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. Essence Cosmetics Princess False Lash Effect Mascara provides a super dramatic before and after. Prepare to get grilled about where you got your eyelash extensions.
Promising review: "Don’t let the price fool you. I reach for this over and over. Great for when you wear falsies too! I have sensitive eyes and I don’t have any problems with this mascara, no flaking, running, or burning. I will buy again and again." —Monica
Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (also available in waterproof and sculpted volume versions).
2. E.l.f.'s Poreless Putty Primer, a TikTok-famous lightweight base primer with TONS of amazing reviews because it helps to reduce the appearance of pores and make your makeup apply like buttah.
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 $8.50.
3. BYO Blush Oil, which is criminally easy to ease. You just tap on a few dots and then blend with your fingers or a brush. It's green in the bottle and then turns *your* perfect shade of pink on your skin thanks to a pH reaction. I use it all the time and adore it!
Youthforia is an Asian woman–owned small business established in 2020 that specializes in environmentally friendly, cruelty-free makeup made with at least 90% renewable ingredients. AND its skin-friendly ingredients means it's OK if you sleep with it on.
Promising review: "Dewy and glowy. I tried it over makeup and it appeared as a strong pink shade but settled to a flushed, glowy 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
4. NYX's Pore Filler (you may have seen its prowess on TikTok) blurs the look of pores and fine lines, making foundation application *much* easier.
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 $9.47.
5. Exa High Fidelity Foundation gives a soft satin finish with anti-pollution ingredients that work OT to protect your skin.
Credo Beauty is a woman-owned small biz marketplace founded by two beauty industry veterans and curated to meet their strict Credo Clean Standard.
Promising review: "I have tried a few clean beauty foundations and this was the best next to another brand that isn't sold at Credo. I actually have two matches!! Anyhow, the shade/undertone range, wear and feel of this foundation and primer (got the set) is by far commendable!!!" —T156 T.
Get it from Credo Beauty for $38 (available in 43 shades).
6. Maybelline New York Sky High Mascara thickens and lengthens your lashes without the clumping you'll experience with other (much pricier) mascaras.
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 $9.98 (available in seven varieties).
7. E.l.f.'s Tone Adjusting Face Primer uses green pigment to help neutralize redness and get your skin nice and silky for your foundation application.
Promising review: "I have tried almost every brand of primer, this one by far works the best. I have red undertones and this covers it without being 'cakey'. In the summertime I use this primer and some loose powder instead of foundation. This is so light and airy it does not clog my pores. This is a must in your makeup routine." —Heatmay
Get it from E.l.f. Cosmetics for $10.
8. Or if you're looking for some SPF too, Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment goes on cooling and smooth, is easy to blend in, and will make you look in the mirror five minutes later wondering where all that redness went! I use it daily as a moisturizer under my foundation and some reviewers even use it as a CC cream. It's *that* good. And it has SPF 30!
Like I said up there ^, I use this every single day and to demonstrate just how well it works, I put it on half of my face in the pic on the left. 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.
Promising review: "I have rosacea on both my cheeks and a bit on chin and also have a couple of acne spots on my chin as well and I’ve tried so many foundations to cover up my cheeks and no matter how full coverage my cheeks will still show through. So I decided to try this and I love it!!!! I use this after primer and moisturizer and then use a foundation (because I fake tan and my face is paler than my body) and my skin looks amazing!!! I’m so impressed! I love makeup but I could never really use a lot of face products because I was embarrassed. Definitely recommend if you have rosacea and want to wear full coverage foundation or even as a BB cream." —elyse1518
Get it from Sephora for $18+ (available in two sizes).
9. Live Tinted Superhue Pigmentation Stick is cooling, balm-to-serum stick that packs in niacinamide (reduces inflammation), bakuchiol (a gentler retinol alternative), and THD vitamin C (encourages collagen production) to help your skin while it's covering up imperfections like hyperpigmentation.
Live Tinted is a South-Asian woman-owned beauty brand founded by beauty blogger and entrepreneur Deepica Mutyala.
Promising review: "I HAVE NEVER HAD A HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT. UNTIL NOW!! Literally SO effective. Tons of people have been complimenting my skin from my boyfriend (who doesn't always notice subtle changes) to my coworkers ONLINE VIA VIDEO! My skin literally looks visibly brighter and smoother. The only thing you have to be careful of is if you freshly wax or thread any part of your face. Wait a day or two to use the product in case you have sensitive skin to be safe!" —Ulta Customer
Get it from Ulta or Live Tinted for $34 (clean, vegan, cruelty-free).
10. Wunderbrow, which is a super-long-lasting eyebrow gel that's waterproof so you won't have to worry about your brow filler sweating down your beautiful visage.
Promising review: "I love this stuff! I’m one of those people who over-plucked in the past and now can’t get the thick eyebrows I once hated back. It does take practice and a little trial and error to get the perfect brow. I usually keep a cotton swab handy and sometimes have to reshape after I apply. It is waterproof and lasts a few days. I am careful in the shower when washing my face to wash around the brows. Photos are me out for a jog without anything on my brows, second is after delivering my baby — yes. After my water broke, I took a shower and applied my Wunderbrow! Lasted through 12 hours of labor and three days in the hospital. =)" —Tiffany Haney
Get it from Amazon for $22+ (available in five colors).
11. Or if you're looking for something a bit more permanent, hair color kit helps you touch up roots, cover grays, or tint eyebrows instead of going to the salon. It's a little bit of effort BUT the reviews and review pics are *quite* compelling.
Promising review: "I purchased the light brown tint because I have blonde hair but like darker eyebrows. This looks amazing! I did apply it twice to achieve a deeper color and left it on only two minutes each time. I do not have any eyebrow makeup on in the bottom picture it’s just the new tint!! I love that I can actually see my eyebrows now without makeup on. I followed the directions as stated on the box and then used the wooden application stick it provided to apply the color. I cleaned up any areas with a cotton swab to define where the color was and then wiped it off with a damp cotton ball when I was ready to remove it!! Super happy with the results!" —Krystal
Get it from Amazon for $13.95 (available in four colors).
12. ETUDE House Zero Sebum Drying Powder made for oily skin that you can easily take on the go to keep your T-zone looking like matte perfection despite every other factor.
13. AJ Crimson Dual Skin Creme Foundation comes in a super handy compact and gives you a dewy look with its buildable formula that performs well for oily, dry, or combo skin.
14. Rimmel Stay Matte Mattifying Primer gives you a smooth finish that'll stay that way for so much longer.
Promising review: "This product works!! I have extremely oily skin which means my face is super shiny within minutes of applying foundation. The second photo is without primer, a few hours after applying foundation….you can see all the shine on my forehead. The first photo is with primer 6 hrs after applying foundation….hardly any shine! I believe in the product so much that I gave a tube to my friend who also has oily skin and she absolutely loved it and uses it now! For the price, you can beat it compared to the expensive brands that are way more expensive and only a fraction of the size." —S. Rodriguez
Get it from Amazon for $4.07.
15. L'Oréal Paris BB Cream neutralizes redness in your skin to while hydrating. Some reviewers use it as a primer, while others find it suffices as a light foundation. Gotta love.
It has five varieties: anti-redness, anti-fatigue, or three shaded options
Promising review: "I swear by this. Been using it for about a year now, it goes on every day and gets all the redness off my face, when I’m in a hurry I just top it off with a little powder and I’m done but it’s a perfect base layer for any makeup routine if you had a lot of redness like I do." –Andrea
Get it from Amazon for $5+ (available in five varieties and quantities).
16. Uoma Beauty Say What?! Foundation was developed with the Fitzpatrick Scale to better help your foundation look perfect while reacting to the sun. Um, why don't ALL foundations' formulations take that into account?
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.
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).
17. The Makeup Eraser takes off a whole face at the end of the day (or just in case you want to start fresh) with *just* water. So it's environmentally friendly AND super soft on your skin.
So really the only thing this can't do is clean your house. This was our mid-price pick for the best makeup removers on BuzzFeed Reviews. And I've used one! For YEARS. It launders really well and is big enough to use for a few days before you have to launder it.
Get it from Amazon for $20. Also check out a three-pack of dupes that work nearly as well and are slightly less gentle for $5.99.
18. TOUCH IN SOL No Pore Blem Primer helps smooth out pores and fine lines for a smooth foundation application. Prepping your skin with the (v easy) priming step will make your makeup look so much nicer!
A bottle of this is currently sitting on my vanity! I've used lots of makeup primers (luxury and drugstore) in the past decade or so and this is my favorite. It's stickier than other primers and moves with my skin — all while feeling light and not like I have an extra layer on my face. I have a lot of acne scarring, some visible pores, and some forehead wrinkles, and this primer helps my liquid foundation glide over my skin so much more easily. The thing about this primer is, once you start using it you may hate all other primers because they'll seemingly do nothing in comparison!
Promising review: "I love the product! Very smooth and easy to apply! One pump does the trick! My makeup applies easily after applying this primer!" —Jasmine
Get it from Amazon for $15.50. Paraben-, sulfate-, phthalate-, and cruelty-free.
19. bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15 is an OG that's way easier to apply than any liquid.
Note that though this has SPF 15, you need more SPF on the reg! According to dermatologists we've spoken to, using at least SPF 30 is preferable!
Promising review: "I have acne-prone skin and suffer from breakouts and large pores. I always thought a liquid foundation would give me the most coverage with the least product and that powder would be patchy... boy way I wrong! This is amazing and makes my pores disappear. It also is the first foundation that seems to have reduced inflammation and acne when I take it off rather than aggravate it. I also love that the shades are versatile so I can get away with the same shade throughout the year if I buff it in well." —Mnm1
Get it from bareMinerals for $32 (available in 30 shades).
20. 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.
Former BuzzFeed Shopping editor 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 $17 (available in five shades).
21. Joah Crystal Glow Tinted Luminizer wears like foundation, and can be used as a highlighter, or to mask undereye circles. It's super creamy and stays put!
Plus that brush on the other end makes it even easier to blend in. I've been using this stick for several weeks as straight-up foundation for days when I have to be on video calls but not in public. Check out the pic of me in #3 for context on how much coverage I need. (Plus, my rosacea is acting up more lately bc pandemic stress!) It's SO quick to put on, plus does a fine job of covering up any dark circles. I normally require a lot of coverage so I'd likely not wear this to a dinner date or to the office (y'all, I wear foundation to the gym!) but it'll do for WFH needs, and would likely be super helpful for people with lighter-duty coverage needs!
Get it from Joah for $9.59 (available in 10 shades).
22. Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer provides the right balance between pallid and orange when applying bronzer. It's tough out there for a building-dweller!
Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury also has an amazing Insta with tons of beautiful before *and* afters that are straight-up RADIANT. So her product might be the next best thing to having her make up your face for you.
Promising review: "PERFECT MOISTURIZER! This adds just the right tint on the days I do not want to wear full foundation. Lightweight and smells great. It's my new go-to!" —abrow54
Get it from Nordstrom for $40.
23. COVERGIRL TruBlend Undercover Concealer targets most anything you'd like to cover up on your beautiful visage. Psst, you can totally get away with skipping foundation thanks to this super blendable stuff.
Promising review: "Not only is the packaging of this concealer cute and classic, but it also provides really great coverage. You only need to use a little bit to get great coverage, the applicator is great, and I don't have any problems with creasing (although I don't have any fine lines either). If you're wanting a concealer similar to expensive brands but at a drugstore price, you'll like this!" —Kayla Williams
Get it from Amazon for $6.50+ (available in 30 shades). Vegan and cruelty-free.
24. Or Tarte Shape Tape Full Coverage Concealer, a more precise holy grail concealer that makeup obsessives have been raving about since it launched because it's so easy to use and ACTUALLY stays put. I too have jumped on the bandwagon. Won't you join us?!
I gave up on concealer ages ago bc of fallout, but I no longer fall victim to that when wearing this! It's full coverage with a creamy, easy-to-blend formula that's also great for contouring. Reviewers with dry skin suggest making sure to use a moisturizer before using (though you should be moisturizing anyway!).
Promising review: "I can't say enough positive things about this concealer! Be sure to apply it with a wet brush/blender and on top of your foundation!!! (it wasn't until recently I realized a lot of women are applying concealer before foundation 😱) Definitely a beauty bag must have!!! ❤️" —RowdyNation#18
Get it exclusively from Ulta for $27 (available in 30 shades). Vegan, dermatologist-tested, and cruelty free.
25. Onset Eyebrow Soap Kit sets brow hairs in place and can be used solo or with some brow pencil to really amp up those arches.
And! This consists of a mild, nonirritating formula that's organic and won't foam or leave any residue.
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 this stuff holds every hair in the place you brush it." —Bailey M, Deacon
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
26. Glossier Wowder puts a damper on any shine as your final step in your makeup routine. My colleague Jasmin (as seen here!) loves its ability to blur the look of pores.
Check out all the deets from my colleague Jasmin Sandal: "I had been meaning to give this a whirl since its release a few years ago, and, boy, I don't know why I waited so long to snag it because this stuff has changed the game. I recently moved from New York to California and, let me tell you, with this change in climate, my skin has gone through every phase imaginable: Painfully flaky with patches of dryness, breakouts beyond belief, and shine, ooh, so much shine you'd think there had been an oil spill. (And I'm telling you all of this because no matter what I put on my face, makeup never sits on it quite like I want it to.)
"Enter Wowder — the pillowy-soft powder that has done the unthinkable: blurred my imperfections and sets my concealer without leaving a chalky residue. Now anytime I catch my reflection in the mirror I literally have to double take. My skin appears smoother and any fine lines look so much softer. A little goes a long way — and now I can leave my house with a little more confidence and return with a look that hasn't wavered."
Oh! And it's vegan and cruelty-free.
Promising review: "I have pretty oily skin and I always look shiny by the end of the day. This setting powder left me with a matte finish that lasted all day. :)" —Sammy
Get it from Glossier for $22 (available in five shades).
27. 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 12 shades).
28. Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint easily builds to saturated hues and stays put for the long haul...perfect for your iced coffee (even when it's cold!) habit.
Promising review: "OMG the velvet perfection. This product applies like an opaque cream velvet lipstick, buttery smooth, not at all drying, and pigmented. The doe-foot is pointed for precision around your cupid's bow and holds enough product for full lips in one swipe. Looks great without any blotting. Transfer-proof and mask approved! Great for a long-wear look, as the stain is lasting. I like to wear this product as opaque velvet lipstick in the morning and by the end of the day it's a beautiful natural rosy stain that I can apply balm over for a natural no-makeup glam baddie look. I use a shea butter-based balm but haven't tested if other balms smudge or move the stain. Stain is mostly removable with regular cleansing balm and completely removable with a gentle lip scrub. Seriously impressed with this product, and amazing price point for under 10. This is the PERFECT lip product imho." —Kenzie Scout
Get it from Amazon for $9.90 (available in 21 shades).
29. Tower 28 SunnyDays Tinted Sunscreen Foundation gives ya' SPF 30 (the bare minimum of SPF you need, folks!) and helps even out your complexion...perhaps even replacing several products in your makeup bag. (The DREAM.)
See why one TikToker likes it here!
Tower 28 is a small biz whose founder, Amy Liu, has struggled with eczema for years. The brand specializes in products for sensitive skin, and everything is also vegan and cruelty-free.
Promising review: "I’ve been looking for a tinted sunscreen for so long and have been through so many brands. After reading an article about this product, I went ahead and purchased. This is what I’ve tirelessly been looking for! Covers just enough, makes me dewy, and provided SPF 30 protection. I will be a lifetime consumer!" —KWally21
Get it from Sephora for $30 (available in 14 shades).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.