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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Incredible skincare, haircare, and beauty finds all under budget.
SoGloss is a small nail wraps shop based in Buffalo, New York. You'll find nail wraps that are so on ~trend~ you'll want to add a TON to your cart.
Promising review: "These are the easiest, most durable nail wraps I have ever used! The designs are beautiful, and I am so happy to see so many nude nail options! I love a quirkier nail look, so I combined two different sets, and added a charm. Will definitely purchase more!" —Etsy Customer
Promising review: "I typically hate lip gloss, but this lip gloss is not sticky at all and is actually so smooth! The color pops nicely and it makes your lips appear fuller and smoother. It also lasts ever eating and drinking. I’m usually a huge matte lipstick person, but I fell in love with this gloss." —Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $9 (available in 31 shades).
Over the years I've noticed my lashes falling out and they're not as voluminous and long as they once were (*cries*). This mascara primer has changed all of that. I use it in tandem with the Thrive Causemetics mascara for a dynamic duo that hasn't failed me yet. The primer base adds a noticeable amount of fibers to thicken my thin lashes, which gives me a full lash look.
Get it from Amazon for $6.74.
The 13-piece set features a pointed powder brush, powder brush, flat top brush, small contour brush, fluffy blending brush, tapered blending brush, flat shader brush, dense shader brush, angled shading brush, detailing pencil brush, angled brow brush, bent fine liner brush, and a brow & lash brush.
Promising review: "I really like these brushes. So fluffy soft and affordable. I love that they come with a cup to place them in. I would recommend this set to anyone who is getting into makeup. It’s a great start." —Juliana A.
Get them from BH Cosmetics for $26.
As if it couldn't get any better, Batiste is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Promising review: "My holy grail dry shampoo. I have very fine oily hair, but I don't like washing it every day. This product actually makes my hair look clean. Once you spray and rub lightly with your fingers, this product ensures an all-day clean." —Sarah
Get it from Amazon for $8.29.
Batiste also won best budget dry shampoo from BuzzFeed Reviews!
Promising review: "This is perfect if you like long-lasting, matte lipstick. I wore it for my wedding: The lipstick lasted through hours with food, kissing, and heat without smudging or any change in how it looked. I have eaten fried chicken, burritos, pasta, and tons of other things while wearing this lipstick and it stayed on perfectly without needing any real touch ups. Seriously my holy grail liquid lipstick." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 45 colors).
Promising review: "Love this bronzer! It's the perfect shade to make you tan...NOT ORANGE! I have pretty pale skin and I find most bronzers are ineffective to give me a true tan look. This bronzer does the job. It makes me tan without the unnatural look. Not too sparkly, which in my opinion looks very fake. And the smell makes it over the top. It has a very strong coconut smell that makes me feel like I'm somewhere on an island." —Amazon555
Get it from Amazon for $9.59 (available in four shades).
For deeper skin tones, they suggest letting the dots sit and develop before lightly tapping them with your finger for a seamless blend.
My friend Lindsey turned me on to this product and it is one of the most fun makeup products I've ever used. I love tapping these on my nose and cheeks for the illusion that I've had a lot of time sunning. They look super natural and authentic and last practically all day.
Promising review: "Fell in love with this product the second it touched my skin. It did not break me out and looked good all day. it does take a try or two to get the hang of, but once you get it, you're golden. The formula is smooth and smells nice." —calel
Get it from Sephora for $22+ (available in two sizes and two finishes).
Promising review: "I've been wanting a glow facial for a while now, but I didn't want to pay those expensive spa prices. I'm so grateful to have run across this amazing product. I can definitely see the difference after just one treatment! I'm so excited about my results. I will be ordering more." —Taquila Gordon
Get it from Amazon for $12.73.
The pearls feature niacinamide, shea butter, apricot kernel oil, and hyaluronic acid. Simply crush the pearl between your finger tips and then massage into the skin. *Fun Fact* — Florence By Mills was founded by Mille Bobby Brown!
These are paraben-free and cruelty-free.
Promising review: "These feel so good and luxurious on the face, you can feel the deep moisture after applying it." —Arabella L.
Get them from Ulta for $32.
Promising review: "After using Lights, Camera, Lashes by Tarte Cosmetics for the past year, I got tired of breaking the bank over mascara. My sister suggested Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect and I IMMEDIATELY fell in love. It provides dramatic length and great volume. I can honestly say I can’t stop looking at my eyelashes in the mirror every single day because of how awesome they look. Also, it is very long wearing. I go from an eight-hour workday right to the gym and sweat like crazy and this stuff doesn’t budge! I love it!!" —Carrie E. Miller
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
Promising review: "This deep-cleansing pore strips are amazing! I warm up my face with hot water and leave areas for application wet, then apply the strips! Having an acne prone skin this really removes all the blackheads!! I also take a face strip and cut it in half for chin and forehead." —kat12
Get a pack of 14 from Amazon for $7.52.
Promising review: "Best coverage for under-eye bags and dark circles! I have used a lot of expensive eye products in the past and this has them all beat. I have light to medium olive complexion and was perplexed as to what color to choose. I went with the Brightener and it was a perfect match. My daughter is darker olive and it also looks good on her. Looks and feels great and can't beat the price." —Ana R.
Check out BuzzFeed's full review of Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer for more deets.
Get it from Amazon for $4.33 (available in 18 shades).
The only time I have ever tried hair extensions before these was for prom in high school (which was 10 years ago...) and they did not look great on me. I recently saw these pop up on TikTok and had to give them a whirl, especially since they were under $20. These are super easy to apply and do a really great job of blending in with your hair. I will say it may take an order or two to figure out which color suits you best (I ordered two pairs and returned one). I am in love with using these for a volumized low pony, or a chunky side braid. They even look great mixed in with some beachy waves. If you have wanted to play around with longer hair, try these out!
Promising review: "I love how simple this is to put on. I think it's especially great if you're looking to add a few extra inches in length and/or volume/thickness to your hair! Just style your hair, throw this on, brush it out a bit and go. Super easy! I have a lot shorter hair though (shoulder length) so it too a bit more work to style and blend but I think I mostly got there! It just looks like I have layers :) A ponytail or braid would blend it even better probably. Either way I think this is great. I love how easy it is to put it on or take it off and I don't have to deal with glue or clips." —Amazon reviewer
Get them from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four lengths/styles, and 44 colors).
Tower 28 is small woman-owned business based in Los Angeles. The founder, Amy, started the brand after after working 15+ years in the beauty industry. The company works to create non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free beauty products that are perfect for any skin type.
Promising review: "I started to experience hormonal cystic acne at a time where I had to wear a mask for 40 hours a week. I stopped wearing makeup to work, took certain foods out of my diet, and I tried so many skincare products to help bring my acne to a stop and nothing worked. It was really messing with my self-esteem to the point where I stopped putting makeup on and lost my passion for a moment. It wasn’t until I added this spray to my skincare routine that I found some relief. This is one of the two products that truly helped me. I see a major difference." —bwilliams18
Get it from Sephora for $12+ (available in three sizes).
Promising review: "The best BB cream I have ever used. I spent years trying to find something that protected my skin, went on smoothly, and looked good all day long. I even tried ones from other countries and thought that maybe my standards were too high until I found this. Even my husband says that this BB cream is the best he has ever seen on me (and he has seen a lot). If you want that wonderfully natural no-makeup makeup look then this is what you want to use." —Anthony Russell
Get it from Amazon for $35 (available in 11 shades).
Promising review: "Magic, I swear this stuff is made from unicorns. I was doubtful, given that I have tried the gamut of hair-conditioning treatments (yes, yes, I know this is NOT a conditioner, but a bonder) and all I have to say is WOWZA! After some really harsh processing (got my hair from dark dark brown to very very blonde so I could add funky colors), my hair more closely resembled hay than it did actual hair and as the weeks went on, the breakage started getting worse. I tried this as my last feeble attempt to salvage my locks after a friend recommended it and I am BLOWN AWAY by the results! It really does work." —shel.b.phd
Get it from Amazon for $28.
Jones Road was founded by makeup artist Bobbi Brown. Her philosophy behind creating Jones Road was creating less beauty products with a better formula so you don't need a slew of products to achieve a fresh look.
Promising review: "I love the color and the degree of pigmentation (build or just use one coat for an every day look) but my favorite thing about this product is that it is so easy to apply. Just swipe and blend for a moment and that's that!" —Emily K.
Get it from Jones Road for $26 (available in six shades).
Promising review: "I literally just received this eyeliner in the mail, tried it on, and had to write a review! Awesome product, buy it now. Very dark, very easy to put on (nice sharp point), and I'm a very happy customer. After a one hour-long Body Combat class in the middle of summer in a crowded room with hardly any air-conditioning, I was VERY curious to see how this eyeliner would hold up. At the end of the class I checked it out and there was NO smudging or flaking. That is seriously impressive!" —Taylor Ross
Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in 12 colors).
The powder comes with a little puff for application.
Promising review: "This powder is my holy grail! I am very pale with oily skin and it was hard for me to find a face powder that would keep my foundation in tact. I'd heard so many reviews about this item and I was very skeptical at first, but I decided to give it a try and it has been my go-to powder ever since. The container itself is designed so nicely and has a lot of product in it. Super happy that I decided to give this a try." —Stephanie
Get it from Amazon for $5.72 (available in seven shades).
This product packaging is tube and cap free (it's wrapped in paper instead — i.e., totally waste free!) and rests in a recycled carrying case made from upcycled materials.
Credo Beauty is a woman-owned small business in San Francisco that features cruelty-free beauty and personal care products. They have a Dirty List that'll show you the ingredients they refuse to use, so you'll know your skin is safe!
Promising review: "This product is fabulous. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. I thought the texture might be too crayon-like, but it’s absolutely not. It blends beautifully and lasts. I chose the shade Raspberry. It’s a wonderfully happy fuchsia/hot-pink color." —Heidi J.
Get it from Credo Beauty for $14 (available in 10 colors).
Promising review: "I'm SO OBSESSED with these blushes! I use the colors 'Dusk' and 'Beam'. I love using 'Dusk' on an everyday basis. It compliments my warm, light to medium skin tone really well and makes my cheeks look so fresh and glowy. I like using 'Beam' when I want a more bright cheek look. I like to apply the blush using my fingers. It gives my cheeks the perfect amount of color. GET THIS BLUSH! You won't regret it." —bittersweetmich
Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in six shades).
Learn more about why cloud paint is a must-have cosmetic in "This Gel-Cream Blush Is A Lazy Girl's Dream And Here's Why."
Promising review: "I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS STUFF. Great glitter payout with little to no fallout if you do it correctly, and you don't have to worry about the mess of glitter glue and messy loose glitter. I have accidentally slept in this overnight, twice, and was able to rock the glitter eyeshadow to work the next day with no touchups, and I didn't even use an eyeshadow primer either time, although I did use a setting spray. Give this a go if you are looking for sparkly eyeshadow." —Stephanie
Get it from Amazon for $24 (available in nine shades).
Saie is a woman-founded small business based in NYC that strives to create clean beauty for all. High-performance products with sustainable packaging and good, clean ingredients is their motto.
Promising review: "I have very sensitive skin, and I have to be really particular about the base products I use (no silicones or waxes, no powders). The ingredients in this are perfect; it's such a lightweight texture, and it just gives a beautiful natural sheen to the skin. I use it every day now, and I feel like the bottle will last me a long time, so it's also a great value!" —Sarah M.
Get it from Saie for $25 (available in two shades).
It has two heat settings plus a cool setting, as well as nylon- and ball-tipped bristles to gently detangle while creating volume.
Promising review: "I am no professional hair stylist, nor do I have time to do my hair everyday (mommy of two) but I must say this blow-dryer curling brush makes getting ready so much easier. I like my hair to have a lot of volume (I have thin hair) and my layers to show so this look is easy to achieve. I just sectioned my hair in small pieces, used this tool from my roots to the tip, then from the tip curled up (inwards) and rolled the brush around and out to keep the curl. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a nice easy blowout!" —L
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two sizes).
To learn why a BuzzFeed editor recommends this, check out "Your Hair Struggles Are Over Thanks To This Magical Hot Air Brush."
All 14 shades were formulated with celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty (who works with clients like Awkwafina and Tess Thompson). They have a lightweight finish without any oiliness.
Tower 28 is a woman-owned small business based in Los Angeles. The founder, Amy, started the brand after after working 15+ years in the beauty industry. The company works to create non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free beauty products that are perfect for any skin type.
I have always been fearful of using tinted sunscreen products since anything with SPF has always made my skin breakout and feel greasy. I have combination skin that leans more on the drier side in the cooler seasons and I was recently sent this foundation to test out. I love how this foundation feels like I'm wearing nothing on my skin, and it layers well with my other makeup products like setting powder, cream contour, and eyeshadow. If you want the protection of SPF but have never loved how oily it feels on the skin, try this tinted moisturizer, you will be floored at how amazing it feels and looks.
Get it from Sephora for $30 (available in 14 shades).
Promising review: "This coffee scrub has quickly risen to my top-three faves! Now, I hate coffee but this smells soooo good and exfoliates and moisturizes like you would not believe. The Dead Sea salts, coconut oil, and antioxidants in the scrub work with the caffeine, enzymes, and acidic properties in the coffee grounds to combat cellulite, spider veins, stretch marks, wrinkles, and age spots to exfoliate, moisturize, and reduce their visible appearance. This scrub is also great for a skin detox! I really appreciate the fact it can be used on the face, hands, body, and feet. It’s a multipurpose rock star!" —Jen-Knee
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in seven different scents).
BuzzFeed writer Marquaysa Battle has this palette and loves it:
"So I'm all into makeup that helps me whip up a quick face without trying too hard. This blush palette helps me add a lil' flush to my face in just a couple of dabs. It's super buildable so you can go subtle the way I like to or get super glam with a deeper blush look. I also use this palette on my eyes and lips too. It's easy to use, the four colors can be layered to create a custom shade, and it lasts a LONG time. This will literally be the only blush you ever need. It's definitely one of my smartest cheap makeup grabs." —Marquaysa Battle
Get it from E.l.f. Cosmetics for $8.
Promising review: "Love this lipstick. I work in the operating room and in addition to wearing a mask during surgery, I am wearing one the moment I walk into work. Sometimes 12-plus hours. This lipstick goes on in the morning and it stays on. Why do I wear a lipstick under a mask? Because I do. It keeps my lips moist and beautiful and it doesn’t come off on the mask." —Daniela
Get it from Amazon for $6.64 (available in 32 shades).
AJ Crimson is a BIPOC-owned small business founded by celebrity makeup artist AJ Crimson. According to their site, “I felt like there was an absolute need to bring products to women of color that actually worked and didn’t oxidize or change."
Promising review: "The Ex-Factor shade is BEAUTIFUL for darker-skinned woman. OMG, this color gave me life when I put it on. At first, it seemed super dark; but then it was very nice on my lips. I loved it so much that I wore it to the gym :-) and felt amazing during my workout." —Sandra D Troutman
Get them from AJ Crimson for $20.
Promising review: "I am lazy and hate doing my makeup, especially after a morning workout on a weekday. I wanted something I could throw in my bag and smear around my eyes in a couple of seconds, and to just add a little color without the fussiness. This fits the bill perfectly. It gives my eyes a little definition, but isn't super noticeable. The slight shimmer also makes me look awake on days where I'm dragging. It is not intensely shiny, though, which is important to me — I'm not a disco ball! It just reflects light and looks luminescent, not glittery. Because this is so easy to use, nonirritating, and is the exact color I was looking for, I expect that I will keep ordering it as long as it's available." —Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $3.79 (available in 22 shades).
Promising review: "Even during this stay-at-home era, I continue to wear at least basic makeup to make ME feel good. This gloss is a perfect color and the price can’t be beat. Also appreciate that it’s both flavorless and fragrance free." —Karen Templeton
Get it from Amazon for $3 (available in seven shades).
Kim Chi Chic Beauty is a queer-owned brand by the one and only drag queen Kim Chi. A portion of the proceeds of sales from their beauty brand is donated to the Trevor Project.
Promising review: "I was drawn to this one because I didn’t have a blush with these colors. I absolutely love it and not just because of the color. It blends like a dream and sits so nicely on my skin." —Alyssa H.
Get it from Kim Chi for $15.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.