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. BestLand's high-performance matte lipsticks ditch the usual chapped and cracked lips and bring on ALL the bold red and pink color. Each shade in this six-piece (!!) set is long-lasting and effective — they'll literally last through a bunch of meetings, lunch, and more meetings after that. Tons of reviewers say they have officially ditched high-end brands for this set!
Promising review: "What can I say, I saw a TikTok about this lipstick and for $10 had to try it! The reviews are right, for some reason this lipstick is better than even $20 name brand ones bought from Ulta. Not only does it smell great, but dries in under a minute and survived eating a cupcake, a Starbucks drink, and an entire evening out, no smudging and had to be removed with a makeup wipe. Fantastic product!!" —Claire
Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $9.98.
2. Self-adhesive face gems are sure to ~pop~ based on the array of color options alone. Apply them for cool designs to make chill work meetings or a family FaceTime call a little more fun.
Promising review: "These are so pretty, I love them. I bought them to be used as stickers for my face near my eyes. They work perfectly and stayed on my face over 12 hours. There are so many different colors; each color is different than the rest. I am very pleased with my purchase. Each individual sheet is a bit bigger than the palm of your hand. I also gave some to my mother for her birthday, to be used on her phone. She loved them. I highly recommend buying these for stickers on your face, or to put on your phone or other item. I will be buying them again." —ZombieLove
Get 15 sheets from Amazon for $7.99 (available in multi variety packs).
3. Vibrant Nyx liquid liner makes getting creative with your makeup looks very, very easy. You know all the squiggles and dot liner trends you see everywhere? Yeah, now you can try it out, too.
I'm wearing the blue liner there on the left, and the reviews are 100% right. This liner LASTS. I love to throw it on top of my usual black liner when I want an extra pop on a night out or am just feeling a little "adventurous." The liner's super thin tip glides nicely and makes it easy to be precise, too!
Promising review: "Guys, I have hella hooded eyes, and any time I tried those expensive Sephora or Ulta eyeliners, they would smudge or fade INSTANTLY. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!! The color pops, it's easy to use, and it NEVER SMUDGES, NEVER FLAKES, DOES NOT MOVE IN WATER!!! I fell asleep with it on, and it looked like I had just applied it when I woke up. ... Best eyeliner out there, take it from a girl who has tried ALL of those expensive eyeliners (Stila, Urban Decay, YOU NAME IT). I will never switch to anything else." —Jakjak
Get it from Amazon for $6.39+ (available in seven shades — including classic black!).
4. Maybelline Master Chrome Highlighter illuminates your skin in the best possible way. And because it's buildable, you can go from a natural glow to a shimmering goddess like *that*.
Promising reviews: "Wow, this is a vibrant highlight. The rose color looks beautiful on my skin but I have to use a VERY light hand when applying. It almost looks like a large pan of eyeshadow and can easily look like a stripe of eyeshadow across your cheeks. If you enjoy a bold highlight then this is for you. The quality is up there with high end. If you're fair I'd definitely get the rose gold over the other colors." —C. Wallace
"Obsessed with this highlighter! It is blinding and looks beautiful on bronzed skin. I was a little nervous the color would be to gold for me but when I applied it, it blended out to the perfect glow. Will be my go to this summer!" —Riley Hurlbert
Get it from Amazon for $4.86+ (available in four shades).
5. Beauty Bakerie's metallic lip whip makes you feel like a BOSS every time you put it on — and what better way to lead your next video meeting or crush your next virtual interview? Reviewers say it's absolutely gorgeous in person, is long-lasting, and smudge-proof.
Beauty Bakerie is a cruelty-free cosmetics company founded by Cashmere Nicole. They provide tons of vibrant, high quality cosmetics including everything from lashes and eyeshadow palettes, to lip scrubs and primer — all adorably packaged to fit the baking theme, and all highly rated.
Promising review: "MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE. Of all the metallics, Royal Tea {pictured above) is my favorite shade. I wear it almost every day, whether I'm dressing up or dressing down. It complements my skin tone, is not drying, and lasts all day. If I don't remove it, it's still there when I wake up. I can't get enough of this color!" —Natalie B.
"Not only does the metallic have a shine without the annoying stick of gloss, but the color is stunning. It’s bold, and I feel like a boss." —Jade G.
Get it from Beauty Bakerie for $22 (available in three shades).
6. Essence Lash Princess mascara gives you dramatically long lashes there's no way anyone won't see through the screen (and it's much less than paying for extensions or false strips). This bestseller has over 158,000 five-star reviews, too!
Promising reviews: "I have tried every single expensive mascara and this one tops them all. Sometimes I use a different wand with the formula but I will still buy this over anything else. I saw it in a BuzzFeed article and bought it based on all the positive reviews. I love it, my roommates use it all the time, crowd fave for sure, and it even stays on when you need it to, doesn't flake, and with a makeup wipe isn't impossible to get off." —schyler
"After using Lights, Camera, Lashes by Tarte 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 work day right to the gym and sweat like crazy...and this stuff doesn’t budge! I love it!!" —Carrie E Weikert
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
7. Kulfi crease-proof concealer is a SELF-setting, hydrating, miracle-working concealer that covers dark circles, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation. It even has amla fruit and rose hip extract as main ingredients to help nourish and promote bouncy, hydrated skin. TL;DR: It will have your skin glowing through the screen.
Kulfi Beauty is a South Asian woman-owned small biz that was created to empower the South Asian community through representation that was lacking in the beauty industry. And BTW, "kulfi" is a type of South Asian ice cream!
Promising reviews: "Let me tell you. This concealer has beat out every other concealer I have tried. And I have tried plenty. It’s hydrating and creamy but doesn’t budge. ... It’s a beautiful finish. Brightening for my under eyes. I’ve literally told everyone I know to grab this." —sv222
"Was lured in by the reviews, and they do not lie! Crease proof it is indeed, even for my 42-year-old (ever so slightly) wrinkled under eyes. Ahem. I didn’t think this would top my Nars concealer for under my eyes, but it does. Worth a try!" —michb
Get it from Sephora for $26 (available in 10 shades).
8. Half Magic's Glitterpill shimmers like no other and is a blendable, can't-miss makeup product that will have you feeling ~euphoric~ every time you put it on. Wear it by itself or wear with bold eye shadow and liner for a real glitz and glam look. Whoever is on the other end of that screen will swoon!
FYI, Half Magic Beauty is founded by Euphoria makeup artist Donni Davy 👀 (hence the "euphoric" pun above hehe).
Promising reviews: "I love the short and precise brush! I can get such a precise application. The glitter is soooo sparkly, and this shade goes with all of my eyeshadow looks. Obsessed!!!!!" —Jennifer C.
"Y’all…when I say I’ve never used such a unique, mesmerizing form of glitter. The size of the glitter particles (idk what else to call it) gives the most beautiful holographic effect with so much dimension. If there’s one product to buy from the line, it’s definitely this." —Nikko R.
Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in three shades).
9. Blinger's hair bejeweling set brings the bling for all to see! And gives your beautiful locks some glamour in one quick *click*.
This set comes complete with the Blinger styling tool and 225 gems!
Check out a TikTok of the hair Blinger in action.
Promising review: "I am obsessed with this product! I got it for a themed day, and it was so simple to set up and use. The gems are sticky, which I thought was much less damaging to my hair than if they were staples, and they stayed in for over eight hours until I removed them. They were so cute, and because they are sticky, you can put them other places, like on your face. Loved these." —JL Jackson
Get it from Amazon for $48.71.
10. Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush is an awesome product that can be used on your cheeks, lips, and even as an eyeshadow. Each shade is a soft, buildable color with a dewy finish, so you can apply as much (or as little) as you want for your next Zoom interview. They're also oil-free (yay!) and lightweight so you'll have no problem wearing it all day long.
Promising review: "I’m a huge fan of low maintenance makeup. I love this because I can use it on my cheeks and lips. Similar to a stain, it spreads very evenly before it dries. I feel like it gives me an instant rosy glow. Perfect for mature skin! On a day when I don’t feel like makeup I will use this and some mascara and it makes a difference! I will be keeping this in my makeup routine. For the low price it’s an excellent product!" —OldPortland
Get it from Amazon for $5.98 (available in six shades).
11. Kaja's Heart Melter Lip Gloss Stick nourishes your lips with argan and plum seed oils and provides a gorgeous high-shine finish! The adorable heart-shaped applicator fits right in your Cupid's bow for even better precision, too.
This is vegan and cruelty-free!
Promising review: "Love this product. Easy to apply. Hydrating and long lasting. Looks great by itself looks even better with a lip liner. Cute heart shape applicator makes it even better! Would recommend" —LindseyPearl19, Sephora Customer
Get it from Amazon $19 (available in seven shades) or from Sephora for $19 (available in eight shades).
12. Glossier Balm Dotcom is the multi-tasking gem you didn't know you needed. Yep, it works as a hydrating lip balm, but it can also be used to sooth dry and chafed areas all over the body (elbows, heels, you name it). Be sure to keep this at your desk, so when you're running late for a meeting, all you'll need to *pop* is this!
This is made with heavy-duty moisturizers like castor oil, beeswax, and lanolin, and is dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free.
Promising review: "I absolutely adore the birthday Balm Dotcom. I’m on my third one and will probably keep repurchasing it until the end of time. It’s one of the only lip products that truly leaves my lips feeling hydrated and soft and not needing to reapply ever half hour because the formula is so thick and it stays on for hours. I also love the little touch of shimmer and smell, but the formula is just wonderful in general. I purchased the mint one, and I really enjoy that one too. I trade off between the two of them and completely ignore the dozens of other lip products I have, because the Balm Dotcoms are so good for me." —Lillian
Get it from Glossier for $12 (available in nine flavors).
13. Mented Cosmetics eyeshadow palette gives you 10 *very* pigmented shades (five shimmer and five matte) sure to be seen on screen and in person from a mile away. They also happen to be vegan, paraben-free, nontoxic, and cruelty free!
Mented Cosmetics is a small business beauty brand founded by two awesome Black women, KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson. The idea for the brand began after a conversation helped them realize there was no perfect nude lipstick for their skin tones. Shortly after, Mented Cosmetics was born!
Promising review: "I have really loved this palette. It's much more 'tame' than other palettes I have, but the depth of the pigmentation makes a really beautiful impact. Each color blends really easily and looks great with a variety of skin tones. It has really helped make my brown eyes look much deeper and chocolate-y-er. :)" —Sevan S., Mented Customer
Get it from Mented Cosmetics for $30.
14. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch liquid blush has reviewers obsessed with the highly pigmented, super-lightweight formula...and a high pigmented blush is sure to be a show-stopper (/meeting-stopper/FaceTime call-stopper?). You've even got the choice between dewy and matte finishes!
This Latinx-owned business (from founder Selena Gomez, to be more specific!) was launched in 2020 with the goal of helping people celebrate their individuality and their own beauty, nixing the world's impossible beauty standards in the process. And BTW, all Rare Beauty products are vegan and cruelty-free!
Promising review: "Love love love!! I'm obsessed with the color and the formula!! So pigmented, easy to blend and long lasting. I have oily skin and this is the only cream/liquid blush that doesn’t make my skin greasy but glowy and look natural." —Phoebenguyenn, Sephora customer
Get it from Sephora for $20 (available in nine shades) or from Kohl's for $20 (available in 11 shades).
15. Glamnetic's press-on nails are so cute, they'll make you want to talk with your hands like never before. These gorgeous and unique sets are reusable AND are super easy to reshape. So, go ahead and throw your hands into the camera's view. 💅
Promising review: "I looooooove these nails. Application was so simple. I had about five minutes to put them on before rushing off to a wedding, and I got it done in time. So easy to apply. They are fire!!! I got so many compliments. And I love that they are reusable. I will def buy more in other colors. 10/10 would recommend. You NEED these in your life." —Anonymous
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 22 styles).
16. OR Dashing Diva gel nail strips makes for a great alternative if you don't want to use glue. These are so long-lasting, you'll get tired of the color. These glossy strips come in tons of cute patterns, solid colors, and mix match packs — perfect for when you want cute nails but can't make it to the salon every couple of weeks.
I discovered these Dashing Diva gel strips during 2020, when everything was closed. When I would go to nail salons, I'd always get gel nails (because they last) and in solid colors. To my ultimate surprise, these strips lasted just as long and had tons of designs that my local salon couldn't do. No joke, these babies can last you the whole month if you need them to. While my nails eventually grew to a point of needing to change by early week three, I'd say that's a solid trade. (I mean, do you see that cow print? LOVE). And the fact that each pack comes with enough for at least two sets for only $6.99 is kind of amazing.
Get it from Amazon, Target, or Ulta for $6.99 (available in 50+ colors and styles).
17. Freck Beauty Lashrocket Liner has lash-enhancing peptides that'll actually help your lashes grow over time. So, not only will you have a killer cat-eye, but you'll be stimulating lash growth that'll be so noticeable, meetings WILL be paused to ask, "OMG how!?"
This liner has easily become an essential for me (seriously, I've never switched a makeup product so fast). I wear eyeliner pretty often, so having one that gives me an awesome benefit like LENGTHENING MY LASHES? I'm sold. I've even noticed my lashes become a little fuller after using it for about a month. The formula is pigmented and very long lasting. Now I'm just waiting for more colors at this point 🤷🏾♀️
Freck Beauty is a woman-owned business based in Los Angeles. The company started off with Freck OG and has since grown to facial masks, eye creams, serums, and more.
Promising reviews: "I am obsessed with this eyeliner! The tip applicator makes it easy to use with max precision! It lasts all day and no issues with smudging. My lashes even appear fuller after using this constantly the past few weeks!" —CeeRenee, Sephora customer
"IM OBSESSED WITH THIS EYELINER!!! The application is so easy to just swipe and put on my eyes. It’s not waterproof, but seems like it! To the touch, it won’t rub off, but with a makeup remover it comes off very easily. 11/10!!!!" —kitkato24, Sephora customer
Get it from Sephora or straight from Freck Beauty for $24.
18. ColourPop's all-matte rainbow palette is super creamy, blendable, and has every color eyeshadow you could dream of! Seriously, this baby comes with 30 gorgeous shades — from pretty pastels to moody deep tones — giving you the ~perfect~ way to switch things up for your weekly video calls!
FYI, this is ColourPop's best-selling eyeshadow palette! ✨
Promising review: "I LOVE THIS PALETTE!! The range of colors is amazing for different, fun looks, and the fact that they’re all mattes is a plus. The color payoff is great; some colors have more kickback than others, but they’re all equally pigmented and easy to blend" —Savannah M.
Get the set from ColourPop for $34.
19. We Are Fluide's Universal Gloss has the most gorgeous iridescent glow that will radiate through the screen! It's a multi-functional, buildable gloss you can use as a shimmery highlight on your cheekbones, a pretty gloss on your lips, or even a stunning accent on your eyelids. The little shine near the inner eye/tear duct area is a personal favorite.
We Are Fluide is a Brooklyn, New York-based vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free cosmetics brand created with a mission to create space for and showcase queer beauty. The brand's makeup is vibrant, bright, and known for being fun and expressive.
Promising reviews: "Such a unique and gorgeous product! Not unlike a bronzer but also totally different because it is a great eye gloss/eyeshadow and also perfect for lips. Love it!" —Jamie99, We Are Fluide Customer
"I dig it! It looks good with most of my regular makeup and doesn't cause me to break out." —Gary Davis, We Are Fluide Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 or straight from We Are Fluide for $15 (available in four shades).
20. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint gives you a beautiful dewy finish that'll have you looking radiant on *any* screen. It also combines makeup and skincare into one, with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide working together to even tone, while the SPF 40 tint (yes, it's sunscreen, too!) provides a weightless protection.
This is silicone-free, fragrance-free, oil-free, noncomedogenic, and safe for sensitive skin. To use, dispense a quarter of a dropper into your hand and apply like a serum. Note that on application, the shade may appear lighter but after 30–60 seconds, it'll adjust to its true color. Because it's silicone-free, natural separation may occur. This is normal and it'll be fixed when applied to skin. Plus, you can recycle the bottle! Learn how to here.
Promising reviews: "I love this foundation... It gives good coverage for being a serum foundation, but not too full to the point where my face feels heavy. It leaves a gorgeous dewy finish on my skin, which I love because my skin is typically very dry — which makes it difficult to accomplish a dewy look. If I feel like my skin looks a little too shiny, I just add a little bit of powder over the shiny areas with a beauty blender and that solves the problem. I’m obsessed. I would definitely recommend if you have dry skin!" —ekmanmorgan, Sephora customer
"Obsessed is an understatement. I am IN LOVE with this product! It is truly like a second (better) skin! It feels so nourishing for my skin as soon as I put it on. As someone who does not wear makeup hardly ever, this stuff makes me want to wear makeup every day! I have noticed it lasts better throughout the day when paired with the Ilia primer... I have combination skin that is more on the dry side and this is a perfect buffer to hydrate my skin without it looking overly oily. Highly recommend!" —srydaa, Sephora customer
Get it from Sephora for $48 (available in 30 shades) or Amazon $48 (available in 28 shades).
21. Nyx Professional Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick comes in bold brights AND shimmering neutrals, making adding a little flair to your everyday makeup a fun and simple task. Just glide, blend, and go! It can be used as eyeshadow, eyeliner for a bold cat-eye, or a primer for powder shadow. In less than 10 seconds and with little effort at all, you've got yourself a chic, vibrant shimmer.
Promising reviews: "I see the hype. When I applied this I was honestly shocked at how easy the product went on. It’s like an 11/10 for how smooth it is. I love this product so much already. Probably gonna buy more." —London Johnson
"I work in a downtown office with very busy foot traffic and I hate carrying a big bag on my commute. This little do-dad fit perfectly in my purse for easy touch-ups and lasts all day even when I have sweat off all other makeup! I am officially obsessed and will be buying in more colors! Extremely beautiful and pigmented, I received so many compliments too which is always a plus!" —Jackson
Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (available in 24 shades).
22. Broadway's long-lasting clear lip gloss set includes three glosses, each with a different main ingredient that takes a plain ole gloss to the next level. The rosehip oil gloss is designed to reduce fine lines on your lips, the mint oil gloss creates a cooling sensation, and the coconut oil gloss is for lips that need extra hydration. Each provide the ~perfect~ glossy finish.
Promising review: "I️ saw these in a BuzzFeed article and I always need chapstick/lip moisturizer with me so I️ thought I️ would give these a try! And safe to say, these are perfect, exactly what I️ was looking for! I️ have had the mint one on for 30 minutes and I’m obsessed! It was a little sticky like any lip gloss at first but as time goes but it’s very cooling and moisturizing. I’ll definitely be ordering more to have on hand!" —Stephanie
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $3.99.
23. Fenty Beauty's Diamond Bomb All-Over Veil adds the rays of sunshine to a gloomy day. The smooth, jelly-like powder can be used as a body highlight, face highlight, and even eyeshadow if you want to sparkle through the computer screen.
Promising reviews: "Very long lasting, I can put some around my eyes or on my cheeks and it will last almost the whole day! I love using this for a night out or just to add a little glitter to my daily look." —rachkhay155
"Very very pretty in the sun, photos, videos with flash, and a night out. Gives a 'glass skin' effect." —amr61
Get it from Sephora for $27+ (originally $40; available in three shades).
P.S. you can grab the face and body Kabuki Brush used to apply Diamond Bomb for $34!
24. Glossier's Boy Brow is the top-rated, cult-favorite, brow-changing product that gives you fuller-looking brows that'll be hard to ignore (yes, even on a video call). With just a few easy and quick flicks, you'll have brows without the crusty residue like some other products.
Glossier is a woman-owned business that was founded in 2012. They took the world by storm by making the barely-there "no makeup, makeup look" trendy again with their beauty products meant to enhance, not cover up.
Promising review: "This brow gel applies just the right amount of product to add fullness and definition while staying natural. The waxy texture once dried holds brows in place perfectly. I'm a brow gel snob and am obsessed!" —Roni
Check out BuzzFeed's full review of Glossier's Boy Brow for more deets!
Get it from Glossier for $17 (available in five shades).
25. OR Ownest Eyebrow Soap gets you the natural, feathered look without any hassle. Simply apply the waterproof, long-lasting gel and brush your brows upward!
Promising review: "I have the kind of eyebrows that look very full with brushing, but can quickly look like one has 'collapsed' once my hair or something else touches it. I’ve used nearly every product from Anastasia BH, but never had luck keeping my brows in place. Well, let me tell you, this stuff is no joke. I had to scrub my eyebrows clean tonight to get them to move. If you need some help holding your fluff, this will be your new favorite product. Also, I was able to ditch the eyebrow pencil since this this stuff holds every hair in the place you brush it." —Bailey M, Deacon
Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.99.
26. Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipstick gives you lasting, beautiful color for less than $10 — a ~true~ bang for you buck if you ask me. Although it has a matte finish, it provides major hydration, so there'll be no dry lips while you're talking with your BFF over FaceTime.
Promising review: "I freaking love this lipstick...It's the lipstick I reach for the most, and I'm so sure that I'll purchase it again. The matte doesn't dry your lips out, the pigmentation payoff is impressive for a drugstore brand, and it's creamy for a long time before mattifying. I'm obsessed." —Sanjay Gangal
Get it from Amazon for $5.21 (available in 39 shades).
27. Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer is one of Fenty Beauty's top sellers and a personal favorite. I wear this ALL the time during meetings while I work from home just to make me feel a little more put together. It's non-sticky, long-lasting, and every color has its own shimmery vibe.
The Gloss Bomb (the 'Cheeky' shade in particular) has been a purse essential for me probably since the day it launched. The non-sticky factor is huge for me, but I also absolutely love how versatile it is. It's perfect on top of lip liner and great by itself too. And the ✨shine✨ is impeccable. People can probably spot me a mile away after I apply it, which I count that as a very good quality in lipgloss.
And if you didn't know, Fenty Beauty is 100% cruelty free!
Promising reviews: "LOVE LOVE LOVE! Makes my lips feel so soft. Not thick at all, feels like I’m wearing nothing... It has such a unique, nice scent too! I can't put my finger on what it smells like… but just know it smells SO GOOD. Definitely worth the money. Gives you a good amount of product. I love the applicator. This shade is absolutely perfect for me, I’m obsessed." —ahmariana, Sephora customer
"This has been my favorite lip gloss since it was released! It adds the perfect shimmer and shine with a light color, without being too much. The texture is perfect (sometimes I even choose it over lip balm lol) I’m obsessed!!" —danielacm, Sephora customer
Get it from Sephora for $20 (available in six shades) or get the shade 'Cheeky' (pictured above) from Fenty Beauty for $15.
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