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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.
A little list of beauty products that never disappoint.
BuzzFeed Staff
BuzzFeed Staff
Promising review: "This is a great product! It removed months/years of product buildup in my hair that I didn't even know I had. After just one wash, my hair felt lighter, finer, more voluminous, and I needed fewer styling products to achieve the same results. I have long, dark, fine hair and I use this about once every two weeks, or once every four to five washes." —Katherine
Get it from Amazon for $5.19.
Promising review: "I've never, not once in my entire adult life, not had acne. I don't know a life without at least one little pimple friend. Through my many years, I've tried to treat, adapt, cover...you name it, in hopes of dealing with what manifests on my skin. But in the last few years, I've noticed my acne become something much more stubborn and much harder to treat — that was, until I found this mask. The difference in my skin — my sensitive, acne-prone skin — since using this mask is astonishing. My bigger, more painful pimples dried up almost instantly and my pores shrunk down so much! I went from having what looked like a strawberry for a nose to just a regular, smooth nose!" —BuzzFeed Writer, Elena Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $11.02.
Check out our full Cetaphil Purifying Clay Mask review!
Promising review: "I cannot do makeup to save my life, but this made it so easy to learn how to make my brows look amazing (I have next to none). It looks natural and makes it so easy to get the shape and fullness I want. Plus, there is no transfer, flakiness, or smearing." —Kim
Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in three shades).
Check out our full review of the Glossier Brow Flick!
Just twist them to your liking (a loop, C-, or S-shape)!
Promising review: "As someone who colors their hair, I am constantly on the lookout for ways to style my hair without further damaging it. I therefore try to stay away from heated methods of styling hair as much as possible. I prefer heat-less methods like this, because the curls seem to set for longer and stay bouncy. Let me preface by saying this: the 'before' photos of my hair were taken after having the curlers in my hair for only two hours. I have pretty thick hair and was looking for a casual, wavy look...the fact that my hair took to curling in such a short period of time is AMAZING!! I also love the fun assorted colors." —kiana
Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two styles).
Check out our full Twist Rods review!
This is an awesome Black woman-owned business (based in LA) that makes fashionable satin-lined caps, scrub caps, satin bonnets, and hair accessories. Everything was designed to not only accommodate all types and sizes of hair, but also look stylish so you can wear it throughout the day.
Promising review: "Finally a bonnet that fits my big head!! I like braiding my hair and using it overnight to get those soft curls! 10/10 recommend!" —ambar
Get it from VisViva Beauty on Etsy for $19.99 (available in nine colors).
The Crayon Case is a small Black-woman owned business founded by New Orleans entrepreneur and influencer, Supa Cent. The brand creates school supply themed makeup products for eyes, lips, and face.
Promising review: "This contour palette is bomb for the price! I am really pale and use Ross and Raven to contour and bronze. I’ve used the darker highlight as an eyeshadow and it’s gorgeous. I would recommend this to all skin tones!" —Sarah
Get it from The Crayon Case for $18.
Promising review: "I have two of these, and love them! I actually got them because my curly hair was getting extremely knotted from tossing and turning. Anyone who has ever tried to brush thick, knotted hair knows it's *very* painful and that you lose a lot of hair from tugging and pulling. This pillow case really, really helps — my hair isn't knotted when I wake up, and it's actually less frizzy." —BuzzFeed Writer, Emma McAnaw
Get it from Amazon for $89+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors and patterns).
It's formulated with goji berry extracts and Haloxyl to hit the refresh button on tired eyes. My BuzzFeed Shopping colleague loves this! Here's a bit of what she has to say:
Promising review: "There are few beauty products out there that I consistently go back to, which says a lot because I love everything that has to do with makeup. But alas, here I am, consistently finding my way back to this. It’s just *THAT* good! I still don’t know how a $7 tube of concealer beats out the more expensive ones I have stuffed into my vanity, but it does. It’s not too creamy or thick, yet it still gives solid coverage without the cake-y feeling. It blends incredibly well with every foundation I wear (not at the same time, LOL) — and I have a lot of foundations." —BuzzFeed Writer, Kayla Suazo
Get it from Amazon for $4.33 (available in 18 shades).
Check out our full Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer review!
Promising review: "I used to never do my nails at home because they never looked like nail salon manicures. I purchased this after I realized that I would not be able to go to the salon for sometime due to COVID. I made the best decision. The base coat is so thick yet makes the perfect surface for the next polish layer. The top coat literally looks like glass and dries within five minutes, tops. I use the top coat every other day to freshen up manicure and make it last longer. I have been very happy. I redo my nails every 10 days and only because I like to change the color often. The top coat is a blessing because with other top coats I used to always get bubbles trapped inside but this has not happened ONCE with this one!" —Aysar
Get the base and top coat set from Amazon for $9.77 (available in four formulas).
It has two sides: one that has a stamp to MAKE. THE. WINGS. FOR. US (!!!) and another side to draw a steady, smudge-proof line that's extremely hard to mess up thanks to its thick felt tip. It's even available in three sizes so you can choose the thickness of your wings!
Promising review: "Let me start by saying this isn't my first cat-eye rodeo. I've tried the taping method, normal liquid liner, plastic winged stamping devices, stencils, all of it! So when I saw this I thought, meh, why not give it a shot. Well, this gem arrived and I immediately had to try it out, all while laughing at how terrible this would probably turn out....but to my surprise it was perfect. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN ABLE TO DO A CAT-EYE IN UNDER 10 MINUTES, LET ALONE THE TWO MINUTES THIS TOOK TO DO! There were no sloppy streaks that I had to touch up or anything you would expect. Just a clean, crisp line." —LadyMeow
Get a pack of two (one for each eye) from Amazon for $12.72 (available in three sizes).
Check out our full review of The Flick Stick Winged Eyeliner Stamp!
Promising review: "This is hands-down the BEST makeup remover I've ever used. I use it in the morning to get any greasiness off my face and at night to take my makeup off before my cleanser. The smell is amazing and my face has never been SO soft. I think this balm is so much better than all of the 'higher-end' ones I've used. It's well worth the price because a little goes a long way. This is definitely a must-have." —DC
Get it from Versed for $17.99.
It's also cruelty-free and vegan!
Kulfi Beauty, affectionately named after a type of South Asian ice cream, is a South Asian woman-owned beauty brand that makes products to celebrate and empower the diverse needs of their culture.
Promising review: "Love the eyeliner. It's the best I have ever used. It goes on smoothly, neatly, and easily. It still looks good at the end of the day." —Charlotte A.
Get it from Kulfi Beauty for $20 (available in five shades).
In case you don't know, Bomb'd Aesthetics is a fantastic Black woman-owned brand that makes handcrafted, all-natural beauty products. Everything is vegan, cruelty-free, and made with sensitive skin in mind.
Promising review: "It is very hard to find something that 'works' on my skin. I have eczema as well as oily areas on my face. This wash is gentle enough for eczema while also keeping me free of breakouts." —Denesha
Get it from Bomb'd Aesthetics for $12.99 (originally $19.99).
Promising review: "This stuff does not just sit on top of your lips and make them slimy — it actually absorbs and makes them feel like baby-soft skin. Not sticky at all and no shine so it's great to go outside around the lip where the dryness is without showing. In winter especially, my lips are red and irritated and stinging from the dryness and I have to keep applying lip goo all day. This stuff, one application and they feel soft for hours even after eating. Use it at bedtime and they are perfect the next a.m." —pltrn
Get it from Amazon for $13.59.
Promising review: "I have extremely dry skin that's also acne prone and sensitive. That's a tough combination to treat because most products that heavily moisturizer also cause acne. This lotion is by far the best I've used! I can slather it on as much as I want without any irritation or acne and it soaks right in and soothes my dry skin. I'm a lifetime customer for sure." —Laura K.
Get it from Amazon for $16.08.
Promising review: "I typically hate lipgloss, 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 $18 (available in 31 shades).
It has two heat settings, plus a cool setting so you can customize it to your hair type.
Promising review: "I'm a stylist of nine years, and I've straightened many heads in my lifetime. I NEEDED THIS NINE YEARS AGO! OMG, I use it prior to performing full blowouts on clients and it helps tremendously, especially for finicky children and teens. It's great for all hair textures." —Vett Garcia
Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two colors).
Check out our full Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Styler review!
Promising review: "I've had Cloud Paint in shade Storm for a while now and I would never go back to powder blush after this! It blends seamlessly, is buildable, and looks so natural and pretty. Side note — people with paler complexions shouldn't shy away from Storm, it's wonderful!" —Lena
Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in eight shades).
Promising review: "I do not understand the science behind these tiny miracles, but they have changed my life. I spent my work day looking forward to going home and putting one of these bad boys on my newly erupted Mt. Zit and the overnight results were shocking. Not only is it grossly satisfying, but it saved me several days of walking around with scars on my face, because my previous method of dealing with them was to pick, pick, pick." —Adg
Get a pack of 36 from Amazon for $12.99.
Promising review: "I could go on and on about this magic face sauce, but instead I’m just gonna lead with the pictures from my random sweat test experiment and tell you what you’re seeing. I think it did a GREAT job of soaking up the oil on my nose and forehead, much better than any pressed or loose mattifying powders I use. The (picture on the right) is after I danced Lindy Hop, Shag, AND Balboa (all fairly rigorous dance lexicons in the swing dance family) for three hours in a hot crowded bar that had to be at least 90 degrees inside. According to my Fakebit, I did 20,000 steps that night so I REALLY put this stuff to the hardest test I could manufacture! It’s lasted for forever, as well, so I definitely think it’s a good deal for the price. It’s small, but you don’t need a lot!" —Queenofthehouse
Get it from Amazon for $22.99.
Promising review: "My frequent trips to European Wax Center was costing a lot of money, so I decided to get serious about self-waxing. I purchased a soft wax that you use with the strips, and then this. I really had a hard time getting my armpits done with the strips. They peeled off my skin, and required multiple passes. It hurt so much, and I was sure I'd never be able to do it. Last weekend, I decided to try the hard wax, and it was so easy that I just started waxing other parts of my body like my legs, upper lips, bikini area, and stomach strip. I did multiple passes, and it handled it all perfectly. I'll reserve this wax for my face, and underarms since I got no discomfort, and so far no ingrown hair using this wax. I will definitely be repurchasing." —JinxPhoenix
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
Check out our full Cirépil Wax review!
Promising review: "This stuff is life-changing! I have incredibly oily skin that is acne-prone. Although it seems counterintuitive to put oil on my oily skin, it does wonders for keeping my skin clear and refreshed and gives it a healthy glow! I apply two to three drops each night after washing my face and sometimes use it as my moisturizer during the daytime as well." —RC
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
Check out our full review of the Radha Beauty Organic Rosehip Seed Oil!
This baby's fade-, melt-, crack-, and run-resistant finish has earned 11,419 five-star reviews so you know it's worth the $$$! AND its pigmentation demands the word "black" to be redefined — it's that satisfyingly dark. Plus it's cruelty-free!
Promising review: "This is the best liner EVER. I went to Sephora to purchase this after I saw all of the great reviews on here — you chicas were right, this liner is phenominal. The tip allows very detailed and precise lines; it's very easy to make a subtle thin line or even a cat-eye. It lasts, too. I wore it on a hot humid New York day where I was helping host a gathering and this did not budge not one bit." —lovelivelaugh
Get it from Sephora for $21 (available in two shades).
Check out our full review of the KVD Beauty Tattoo Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner!
Did I mention it's all-natural and cruelty-free?
Promising review: "So don’t judge, but I had never really thought about cleaning my makeup brushes before. I would just use them for awhile and then throw them out and buy new ones which gets expensive. So, I’ve been breaking out and couldn’t really figure out what could be the cause until I read an article about dirty makeup brushes and how nasty they can be for your skin. How had I never thought of that!? So I ordered this stuff and went to town on my brushes. Let me tell y’all, I was pretty disgusted by how much came out of each of the brushes and surprised at the total change of color after they were cleaned. I was worried this cleaning was going to ruin the brushes but they are better now than they were prior to the cleaning. The smell is good and light and worked very well. Definitely recommend!" —Madison
Get it from Amazon for $4.79.
Check out our full Ecotools Makeup Cleaner For Brushes and Sponges review!
The patches are free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, mineral oil, triclosan, petrolatum, synthetic dyes, BHT, DEA, and fluorescent material.
Promising review: "WOW! I’ve had a tough spot of big cystic pimples that wouldn’t dry out or get any smaller no matter what I did. I wore one of these overnight. The next day one of the pimples was completely white and gone in a few hours and the other was significantly smaller and is now almost gone. I’ve used many spot treatments before, but I LOVED this one. Definitely buying more! And I loved the microneedles it has, really think that’s what made such a difference!" —cassiefernandez
Get a pack of six from Sephora for $18.
Promising review: "Let’s be honest, for an at-home hair product that takes five mins in the shower, this mask kicks ass! I’m so mad I didn’t take before-and-after pictures. But I went from a yellowy bleach blonde to a cool icy blonde in just four minutes! Badass! Next week I’m going to leave it in just a little longer to get a couple of those stubborn brassy blonde highlights out, but seriously for an at-home hair treatment, you can’t beat it!" —Shelly K.
Get it from Amazon for $32.95.
Check out our full Bold Uniq Purple Hair Mask review!
This Black-owned haircare company, Bread, is easily one of the coolest stores I've found while working on the BuzzFeed Shopping team! All of its products are made with curls, braids, or however you want to wear your natural hair, in mind. It's particularly great for anyone with 3a—4c hair — and the packaging is all amazing.
Get it from Bread for $24.
Promising review: "I have religiously used Diorshow Black mascara for the past decade. I decided that I no longer wanted to spend $30 on mascara, so I decided to venture out a find a more affordable brand. After reading the reviews on Amazon, I decided to purchase this product. The brush is small, which makes it easy to work both the top and bottom lashes. The product itself it thick enough to make a noticeable difference on my lashes, but not too thick that it looks clumpy. I have had no issues with the product running either, and I tend to rub my eyes frequently." —Denay
Get it from Amazon for $12.95 (available in two shades).
You'll get a clarifying shampoo, hydrating conditioner, moisturizer, and styling gel. It works best for people with hair textures ranging from 2a to 4c. CurlMix is a Black-owned business that's cruelty-free and vegan — it's *very* loved by the curly hair community, and just scored a spot on this year's Oprah's Favorite Things.
Get it from CurlMix for $85 (available in five scents and formulas).
Mented is a Black woman-owned business that was founded by two friends who could never find the right nude lipstick. They created Mented Cosmetics so people can finally find makeup that works with their complexion — no more endlessly hunting. Did I mention that their holiday trio set was included in this year's Oprah's Favorite Things?
Promising review: "The lipsticks are so smooth and the colors are gorgeous! They are so worth it! The packaging is so nice as well. Everything from Mented is amazing." —Esperanza H.
Get it from Mented Cosmetics for $16.50 (available in nine shades).
And! Thanks to the pumpkin seed oil, it also helps treat dry and itchy scalps.
Promising review: "My hair was long overdue to be washed and after using this...it felt so soft. I don’t typically write reviews but I have 4c hair and it’s a challenge keeping it moisturized and soft. I use the whole line and although pricey it is worth it. If you have a hot head make sure to really deep condition with this and I finger detangle my hair. This product is a game-changer." —MrsGa
Get it from Sephora for $36.
"Since 1995" — coming from a person who still thinks that was five years ago.
Promising review: "I’ve been using bareMinerals for about six months now and I can’t believe I waited so long to try it. It is hands-down the best foundation I’ve ever used. Before I started using it I would need to use a concealer, but this covers so well I don’t use concealer anymore. My husband says I glow. Yes it’s kind of expensive but in this case it is definitely worth it. They’ve gained a lifetime customer with me." —Phoenixsunrise
Get it from bareMinerals for $32 (available in 30 shades).
Promising review: "This literally changed my life. I was one of those people who used to complain about needing to wash my hair DAILY. I have thin, light blonde hair. I looked greasy and unkempt after one day, not even taking into consideration working out or sweating. But now?! A whole new world. Now, my hair can look smooth and straight, because I don't need to wash, dry, then straighten every morning (what a time-suck!). Now, I just straighten and dry shampoo. I've used the extra time in mornings to improve my make-up routine, take my dog on longer walks, etc. AND I look more put-together at work. Get this stuff. Conserve water. Never look back." —Eemn83
Get it from Amazon for $9.38.
In case you don't know, Beauty Bakerie is a Black woman-owned business that makes gorgeous palettes, impressively matte ~lip whips~, and shade range-inclusive foundation, highlighter, and concealer. They even have a foundation finder tool to help you pick a shade!
Promising review: "I can’t say enough about this foundation. It's lightweight and a little goes a long way (a tiny dot is more than enough to cover my face). I used the shade finder on the BB website and my formula was a perfect match. I’m officially hooked on this foundation!" —Sydney
Get it from Beauty Bakerie for $34 (available in 30 shades).
Promising review: "The VOLOOM is amazing! I put absolutely no product in my hair and the volume lasted all day. It was incredibly fast and easy. I honestly hoped for a little added volume, but this thing is better than I ever expected!! I was hesitant because of the price, but it's worth every penny! Best hair tool I've ever purchased!" —Tiger Wife
Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (also available in a petite version and in a version designed specially for getting close to your roots).
Promising review: "I found this product through a BuzzFeed article for those with frizzy hair and THIS PRODUCT DID NOT DISAPPOINT, PEOPLE! I put this serum through the ringer; I got this to stand up to Bay Area fog AND the nasty, humid heat wave we got a couple weeks ago. No frizz, no extra curls. Nothing! On top of that, it made my hair super glossy. I'm very impressed. Heads-up though, a little goes a long way. One pump is enough to cover my hair and I have medium-length hair. Also, it can make your hair look oily if you use too much. I do have oily hair so working on my ends first then working to my roots works for me." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
Check out our full review for the Herstyler Hair Repair Serum!
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.