

Promising review: "I really love how this melts into my skin and blurs imperfections. I have combination oily skin with some redness and uneven spots but a few pumps of this makes my skin look more even and refreshed. It is not greasy looking when it dries, perfect for my oily skin. I love the added spf. I wear this daily alone or under makeup. I feel like it lasts throughout the day." —Arose97

Price:$18 (originally $19.20; available in seven shades)

11. A four-piece essential collection makeup brush set for a starter kit that blends beautifully and, as a bonus, looks super chic on your vanity.

Target

This four-piece set includes a foundation, concealer, blush, and fan brush.

Promising review: "These brushes are amazing quality and at a very affordable price for everyone. Highly recommend." —Mamaofdrama

Price:$30

12. And, of course, a makeup brush cleansing shampoo because it's so important to wash your brushes at least once a week (yes, even the one you swear you only use “a little”). Think of it as self-care for your tools because clean brushes = clearer skin and smoother blends.

Target

Promising review: "Love how easy it is to use and how clean it gets my makeup brushes. I spent a bit more on makeup brushes and wanted to keep them clean. This soap exceeds my expectations!" —natr

Price: $7.99

13. A NYX setting spray because half the battle of nailing that stunning makeup look is making sure it sticks the landing. This lil' mist locks it all in — no melting, no creasing, just your glam staying put from morning coffee to midnight karaoke.

Target

Promising review: "This wonderful spray makes your skin appear glowing! The amount of compliments I have received when I set my makeup with this spray is endless." —RS

Price:$9.99

14. An E.l.f. face sponge for super smooth liquid and cream makeup application. This lil' powerhouse is an essential for everyone's makeup tool kit, as it blends to absolute perfection with no streaking or need for a blending brush. Just be sure to clean it regularly.

Target

Promising review: "Amazing!! My favorite makeup sponge to buy. Perfect sponge for a cheap price." —Erin

Price:$6

15. A portable Versed bronzer stick — it blends out in seconds and gives you that sun-kissed glow without you needing a single brush (or a minute spent in front of a UV ray). It's perfect for a quick makeup routine that's as chill as your fave iced coffee order.

Target

Price:$14.99 (available in three shades)

16. A Stila liquid glitter eyeshadow to wear on its own or swipe over a base eyeshadow color. It glides on like a dream, dries fast, and basically turns your lids into disco balls. ✨

Target

Promising review: "Pop of glittery color for your eyelids. I like that the applicator gives you the control to use as little or more shadow. Dries quickly and is buildable. Happy with the shimmer, too." —Julie

Price: $25 (available in three colors)

17. An eye-catching ColourPop mascara if you want to start experimenting with color. Vibrant mascara is one of the easiest ways to shake up your look, and it requires zero pro skills to pull off. Plus, you can layer it over black or brown mascara for some bonus color.

Target

Promising review: "Such a pigmented blue mascara. Doesn’t weigh down lashes. I love it!" —Han

Price: $9 (available in four colors)

18. A creamy Clinique sculpting highlight stick for that lit-from-within glow that’ll have people wondering if you just got back from a dreamy vacation (even if you just stepped out into the backyard). It glides on like butter and blends beautifully. No brushes, no stress, just sheer radiance at your fingertips.

Target

Promising review: "I was looking for a highlighter stick but went through a few, and they were all too dry on my skin or too glittery for me. This one is perfect. It truly just leaves a glowy, dewy look." —MomtothreeMI

Price: $32

19. Or my personal holy grail: a ColourPop super shock highlighter that I simply swipe along my cheekbones with my fingers after applying my BB cream and bronzer, leaving behind a highly pigmented glow. You can use it as eyeshadow and in your inner corners, too. What a winner.

Target, BuzzFeed / Julia Lynn Rubin

Promising review: "I use this highlighter for EVERYTHING, mainly for eyeshadow and under the brow bone inner corner. Put it on top of the NYX white stick crayon and it pops. The texture is almost creamy, not powdery. It’s hands down the best highlighter ever." —Laurenab

Price: $9 (available in three colors)

20. A vanilla shea butter lip scrub to gently exfoliate your smackers so they aren't chapped. Your lipstick and lip gloss will now apply evenly and last even longer. Kisses to that.

Target

Promising review: "Smells nice and feels very nourishing. It’s like a thick balm with a sugar scrub... more of a gentle exfoliation." —CMiller

Price: $7.59

21. A moonstone SOL Body x ColourPop body glitter oil so you can dazzle in the sunlight like the radiant celestial being you are, no challenging makeup techniques required. Just dab, blend, and sparkle on.

Target

Promising review: "Literally so gorgeous and smells great! I need this in every color." —Andy

Price: $10

22. A moisturizing Evian facial spray to revive and refresh your look (and gorgeous face) throughout the day and remove the cakey finish that's making your makeup look a little flat. Think of it as your portable tropical mist minus the humidity.

Target

Promising review: "Love this for layering extra hydration between skincare layers. Adds more water for products with humectants to grab and pull into dehydrated skin. The spray is so even and fine, can’t be replicated even with the second best spray or mist bottle on the market. Great to refresh hydration when wearing makeup." —Sweet healthy

Price: $10.39+ (available in three sizes)

23. A Morphe setting powder perfect for quick touchups or "baking" your foundation, which is essentially the makeup equivalent of slow-cooking your face to flawlessness. Just a light dusting keeps everything matte, locked in, and selfie-ready for hours.

Target

Here's a quick tutorial on TikTok from Morphe if you're new to the process!

Promising review: "Was very skeptical about using this powder since it’s so highly rated, but I can definitely see the hype. There were no camera flashbacks on any pictures I took. Definitely would buy the travel version in my purse for any touchups." —Vivian

Price: $15 (available in two colors)

24. An Anastasia Beverly Hills contour stick for when you want cheekbones sharp enough to slice through awkward small talk. This sleek little stick sculpts like magic and slips easily into your bag for on-the-go glam.

Target

Price: $32 (available in four shades)

25. And a Milani eyeshadow primer if you *really* want those coveted colors in your palettes to POP against your lids and last as long as humanly possible. This right here is the secret.

Target

Promising review: "Amazing product!! I love it so much! My eyeshadow and eyeliner stay on all day." —Adri

Price: $8.99

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.