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. A BYO Blush by Youthforia, which reacts to your skin's pH level to create a natural, pigmented, and ideal flush for your unique skin tone. Its vegan formula is made with 20 different plant-based and skin-friendly ingredients, so you don't even need to stress about falling asleep *before* washing it off.
Youthforia is a woman-owned small business established in 2021 that aims to make makeup that's good enough to sleep in. No, really. The founder, Fiona Co Chan, even tested the blush by sleeping in it for two months! They also put an emphasis on being environmentally-friendly and not using fossil fuels and 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 for $36 or from Amazon for $35.99.
2. A TikTok-approved Essence Lash Princess Mascara that adds length and volume to your lashes without the fuss of having to mess with falsies (and pesky glue).
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 Weikert
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
For more info and review pics, check out Kayla's full Essence Lash Princess Mascara review, as well as some other TikTok products that we're loving right now!
3. A L'Oréal Paris True Match foundation with a super-blendable, medium-coverage formula with a natural finish and SPF, all for under $5!
Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this foundation. Honestly, I would have to say that this is the best kind I've ever used. I have sensitive skin with a combination between dry and oily. This foundation is very lightweight, and IMO, it is perfect for people who love a more natural appearance instead of cakey. Thank you, L'Oréal, for making it easier for African American women to find their perfect shade!" –Abria
Get it from Amazon for $4.72 (available in 43 shades).
4. A Tower 28 ShineOn Lip Jelly to give you the shiniest and juiciest lips around without any of the unwanted stickiness. Feel free to let your hair down, since it won't be getting stuck on your glossy pout. 💋
Tower 28 is small, clean beauty brand that makes skincare, plus makeup that acts like skincare. Their products are non-toxic, non-irritating, vegan, and cruelty-free, so sensitive skin can breathe a little easier.
Promising review: "Most lip glosses dry out your lips and get crusty after a few hours but, this moisturizes your lips and stay on for hours. It’s not sticky either, unlike most other brands. Very happy with my purchase! :)" –traci
Get it from Tower 28 or Sephora, both for $15 (available in 12 shades and finishes).
5. A Julep eyeshadow stick for anyone that loves a done-up eye but doesn't want to break out an entire palette. With an impressive amount of shades in matte, shimmer, and metallic finishes, you'll find yourself reaching for this one-and-done product for both day and night looks.
This eyeshadow stick applies as a cream and sets as a powder. It's also formulated with Vitamin C and E to nourish and hydrate your skin.
Promising review: "This is the sixth color I have bought. These eyeshadow sticks are so easy to use and all the colors I have are beautiful. I am no makeup expert and need easy-to-use products. I have used the colors by themselves and in combo with other colors and they blend beautifully. So easy to just grab and apply. I do find that my shadow will crease as the day goes on but I have yet to use any eyeshadow that doesn’t no matter the brand or cost. When it creases, I just smudge it out with my finger and it looks great. Wipes off easily with makeup remover. I love this subtle color when I’m just running errands and don’t want to put a full face of makeup on." –mom2boys
Get it from Amazon for $16 (available in 26 shades and finishes).
6. A reviewer-favorite translucent loose setting powder by Coty Airspun to help minimize shine and make sure that full face of makeup you're sporting doesn't conk out before you make it to happy hour.
Promising review: "Excellent! I should have known but I rarely used powder before... now I see the benefit. Not all are created equally. Choose wisely. Choose this. This is 5 stars easy. I use it to set after makeup and it is great even sets eyeshadow well. Very nice soft scent. Just the right amount of weight. Not cakey or heavy at all. Flawless finish." –Tamara
Get it from Amazon for $5.72+ (available in five shades and in multipacks).
Read our full review of the Coty Airspun powder for more info!
7. A Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer that has over 90,000 five-star reviews for a reason. Its buildable and brightening coverage packs a *figurative* punch, while it's multi-use functions (concealing, correcting, contouring) make it majorly convenient.
Promising reviews: "I have tried countless concealers for my under-eye circles —most of which cost triple the price of this one, by the way. I figured I’d try this on a whim because the reviews were so great and it was so inexpensive. It’s officially become my new favorite concealer. It’s not cakey, it blends easily, it doesn’t crease and it lasts all day." –Cheryl
"I can't find the words. It's awesome! Everything about it! Blends flawlessly, doesn't dry out the skin, and has very nice coverage! I have mature skin, other words I'm getting old, it didn't cake or crease! I've used it as foundation, to conceal and contour. Every time, it gets the job done and my makeup looks flawless!" –Christy aka MisfitAngel
Get it from Amazon for $6.95+ (available in 18 shades).
8. Or a Kosas Revealer Concealer, which is a medium-coverage, crease-proof, and delightful combination of a color corrector and an eye cream. Its nourishing formula gives your under-eyes a boost of hydration and energy, as well as evens out your skin tone.
Kosas recently launched a Revealer Foundation to pair with the concealer, which you may want to check out if you like the sound of this product!
Promising review: "I really enjoy this concealer! I would say it gives medium coverage and is definitely one of the more hydrating concealers in my collection. It blends out beautifully with a brush or sponge and wears well under the eyes without major creasing or fading throughout the day. Works well with the accompanying foundation in the line. I would definitely repurchase once I run out to have as an option." –ciennaaa
Get it from Sephora for $28 (available in 28 shades).
9. A Kulfi Kajal Eyeliner infused with hydrating aloe vera and vitamin E to glide on smoothly and blend out easily. Not to worry – this creamy liner still has a ton of pigment and staying power. Time to say "tah tah" to raccoon eyes!
Kulfi Beauty is a South Asian woman-owned small biz that aims to empower the South Asian community through representation, as well as celebrate their beauty and culture. And BTW, kulfi is a type of South Asian ice cream!
Promising review: "It's been so hard for me to find an eyeliner that is both easy to put on and has staying power. This one is like butter. So gentle, but with amazing pigment. I am sold!" –Sri R.
Get it from Kulfi Beauty for $20 (available in five shades).
In honor of APAHM, take a look at some other products from Asian-owned brands that we're loving right now.
10. A vegan and cruelty-free Poreless Putty Primer by E.l.f. for smoothing texture and minimizing pores, giving your skin a velvety finish and creating an ideal base for makeup. It's also made with skincare powerhouse ingredient Squalene, so you can hydrate and nourish before getting glammed.
Promising review: "This is smooth, blends well with foundation, and feels good on the skin. Sets well with powder. I sometimes wear it alone for a little smoother look, since it's colorless it doesn't look like foundation. The price is great and I've yet to see it in a store. I like that I can control how much to apply and a little goes a long way. It appears to wash off well. Will be buying it again." –Momma Bee
Get it from Amazon for $8.50.
11. And an Elizabeth Mott eye primer to stop creasing in its tracks. That multi-shade eyeshadow and liner look you painstakingly applied should last as long as you want it to!
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 straightaway! 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 $13.68.
12. A Maybelline SuperStay Matte Liquid Lipstick with a mega-pigmented and long-lasting formula that truly stays👏put👏. So now you don't have to worry about reapplying your lippie after every sip of coffee throughout the day.
Promising reviews: "I bought the colors Dreamer and Lover. This formula is awesome. I’ve been searching for a wedding day lipstick that won’t kiss off but feels comfortable on the lips. This is the one! I purchased lover first and loved it so much that I purchased two other colors! I will for sure be purchasing more!" –Amazon Customer
"One of the best liquid lip formulas. May feel a bit sticky at first but dries down and lasts forever without smudging or peeling like other, more drying formulas. I generally use two shades to create an ombré effect, a single shade can be a little flat because they’re so opaque." –Britt
Get it from Amazon for $7.75+ (available in 37 shades).
13. A Brow Freeze Styling Wax by Anastasia Beverly Hills for keeping your eyebrows perfectly laminated all day long. Simply pick up a *small* amount of product using a spoolie or brow brush and comb your brows into your desired shape!
FYI, the recommended applicator is sold separately.
Promising review: "Hands-down the best brow wax I’ve tried, and I’ve tried a ton. My brows are stubborn and they do not move with this stuff. A little goes a long way. Use too much and you have flakes & white residue. If my fringe knocks my brows outta place, I just use my finger to put them back and carry on with my day. 11/10 stars." —gothbutnot
Get it from Sephora for $23.
14. A Physician's Formula Butter Bronzer to give you that sun-kissed color that your daily application of SPF 70 facial sunscreen doesn't let you *naturally* achieve.
Promising reviews: "Love this bronzer! I was skeptical of this powder at first as a very pale redhead (I am skeptical of bronzers, tbh), but this one has really surprised me! I love the color on my skin! I also love how I can use this powder for my brows to help fill them in and I have used this as a shadow! So many uses!! I would definitely recommend and will be buying again! It also smells amazing and arrived on time!" –Pati
"I hate to contour. And the powder color I was using before was too dark kind of left me muddy. I was so skeptical about this bronzer - I thought it be too light on my toffee, caramel skin. But it just warmed me up. It smells so good, goes on smooth, and gives your face the dimension it needs." –Cindy Nervil
Get it from Amazon for $9.73 (available in eight shimmer shades and in both powder and cream formulas).
15. A gorgeous Glossier Cloud Paint, the cult-favorite gel-cream blush with buildable pigment and a seamless formula that'll give your face a freshly-pinched-cheeks kind of radiance (without the invasive rudeness of someone actually pinching your cheeks! Yippee!).
You can also stock up and save by purchasing the Cloud Paint as a duo!
Promising review: "I've been on the hunt for years to replicate that rosy 'just went for a run'-look that my cheeks get when I workout and the blushes I thought were close were either too red or pinky and artificial-looking. I saw Storm and I was worried it would be too dark on my light-medium skin but its not! It blends *s-e-a-m-l-e-s-s-l-e-y* into a healthy flush that looks exactly it's my own skin and not makeup. The texture is unlike any cream or liquid blush I've tried, it evenly disperses the pigment as you blend it in with your fingers or a foundation brush and you don't have to worry about over doing it." –Glossier Customer
Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in eight shades).
Read more about the Glossier Cloud Paint in our full review.
16. A set of Lovoir winged eyeliner stamps if traditional liquid eyeliner is your sworn enemy (like me). This product will save you the time and frustration you'd normally waste doing, then promptly redoing, your cat-eyes.
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 $14.97 (available in three sizes).
17. A Uoma Beauty Say What?! Foundation that combines makeup and skincare to give your skin a soft-matte – but definitely not cakey – finish. It's hydrating, blurring, and totally lightweight, so you can comfortably wear it all day.
Uoma Beauty is a small business founded by makeup guru and Nigerian-born Sharon Chuter, who aims to create a wide variety of makeup products for all skin tones. During the designing of this foundation, they used something called the Fitzpatrick Scale, which determines how different skin tones react to sun. The formula of each shade is meant to mirror your skin's unique needs and complexion, creating a a product you'll come back to again and again.
Promising review: "I bought this foundation to wear for my wedding. (I saw someone use it on TikTok) I've been testing it out and it's become my favorite foundation I've ever use. The blend, the color match, the stay, everything is just perfect. Wow, wow, wow." –Makenna S.
Get it from Uoma Beauty or Nordstrom, both for $39 (available in 51 shades).
18. A Wet n' Wild MegaGlo Highlighter because there's no such thing as too much glowy, reflective goodness on your skin (in my opinion, anyway).
Promising review: "Bought this about a week ago and this is hands down the BEST highlight I have ever used. I have gotten so many compliments on how I’m glowing and how healthy my skin looks. Love that this gives you a very natural highlight." –Michele
Get it from Amazon or $3.59+ (available in five shades).
19. Or a Super Glowy Gel Highlighter by Saie, if you prefer a liquid formula over a pressed powder. This product can be used in "traditional" highlight zones, like your cheekbones and nose, or mixed into your base products for an all-around dewy and radiant complexion!
Promising review: "I am actually obsessed with this product. I was skeptical and thought it was overhyped but it deserves ALL OF THE HYPE. I put a thin layer on my skin and patted on a little bit of light foundation and my skin never looked as good as it did with this product. It just gave me a dewy glow without making me look oily. P.S. I tend to have combination skin and it get's really oily in the T-zone and cheeks, I went to an outdoor concert by the beach and my skin looked great all night!" –desisanchez
Get it from Sephora for $15+ (available in two sizes and shades).
20. A NYX lip pencil you can use to contour and define your lips, or as an all-over product to give your pout a little *color*.
Promising review: "This is by far my favorite lip liner. It looks very natural and perfect for when I over line my lips. I got the shade 'Ever.' Great quality for the price too. Paired with NYX Butter Gloss 'Fortune Cookie.' Looking forward to buying more products!" –Victoria Nguyen
Get it from Amazon for $2.29+ (available in 18 shades).
21. A Maybelline Sky High mascara for anyone looking to take their lashes to ~such great heights~ (and volumes). While you can achieve major results with just one coat, reviewers recommend applying more than one to truly get those I-can't-believe-those-are-real type of lashes.
Promising review: "I’m weird with mascara. I have very light eyelashes so I require multiple coats to fully cover them. Usually when layering mascara it starts to make my eyelashes clump together and it gets flakey. This stuff literally covers all of my eyelashes, including the very short corner ones. It is easy to remove. And it doesn’t flake. It’s buildable and long-lasting." –Libby
Get it from Amazon for $8.50 (available in six shades and formulas, including waterproof).
22. A Live Tinted Huestick Corrector which uses orange pigments to counterbalance the blue and purple tones found in dark circles and spots on your skin. Apply it under your concealer or foundation and see the magic for yourself!
And BTW, this 4-in-1 multi-stick can also be used as a lip, cheek, and eye tint when you apply it over your concealer or foundation. We love a little versatility!
After going viral for her red lipstick hack for under-eye circles in 2015, Deepica Mutyala founded her small business Live Tinted. The Huestick was the company's first product, as well as the first multi-stick made with clean ingredients that balanced out dark circles, spots, and hyperpigmentation. They're made with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and vitamins C and E.
Promising reviews: "I absolutely love every one of these huesticks! My favorite is huestick is Perk. I have been using it as a blush, eyeshadow base and lipstick. It gives such a perfect natural flush of color. Rise is my favorite huestick to use as an eyeshadow base and Origin is my favorite huestick for color correcting. These are absolutely great!" –Alisha U.
Get it from Live Tinted or Ulta, both for $24 (available in five shades).
23. A Beauty Bento Bouncy Eyeshadow Trio by Kaja — the super-convenient stack of stunning shadows that won't take up valuable real estate in your cosmetics bag.
Promising review: "This is genuinely one of my favorite products of all time. Gorgeous shimmer shades that are buttery and blinding! If you're considering buying one, do it! But I would only really recommend the all shimmer ones." –Rosewater
Get it from Sephora for $26 (available in 11 shade combinations and finishes) or from Amazon, also for $26 (available in 13 shade combinations and finishes).
24. The NYX Professional Wonder Stick, which is a dual-sided product to streamline your concealing and contouring needs, so you can get that brightened, sculpted look in a pinch.
To see it in action, check out this reviewer's video!
Promising reviews: "This is amazing on my skin! I have been using a concealer on inner eyes/cheek area and this stick in the contour and highlight areas, then I blend and add a light powder mineral foundation over the whole thing. I find my face stays hydrated and yet not shiny or caked on. Looks really good all day. In fact the longer I have it on the more natural it looks. I recommend for anyone who is older, has dried patches, or under-eye wrinkles that cake, and for nice coverage without looking like heavy makeup! I am hooked! Great price too!" –Chrissytoyou
"I love this stuff. I chose the universal shade. I mostly use the darker shade as a contour, I don't use the lighter one much, but it has a subtle yellow cast to it that helps with under eye circles. The darker one is the most blendable contour I've used. It goes on smoothly and blends out so easily with a sponge. I can layer it if I want it darker. Love this product, added it to my subscribe and save delivery." –D
Get it from Amazon for $7.29 (available in five shade combinations).
25. A Color Riche Lipstick by L'Oréal Paris that looks as creamy and dreamy as they feel. Enriched with argan oil and vitamin E, these lipsticks pack pigment without leaving your lips all dry n' crusty (and thank goodness for that!).
Promising reviews: "Divine Wine is my signature every day lipstick. It goes on smooth, moisturizes, stays put for a long time and does not bleed. It is not too bright or too dark for the office. It gives a just enough lipstick look without overdoing it, simply elegant. I am a light skinned African-American woman and this color suits my complexion well." –MeliMel
I've been using this one for two years. I love the formula it's not drying and the color is beautiful perfect for day to day! I've replaced this lipstick more than three times every time I run out, cinnamon toast is my favorite lipstick color! Will be reordering soon." –Zaida
Get it from Amazon for $5.39 (available in 45 shades).
26. A Fenty Beauty's Pro Filt'r soft matte powder foundation which functions as both a setting powder for liquid base products, as well as a stand-alone foundation. Photo flashback, you've just met your match.
Promising review: "This powder has a BEAUTIFUL airbrush/flawless finish on the skin without being cakey or dry. Kind of reminds me of the MAC studio fix powder foundation if you’ve ever tried that before but even better. The Fenty hydrating foundation was my absolute favorite holy grail foundation for my combo skin but this just might take the top spot as my new favorite. It wears very well underneath a mask too. I did have transfer on my mask but my face was nearly flawless after taking it off after a seven-hour shift. Powder foundation was never really my favorite foundation type but I will always go back to this one. Definitely a must-try." —makaylax97
Get it from Sephora for $38 (available in 50 shades)
27. A L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion to use solo or paired with basically *any* other base product, like your moisturizer or foundation. No, it's not a facial giving you that glow, it's the haphazard makeup application you did while you were half asleep.
Promising review: "Wow. I'm surprised how nice this is for a drugstore product. It's so sheer and leaves a nice healthy glow. I just love it. I wear it under foundation makeup or CC cream for a more natural, glowy, dewy finish. I wear it alone on the weekends over moisturizer and sunscreen. It does even out skin tone a bit. It is moisturizing too...but leaves a nice finish that is not slick or oily so other make up goes on nice and stays on. I have light to medium skin with yellow undertones. I got both light (a little too light and shimmery alone) and medium (perfect by itself) and mix the two to get it just how I want it. Even though I can wear the medium by itself, I like to make it just a bit lighter and brighter because I feel like it gives me a lift. At this price point, if you want to venture into any of the glow-type makeups, this is a good one to try." –Memly
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four shades).
28. A Milani 3-in-1 facial spray that primes and sets makeup, as well as refreshes your skin on those days when you're falling asleep at your desk and not even a cup of coffee can rescue you. The solution? A spritz of glorious hydration on your face (that *won't* mess up the full face you applied that morning).
Time to go wear all of your new makeup products at once! Moderation? What's that?
Reviews for this post have been edited for length or clarity.