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 Neutrogena makeup eraser stick lets you do a quick touch-up on that eyeliner wing that you can't get right or you accidentally smeared before it was set. And it's small enough that you can throw it in your bag on the reg.
Promising review: "Why didn’t someone think of this sooner? For years, I’ve been using cotton swabs dipped in makeup remover to remove little goofs or mistakes. This is so much better and portable! Erases waterproof mascara marks around my eyes easily. Must-buy product!!" —Katherine Riordan
Get it from Amazon for $7.97.
2. LONDONTOWN Illuminating Nail Concealer gives you a no-mani mani that you can quickly brush on before an event you JUST got invited to when you're already out and about.
Promising review: "As much as I would love to have nice, manicured nails, i don’t spend money on manicures. Gels are damaging and regular manicures last a couple of days before peeling. I get regular pedicures bc they last but my hands have looked pretty unkempt for much of my adult life. Until now.
I was definitely skeptical that this polish could be any different from one of the countless neutral Essie shades out there that I’ve tried since the '90s — Ballet Slippers, Light as Linen, etc., — but I decided to give the milky shade a try and I’m so glad I did!!! My nails look incredible. I’m not even sure how to describe why but they look very natural and clean. It’s been a week of wearing two coats and there isn’t one bubble or lift forming on the edges. One coat actually looks great also. I am sold on this stuff. Hopefully it will never be discontinued. So so happy." —Jann
Get it from Amazon for $14+ (available in four colors).
3. LONDONTOWN Kur Instant Smudge Fix, something I wish I knew about eons ago because I'm forever smudging my at-home AND salon manis when I decide to actually put in a lil' bit of effort.
4. An I Dew Care "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo immediately tackles greasy roots without the aerosol formula. I've been packing this for flights where I carry on only and this little puff is EFFECTIVE. Like, I went to New Orleans recently in late May with a blowout I was trying to make last. This kept my oily roots matte again! It's LEGIT.
Promising review: "I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the poof on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn't have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I'm not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again." —Teresa
Get it from Amazon for $16.
5. A beloved-by-the-internet detangling brush gets through any of those extra stubborn tangles *without* pulling out all your hair in the process.
Promising review: "I purchased this brush three weeks ago and have used it every day. I like the brush so much I ordered three more for my adult daughters. Not only is the brush gentle on my gray hair, but it also feels like I am giving myself a head massage. Also, I appreciate the wide hand base design. I have rheumatoid arthritis and it is not always easy to grip an ordinary hairbrush. Plus, the brush is easy to clean. It truly glides through my wet hair." —ANS
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 10 colors and two-packs).
6. BestLan Hair Finishing Stick tames the breakage or baby hairs that never seem to sit in their place. Say goodbye to constantly trying to blow dry them into place or going over the same section 10+ times with your straightener. With a quick swipe, you'll be looking like you spent hours on your hair.
Promising review: "I’m in love with this product! I have super curly hair that loves to frizz and now I can let it air dry, put it in a bun with no more flyaways thank God! It really isn’t crunchy at all and surprisingly it’s not greasy at all which is perfect for me with the curly hair! You won’t be sad you bought this!" —Karissa Chavez
Get it from Amazon for $5.59.
7. Ebin New York 24-hour edge tamer helps you lay down your edges and adds shine — minus the flakes or weight. Even when you use it daily!
Just a note that you don't have to lay your edges, but this is great if you do!
Promising review: "Girl! This edge control is bomb. I have 4b/4c hair and this lays my edges no problem! It even survives the Caribbean heat. It didn’t turn white on me unless I packed too much on, but I just sprayed with some water before I applied and it worked out. It smells GREAT and it’ll last me ages. I bought it like, months ago and I still have about half left and I use it every day. GREAT bang for your buck." —Chelsea R.
Get it from Amazon from $6 (available in five sizes).
8. A volcanic stone face roller removes oil and shine from your face without disrupting your makeup. And unlike oil-blotting sheets, the ball can be popped out and washed so you can use this over and over and over again.
9. *Though* if you can never break up with the OGs, a pack of blotting papers is one of those skincare products you'll always find room for in your bag or pocket. (I know I do!)
Promising review: "I've had oily skin my whole life and used countless types of oil blotting sheets because they're lifesavers. THESE ARE AMAZING. Great deal, big sheets, and they pull out one at a time so easily. Give these a try — completely worth it. They work well and are easy to use." —Kelsey
Get a 100-sheet pack from Amazon for $6.95 (available in three scents).
10. BestLand high-performance matte lipsticks come out to less than $2 a piece but wear like luxury brand lippies, according to reviewers. Sometimes you forget to put on a lip before you leave the house. It happens!
Promising reviews: "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
"Beautiful and soooo worth the money! Usually I always purchase either Stila Cosmetics or Kylie Jenner but both of those are very pricey and expensive, so I looked up matte lip glosses on Amazon and saw this and thought I would give it a try. I absolutely love it. Very easy to put on does not smudge, beautiful colors, very very happy about the size of it! I went and purchased set B now because I love this product!" —Vickyy
Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three shades).
11. Broadway long-lasting clear lip gloss set comes in a set of three and often gets compared to the likes of MAC and Kylie Cosmetics in the review section.
It comes with three different formulas: mint oil that creates a refreshing cooling sensation (perfect for soothing a cracked lip), rosehip oil for reducing fine lines, and coconut oil for deeply hydrating and locking in moisture.
Promising review: "I have tried so many lip glosses from MAC to Kylie to Shea Moisture and Kiehls and I have to say this is by far THE best lip gloss. It is sooo smooth and glossy and doesn’t have that normal stickiness to it, which is absolutely amazing!" —Paige
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $4.49.
12. La Pure Waterproof Eyeliner Stamp I'd be remiss if I didn't recommend it to you because practicing a cat-eye flick is HARD. It's even harder to pull one off when you're touching up your makeup during happy hour in a dark bar bathroom.
Perhaps you're like me and don't feel done up until you have an eyeliner flick. This'll help!
Promising review: "I am not one to write reviews often, but this product has exceeded my expectations! I normally use liquid liners such as Kat Von D Tattoo, but this has drastically reduced the time it takes for me to create a winged look! I personally prefer a longer wing, but this stamp provides a template to work with and reduces the amount of time to create ‘sister’ wings — they’re pretty much twins now! The eyeliner pen itself it’s a bit broad for me, but the pigment is great!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.95 (available in two sizes).
13. Glimmer Glow Stick lipstick is a sheer, buildable color with some shimmer in it. If you're wondering about how the color will look on you, no fret. It's formulated with pH technology to give you the perfect-for-you rosy hue.
Check out a TikTok of the Glimmer Glow lipstick in action.
Promising review: "This is such a pretty pH color lipstick, viral for a reason — it's very pretty to look at, it's not sticky at all, and the more you layer it, the darker the pink shows up. The only thing I don't like is the scent in it, I can almost taste it a bit. It's nice to have in my purse if I need a quick color while I'm out in case of sudden dinner plans or a meeting, because you can control the color saturation to how light or bold it is." —Kristina Bumbelow
Get it from Amazon for $3.99.
14. Alleyoop Pen Pal combines four products in one at the click of a button — eyeliner, lip liner, brow filler, an highlighter pop out of a pen-like contraption reminiscent of that rainbow pen you begged your mom to buy back in fifth grade. It'll def help lighten your daily bag's load.
My BuzzFeed shopping colleague Jasmin Sandal has this and loves it. She says:
"I didn't realize I'd ever use a makeup product in my 20s that had the ability to transport me back to something I used in sixth grade, but here we are; and here I am using a multitool pen... for my face. I gotta say, I love the concept of the Pen Pal from Alleyoop! After using all of the functions (eyeliner, highlighter, lip liner, eyebrow pencil) and as someone who LOVES makeup but was applying as little as humanly possible during lockdown, I think it’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their routine. It's ideal to use for touch-ups come the end of the work day, or a subtle, minimalist way to apply makeup in the a.m. The brow pencil is particularly soft and pigmented, and filled in my eyebrows quickly. I just adore the ease of application of each product, and appreciate the universal, does-it-all-for-you concept. Plus, it saves me so much room in my already overflowing makeup bag!"
Get it from Amazon or Alleyoop for $25 (available in three shades).
15. Glossier Boy Brow is the perfect brow-grooming medium if you want to enhance what you've got but don't want to look like you completely drew on your brows. It fills and shapes with its handy little brush and leaves you looking like you wake up with perfect brows every morn.
BuzzFeed contributor AnaMaria Glavan loves this stuff and tell us: "This magic bottle is proof that not all heroes wear capes. The creamy formula, which comes in blonde, black, clear, and brown (which is what I used!), goes on smoothly and doesn’t require a lot of product to do the job. I used the wand to brush baby hairs in the beginning/middle of my brow upwards, and then brushed the longer, toddler-like hairs at the end of my eyebrows, sideways. And one coat was more than enough! Boy Brow does exactly what the Glossier brand claims to do; it gives me a filled-in eyebrow that doesn’t look filled in. The finish looks natural, which is exactly what I wanted — my facial caterpillars have never looked better."
Yep, and it's cruelty-free!
Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in five shades).
16. The SAEM Iceland Hydrating Eye Stick is a cooling eye stick made with *actual* Icelandic glacial water to depuff your tired under eyes. Oh, and it just feels really, really refreshing.
Promising review: "I have always had serious dark circles and bags under my eyes and this has really changed this for me. The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable. My sensitive skin has not broken out. I never write reviews, but this was so good that I had to write a review. This actually works." —Ben
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
17. Jack Black Lip Balm intensely hydrates thanks to a shea butter and antioxidant vitamin E formula. Plus, it has SPF 25! This is my fave emollient lip balm, and I even turned a friend on to it during a frigid December trip in Vienna where we spent tons of time outside, and her lips were very chapped because of it.
Promising review: "So I have been a loyal Eos fan for quite some time but you constantly have to reapply and honestly my lips are still cracked. I found Jack Black balm from a TikTok video and it has been glorious. I keep reaching for it to reapply and I don't need it. It doesn't feel greasy on my lips but it is a bit sticky? Or waxy. Either way, I don't mind it at all, and it also smells pretty darn good." —Trisha
Get it from Amazon for $10+ (available in six flavors and also in packs of three).
18. A bug bite suction tool removes the irritating venom, and helps reduce itchiness, pain, and swollenness on existing bites. Plus it works on other insect stings. Think about all the scratching you could've saved yourself!
Promising review: "We carry our Bug Bite Thing in the car, take on vacations, etc. Love it. We use for mosquito bites mostly...but I will tell you, my husband actually got stung by a wasp after we bought this and I cant tell you how excited I was! Not for this discomfort of course, but I could wait to see if the bug sucker would actually suck out the stinger...it did!!!!! So satisfying." —E. Horvath
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
19. O'Keeffe's Working Hands Cream soothes dry, cracked hands *while* making them look so much more presentable.
Promising review: "I have terrible-terrible eczema, on my hands and feet. Nothing has helped, only exasperated it. A family member mentioned this product and I gave it a shot. Let me tell you, it decreased the cuts in my hands considerably!!! It feels like I have new skin. Soft and undisturbed by inflammation. I am hyper sensitive, so if I can use this...I give it 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ So soothing. My holy grail!!" —Ally
Get it from Amazon for $8.05.
20. A Cocokind matcha-infused moisture stick glides on oh-so-smooth under your eyes and on your lips to help hydrate and reduce puffiness.
Check out a TikTok of the matcha stick in action. Cocokind is a San Francisco-based, woman-founded small business that specializes in botanical-forward skincare with an emphasis on both physical and mental health.
Promising review: "This is my first time using the MyMatcha stick and I looovvveee it! I have it on me pretty much all the time so I can dab a little bit on my dry spots as I need to. It softens up my dry areas and even decreases the swelling of my acne! I've used it as a moisture stick, an acne anti-inflammatory, and even a fly-away tamer. It's a great multitasking product." —alizza d.
21. A Vaseline balm stick works well all over BUT as one derm on IG points out, is great for slugging your cuticles.
Get it from Walmart for $5.92.
22. Peach Slices acne spot dots, an especially welcome find for anyone who wishes these were a thing YEARS ago (meee). And if you go through pimple patches quickly, your wallet will thank you because these run cheaper than — but reviewers say are just as effective as — pricier brands.
Peach Slices is part of Peach & Lily, a skincare brand founded by celebrity esthetician Alicia Yoon that specializes in toxin-free, vegan beauty products made with recyclable packaging. The company plants a tree with each order, and a portion of its proceeds have gone to to Restore NYC since 2016.
Check out a TikTok of the acne spot dots in action.
Promising reviews: "This brand is so affordable and works just the same as the more expensive brands. I go through them so quickly so this is a plus! I’m generally a picker at my zits, but if I can get to one of these dots in time I save my face a lot of irritation and pain." —Savannah Wilson
"So I have been usually these for about a year now. I have tried Mighty Patch and a few others, none I feel really worked or worked as well. This product is MY GO-TO and I have turned so many others to it." —Melodie G
Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $4.88.
23. A set of Goody hair spin pins take care of the hard work in creating the *perfect* bun. You simply put your hair in a pony, wrap your hair around the base of said pony, and then secure with one pin on top of the bun and one pin on the bottom. This is a pretty quick way to make your hair cooperate.
Promising review: "I'm a nursing student and have to wear my hair in a bun every day. I've tried all the bun makers, watched YouTube videos, and spend way too much time on getting my hair into a bun. I was able to make a pretty bun that was secure in under 30 seconds. I thought it was a fluke so I did it again, and then again. I just ordered two more packs because I know if I lose one of these, I'd have to tear the house down looking for it. I have hair to my mid back, and three of these worked perfectly for me. If I can get my hair in bun in under 30 seconds, trust me...anyone can." —Tina
Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (also available in a three pack).
24. A six-pack of scarf scrunchies gives you a one-and-done task of putting up your hair and adding a glam touch even if you have to do some REAL math to figure out the last time you washed it. Tomorrow is never promised. Put off a wash and blow-dry session when you can!
Promising review: "I wear ponytails a lot as I transition to a natural gray with my curly hair. Using 'unique' hair accessories helps with making a plain, boring, and simple haircare routine way more interesting, and the material is a welcomed safety to help reduce breakage when wearing ponytail scrunchies. I plan on ordering other colors in the near future. You can't go wrong with this purchase!" —Tru
Get them from Amazon for $9.99.
25. Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm with SPF 15 I can personally vouch for. It's easy to put on without a mirror, is super moisturizing, and has color that tints your lips for the day. If you're afraid of lipstick, this is a safe bet. I keep not one, but two(!) in my purse at all times.
Even on days when I'm feeling sick or have to pull myself out of my bed because I *do* have to earn a living,
Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in five shades).
26. Meebak Cica Sheet Masks gently soothe sensitive, irritated skin thanks to ingredients like green tea, cherry blossom, damask rose, and, obviously, cica. Go ahead and slime it up during a random I'm-bringing-wine-to-your-place catchup sesh.
The sheet masks are made of natural lyocell and cotton cupra, resulting in its silky soft feel.
Meebak is a Korean woman-owned small biz with products that center around the ingredient cica, also known as centella asiatica, or tiger grass, a herbal plant that has natural healing properties and has been used for thousands of years as an herbal remedy to calm and soothe skin.
Promising review: "Love this sheet mask! It's soaked with essence so it deeply hydrates but does not feel sticky or oily at all. My skin feels cool when I apply on my face. It has a sort of soothing effect. And what I love most is that I have sensitive skin but it didn't react at all and I didn't feel any irritation whatsoever!" —Jamie
Get a pack of five from Meebak for $5.97 or from Amazon for $5.98.
27. A stick of Gold Bond Friction Defense stops chafing caused by sweat before it even starts. It's sooo good and better than any other competitor in the thigh-saving category. But really. I have thick thighs and swear by it!
Promising review: "Whoooo sometimes I feel as if a fire is going to start between my fat thighs, but with this stuff they just glide right on by each other, it has been a summer life saver. Only thing is you have to pack it on and reapply maybe 4 hours in, so bring it along for the ride. I will be buying again." —Ash
Get it from Amazon for $6.
28. Kulfi Beauty Main Match Concealer leaves you with zero caking or creasing — just the stuff you want on your face zhuzhed a little more zhuzhed.
Kulfi Beauty is a South-Asian, woman-owned small biz.
Promising review: "I have dark circles that I've just lived with for years because I couldn't find a concealer that looked natural. Trust me when I tell you I've used the best-selling concealers, but they all looked cakey and/or clownish.
Kulfi's concealer is a miracle product. First, the doe-foot applicator is the softest thing in the world other than a chinchilla. Seriously. I dab a few tiny dots of this product, which is the PERFECT MATCH for my skin and tap it on with my finger just where there's discoloration. If I'm feeling fancy, I use a concealer brush. I do NOT use a setting powder. It doesn't crease or cake. And I don't have reverse-panda-eyes.
FYI, I have hazel eyes, brunette hair, light skin tone, combination skin. My concealer match is Coco Crush." —Judie
Get it from Kulfi Beauty for $26 (available in 21 shades).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.