1. A creamy under-eye brightener to conceal evidence of a stressful work week, broken sleep, or just genetic dark circles. And the $6 price tag? *chef's kiss*

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I often fall for those cheap beauty recommendations, but they are often huge fails. Not this! I love this stuff. I don’t know how it works, but it’s amazing. I swipe an eye stick on, dab this stuff on, and I don’t look like I had five hours of sleep. Even on 'no makeup' days, I find myself still applying this. Love it!!" —Jill Fulton

Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades).

2. A facial hair trimmer if you're tired of plucking your unibrow or mustache and would rather reach for an electric option that's painless and fast.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I’ve been shaving my face for years because of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). My hair had become coarse, and I was worried this wouldn’t work. It works just fine on the coarse hairs on my lip and chin. No more embarrassing razor burns or cuts. It also cuts just as close as a razor. I’m so happy I tried it!" —Jessica

Get it from Amazon for $14.49+ (available in four colors).

3. A lightweight firming gel cream from Nivea because your friends may think you have a filter on your skin. (That seriously happened for one reviewer!) With consistent use, you may notice plumper, firmer, more moisturized skin, thanks in part to a superhero ingredient called Q10.

www.amazon.com

Nivea recommends applying twice a day for best results. Read more about how Q10 benefits the skin from the National Library of Medicine.

Promising review: "I’ve been using this for a few years and love it! I had loose skin after losing weight, and this gel has been a game-changer, with noticeable improvement in my skin’s texture and firmness in just a few weeks. I use this gel on my thighs, stomach, and underarms. I pair it with Nivea’s body lotion for the rest of my body. A little bit goes a long way, so the bottle lasts a while. I switched over to another gel for a month a bit ago, and I noticed my skin returning to uneven firmness and texture. Once I went back to using this product, I noticed improvements within a few weeks again. So, this isn’t a cure, but with continuous use, results are maintained to keep my skin firm, moisturized, and even textured." —Morgan

Get it from Amazon for $13.98.

4. A reparative K-beauty snail mucin essence for rejuvenating your face, lightening hyperpigmentation, and prepping your skin so it's ready to drink up all the benefits of your moisturizer.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This stuff is incredible. I have suffered from minor acne for almost two years, and I finally realized the products I was using were far too harsh for my dry, sensitive skin. After using gentle products and eventually moving on to K-beauty, I found this to lighten all the scarring from the years of picking at my breakouts. My scarring is still a bit noticeable, but it has gotten tremendously better thanks to this product and this product alone." —Marc

Get it from Amazon for $18.

5. A peel-off lip stain that looks blue in the tube and on your lips. But fret not — it peels off easily and leaves behind a long-lasting flush of color that won't budge, smudge, or transfer.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Y’ALL. I am 50-something years old and have tried every 'longwear' and 'stain' there is, from department store robbery level to 'bitten' or whatever the vampire lip stain Revlon had out a while back. At my age, I longed for a lip color that didn’t leave my telltale wrinkled lip impression on a glass. But alas, all of the long-wear formulas were disappointing, dull, and, most of all, DRY. I was skeptical, but I have spent waaay more on crappy lip potions that I won’t use but apparently keep to torture myself about my wasteful spending. The purple was shocking, and the first time I used it, I sprayed and peeled pretty quickly, lest I end up with 1978 Donna Summer disco-era hologram lips that I definitely could not pull off in my office. And to my amazement, that stuff STAYED ON. Not dry, not seeping into cracks, not sticky, not weird tasting, not staining my teeth. Just like a 'bitten lip' — a slightly tinted natural color was there. The longer you let it sit, the darker it gets. After a FEW glasses of wine, pasta drizzled with a really good olive oil, salad, and dessert, there’s STILL some color! Stayed on through smooches, too." —Kelly K.

Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in 29 shades).

6. A collagen-coating hair treatment so you can give your dry, damaged, and overprocessed strands the TLC it needs. This reparative five-minute hair mask will revive your mane and leave it soft, silky, and smooth.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "My hair used to be really soft, and then I discovered hot tools and hair dye. While my hair looks good, I really missed the soft texture. This works so well. There are no instructions on the box, but I washed my hair with my usual shampoo, towel dried it, worked about two quarter-sized dollops through my hair, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then rinsed out. I went to bed with wet hair, which usually results in my hair being kind of tangled and rough-looking, but I woke up, and my hair was as soft and silky as it was before I started coloring it. I'm totally in love with this product. I have long, fine hair, but this doesn't leave it greasy or weigh it down. I'll definitely buy again." —Ellie

Get it from Amazon for $7.14.

Read our Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment review to learn more about why my colleague calls it "the miracle product I've been searching for."

7. An easy-to-maneuver Maybelline eyebrow pencil to help fill in sparse spots if you overplucked your brows in your youth, and now you're paying the price.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I am a 74-year-old woman who has been wearing eyebrow pencils for quite a few years to cover the gray in my eyebrows. As I have gotten older, I am also losing eyebrows, so when I saw this on Amazon, I decided to try it. I really like this because it covers the gray in my brows, and I can color in my bare spots to look natural. I know there are other products out there that do the same thing, but for this price, I’m very happy. I use it every day, and it has lasted a long time. I just ordered another one because I don’t want to run out." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four shades and also in a two-pack).

8. A pack of self-heating soothing foot masks if you just spent a long day on your feet and the dogs are barking. 

Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

Check out aTikTok of the foot masks in action. 

BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord says, "I'm a long-ish distance runner and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days!"

Promising review: "Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!" —KS2018

Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $11.97. 

9. A cruelty-free lengthening mascara because you're tired of mascaras that don't live up to their promises. This one won't let you down — I promise! It's lightweight, won't transfer, doesn't smudge, and lasts all day. Consider your expectations exceeded!

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I am 68 years old and have been using makeup for 52 of those years. I have tried many mascaras over the years, from inexpensive to very expensive. I cannot say that I have ever been really happy with the results. I had reached the point where I thought that, it does not matter the cost, they are pretty much all the same. This changed my mind. I put on two coats and it made my lashes look so thick. If I did not know better, I would think that I had on false eyelashes. I used baby shampoo, as I always do, and I always lather with the baby shampoo twice to remove the mascara, and it came off easily. I will look no more for a new mascara. I cannot imagine a mascara better than this." —Piaget

Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (available in black and brown).

BuzzFeed editor Kayla Boyd wrote an in-depth Essence Lash Princess mascara review — I highly recommend reading it!

10. A sweat-activated dry shampoo for 24 hours of protection from oily roots and smelly strands. When you sweat, the fragrance capsules pop, releasing a burst of green apple, pear, and pineapple–scented deliciousness.

www.amazon.com

Promising reviews: "I always wash my hair once a week using dry shampoo. Since I started going to the gym, I started sweating more and was struggling to last all week. I use this before the gym, and my hair still looks good at the end of the week!" —Jennifer credeur

"Love that it blends well with my very dark hair. Revives my hair better than the other dry shampoos that I’ve used that cost twice as much. I will be purchasing this repeatedly. The first time I used it on three-day hair, my friend asked me why my hair looked so amazing…so much volume. I love this product!" —Jenny D.

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

11. A box of pore-tightening, skin-lifting face masks that'll truly terrify you, first because you'll look like a zombie once you've applied it, and second because it's so darn effective at reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have never written a review before, but I am compelled to do so now. Let’s start with what my 41-year-old face looked like. I had bumps, tiny bumps all over my skin, especially my forehead. My skin NEVER felt smooth, even with the prescriptions I was given to help with these tiny bumps. Rosacea = bad, bad, bad. So bad that it was actually causing my cheeks to have what appeared to be thickening skin. Wrinkles, some that were quite deep. My pores were friggin huge and getting bigger day by day, it seemed like. I know that it says to use this product every three days. I chose to go with every single day for the first box of eight. The results were so amazing, I decided to do it every day for the second box. Even more amazing results. EVERY SINGLE ISSUE LISTED ABOVE NO LONGER EXISTS!!!! I moisturize deeply after rinsing, and my face looks absolutely amazing. My face did not even look like this at 30. If I had 10 stars available to rate, I would use them and more!" —Amazon Customer

Get a box of eight masks from Amazon for $19.08.

12. An ultra-hydrating overnight collagen sheet mask so you can get your beauty sleep — literally. It turns transparent after a few hours to show that your skin has absorbed all the pore-tightening, brightening, and moisturizing ingredients.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "OK, this is one of the best masks I've used!! I was skeptical about keeping it overnight, but it just stays on. It’s very moisturizing but not greasy or oily. Fragrance free. My face feels amazing — so bright and kinda snatched! I was skeptical, but this product is great. Can’t wait to use it during travel — it’s gonna be perfect for the long flights. So so good! Try it!" —LLL

Get four masks from Amazon for $15.20.

13. A hydrating setting spray to give your skin that dewy, hydrated, "glass skin" look. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I finally found a finishing spray I love. It sets makeup perfectly and gives a refreshing, dewy look. I will always have an extra on hand to bring in my to-go bag." —Nancy B

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

14. A cream-to-powder multistick if your makeup bag is already jam-packed and you don't have room to squeeze in another three products. This creamy pen is an eye, cheek, and lip tint and may even help you make space in toiletry bag.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Really like the convenience of the 'stick,' easier and faster to apply. A 'pop' of color that looks natural while being creamy and long-lasting. I bought several shades, and I think I will be satisfied with all of them. Fun, functional, and a fair price." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $1.94+ (available in a variety of shades).

15. A Mielle rosemary mint scalp oil because TikTok is absolutely obsessed with this, so you better grab it before it sells out. This biotin-infused hair-strengthening oil helps smooth split ends, moisturize dry scalps, and deeply nourish 3A–4C hair.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have been in the market for a good quality hair/scalp oil for my over-processed hair. It got very dry, brittle, and frizzy after my last color job. I heard about this product and, after reading the reviews, took the plunge to buy it. I noticed a difference after the first use. It's understandable that hair loss will take a while to stop with continued use, but my hair feels softer and shinier than before. Plus, the frizziness has toned down by a 1,000. I would give 10 stars if I could to this product." —Mona Shanbhag

Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (also available in a lighter version).

16. K18, a leave-in reparative treatment for anyone who's put their hair through the wringer. It's fan-flipping-tastic at restoring moisture and softness in your strands if you frequently bleach or chemically treat your hair or if you use heat-styling tools often.

Melanie Aman / BuzzFeed, Sephora

I bleach my dark brown-black Asian hair blonde every six to eight weeks, so I was immediately intrigued when I first heard some stylists at my salon raving about K18. I snagged a bottle and was gobsmacked at how much softer my hair was — this stuff truly does what it says it will do. Seriously. I spent the whole day touching my hair, and even my boyfriend agreed that my mane was noticeably silkier. 

Olaplex was my go-to before I tried K18 and I still stand by it as a product, but I really love that K18 is a leave-in treatment rather than an in-shower mask. Having to let the Olaplex sit for 10 minutes felt like forever, especially when I wasn't taking an everything shower (you know, the ones where you exfoliate and shave). With K18, you let it sit in your hair for four minutes post-shower to activate, and then you can style your hair (or just let it air dry like I do). 

I've found that my hair is softest the next day, so don't be discouraged if your hair looks or feels the same the day you use it. One last thing: it is pretty pricey, but a little goes a long way. The 50 mL tube lasts a few months, and eventually, K18 can become a maintenance product, so you won't need to use it every time you wash your hair.

Get it from Amazon and Sephora for $29+ (available in two sizes).

17. A cuticle oil that'll restore your shredded nails after a gel mani. A combination of sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and jojoba softens the cuticle and strengthens your claws so you'll be proud to show them off.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This product is amazing. I've always had acrylic or dipped nails because my real nails have always been brittle and always break and peel. I decided to give my nails a break and wanted to try and grow them out. I can't even believe the outcome! They are stronger than ever and growing! I really wish I had taken a before pic to show the difference!" —JOE D.

Get it from Amazon for $9.90 (available in three sizes).

18. An Omnilux red light face mask so you can reap the benefits of this skin-rejuvenating therapy without forking over $$$ every month at the spa. Red light therapy can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation, and redness. 

Omnilux

Promising review: "The Omnilux Contour Face Mask is making a difference on my bright red cheeks and upper neck. I'm 75 and thought there was no hope to have normal-looking skin. I've been using the mask for 35 days, and there is an improvement. The redness has softened, and no more burning. It's truly a miracle. I am loving my skin again." —Janice R.

Get it from Omnilux for $395.

19. An AHA deodorant to do all the things you expect a deodorant to do — fight odors, duh! — while brightening dark spots and helping deal with ingrown hairs.

Saltair

I am a sweaty, stinky girl (no shame!), so I was initially very skeptical of this deodorant. But I was in the market for a new deodorant after my last one started making my skin feel like it was burning, so I thought, Why not? While this does nothing for the amount of sweating I do (it's a deodorant, not an antiperspirant, so I wasn't expecting to sweat less), it does keep things smelling fresh. And I've actually noticed my underarm skin lightening gradually over the last couple weeks. The scent? Divine. It does feel a lil' goopy — kinda like gel deodorant as opposed to a solid — but it dries reasonably fast and then you can get on with your day. 

Get it from Saltair for $12 (also available on Amazon — $24 for a two-pack).

20. Sol de Janeiro's fragrance mist in scent Cheirosa '68 if you want to smell just like the very expensive and very luxe Baccarat Rouge 540. The only difference is this jasmine, hibiscus, and sun musk–scented spray is, oh, y'know, just a casual $168 price difference.

Amazon

Promising reviews: "I finally received my new body spray yesterday and was in complete shock at the resemblance to Baccarat Rouge 540. This body spray is so delicious. There were so many reviews that said how much this body spray resembled the very pricey perfume, and they were all correct. I absolutely love Baccarat Rouge 540, but it is so expensive compared to other perfumes like Chanel, so I opt not to purchase it regularly. This body spray is a wonderful substitute for overpriced perfume." —Tina

"I opened my package as soon as I got it, sprayed it, and could not believe how IDENTICAL it smells to the Baccarat Rouge. It's literally the exact same. It has a very warm-smelling undertone of vanilla with the top scents of Brazilian jasmine and 'sun musk,' just like the description on the bottle. I would definitely recommend this as an [alternative] for the Baccarat Rouge 540 if anyone were looking for one." —Rachel Jackel

Get it from Amazon for $38.

21. A powder blush because it offers 12 hours of creamy, hydrating, fade- and transfer-resistant coverage that'll match your summer vibes. The tropical scent is just the cherry on top of your piña colada.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I absolutely love the NYX Butter Melt Blush! As a Black woman, finding the right blush shade can be challenging, but NYX has truly nailed it with this one. The pigmentation is perfect, providing a beautiful, natural flush that complements my skin tone flawlessly. The texture is smooth and blends effortlessly, leaving a dewy finish that lasts all day. It's incredibly lightweight and doesn't feel cakey at all. I'm beyond impressed and will definitely be purchasing more shades. Highly recommend for all the Black girls out there looking for the perfect blush!" —Lamaya Miller

Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in 12 shades).

22. A K-beauty rice extract toner for achieving the glass skin look you're after. This milky toner is designed to soften and smooth skin while strengthening the skin barrier, which is super important if you want a glowy, radiant complexion.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Great for mature problem skin. I'm 52 years old and a night shift nurse. I am prone to breakouts, fine lines, and dry skin. Even with a great, regular skincare routine, sometimes I’m just missing something, and this was it! Worth the money, 💯💯💯. Will always repurchase!" —Kathy B

Get it from Amazon for $22.70 (also available in a multipack).

23. A sensitive skin–safe facial spray that harnesses the same star ingredient — hypochlorous acid — in the Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray to help reduce redness and soothe irritation. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

BTW, people also love this for helping heal piercings.

Promising reviews: "It works just like my Tower 28 spray. Smells the same and feels the same. It's more product and saves you money. It also comes with two lids, which is perfect for traveling!" —Andrea benton

"Just an FYI, this product has the exact same ingredients as the Tower 28 spray! It's been absolutely amazing at reducing acne and texture! It's also so refreshing and gives a lil' glow. So in love!" —BK

Get an 8-ounce bottle from Amazon for $15.99 (available in four sizes and in packs of two and four).

24. A medium-coverage Maybelline hydrating liquid foundation with hyaluronic acid and collagen, so you don't have to feel like you're caked in makeup when you want some extra coverage. Reviewers rave that this lightweight, breathable formula smooths out their complexion without settling into fine lines.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This is it for now!! I absolutely love the way this foundation feels on my skin and creates a clear and very smooth look on my face. I use a moisturizer first, which makes it even smoother and softer on my skin. I definitely recommend it, and it's worth the money! I’m sticking to this foundation as it covers up any fine lines. Not oily but feels very soft and smooth when applying!" —Star

Get it from Amazon for $4+ (available in 20 shades).

25. Or! A Laura Geller color-correcting powder foundation to simply sweep and go on those extra busy mornings as well as the days when you only need light coverage.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I've been wanting to try this for a long time, and I'm sooo glad I finally purchased the medium shade. It covers everything perfectly without even looking like I'm wearing any foundation at all. I'm 64, and my skin is combination oily/normal. This is the best product I have ever used, including Lancome, Tarte, Charlotte Tilbury, and Clinique. Doesn't go into wrinkles and stays flawless all day." —Laura

Get it from Amazon for $28.59+ (available in nine shades and in travel compacts).

26. A TikTok-famous moisturizing stick if you're looking for results so darn magical you'll swear it came from a witch's cauldron. This all-over balm is perfect for on-the-go hydration and leaves the skin looking radiant and dewy. And reviewers sing its praises when it comes to helping reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I am 50 years old, and I don’t wear much makeup. I love this product. It’s light and has a lovely scent. I like that it hydrates while brightening up my dry skin that camouflages the wrinkles under and around my eyes." —Michal O`Meara

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

27. A Tatcha jelly lip mask because — buckle up! — you're in for an overnight transformation. It's made with skin-softening squalane and Japanese peach to lock in moisture and restore plumpness to your pout.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "This product turned my older, dry lips into younger-looking, plumper lips that are no longer dry. My lip lines are less pronounced, too, which makes it a bit easier to wear lipstick. I never used to focus on lip care, but now, in my 60s, I have decided my lips need attention. A simple routine of exfoliating twice a week and moisturizing with this twice daily significantly changed my lips. My lips were less dry the first day I used it. At 14 days, my upper lip was fuller and more noticeable. At 1 month, my lips were fuller, pinker, and not dry at all. I continue with this now every night at bedtime. This is one of the single best purchases I have ever made in beauty products!" —Suzanne

Get it from Amazon for $29.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.