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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.
Looking great has never been this budget-friendly.
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 crazy...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! You can also check out her review of the mascara on TikTok!
Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this mascara. I have very sensitive eyes and holy moly, I'm in love. I've found my new favorite mascara! It makes my lashes look longer and it looks the same all day long. Plus, it doesn't smudge during the day. It's wonderful and a total must-buy!" —Katherine Ochsman
Get it from Amazon for $9.35.
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! 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 I put the left cat-eye on first and it was perfect. I thought this was a fluke and did the right eye...again, it came out clean and 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. I can now do a cat-eye EVERY day and look/feel like a badass. Everyone can think I spend hours doing my makeup in the morning." —LadyMeow
Get a set of two from Amazon for $11.04 (available in two sizes).
2 4 1 Cosmetics is a small business run by Eritrean twin sisters Feven and Helena who specialize in wearable hypoallergenic makeup. The products are designed for everyday wear and special occasions — to enhance (not cover up!) your beauty, per the brand's mission.
Promising review: "Wow wow wow. This liner goes on perfectly with one swipe and the lightest touch! It is BETTER than the Marc Jacobs gel Highliner and that is one pretty amazing liner. I’ve got some incredible products that I truly love but 2 4 1 is changing the game and slowly stealing me from my go-tos. Brava, ladies!!!!" —Valerie I.
Get it from 2 4 1 Cosmetics for $18.
The set includes five big Kabuki-style makeup brushes and nine precise eye makeup brushes.
Promising review: "I’ve had these brushes for a couple of weeks now and I absolutely love them. As a makeup artist I’m always looking for good brushes for a fair price. These brushes are fantastic and you absolutely cannot beat the price. I was a skeptic at first because the price is too good to be true but they really are good brushes. They are super soft and blend the makeup very easily. And they are incredibly easy to clean. I’ll definitely be buying them again." –Tim and Kimmie
Get the 14-piece set from Amazon for $11.99.
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 stuff holds every hair in the place you brush it." —Bailey M, Deacon
Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.99.
Promising review: "I am a makeup snob. I have stupidly high standards for cosmetic performance, and drugstore brands have let me down every single time I've given them a shot. So when I graduated from Covergirl to Sephora after college, I never looked back. My kit is full of Dior and YSL foundation, Armani concealer, Benefit brighteners, etc. But this thing is truly great. The sponge applicator is better than you think. Firstly, it's antimicrobial, so you don't have to worry about the hygiene aspect. Secondly, its ability to blend the product is outstanding. The concealer itself doubles as a highlighter, it looks good without primer, and it lasts so much longer than you'd expect." —Sarita
Get it from Amazon for $5.40+ (available in 17 shades).
Check out our full review of Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Concealer.
Promising review: "So let me start by saying I have used nearly every eyeshadow primer available. From high end to low...they don't hold a candle to Thank Me Later. I have very oily skin. Using this primer, shadow lasts a full eight hours or more. I could get maybe five or six out of the other brands if I was 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 $13.48.
Lip Bar is a Black-owned, woman-owned business and all of its products are vegan and cruelty free (no unnecessary chemicals!!).
Promising review: "I have only worn foundation on special occasions. I tried this tinted moisturizer and when I got it I tried it out and I was in LOVE!! I have found a simple and natural coverage I have been looking for so long. I don’t feel like I have anything on, it’s not a heavy weight like some foundations give. My skin looks great and the color is a perfect match for my skin tone. I just LOVE IT!" —La H.
Get it from Lip Bar for $17 (available in eight shades).
The flavors include mint, rosehip, mango, coconut, and argan oil.
Promising review: "Out of all the glosses that I’ve tried on Amazon, these are by far the best. They make your lips super shiny and glossy!! Nothing beats it for the price." —W
Get a set of three from Amazon for $3.93 (available in six flavor combos).
Promising review: "Love this product and I use it every three weeks now religiously! I apply it with a little angled eye brush and I started outlining the brow shape I wanted with Vaseline or ChapStick to prevent staining when I first started out. I let it sit about three minutes once I’m done applying to both sides. It starts out dark and then washes lighter after a few days so don’t panic if it’s dark right after. It lasts about three weeks but has lightened a bit by then. I never knew how many eyebrow hairs I had until I used this product! It also helped me even out my eyebrows because they tend to be slightly uneven!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.95 (available in four colors).
Promising review: "I've been eager to get my hands on this product for months now! Honestly the easiest brow product I've ever used and it's seriously magic. My brows looked instantly fuller! They weren't crusty or stiff and the applicator is amazing! My favorite thing about Boy Brow is the texture, no crusty brows here. This product has changed my entire makeup routine!" —Jordanne
Get it from Glossier for $16 (available in five shades).
Check out BuzzFeed's full review of Glossier's Boy Brow for more deets!
Coloured Raine is a woman-owned small business started by Loraine R. Dowdy, whose goal was to create beauty products that embrace and include all skin tones.
Promising review: "I've bought many different matte dark greens and they are usually so patchy. But out of all of them, this matte green worked the best. Gumby isn't muddy or dull, and has very nice pigmentation. Now it's my fave green!" —Aimilia D.
Get it from Coloured Raine for $2.
Promising review: "I am never buying Beauty Blender–brand sponges again. These work just as well, are softer, and you can't beat the price! I've been using these since September 2019. Personally I think they apply makeup better and don't stain nearly as bad. Also noted that when cleansed, you don't get tons of dye and color rinsed out. There's none of that. I much prefer these to Beauty Blender or Real Techniques, which I wasn't that impressed with. Over five months of use, they're still in great shape, no splits, rips, or tears. They don't appear to absorb as much product, either, as other sponges I've tried. They apply and blend makeup beautifully, and I really couldn't be happier with them. I'll definitely be ordering again when my current ones are ready to be replaced." —Sharie
Get a set of five from Amazon for $7.55.
This is vegan and cruelty free.
Promising review: "Just received this. In the package it looks more pink than coral but when applied its true coral color comes through. I see this lasting quite a long time, as just a simple pat of the top sheer stripe picks up enough pigment for my lips and one cheek. Just love this and can't wait to try other products!" —BostonChic35
Get it from Amazon for $12.
The packaging is completely zero waste — they're tube and cap free (wrapped in paper instead) and rest in a recycled carrying case made from upcycled materials.
Credo Beauty is a woman-owned small business based in San Francisco that features cruelty-free beauty and personal care products and never stocks products that have ingredients on their Dirty List.
Promising review: "This product is fabulous. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I do. I thought the texture might be too crayon-like, but it’s absolutely not. It blends beautifully and lasts. I chose the shade Raspberry. It’s a wonderfully happy fuchsia/hot pink color." —Heidi J.
Get it from Credo Beauty for $14 (available in 10 colors).
Promising review: "I love this product. It makes it look like you have a natural glow without feeling heavy or looking cakey. Great for those with dry skin who can’t wear heavy foundation but want to smooth out their skin." —Jessica Giles
Get it from Amazon for $10.69+ (available in four shades).
Some reviewers apply it before their makeup while others find it works best on top of their foundation. You may need to experiment to find the right order for you.
Promising review: "I’ve literally never written an Amazon review and my life and wasn’t planning on starting...until I tried this product. I have REALLY oily skin. So oily they called me 'oil slick' in middle school. Yeah. I tried so many finishing powders, so many foundations, and nothing ever stayed matte for more than an hour. Listen. I have been wearing this product for going on 12 hours now, running errands, sweating up and down so many flights of stairs, fighting the crowds of people at Whole Foods, and my face is as matte as if I’d just applied the powder. I really don’t know what else to say. I’m amazed. And it’s sooooo inexpensive. WTF. Where has this been all my life????" —Erin Aliquo
Get it from Amazon for $5.93.
Here's what my fellow BuzzFeed Shopping team member Ali says about this primer: "Over the years I've noticed my lashes falling out and they're not as voluminous and long as they once were (*cries*). This mascara primer has changed all of that. I use it in tandem with the Thrive Causemetics mascara for a dynamic duo that hasn't failed me yet. The primer base adds a noticeable amount of fibers to thicken my thin lashes, which gives me a full-lash look."
Get it from Amazon for $6.12.
Promising review: "Beautiful color palette. Pigmented and creamy, blends beautifully. Love the formulation!" —Mattieocho
Get it from Sephora for $19.
Promising review: "This palette is so pretty! Definitely a dupe for the Urban Decay palette. The pigmentation is more vibrant on a good eyeshadow base (like concealer or primer) but obviously what shadows aren't. For the money of this palette though you really get a great deal. I have tried plenty of eyeshadow palettes in my time and I would consider the formula to be higher in quality." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Promising review: "I have the worst chapped lips and am very picky about lip balms. This smells amazing (not overbearing but still sweet), is not sticky at all, and looks like lip gloss but better. It's worth the price. I'm ordering another one pronto." —HW9001
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in three formulas).
Fluide is a Brooklyn-based, queer-owned small business that creates vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free cosmetics designed for all skin shades and gender expressions.
Promising review: "This liner is amazing!!! I've tried so many different types of liquid liner, and none of them were as easy to put on or stayed so well. I can do any wacky liner looks I want with this product." —Margaux Nielsen
Get it from Fluide for $15 (available in eight colors).
Promising review: "I love these; they are dramatic, but not too big, and fit my eyes perfectly. :) I also really appreciate that they are not super expensive as well." —Rachelgrof
Get it from Sephora for $12 (available in eight options)
Reviewers even say it gives Burt's Bees a run for their money!
River Organics is an independent small business providing locally made, sustainable beauty products. They're based in North Carolina and are run by a husband and wife team, one of whom is an art historian and the other a product chemist! Their travels in France, Italy, and the Middle East inspired their beauty products, in which plant oils, not creams, are the basis of skincare.
Promising review: "Even though I wear a mask right now to work and every public place, I use it at home and it nurtures my lips well. The color is just faint enough and gives a nice glow." —Arielle
Get it from River Organics on Amazon Handmade for $12.99 (available in five shades).
This is a super-buildable, blendable formula that doesn't require intense blending, so you can use this in your daily routine.
Promising review: "This is the BEST bronzer I have come across as of yet, and trust me, my checking account can vouch for being pinged time and time again for the purchase of several bronzers. I am extremely satisfied with this product. It is a beautiful color and goes well with all my other makeup. It's not too dark or orange, it did not break me out, and the color is dark enough that you actually can notice that you are wearing makeup but still subtle." —Shana
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two shades).
Promising review: "This stuff will make your makeup last and last! I have severely oily skin, which means that most foundations just slide right off my skin. And then I found this! I spray this on before I do my makeup, after I do any cream makeup (foundation, concealer, etc), and then again after I set with powder. This helps my makeup easily last from seven in the morning to seven at night." —Sadie
Get it from Amazon for $8.47.
The palette features six shades, which are light and medium (to camouflage spots that aren't too dark), yellow (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.
Promising review: "I've always used concealers that match the color foundation I use. I decided to try the different color concealers and I'll stick with these. They cover the dark circles and redness with perfection." —Debbie
Get it from Amazon for $8 (also available in three additional correcting versions).
And if a ticket to fabulous lashes wasn't enough, this also comes with three cushy replacement pads.
Promising review: "I didn't realize how awful my old eyelash curler was until I got this new one. As another rater stated, the top of the curler is thinner and allows for a better curl. I also love that the pink part is super cushy and comes with three replacements. Great purchase!" —ABMom!
Get it from Amazon for $9.75.
Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.