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1. A L'Oreal gel liner for beginners at the whole ~wing~ thing. Liquid eyeliner requires exact precision...but this brush applicator prevents you from picking up too much product, allowing for buildable shading you could smudge to perfection.
2. A vegan Malibu C treatment to prep your 'do for color application: Just leave this on for five minutes to remove color-blocking build-up, ~apply some dye~ within 24 hours, and voila! Your tresses are now a blank canvas that will allow for better color absorption and less fading after leaving the salon.
3. A Neutrogena clarifying shampoo because that ten pounds of dry shampoo you used two days ago is still trapped in your roots, but have no fear! This anti-residue wash deep cleans build-up that would otherwise lead to lack of body, excessive grease, and *gulp* stringiness.
4. A buildable L'Oreal waterproof mascara that not only adds volume and length to your lashes, but it also does the unthinkable — and by unthinkable, I mean it won't smudge by mid-afternoon and create the dreaded ~panda eye~ effect. Like, I already have dark circles. I don't need mascara to enhance them.
5. Bliss makeup wipes you'll want for those nights in which you are way too tired to cleanse, tone, and moisturize. These oil-free wipes contain aloe, chamomile, and marshmallow root to both cleanse *and* hydrate your face at the same darn time. (If you have sensitive skin, you'll want to try these ASAP.)
6. A Vivienne Sabó volumizing mascara with a clump-free, smudge-proof formula here to upgrade your lash game. One coat gives you the whole "your lashes but better" look, but two coats? Everyone will just assume you're wearing falsies. It's that good.
7. A vegan Acure brightening scrub made with argan extract and chlorella gentle enough to exfoliate acne-prone skin without causing further inflammation or redness. It's also an absolute 🌟 superstar 🌟 at fading scars and brightening your skin.
8. A NYX lipstick so affordable, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by *not* purchasing every available color. While this dries completely matte, the formula itself is creamy — ensuring that it doesn't feel like straight plaster on your pout.
9. A wet n wild cushion foundation with a buildable, water-based gel formula. Want full coverage sans the feeling of having ten pounds of product on your face? Then this compact will become your holy grail.
10. A blending sponge to condense your many, many brushes into just one tool. This squishy BB can be used for everything from concealer to setting powder, all while providing a natural finish that is (*IMPORTANT*) not blotchy. It truly blends everything to perfection so that you don't have spots of cake-y, oompa loompa orange scatted across your cheekbones.
11. A Yes To facial cleanser that uses an effective trio of charcoal, tomato extract, and salicylic acid to kick the derriere of every annoying skin concern you have: This includes everything from excess shine to pesky blackheads that have become so lodged in your nose, they were probably paying a mortgage.
12. Bioré pore strips that act like magnets for trapped gunk and deep-rooted oil. These amazingly satisfying strips (the review pics are *ahem* delicious) have the ability to reduce the appearance of blackheads and remove a significant amount of them after ~just~ one use.
13. An OGX fade-defying oil that enlists the help of orchid extract and grape seed oil to give your ends some lightweight hydration while *also* providing protection against the ☀️. Consider this like a sunscreen for your haircare routine.
14. A formaldehyde-free Zoya polish designed with a wider brush, meaning you can disperse more polish onto your nail with just 👏 one 👏 stroke 👏. The brush also fans out a teeny bit, allowing for application onto the pesky corners of your nail.
15. Bioderma micellar water that tackles both makeup and excess oil in the laziest way possible: with just a few swipes of a cotton pad. Not only will this gentle formula leave your skin feeling refreshed, but it'll *also* prevent excess shine from creeping in mid-afternoon (at about the same time you're in desperate need of caffeine).
16. A cruelty-free Milani baked blush for a buildable, natural pop of pink that instantly gives even the most tired skin a rosy flush. Who slept eight hours last night? Not you! But hey, at least it'll look like you got your beauty sleep.
17. A NYX setting spray to lock in your makeup, because it only took about three hours of blending to get it to look this way. So humidity, sweat, tears: it's all irrelevant when you've topped your foundation with this magic stuff, which works to mattify your makeup and prevent it from turning into a greasy mess (no small feat).
18. A Hair Dance powder dry shampoo especially great at vacuuming up grease and adding volume sans any leftover chalky residue. Extending time between each hair wash is super important (excessive washing can lead to extra oil production, hair loss, color stripping, etcetera), and this is an easy way to avoid shampooing *without* feeling like a greaseball in the process.
19. A shampoo brush to increase the effectiveness of your shampoo by helping clear away built-up product in your scalp — the kind that would lead to dullness and lack of body. This little silicone tool also works to stimulate your scalp and improve circulation, which can lead to speedier hair growth!
20. A daily Cuccio oil you'll want to keep on hand if you're a gel manicure connoisseur (which, let's face it, destroys nail beds one acetone soak at a time). This blend of safflower, sunflower, and cotton seed oils works OT to strengthen your nails and hydrate your cuticles.
21. An LA Girl Pro concealer here to banish blemishes, redness, and dark circles to the pits of Hades. Say hello to flawless coverage that is crease-resistant and long-lasting — all while looking lightweight and natural.
22. A Yes To cleansing stick you'll want to add to your morning routine, as this stuff works to ~wake up~ your skin as effectively as a cup of caffeine. This gentle scrub and cleanser efficiently gets rid of all icky impurities, while the coconut, avocado, and meadow foam seed oils work to leave your complexion feeling hydrated and supple.
23. A Maybelline highlighting stick that is the makeup equivalent of an entire pot of coffee. Just a few swipes on your cheekbones, cupid's bow, brow bone, and inner corner of your eyes will make the 🌎 of a difference.
24. A ginger sugar overnight mask you apply before bed and voilà! You'll wake up to a nourished pout ready for even the most drying of matte formulas (because I'm just going to come out and say it...🗣️matte lipsticks look great, but they ARE drying as heck).
25. A hibiscus- and coconut-scented Shea Moisture cream ideal for thicker hair, as this adds all-day hydration and shine without weighing down your 'do. It even works to tighten and define your curls in the process AKA Shirley Temple ringlets are in 👏 your 👏 future 👏.
26. A TONYMOLY hydrating sheet mask capable of moisturizing even the most tired of skin, all while invigorating your senses with the scent of lavender — the kind of aroma that could lull you to sleep despite the fact that your upstairs neighbor feels the need to tap dance at 3 A.M.
27. A Coty translucent powder to set your makeup for a flawless finish — and one that will actually last.. Like, all day long! This is the perfect dupe for high-end products that also come with a high-end price tag (AKA way too high for my budget).
28. A Maybelline foundation to answer your callout for medium-to-full coverage that looks both au naturale and has a matte finish to control even the greasiest of t-zones. It's also inexpensive!? Someone pinch me. I'm pretty sure I'm hallucinating.
29. A Schick dermaplaning razor sent from heaven for people who are done with the pains of plucking and the expense of waxing. This rids stray brow hairs and unwanted peach fuzz, all while ridding your complexion of dead skin to reveal a smoother and brighter complexion.
30. A coconut-scented, cream-to-powder Physicians Formula butter highlighter capable of giving your skin a luminous, "I drink a ton of water" glow. Sleep? You obviously got a ton of it last night.
31. NYX epic liner if you're tired of your liquid liner fading before your second cup of coffee (#rude). This stuff seriously will not budge and won't transfer/ruin your shadow if you have oily lids.
32. A Neutrogena foaming scrub guaranteed to make your complexion feel so minty fresh, you could consider it the skincare equivalent of a York Peppermint Patty. This glycerin-fueled exfoliating cleanser transitions from a gel formula into a bubbly foam, removing every trace of dirt, oil, and makeup as your continue to lather.
33. A L'Oréal two-step lipstick that guarantees no fading, no bleeding, no transfer, no need to reapply. How? One end contains color while the other contains a conditioning balm, designed to lock in color and prevent it from budging 👏 all 👏 day 👏 long 👏.
34. An SPF 25-infused Jack Black lip balm available in six delicious flavors: basil lemon, black tea and blackberry, natural mint, grapefruit and ginger, lemon, and cucumber lime.
35. An Ecotools makeup cleaner because YES, you need to deep clean your brushes. Not only are your makeup tools a breeding ground for bacteria (and a pimple apocalypse waiting to happen), but applying foundation with a brush covered in built-up foundation? Not ideal.
36. Pre-cut foil with cotton pads in the middle. Their use? To soak off your gel manicure — the one you've already had for three weeks and is starting to peel/catch in your hair when you shower. You haven't had time to make it to the salon before it closes and that is FINE, because you can just remove it yourself.
37. A coconut sugar Handmade Heroes lip scrub to prep your pout for bold lipstick. This will give you smooth, moisturized lips free of any flakes — and not the delicious, breakfast cereal kind.
38. A Maybelline concealer formulated with goji berry and Haloxyl because no one needs to know that you binged all of The Office yet again last night. Just a quick swipe of this and *poof* your dark circles are now a thing of the past.
39. A Mario Badescu facial spray infused with green tea, cucumber, and peppermint essential oil that can perk up even the most tired skin (goodbye dullness, hello to being enveloped in the heavenly scent of cucumber and peppermint). This formula is also super cooling, making it the perfect post-workout treat for your complexion.
40. Shadow shields to help you achieve a perfectly even smoky eye while avoiding the dreaded ~raccoon eye~ effect that comes from that grey shadow you love so much. These nifty little adhesives will collect all that fallout AKA you won't have subtle of smudges of shimmery brown sprinkled across your cheeks.
41. A Maybelline eyebrow definer pencil with a dual-ended design that allows for natural-looking brows; just use one end for shading, and the opposite spoolie brush end for blending. The result? Facial caterpillars that look like twins (not sisters) with minimal effort/artistic skill required.
*hears the phrase ~under $10~*
Want more for your beauty routine? Check out these products for color-treated hair, this list of problem-solving products, products for an at-home manicure, or browse the rest of our beauty section for recommendations on everything from makeup to haircare.
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