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. Lovoir's Winged Eyeliner Stamp was made for those who LOVE the look of winged liner, but can't help but shake like a leaf when attempting to paint them on. Now, you can stamp 'em on and call it a day.
Promising review: "I just want to make my morning routine as easy as possible. I love winged liner but I don’t have the steady hand for it without mistakes. This makes the perfect and consistent wing every time. Love it! I ordered the 10mm and now i’ll have to try the 12mm!" —Julie B
Get it from Amazon for $14.98 (available in three sizes).
Check out this TikTok by @kingaborysiewicz!
2. Essence's Lash Princess Mascara gives you a falsies-level look for less than 5 bucks. It seems questionable, I know, but for confirmation you need only to look at the 242,000+ 5-star reviews!!
BuzzFeed editor Kayla Boyd tried this out and raves:
"As someone who isn't a big fan of false lashes (the glue irritates my eyes and I'm terrible at applying them) this budget-friendly holy grail does the trick for both lengthening and volumizing my lashes. After you've given it a minute to dry, it lasts all day long and doesn't smudge or fade. It seriously gives the effect of false lashes without the discomfort."
Promising review: "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 workday right to the gym and sweat like wild...and this stuff doesn’t budge! I love it!!" —Carrie E Miller
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
For more info and review pics, check out Kayla's full Essence Lash Princess Mascara review!
3. L'Oréal Paris' Makeup Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream offers sheer to light buildable coverage so if your main concern when it comes to makeup is looking like you caked on foundation, that won't be an issue!
Promising review: "Not going to lie, I LOATHE foundation...so I expected to hate this too. But I LOVE IT! I'm 54 and so is my skin. I also love the sun and outdoors. I tried it on a whim and now I use it every day. It's sheer, light and very smooth. You can't feel it and after a few hours you really can't see the 'made up' look anymore. I feel like it looks like my skin but better. A few tips: 1) use primer and let it dry fully 2) It does not hide imperfections; just makes them less glaring. 3) Setting powder is great idea for finishing. I wasn't looking for perfect, just a bit better and this is it!" —Michele Davis
Get it from Amazon for $8.68+ (available in four shades and green for color correction).
4. BestLand's Matte Liquid Lipstick Set comes with six fade- and smudge-proof lippies that reviewers say are right on par with expensivo competitors like Tarte, Nars, Stila, and Kylie Cosmetics.
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 $9.99 (available in three color sets).
5. L'Oreal Paris Makeup's True Match Lumi Glotion delivers a sunkissed, natural glow even if you CAN'T STAND the sun and would rather fake it than sweat your buns off outdoors in pursuit of a tan.
Promising review: "Didn’t need this but bought this due to watching a TikTok. Pleasantly surprised by the magical erasing powers. This product has magic dust. Gives you a great glow and erases imperfections with the thinnest layer." —Kim Wilmot
Get it from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in four shades).
6. Glossier Cloud Paint touts itself as the "most user-friendly blush under the sun" and you know what? I'm not about to argue against it. The sheer formula is made to be layered so you can build pigment to your desired level. Plus, all you have to do is dab it on with your finger — no makeup sponges or brushes necessary.
Our deputy editorial director Maitland Quitmeyer uses this and says:
"Cloud Paint might be the easiest-to-apply blush of all time. I am (as you can see) incredibly pale, and a lot of blushes get full Haunted Victorian Doll really quick. Two dabs of this and a quick blend, and the natural pink flush is there — and any excess product I just pop on my eyelids for a cute matchy look. It adds some hydrated dimension to an otherwise-matte face of foundation, feels SUPER comfortable on, and lasts (on me at least) all day! There is a little bit of a learning curve when squeeeeezing the product out (it can be easy at first to waste some), but once you're used to it, squeezin's a breeze. The good news is you only need a teeeeensy tad, so the tube lasts (The Sandlot voice) FOR-E-VER!"
Promising review: "I am such a minimalist when it comes to makeup. I used to never use blush or bronzer. A simple tinted moisturizer with some concealer and whatever. BUT CLOUD PAINT CHANGED THAT. I absolutely love the color and glow it adds to my face. And it only takes three seconds to put it on. Perfect for a makeup minimalist like me." —Jennifer T
Get it from Glossier for $20 (available in 10 shades).
7. Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer erases dark circles, redness, and acne. If a full face of makeup isn't for you, but you would like a lil' bit of convenient, easy-to-use coverage, check it out.
Promising review: "I have struggled with dark circles under my eyes all my life. I have looked for a concealer that would blend well and cover for my whole life. I am 39-years-old. This product has changed my life. I put it under my eyes and on my lids. Then I apply a light amount of setting powder to set the formula. It is just watery enough to blend quickly and dry quickly, but it is completely opaque. And I really think, in combination with my skin care regimen, it has helped to diminish the look of my dark circles completely over time. I have never just gone through tubes of product over and over again, because I use it so much and love it so much, but I have with his one. It truly has been my Holy Grail concealer and I hope to never be without it. Try it, it really is great!" —Amazon reviewer
Get it from Amazon for $7.59+ (available in 18 shades).
Want more? Check out a former full review of Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer.
8. NYX's Pore Filler Targeted Stick acts like an IRL filter as it blurs pores and fine lines and leaves you with a smooth complexion.
Check out the TikTok here!
Promising review: "This is a life-changing product for me. I have HUGE visible pores that really age my face, as well as incredibly acne-prone skin that makes me break out from just about every product. I've started to use NYX Pore Filler on my face with some regularity, and it doesn't seem to cause any irritation or breakouts. It does an AMAZING job filling in and smoothing out my face texture. The difference to my skin consistency is astounding. My skin looks so smooth when I use this product. In the photo I'm using it on just one side of my nose and under the eye area, and the difference is very noticeable (I think!)." —Jenny Penny
Get it from Amazon for $8.10.
9. Similarly, E.l.f.'s Poreless Putty Primer glides onto skin and fills in pores so your foundation goes on smooooooooth. This baby also has ultra-hydrating squalane so you don't have to worry about drying or cracking.
Check it out in action on TikTok here!
Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and thought I'd take a chance. I have sensitive skin and have to watch what I use. I LOVE this product! Goes on smooth and you don't need to use a lot. I put it on before I put on my foundation. Makes a huge difference. Highly recommend and will buy again!!" —Leslie Mattingly
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three shades).
10. Peripera's Ink Velvet Lip Tint is just the ticket for days when you want to put in as little effort as possible. Swipe on the long-lasting emollient formula and go about your day as usual — no sipping through a straw or eating your salad like a Kardashian — because it's that dang durable.
11. Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder — a $13 translucent setting powder — delivers results SO good that one reviewer says it's on par with Laura Mercier's, which goes for nearly 4x the price!!!
Promising review: "THIS STUFF IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I have naturally really oily skin which drives me wild because no matter what I use or how good my makeup looks, throughout the day my skin will start getting oily and my makeup starts to look terrible. When I put this on after I do my makeup in the morning, though, my skin stays powdery soft all day. No shine. I'm so happy I found this product. I don't normally write reviews but this product is life changing." —jessica
Get it from Amazon for $13.02+ (available in six shades, two sizes and also a two-pack).
12. NYX's The Brow Glue keeps your eyebrows in place all day long — whether you're sitting in a climate-controlled office or running the NYC marathon in a downpour. It's seriously that good!
I typically wear very little makeup, but there's something about doing my brows that makes me feel more put together. This stuff is TINY but does the absolute most! I wouldn't say I have particularly thin or thick brows, but this really zhuzhes them up with next to no effort.
Promising review: "I have always laminated my brows and that's $190 every 3–5 weeks. So I decided to take a break and use brow gel. I bought this thinking I'd hate it and it would be difficult, but guess what? I NEVER WENT BACK to laminating. My brows look so nice and like they've been freshly laminated. I can shape my brows any way I want and they will not move once I put them in place which is amazing for when I'm working long shifts. I'm so happy and they don't feel crunchy!" —Carlos Barrios Gavidia
Get it from Amazon for $8.97+ (available in five shades).
13. Soft Pinch Liquid Blush — from Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty — delivers long-lasting, buildable pigment in your choice of dewy or matte finish. So if your face hasn't seen the sun for a hot second, it can lend you a healthy lil' flush.
Promising review: "I really love this product! I have it in the color 'Joy' and sometimes I mix it with her liquid highlighter for more of a dewy, glow finish. It's easy to work with it. A little really goes a long way and the pigmentation is wild! I am thinking of buying two more shades just to have some variations in my makeup kit." —Roxella
Get it from Sephora for $23 (available in 13 shades and matte or radiant finishes).
14. Milani's Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray and Primer is a godsend for sweaty bbs everywhere. Spray it on after you're done with your makeup and it'll lock in your look for 16 hours — no creases, smudges, or streaks in sight.
Promising review: "I have been on the hunt for a good setting spray that will actually work for my super oily acne-prone skin. I even splurged and got the highly praised Charlotte Tilbury setting spray. This Milani one is so much better! I have way less makeup transfer to a mask (as a nurse I'm wearing a face mask for 12+ hours) and my makeup is no longer easily melting/sweating/wiping away off my face. If you've been struggling like me, you need this." —Stef
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $17.98 (available in four styles and individually).
15. Touch in Sol's No Poreblem Primer smoothes out pores and uneven textures so your foundation goes on without a hitch. With green tea extract, the formula also energizes your skin while it's at it. 🍵
Touch in Sol is a small, POC-owned brand from South Korea that aims to make makeup fun and exciting!
Promising review: "I am obsessed! Doesn't make me break out, goes on easily, and a little goes a long way so I know the bottle will last a bit. I've used it with liquid foundation and BB cream. Both look so much better with this as a base. Packaging is adorable! Highly recommend." —N. Donnelly
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
16. Subtl Beauty's 5-in-1 Starter Stack comes with a concealer, highlighter, bronzer, lip and cheek balm, and shine control powder all in one tiny package so you don't have to rifle through your cosmetics bag looking for all of your go-to products.
Each stack comes with a lid and an applicator, and you can add as many products you'd like to achieve your desired makeup look. If you don't know where to start, you can take their quiz to help you build your dream stack.
Subtl Beauty is a small business that creates travel-friendly, customizable makeup stacks perfect for beauty enthusiasts on the go. They also have a wide and inclusive shade range.
Get a customizable starter stack from Subtl Beauty for $60 (originally $70; or build your own stack from scratch here).
17. Youthforia's BYO Blush Oil provides a unique glow with every application as the color-changing formula reacts to your skin’s natural pH level. Since it's blendable and buildable, you can swipe on as little or as much as you like.
It's also packed with 20 plant-based antioxidant-dense oils so just in case you *gasp* sleep in it, you'll still wake up with clear skin! It's suitable for all skin types, fragrance-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Youthforia is an Asian- and woman-owned small biz that aims to make makeup that's so good for your skin you can sleep in it. The founder, Fiona Co Chan, even tested the blush by sleeping in it for two months! They are passionate about being environmentally-friendly and not using fossil fuels or gross toxins in their products.
Promising review: "Dewy and glowy. I tried it over makeup and it appeared as a strong pink shade but settled to a flushed, glow-y color. I had my little sister try it too because I wanted to see the color change again and it lasted a really long time on her. The texture was smooth and it was easy to rub in and blend out." —Summer
Get it from Youthforia or Amazon for $36.
18. Elizabeth Mott's Thank Me Later Eye Primer guarantees that the next time you spend a whole afternoon nailing a Mikayla Nogueira look, it won't immediately melt off your face the second you step foot outdoors.
Promising review: "So let me start by saying I have used nearly every eyeshadow primer available. From high-end to low — Mac, Lorac, Urban Decay...they don't hold a candle to Thank Me Later. I have very oily skin. I use this primer and my shadow lasts a full eight hours or more. I could get maybe five or six out of the other brands, if I'm lucky. I got this as a sample in my Ipsy bag, and I had to buy the full-size product straight away! I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Thank you Elizabeth Mott for finally making a primer that lasts! I love this stuff!" —Melissa Mae
Get it from Amazon for $11.19.
19. Summer Fridays' Sheer Skin Tint with Hyaluronic Acid + Squalane offers sheer-to-light coverage for those days when you don't have time, energy, or desire to do a full face of glam or are just looking for a no-makeup makeup look. While it's exceptionally lightweight, it still addresses redness, pores, and uneven skin tone, so don't fret!
Promising review: "Best skin tint in the game hands down. It doesn’t separate, it’s not heavy, it’s everything and more. A little goes a long way and I love how easy the application itself is. I just rub a drop on my finger tips and apply like a moisturizer." —BelleParlorbyp
Get it from Sephora for $42 (available in 10 shades).
20. Juvia's Place's Magic Lip Oil is a surefire way to keep your smackers soft and supple. The lightweight, non-sticky formula is packed with vitamin E and fruit extracts which not only smell delish, but keep you hydrated. And because it's clear, you won't look like a clown or four-year-old kid who got into your mom's makeup if you paint outside the lines a little.
The five flavors are Mango, Honeydew, Watermelon, Blueberry, and Sweet Orange.
Juvia's Place is a Black woman–owned small biz dedicated to inclusive beauty for all genders and skin tones, and their vibrant products celebrate founder Chichi Eburu's African heritage.
Get it from Juvia's Place for $7 (originally $10; available in five flavors).
21. NYX's Concealer Color Correcting Palette has everything you need for a lil' touch up whether you're concerned about neutralizing red spots, erasing dark circles, or addressing dullness. This way, no one has to know you were up until 3 a.m. rewatching Temptation Island.
The palette features six shades which are light and medium (to camouflage spots that aren't too dark), yellow and peach (to conceal dullness and dark circles), green (to cover redness), and purple and pink (to brighten). The concealers have a creamy, hydrating formula. Apply the color that will conceal the spot that you want to cover and then put your foundation on top of it as usual. NO, you won't have a purple spot or green spot of concealer sitting on your face. Once you apply your foundation, it won't be detectable at all. Happy blending! BTW, NYX is cruelty-free!
Promising review: "Trust me…I have LOTS of correcting concealers in an array of colors. This took care of that for me. I mix and match colors to conceal. I particularly like the orange/brownish colors to cover my dark under eyes. I love the green for rosacea and just play with other colors as needed. Plus the price is great and doesn’t take a lot of room in my makeup bag and I don't have to search for multiple tubes of colored concealers." —Susan E Leonard
Get it from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in four color combinations).
22. Nudies' Matte Blush and Bronze Stick multitasks like no other with a brush on one side and a colorful balm on the other. Swipe it on your eyes, cheeks, and/or lips for a bit of pigmented glow in seconds flat.
Promising review: "If you haven't been wearing as much makeup lately because #LockdownLife but you want something to elevate your quarantine look, this is ITTTT. So easily blendable and buildable on top of a light layer of moisturizer or tinted moisturizer... Not in love with the brush? I use my own so NBD" —ECacciave
Get it from Sephora for $34 (available in 35 shades).
23. Ilia's Super Serum Skin Tint speaks to those who love a chill, no-makeup makeup look. The light-coverage mineral formula utilizes hyaluronic acids, plant-based squalane, and niacinamide to lock in your skin's natural moisture and it's topped off with SPF 40 so you don't have to apply that on its own. Saving time and money? Love to see it.
24. Etude House's Zero Sebum Drying Powder keeps oily skin at bay with a mineral formula that mattifies, but doesn't clump or cake. Just tap it on after your regular skincare and/or makeup routine and you'll be able to go a whole day without looking like you were dipped in a deep fryer.
Promising review: "Ohhhhh my god, I'm two weeks in with this product and let me tell you... My skin is usually so oily. I legit could not wear makeup without having to start blotting my face one hour in. When I apply this powder, I look like a perfect matte doll. After two hours, I'm STILL MATTE. And after four, I'm mostly matte (light amount of oil). And with a little blotting, it looks like I put on a fresh face of makeup. No stickiness after oil blotting, no having to reapply, and still kicking ass for a full 8 hours. This stuff works so good that even after I wash my face, I've noticed a decrease in the excess oil I produce!!!" —zhanna
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $7.50.
25. Flower Beauty's Lip & Cheek Gel Crush takes care of your blush and lip color in one go. Yes it's smooth, perfectly pigmented, and smells real sweet, but it also comes in a dispenser that looks like a teensy lil' deodorant tube and that really tickles me pink.
Promising review: "Absolutely stunning — beautiful pigment, glow, and sheen. I am a loyalist to buying my makeup at Sephora and Saks but went out on a limb to try this lip/cheek creme and now, I am hooked! I have olive skin with warm undertones and this gives such a natural, beautiful flushed tone to cheeks. The formulation is also not drying on lips. Gorgeous! Will continue to purchase!" —Playroom_curator
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three shades).
26. Dr. Jart+'s Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment is an A+ option if you're done dealing with 24/7 redness. The green-to-beige color-correcting treatment not only evens out skin tone, but also protects against UV damage and environmental aggressors so you can go about your day without thinking *too* much about your skin sucking up smog.
Promising review: "I’m not a fan of foundation or heavy layering of makeup. I’ve done color correcting creams here and there, but still had to pile on makeup on top, which I hate. This is my holy grail! My go-to, everyday! It gives me the glow I need and calms the redness in the most random parts of my face. Make sure you’ve 'warmed up' this cream before putting it on your face. It works wonders for me. I’ll always buy this. For more SPF protection, I add some underneath this cream." —GLKS
And here's more from BuzzFeed Shopping's Deputy Editorial Director Elizabeth Lilly:
"I use this every single day. Seriously, the color-cancelling prowess is impressive. Also it took me nearly a year to go through the full-size jar. So if the price has you feeling iffy, you can try out a travel version. Seriously, I'm forever indebted to this stuff."
Get it from Sephora for $22+ (available in two sizes: get the full-size here).
27. Freck Beauty's Slimelight Highlighter blends with ease and lasts a longggg time so you can apply it once and not have to dedicate even 10 more seconds to touching up your look later on in the day.
Remi Brixton is the founder of OG faux-freckle cosmetic company Freck Beauty. Her small brand is a clean, vegan makeup line based in Los Angeles, California. Remi, along with the team behind Freck Beauty, is known for creating an attitude: products made for anyone who cares about ingredients, respects the process, but doesn’t care about the rules.
Former BuzzFeed writer Jasmin Sandal is a fan. Here's what she has to say:
"I consider myself *blessed* to have been able to try out this powerful, feels-so-good-on-the-skin beauty product. It comes in three highly pigmented shades that complement different skin tones. And depending on the occasion, all three really do work for my darker complexion. Big Bang features a green/gold shimmer, Beam Machine a bronze/pink, and Space Face has a violet/purple hue. I like to think Beam Machine is perfect for an everyday glow, Big Bang for a fancy dinner party, and Space Face for when I know I'm going out out."
Get it from Sephora for $14 (originally $28; available in two shades).
28. Supergoop! Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40 is ready to pull the weight of multiple products including sunscreen, primer, and BB cream with a light formula that not only protects against harmful rays and blue light, but leaves you downright luminous.
Promising reviews: "This is my new holy grail. It makes me look like I have glass skin and such a natural glow. I feel so much more confident when I use this and a little goes a long way." —juliettetrinka
Get it from Amazon or Sephora for $22+ (get the full-size version here).
29. Danessa Myricks Beauty's Dew Wet Hydrating and Highlighting Balm leaves your skin radiant. The shimmering product is not only buildable, but formulated with moisturizing jojoba oil that leave you perfectly glowy.
Promising review: "I don't know how I ever lived without this brand, tbh, everything I've tried so far has been life-changing, this highlighter included. It's not sticky or tacky or glittery or anything, it just gives you that perfect natural glow that's so hard to achieve with most highlighters. It's not blinding or over the top, it really is just the perfect addition to your face to give you a healthy glow." —Kingfish
Get it from Sephora for $22 (available in three shades).
30. Ilia's Multi-Stick was made for on-the-go use so you can swipe on a bit of lip and cheek color whether you're in an Uber, on the subway, or walking to brunch. While you can use a dense brush for application, your finger works just as well so you don't need to carry any extras if you're traveling light.
Promising review: "I love the way this glides onto cheekbones melting right in and is super easy to blend with fingers. Buildable color. Got Dreamer color and it’s great on both cheeks and lips." —Michelle B.
Get it from Ilia (available in 12 shades) or Amazon (available in 7 shades) for $34.
31. And Alleyoop's Pen Pal is ‼️ four ‼️ products in one and packed into a super nostalgic applicator that resembles a Bic ballpoint. The tiny but mighty gadget has everything you need to touch up your eyes, lips, brows, and high points so you can carry just a quarter of what you'd normally need to get the job done.
Promising review: "Looking for portable makeup bag…in a pen? I love this product. This is all I need when I go out and need to retouch eyeliner, eyebrows, lips and want a bit of a glow. Loooove this product. So ingenious." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Alleyoop on Amazon for $23.75+ (available in three shades).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.