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.
1. Laneige Water Bank Blue Moisturizer keeps skin hydrated all day with an easy-to-absorb formula that won't feel sticky or too thick. It'll improve skin's texture to a smoother finish with hyaluronic acid that's been fermented to make its hydrating properties even more moisturizing than normal.
Promising review: "First off, I have super dry skin and live out in the desert. It has been challenging to find a moisturizer that can help my skin stay moist. The only moisturizer that has worked is the Tatcha Dewy Skin cream. That stuff is $69, so I was looking for something with a better price. The Laneige Water Bank cream works just as good if not better!! The Tatcha cream would always leave a bit of a residue and would get on my pillow, which I didn't mind. Sometimes it would melt into my eyes, which is annoying. The Laneige moisturizer leaves no residue. My skin feels hydrated all day. Works well under makeup. Also I love the very light clean scent it has. I think I found my new holy grail." —Breanna Ramirez
Get it from Amazon for $40.
2. The Skinny Confidential Ice Roller depuffs the skin (this works lovely around the eyes) to reduce swelling. This is great to keep on hand post gym sesh, or to add into your nightly skincare routine. It is also said to boost circulation and help shrink pores for smoother skin.
The Skinny Confidential is a woman-owned small business founded by Lauryn Evarts Bosstick, who's known for her podcast of the same name.
Promising review: "This is by far the BEST purchase!! I can immediately see the difference in my skin. Especially since I typically wake up looking puffy, the ice roller takes care of that. I feel more confident after using this! I use it every morning and throughout the day! I even got my boyfriend hooked on it!" —Jaylene R.
Get it from The Skinny Confidential for $69.
3. Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Face sucks out gunk from pesky pimples you want to take a hike off of your skin. These are a newer face patch option from Hero Cosmetics (who are the creators of the round pimple patches our readers know and love) that cover five key acne zones with their larger sizes. This set comes with a patch for your forehead, nose, two for your cheeks, and one for your chin.
4. Tartlette Tubing Mascara lengthens and volumizes lashes to new heights. Don't believe me? Buy a tube and prepare to be impressed. This product is so easy to apply and to remove at the end of the day AND it doesn't clump! This is easily my new fave mascara.
I recently was sent this mascara to try out from Tarte and BOY OH BOY is it good. Mascara is one of my most beloved beauty products but it can be such a struggle to find the perfect one for you. Some mascaras that seem to be fan favorites for others haven't always worked for me — which makes me more apt to always be up for trying new formulas that brands come out with. This one takes the cake. I haven't stopped using this mascara since I got it, AND I haven't had to use a lash primer underneath (like I typically do) in order to get fuller, longer lashes...the mascara accomplishes all that on its own. On a scale of one to 100, this gets 1,000 stars from me.
Get it from Tarte for $24.
5. Revlon Colorstay Lip Crayons stay put all day with their smudgeproof and waterproof formula. These crayons add a wash of matte color to the lips without being drying — you can thank the mango seed oil for that.
Promising review: "Goes on so smooth and color is beautiful. This easily compares to high-priced lip pencils from a department store. I don’t write a lot of reviews but I had to post how much I love this!" —Brian Kinlein
Get it from Amazon for $6.50+ (available in 12 colors).
6. Sokgo Eyebrow Soap fluffs and keeps eyebrows in place all day without any crusty or sticky residue. Soap brows have been around for a while, but have recently made a resurgence so now's the time to hop on the trend.
Promising review: "Exactly what I was looking for. I have thick stubborn brows and my right brow doesn’t have the same shape as the left. Eyebrow gels for me are 1) not strong enough, 2) flake, 3) clump weirdly, and 4) leave a shiny sheen over my brow that, when I try to wipe it away, disrupts the shape and causes numbers 1–3 to happen all over again. I was looking for a natural pomade-type consistency that had a strong hold but still kept my brows fluffy and natural with no awkward residue. Those who don’t like this product probably just need to play around more to get their desired effect." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $4.69.
7. OPI Power Of Hue Summer Collection delivers on opacity and color for a warm weather-ready mani and pedi! These are mini bottles of nail polish so you can test out the colors without having to commit to a full-size bottle!
The kit comes with four polishes that are incredibly pigmented and long lasting.
Get it from Amazon for $17.90.
8. JVN Air Dry Cream minimizes frizz while supplying all-day hold. If you prefer to take a break from heat styling your hair in the warmer months, give this cream a whirl after you pop out of the shower.
This brand was founded by Jonathan Van Ness from the beloved show on Netflix — Queer Eye.
Promising review: "I have very fine, wavy brown hair that I was taught needed to be straight and thick and blow-dried or straight-ironed. Air drying your hair may not seem like an integral step to confidence and self love but it has been for me and this stuff helped. My hair feels protected, shiny, soft, way thicker than usual, and very neatly curls up when dry! While the smell isn’t my fave, it is relatively inoffensive and a small price to pay for a very happy head." —Loveyouintheface
Get it from Amazon for $24.
9. Glossier Lavender Balm Dotcom (the newest flavor) graces lips with a hint of sheer color for a conditioned pout. But this product isn't JUST for the lips. It's a universal skin salve, so you can rub it into any areas you need a little extra hydration. (However, I'd suggest opting for their original, non-tinted balm if that's the case.)
Promising review: "I'm thrilled with Balm Dotcom! My lips have been very dry and chapped since childhood, and regular lip balms have done nothing to help. I apply this a couple of times a day and at bedtime. My lips have healed, looking smooth and feeling so comfortable. No more peeling lips!" —Carol
Get it from Glossier for $12 (available in 10 flavors).
10. E.l.f. x Dunkin Donuts Donut Forget Face Primer helps makeup last longer and gives skin a *glazey* and glowy finish. It's the same formula as their fan-favorite Luminous Putty Primer, but this one has a light glazed donut scent. 🍩
Promising review: "I'm obsessed with this primer! This is my first time trying any of the putty primers. It has a super subtle iridescent gold shimmer that isn't too noticeable once blended out on the skin. It smells so so good, and the smell disappears once blended on the skin too, which I like. Honestly, I'm about to buy another before it sells out because I don't want to be without this primer!" —Gingerrcurls
Get it from E.l.f. Cosmetics for $8.40 (originally $12).
11. Maybelline 4-in-1 Instant Perfector combines primer, concealer, BB cream, and highlighter into one effortless product. Here's to making your makeup bag a littleeeeee lighter.
Promising review: "I heard so many people rave about this product and now I see why! It's a gorgeous, all-over face-filtering glow. I got it just a shade darker than my normal color to give me a more sunkissed tan look. It looks natural. I'm obsessed! BUY IT!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in eight shades).
12. Vanicream Daily Moisturizer hydrates sensitive skin with its lightweight formula that's fragrance- and gluten-free. It features ingredients like squalane and hyaluronic acid that can be used any time of day for a touch of molsture.
Promising review: "I have been using Vanicream products for many years and am happy they now have a facial moisturizer! The product is lightweight but leaves your skin feeling hydrated. I have only been using for a few days but it has already improved the dryness on my cheeks. I now use this and their facial cleanser every morning and night. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to avoid 'junk' in their skincare products!" —Zach
Get it from Amazon for $13.25.
13. Dr. Squatch Star Wars soap features no harmful ingredients and will give you an ~outta this galaxy~ clean. This set features shea butter, coconut oil, and kaolin clay *and* incredibly cool packaging you'll want to add to your shower routine ASAP.
The set comes with four bars of soap.
Get it from Amazon for $39.95.
14. Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer preps skin for the day whether you choose to place makeup on top of it or wear it by itself. You can feel confident knowing you're protected with 50 SPF. This protects and hydrates the skin all while smoothing pores.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this new Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Primer! It’s amazing quality and the texture is just right for using under your makeup and gives your skin a great coverage and wonderfully flawless look! It’s light and feels really comfortable on the skin and even better that it also helps protect your skin from UV rays. I would definitely recommend this to others looking for a great quality primer!" —jennymore1
Get it from Charlotte Tilbury for $55.
15. Haus Laboratories Tutti Gel Powder Highlighter adds a healthy glow to the skin with its weightless finish and custom pearl blend. OK, I need to try this out...
Promising review: "I love this highlighter — it goes on subtle and is buildable. It’s a beautiful soft glow without looking like you have glitter on your face. It’s very complementary. This is worth the price because I have had this for almost a month and have used it almost every day and it still has the logo visible in the product. It will last a long time. I will definitely buy again." —Christine Kohout
Get it from Amazon for $21.
16. Hipdot Girl Scout Thin Mint Palette features a yummy range of six eyeshadows to utilize in your future eyelooks. Whether you use these neutral, earth-toned hues or not, you at least need this palette for the visual nostalgia.
The palette features five matte shades and one shimmer shade for a portable palette you can bring anywhere. On my honor...this palette is IT.
Get it from Hipdot for $16.
17. Mario Badescu Cleansing Oil gently removes makeup without clogging pores. A little goes a long way with this product — just take a pump on your hands, massage into skin, rinse with water or a damp towel, and your skin will be fresh and makeup-free. This is great if you have sensitive skin.
Promising review: "Both my teen daughter and I use this product and we really like it! My daughter has dry typical teenage skin with some breakouts and I have very sensitive/dry skin due to rosacea. I use this alone or I'll double cleanse daily with it. It leaves our skin soft and clean without irritation and you only need a little. It also takes makeup off easily. You can't beat the price either." —Mel McFox
Get it from Amazon for $13.60.
18. Alder New York Facial Massage Duo comes with a gua sha and hydrating oil that can be used in tandem to relieve tension and puffiness on the face. I love using a gua sha on my jawline since I tend to clench often and this helps to relieve any soreness.
Alder New York is a queer woman-owned business based in Brooklyn. Their cleansing body bar is one of my favorite soaps EVER.
I own several products from Alder New York and absolutely adore the brand. Their products are amazing for anyone with sensitive skin or a preference for fragrance-free beauty products.
Get it from Alder New York for $49.99.
19. Verb Glossy Shine Heat Protectant Spray works on all hair types to protect against heat damage. Add a few spritzes to damp hair before blow-drying or air drying for hydrated, glass-like locks.
Verb is a woman-run small haircare brand that's affordable, paraben-, gluten-, and harmful sulfate-free.
Promising review: "Love this heat protectant! Added it to my hair prior to straightening and it left my hair so shiny and didn’t feel heavy like some other products leave my hair. An added bonus was the scent! I would catch whiffs of it throughout the day and it just smelled so good. Even my husband noticed how great it smells. Will definitely be purchasing more once I’m running low." —clml514
Get it from Sephora for $20.
20. Selfmade Secure Attachment + Comfort Serum rejuvenates skin when applied post cleansing for a hydrating glow that works great as a base under the rest of your makeup. It can also be used by itself!
Selfmade is a small beauty brand that creates clean, sustainable products that put self-worth at the forefront.
My co-worker Clara recently tested out this product:
"They were kind enough to send me their Secure Attachment + Comfort Serum, which I have been using and loving for about a month now. As someone with sensitive skin that tends to run on the drier side, I love products that are gentle and nourishing, as well as hydrating and super glowy. This serum does it all! It adds a nice boost of dewy hydration to my skin when I wear it solo (without making me look like I doused my face in oil), but it also wears well under makeup. In the photo above, I wore the serum under Glossier's Perfecting Skin Tint, just to add a *smidge* of coverage, and basked in the ~afterglow~. Oh and P.S., it comes in a super-cute bottle and smells really. good." —Clara McMahon
Get it from Selfmade for $36.
21. Merit Day Glow Highlighting Balm applies like a creamy dream wherever you want your skin to look a little extra dewy. I love cream products since my skin tends to run on the drier side and this makes me look like I'm glowing from within. It's probs my fave product at the moment.
I recently picked up this lil' balm a few weeks ago and I know Merit is a relatively new brand so I had to give it a whirl. I have grown to absolutely adore cream products as my skin ages and the texture of my skin is constantly changing. This looks so natural and like I have a healthy glow that isn't super shimmery or glittery. It lasts all day as well. If you prefer more mattifying beauty products you may wanna pass on this one. My fave places to pop this is on my cheek bones, brow bones, inner corners of my eyes, cupid's bow, and my nose!
Get it from Merit or Sephora for $30 (available in three colors).
22. Freck Slimelight Highlighter blends beautifully into the skin for a multidimensional, longwearing glow. This highlighter has a unique colorshift quality that picks up different colors at different angles of the face.
Freck is a woman-owned beauty brand that launched their well-known beauty mark–making product in 2017.
Promising review: "I love that this highlighter is easy to apply both with your fingers or a brush. I prefer to use a brush if I want a bolder look and fingers if I want a more natural look. I also like that this is buildable so you can either have a sheer or more pigmented look depending on how much you apply." —mandymarie10
Get it from Sephora for $28 (available in three shades).
23. Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream puts your other body creams to shame with its ultra hydrating blend of cacay oil, vegan collagen, and plant squalane. Say hello to plumper skin with ~elasticity~.
This cream is from the brand Sol de Janeiro — the makers of the ever-popular Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.
Promising review: "I never write reviews but this is the best moisturizer I have ever used. The smell is incredible, it moisturizes without being greasy (I am sensitive to that), and I have seen a noticeable difference in the appearance of the skin on my body since using." —elizajg10
Everyone will be asking for your beauty regimen.
