27 Beauty Products That Might Actually Get You Excited About Makeup And Skincare Even If You Know Nothing About Them
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "Everything I have heard about this under-eye mask is the absolute truth! I’m using it every couple of days and will order more and more! It’s great, easy to use; you don’t even need to put it in the fridge. Highly recommended!!" —Jovana Jankovic
"Amazing after long travel days. I used them for the first time after a long week of travel and very little sleep. Not only did they help reduce the puffiness under my eyes, but the cooling felt amazing and refreshing! They are very moisturizing and easy to use." —Jennifer Puryear
Get 15 pairs from Amazon for $14.85.
Katy Herman/BuzzFeed, Ulta
I absolutely swear by this stuff. Most days, it's the only makeup I wear. (Check out me rocking the Rebel In Red shade, which has become my signature on the left; I also love the pinkish-nude Trophy Life for more casual looks.) It never ceases to amaze me. Just last week, I swiped some on for dinner, and there were still traces of it on my lips the next evening, even after eating several meals, kissing my BF, swimming, etc. This is the only lippie I have where my boyfriend trusts me to smooch him without transferring any, and he always asks why all lipsticks aren't like this. 😅 Fair question! I've tried Urban Decay and Fenty, and neither of them lasts this way.
The rich, even color and the doe-foot applicator are also pluses for me. While it dries, it is a bit prone to getting on your teeth, but afterward, you're SO good to go.
Promising review: "My friend introduced me to this, and OMG, I swear by it. I literally put it on at 7 a.m. before work, ate lunch, and drank my water all day, and it's still on, and it's 8 p.m. Looks like I reapplied it, but I only put it on at 7 a.m. This is so good!! A must-have!" —Love!
Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in 12 colors) or Ulta for $12 (available in 29 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
They're my favorite brand of pimple patch that I've tried (and as a BuzzFeed Shopping editor, I've tried several). Check out my full Nexcare pimple patch review.
Promising reviews: "OK, what is this sorcery?? I can't believe I never knew these existed. I seriously felt like a teenager again last weekend. Literally days after talking about how great my skin has been, this giant, painful, bulging zit was starting to form right in the middle of my chin. A week before my cousin's wedding, naturally. It was like it wouldn't stop growing, and spot treatment solution was doing absolutely nothing. It hurt so bad, and I couldn't help trying to pop it, but it refused. Then I heard about these. I placed one on my chin the second they arrived in the mail. After a few hours, I saw the white forming and I was curious and peeled it off. Then I put a fresh one on before bed, and come the next morning...HOLY COW, the entire dot of the patch was now a giant white blob. This zit was no joke. It's amazing how much fluid/pus had to get sucked out. Like I said, this is some magic. The zit completely went away within a day." —Heather R. Weather
Get a box of 36 from Amazon for $8.86.
Sephora
Wait, it has more amazing features? Hell yeah. It's made with skin superstar ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid and discoloration-reducing niacinamide and is paraben-free.
Promising review: "This is an excellent foundation for low-maintenance people. It provides great coverage, sinks in to look like your own skin, and all with an SPF of 50+. You know how some days you don't want to do the whole makeup routine, but would like to have your skin evened out? And if you put on foundation (and maybe concealer) by itself, it looks funky? Like you didn't finish your face? This product is the solution to that problem. I don't like to wear makeup every day. I can put this on as sunscreen with the added benefit of evening out my complexion without looking like I have makeup on. All I do is pat it all over my face before gently rubbing it in, the same as I would sunscreen. If I add a dab of concealer here and there before it sets, it all melds into the skin and looks like I didn't do a thing. It definitely sets as more 'dewy,' so if you have oily skin, this may not be the product for you. I have combination skin, oily/normal in the summer and normal/dry in the winter. I set it with a light dusting of powder and setting spray in the summer, but in the winter it's just fine for me." —PrettyApple
Get it from Amazon (available in 26 shades) or Sephora (available in 29 shades) for $47.
Sephora
I'm never without this spray. It's like a glow in a bottle — I feel like it really helps keep my combination skin looking and feeling its best; not too oily and not too dry. I spray it on my whole face, but also directly on blemishes, dry patches, or even small cuts and scrapes! It's soothing all kinds of places, even on razor burn. I get hormonal flashes where my face feels hot and flushed, and I find this much more refreshing and helpful than a regular splash of water. If you're getting the impression I use this like the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding uses Windex, you're not wrong.
The main downside is that it doesn't smell great (like mild pool chlorine), but I hate artificially scented stuff anyway, and the smell doesn't stick at all.
Promising review: "HOLY GRAIL!! I tried this spray for the first time about a year and a half ago. I had moved from a dry climate to a humid climate, and my acne was out of control! I tried so many products before SOS. When I tell you my acne cleared up within a week...SHEESH! I haven’t been without this spray since! I keep a mini with me at all times and for travel, and recommend it to all friends with skin concerns. Don’t walk, RUN to Sephora to get it!" —KuhKristen
Get it fromAmazon (available in two sizes) or Sephora (available in three sizes) for $12+.
Haus Labs
Plus, they're made with moisturizing squalane!
*Do note that a few colors have restrictions and can't be used on lips or eyes because of their ingredients — be sure to check the listing!
Promising reviews: "I was skeptical about trying color in a tube, but this is amazing! It's very easy to apply, the color is very rich, and it stays in place until you actually take it off. I got the shimmery rose pink color. I'd like to try more colors because I think this is such a cool concept that works incredibly well." —Laura E.
"This is perfect for a little eye and cheek color when I'm in a rush. It brightens my face and is so light." —Sierra S.
Get it from Haus Labs for $24 (available in 18 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
LOOK AT ALL THE OIL THAT SHEET REMOVED!!!!
Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on these blotting papers.
Promising review: "I've been searching for something as effective as these for a long time now. I have extremely oily skin. I live in the Caribbean, and whether I wear foundation or not, very early in the day, my face will be covered in oil. My T-zone is where I get especially shiny and oily. These are excellent. They pick up the oil quickly, leaving my face naturally matte-looking for hours. I'm pleased with the lightness of the sheets, and the pack fits perfectly in my purse or jeans pocket. The first pic (on the left) is before I used one, and the second is after. I'm not wearing foundation. These are a must-have for anyone with oily skin." —Melisa
Get a pack of 100 sheets from Amazon for $6.95.
You can remove the stone part, rinse and wash it with cleanser, and put it back in to be used again!
Promising reviews: "I bought two of these. One for myself and one for my daughter. She used hers first and fell in love and said, 'Mom, you have to try yours right now! This is AHmazing! I love it!' She was right. It’s awesome and now resides in my purse, so I’ll have it with me all the time. My skin gets oily mid-afternoon, and there’s still so much of the day left that I don’t like walking around with an oily sheen on my face. I pat with tissues, but that’s wasteful. A simple roll over the face with this gets rid of the oil and actually makes my skin feel nice. I might have to buy more and leave them in different places so I never have to go without." —Tired Mom of 3
"I have very oily skin and just a few rolls of this across my face and abracadabra...smooth, non-oily skin; skin has a smooth matte look to it. I love this product!" —cindy higgins
Get it from Amazon for $7.50.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
It comes with two stamps (one for the right eye, one for the left), both of which have a black liquid liner pen on the other end, so you've got everything you need to create the purr-fect look.
Promising review: "I just want to make my morning routine as easy as possible. I love winged liner, but I don’t have the steady hand for it without mistakes. This makes a perfect and consistent wing every time. Love it! I ordered the 10 mm and now I’ll have to try the 12 mm!" —Julie B
Get it from Amazon for $14.98+ (available in three sizes).
Glossier
Promising review: "I've been on the hunt for years to replicate that rosy 'just went for a run' look that my cheeks get when I work out, and the blushes I thought were close were either too red or pinky and artificial looking. I saw the shade Storm and I was worried it would be too dark on my light-medium skin, but it's not! It blends *s e a m l e s s l e y* into a healthy flush that looks exactly like it's my own skin and not makeup. The texture is unlike any cream or liquid blush I've tried, it evenly disperses the pigment as you blend it in with your fingers or a foundation brush, and you don't have to worry about overdoing it." —BabydollyVintage
Get it from Glossier for $22 (available in 10 colors).
Sephora
Promising reviews: "I adore this blush and use it almost every time I do my makeup. It's so pigmented, and the color is beautiful and blends so easily. The product also lasts forever. I've had mine for a long time, and there's still so much product left. Highly recommend!" —Erin843
"A must-have in your daily routine. Since I bought this product one year ago, it has never disappointed me. It’s amazing. The shade is perfect for a natural cheek color, it lasts so long, and blends so easily." —claralkt
Get it from Sephora for $15+ (available in two sizes, two finishes, and 13 colors).
Alleyoop
It's vegan, cruelty- and paraben-free, and the packaging is recyclable! Honestly, I'm fascinated by all the clever, time-saving beauty tools from this woman-founded brand — they look so cool and would totally upgrade your routine. Also, how did no one think of them sooner?!?
Promising review: "I love the ease of this product. It’s so perfect and the colors are great for all looks — casual, fancy, everything! I love how effortless it is and how easy it is to use. I’m serious that, as a makeup novice, these colors are impossible to mess up. I love it! " —Stephanie H.
Get it from Amazon for $16 or Alleyoop for $25 (available in three shades).
Cocokind
Cocokind is a San Francisco-based, Asian woman-owned business.
Promising review: "This is my first time using the MyMatcha stick and I looovvve it! I have it on me pretty much all the time so I can dab a little bit on my dry spots as I need to. It softens up my dry areas and even decreases the swelling of my acne! I've used it as a moisture stick, an acne anti-inflammatory, and even a fly-away tamer. It's a great multitasking product." —alizza d.
Get it from Cocokind for $9 or Amazon for $8.99.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "OK, so first, nothing will make you 'poreless' but this stuff is amazing. This definitely gave me a boost in confidence. I would highly recommend. Especially to those not too familiar with makeup, this is a game changer. Honestly, it works better than my $30 primer from Urban Decay, and lasts all day. I am oily, so I usually blot some powder on later in the day, but if you have dry skin, this could be the ultimate game changer!" —Olivia
"Normally, my makeup goes on great, but then once it dries, it's super crusty and shows my pores. This made everything so smooth, and my skin has never looked so healthy. Even after I took my makeup off, my skin felt moisturized, which is a hard thing to do with my dry skin. I saw the hype all over social media about this primer and I never believed it, but finally decided to take the plunge and test it out, and now I'll never go without it." —Taylor Kessinger
Get it from Amazon for $10.
Thereviewer above's resultsare after just five days!
Promising reviews: "I’ve only been using this for a few days now, but within the first day, it has cleared active acne that I’ve had for two years now. It’s made my discoloration almost completely go away. I don’t know what y’all put in this stuff, but it’s magic." —Bella
"How did I not know that this magical little balm existed? Feels so good smoothing on broken out skin, very lightweight and disappears into the skin. Does not tingle or burn at all, so of course I assumed it would do nothing. I was wrong! Instead of getting all crusty and peely, my breakouts improved greatly overnight and reduced greatly in size. By the next day, they were far, far less noticeable. By the day after, they were basically healed. I continue to apply this to my breakout-prone areas, and so far, no new breakouts. Hallelujah! A little goes a long way, so this little tube lasts a long time —a good value for the money. I am a convert!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.88.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "These masks are great! They don’t dry up while in use (like some other masks I’ve gotten on Amazon), and they’re cute for grown-ups and kids. I can see a difference in skin immediately after use." —Stay Trippy
Get a set of six from Amazon for $13.55+ (available in six combinations).
Katy Herman/BuzzFeed, @winkylux / Via www.instagram.com
I'm obsessed with this stuff, as evidenced by my need to post the above selfie to Insta the first day I wore it. I sometimes reach for it when I'm not even going anywhere but just need lip balm, because why shouldn't I zhuzh up my look just for me? I think the really amazing thing about it (besides the sorcery that allows it to adjust to your unique skin tone) is how well it suits all different beauty styles. For example, I really don't wear makeup other than the occasional statement lip to suit my outfit. I rarely wear natural-looking lip color. This is fun and makes enough of a statement for me to actually want to wear it. On the other hand, even though the bullet is super glittery, the finish on your lips doesn't look too much glitzier than a gloss, so even my typically sparkle-avoiding mom got some of her own!
Get it from Amazon for $13.59 (available in six shades) or Winky Lux for $17 (available in two shades and in more styles here).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "This is such a pretty pH color lipstick, viral for a reason — it's very pretty to look at, it's not sticky at all, and the more you layer it, the darker the pink shows up. The only thing I don't like is the scent in it, I can almost taste it a bit. It's nice to have in my purse if I need a quick color while I'm out in case of sudden dinner plans or a meeting, because you can control the color saturation to how light or bold it is." —Kristina Bumbelow
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
Amazon
It's also fragrance-, paraben-, and aluminum-free! This Black-woman-founded brand is all about creating great sunscreen for people of color and educating everyone about sun safety.
Promising review: "Come through glowing skin! No white cast, glowing skin, and SPF 30? Say no more. I love this stuff. A little goes a long way. I also like that it doesn’t smell like sunscreen. It has the consistency of a moisturizer, which is why a little goes a long way." —Prime Time
Check out our Black Girl Sunscreen review to learn more!
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Ulta
This is my new favorite spot treatment! As a skincare newbie, I've been doing some research into the difference between salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, two of the most common acne-busting ingredients. They're both great, depending on the kind of blemishes you have. Salicylic acid helps unclog pores by exfoliating and accelerating cell turnover, while benzoyl peroxide helps kill the bacteria that cause acne. Both can help clear oil and dead skin from pores.
Benzoyl peroxide treatments like this are especially helpful for red, painful pustules, while salicylic acid is recommended for blackheads and whiteheads. I have some salicylic acid treatments I like to help bring zits to a head (my fave is Murad), but they weren't making much of a dent on some of my hormonal acne. Not every spot treatment works for every zit, but I've had some instances where this Bubble product shrank my pimples surprisingly quickly, letting them, yes, ~fade away~ instead of bringing them to a head for me to pop.
Promising review: "Wow. This stuff helped to completely shrink a few deep, painful cystic pimples on my chin in just a couple of days. In the past, with benzoyl peroxide spot treatments, I'd get pretty red for a while where I applied it, but I've had zero irritation with this." —Heather
Get it from Ulta for $12.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Skip the expensive mall store — buy this. This is one of those drugstore products that lives up to its reputation. 'Angel Food Cake' is a nice, rose mauve color with no yellow undertones. The color stays true and won’t turn orange while you’re wearing it. It’s not sticky like so many inexpensive lip glosses. It will also keep your lips reasonably hydrated. The color won’t be dramatic enough for some, but as an...ahem...mature woman, I need to keep it subtle. This gloss is all you need for everyday wear." —Toomanycats
Get it from Amazon for $5.97 (available in 41 colors).
Sephora
This is one of my favorite self-care items in my routine. I only use it every week or two, but the brand recommends two to three times per week. I love the process of application as a self-care ritual — rubbing in the charcoal beads and letting the clay sit for 10–15 minutes isn't too much work for my lazy self, but does force me to take a bit of extra time for pampering. My skin looks and feels SO GOOD once I rinse this off — I'm talking about a serious glow that has me feeling confident and fresh.
Promising reviews: "This mask is amazing!!! I deal with blackheads, whiteheads, and clogged pores on my nose and around my nose. This mask helped get rid of all the dirt and sweat and left me with amazing results." —Riaaaaaaaa
"My favorite part about my skin routine! This face mask is honestly the best I have ever owned. After ONE use, I already noticed a difference. Made my skin so soft and glowy. I highly recommend!" —Maria2424
Get it from Sephora for $38.
Promising review: "Wow! I purchased this on a whim after seeing one of my favorite YouTubers try it out. I didn't expect a lot from it. I tried it out and was shocked!!! The mask was simple (and fun) to use. I wasn't sure I felt a lot happening while it was on, but it was pretty cool how the bubbles started to grow off my face. Upon inspection, after using this mask, I was completely amazed. My face felt cleaner than it has in a very long time, AND my pores looked amazing! I don't remember a time when I felt like my pores looked great before using this mask. I would highly recommend this mask to anyone. It's also so much cheaper than the GlamGlow ones I have been using (and didn't see near these results from)." —Phil Textor
Get it from Amazon for $9.80.
Kayla Boyd/BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Kayla Boyd (whose lovely face is pictured above) says it really lives up to the hype! Check out her full Essence Lash Princess mascara review.
Promising reviews: "Great mascara for the price! You can’t beat it. I get compliments on my lashes all the time. It stays on all day, never clumps, and it’s easy to get off. Highly recommend." —carolyn mellace
"Best mascara of all time!!! Never will I ever be without this mascara. I've got short, thin lashes and have had a graveyard of mascara that I would constantly give to my friend or daughter because they never lived up to the hype. This is amazing. I will sometimes add a fiber thing with it to make it even better, but it's great on its own. And the price makes it even more ridiculous. I seriously had my doubts, but I'm a total fan now after using it. Getting ready to buy another tube now. It's lasted three months so far, and I use it pretty much daily. I can't tell how much is left, but I don't want to risk being without it." —angmoore
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
Luv Scrub
It's even long enough that you can easily scrub your back! Several of my coworkers have tried and love this product, which is from a Black woman-owned small business!
Promising review: "You need this in your life! Just an exfoliating washcloth, right? WRONG. Amazing, sturdier material, dries super fast, and JUST the right abrasiveness, so it's ACTUALLY exfoliating. More open weave helps it dry fast. Obsessed with this!!" —DinaNYC
Get it from Luv Scrub for $15+ (available in 10 styles) or Ulta for $18 (available in six styles).
Sephora
Promising reviews: "Love. Wear daily even if I don’t wear makeup because the glow is just that good. Nice and moisturizing as well. Just feels good on my skin. Even has a pleasant scent." —BritniMarie
"OMG SO WORTH MY MONEY!!! I have been using this product since last year, and let me tell you, I'm so glad I payed 28 dollars for it. It really holds my makeup (light makeup) and hydrates my skin whenever I need it to." —nottcaydence
Get it from Sephora for $15+ (available in two sizes).
Subtl Beauty
It's from a small biz specializing in innovative, on-the-go makeup essentials, and it can be snapped together with the brand's other products to create their signature customizable stacks.
Promising review: "Love. Love. Love. I'm obsessed with this cream for both my lips and cheeks. I've never thought I could use cream blush, but this stuff is gorgeous and long-lasting even on my oily skin. It's beautiful on my lips and lasts a surprisingly long time." —Katy Shaw
Get it from Subtl Beauty for $14 (available in 10 colors).
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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