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    24 Helpful Products For People Who Think They Suck At Makeup

    If your fairy godmother could put together a list of foolproof products to get you looking ~flawless~ for the ball, this would be it.

    1. Neutrogena makeup-correcting stick so that you don't have to be so anxious about making a "whoopsie" during your beauty routine. This lets you effortlessly clean up smudged eyeliner or mascara, which is more sanitary than using your fingers and more eco-friendly than using cotton swabs!

    model holding the gel eraser stick up to their eye
    Amazon

    Psst — this is also *perfect* for taking on long trips!

    Promising review: "Perfect for travel or quick touch-ups. I was looking for something nonliquid to take when I travel and this is PERFECT! It's very small and slim and works great. Easily removes makeup and works well on my sensitive skin." —sandy

    Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

    2. A tube of Glossier Boy Brow that'll give your brows that textured, voluminous look without the stiffness or flakiness. Just swipe it on like mascara and you'll be rocking a pair of chic Lily Collins brows.

    AnaMaria's before and after photo showing darker, fuller-looking brows after using Boy Brow
    AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed

    Promising review: "Great, easy to use product. Goes on quickly, looks natural but fills everything out. Good for a natural makeup day or something more dramatic depending on how much you layer." —May-Rose R.

    Get it from Glossier or Sephora for $20 (available in seven shades).

    3. A popular long-lasting eyeliner stamp so that the nemesis of your makeup routine is no longer such a hard step. Say goodbye to wasting all your cotton balls (and all those extra minutes you could've used making your coffee) on failed attempts at a flawless eyeliner flick. This stamp will do it for you!

    reviewer wearing cat-eye look created with the winged eyeliner stamp and dark blue lipstick
    reviewer holds two stamps, which each have a slightly curved end for adding a winged eye to black eyeliner

    One side is the curved wing stamp, and the other is a regular fine tip liner for defining the rest of the eye. It comes in a pack of two, one for each eye.

    The Flick Stick comes from New Zealand-based brand and small biz Lovoir Beauty

    Promising review: "Got this before a trip I took a few days ago. I have never been able to do wing eyeliner properly so I was excited to try this. It's very pigmented and goes on beautifully! I've tried other liquid eyeliners before and they were so watery and not close to a dark black I wanted at all but this product was great. I did my makeup and put this eyeliner on at 9 am, traveled two hours, walked around a city for about three hours and it was warm so I was sweating, and then went to an NBA game. After all that time (about 16 hours!), the eyeliner was just as perfect as I had put it on! I love this product and can't wait to use it more often!" —Elizabeth

    Get a set of two from Amazon for $14.98 (available in three sizes and a combo pack). 

    4. touch-up razor and dermaplaning tool that'll let you create the ~smoothest~ canvas for your glam. This lets you quickly shape your brows or remove any of those other fine facial hairs that you just don't have the time or patience to pluck out one by one. Have no fear — it's super gentle and painless!

    Reviewer using the tool to dermaplane their face
    Reviewer with many fine hairs along the jawline before using the tool
    Same reviewer with much smoother and hairless skin after using the tool

    It comes with a precision cover to help you shape your brows to the exact shape you want. Or leave them just how they are. Remember, removing facial hair (or any hair) is optional, not necessary!

    Promising review: "Plucking the more egregious of my thick black hairs is at least a 2–3x/week effort. I opened these rather hesitantly — I mean, they are sharp blades going on your face — took a sip of Prosecco for courage, washed my face and started shaving. I could not believe how easy and quick it was. After a couple of swipes down my cheek, I noticed that it was done. I thought it was going to take a lot more skill and time. First complete face shave (full cheeks, upper lip, lower lip, jawline) over and done with in less than three minutes with outstanding results. So much easier than tweezers and depilatories!! Wow." —Tara D.

    Get a three-pack from Amazon for $5.84 (also available in a pack of nine).

    5. foundation brush — you're bound to love it no matter what your level of experience is. With a perfect balance of soft and firm, it lets you achieve that hard-to-get ~flawless finish~ whether you're blending powder or liquid. Plus, many reviewers mention how user-friendly the bristle design is (especially for beginners).

    Check out TikTok of the makeup brush in action. 

    Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok. I’m a middle aged woman, so it’s difficult for me to admit that. I. LOVE. IT! It gives a flawless finish with little product. I have a compact foundation that comes with its own applicator sponge. I almost threw it out because I didn’t like the coverage. I tried this brush with it, and it’s perfect! It also comes in a plastic case, which is great because I travel a lot with my work and my other brushes get damaged sometimes." —Thayel M. Caison

    Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 13 colors).

    6. A sheer tint BB cream for anyone for prefers something lighter and easier to blend than regular foundation. This oil-free formula gives you allover coverage while mattifying and reducing redness. And bonus! It's got a hint of salicylic acid to help clear acne.

    a reviewer before applying the bb cream
    the same reviewer after applying the bb cream

    Promising review: "Personally, I never liked a liquid form of makeup it was hard to use in my opinion. But this completely changed my mind and I love using it. Super easy to apply for first time make up users." —Rene 

    Get it from Amazon for $7.57+ (available in five shades). 

    7. Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind concealer with a cushion applicator that makes it easy for you to conceal any blemishes or dark circles before you head out for another day of making the world believe you totally did not stay up binge-watching your latest Netflix obsession.

    BuzzFeed editor applying the concealer under eyes
    BuzzFeed editor showing the under-eye coverage
    Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed

    Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord says about it: "TBH, at the start of the pandemic I started using this myself (although this is former BuzzFeeder Kayla Suazo's lovely human face above), and I am mad that I wasted time with other concealers for so long. I am a deeply impatient person who likes to look good and does not like to put in effort in any way, shape, or form, and Maybelline created this so that people like me could gracelessly slap it on in the morning and be like "OKAY, REFLECTION, YOU GOT THIS" before being on their merry way. It never cakes, I look way more awake than I have any right to, and I never struggle to blend it the way I do with other concealers. 11/10 subscribe."

    Promising review: "Throughout high school I never knew how to do makeup. But then I heard this product was the absolute best on TikTok. And trust me, they were not lying. It has really good coverage and hides my 'raccoon eyes.' And the best part is that a little bit goes a long way. So if you’re starting out or want to try something new I definitely recommend you try this out." —Liela Lee

    Check out BuzzFeed's full review of Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer for more deets.

    Get it from Amazon for $7.60+ (available in 18 shades).

    8. A daily lash serum that'll make your mascara step twice as easy because it'll make your lashes longer and stronger within just a few weeks. You'll be resisting the urge to flutter your lashes like a cartoon character every time your S.O. walks by in no time.

    three panels showing a reviewer's lashes over the course of three months
    a reviewer holding a tube of the serum

    Promising review: "I was amazed when my daughter got this product and her eyelashes looked so long without makeup. I had to try it for myself and sure enough it worked for me as well! Now we both have long full eyelashes without any mascara. This product is truly amazing!!" —jenny schillinger

    Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two styles). 

    9. Or these glamorous reusable magnetic lashes that'll have you turning heads one blink at a time. Say goodbye to struggling with glue and wasted lashes — each set of these sticks right to the included eyeliner, so you can finally toss that goopy glue out.

    a reviewer photo of the false lashes, application tool, and magnetic eyeliner
    a close-up of a reviewer's eye with the false eyelashes applied

    Promising review: "I don't have very long or thick lashes and I suck with makeup. I was never able to wear false lashes outside the house. Ever. And this was not my first time trying magnetic lashes. But these ones were so, SO easy to put on. The liner is very liquid so it was easy for me to apply and fill in. I used the last set from the natural lashes side for the look in the pics." —Mona 

    Get an eight-piece set from Amazon for $15.97 (also available as a 23-piece set).

    10. A dual-sided precision brow brush to help you achieve that trendy "clean girl" makeup look. You can use the spoolie side to brush up the hairs, while the angled end lets you easily fill in your arches for a full yet natural-looking brow.

    the brush with a zoomed in window showing the angled and spoolie brush ends
    Sephora

    Life Hack: A dry spoolie is also great for removing mascara that's transferred to your lid during application. I do this all the time! 

    Promising review: "I don't really know how to shape and draw my eyebrows until I use this brow brush! The width of the bristle just fits my eye brow's original shape. It's also easy to apply with brow powder for a natural effect. Love it!" —YoyoZ

    Get it from Amazon or Sephora for $18. 

    11. Plus, an eyebrow stencil kit so that you can perform your brow powder application with confidence. This includes 30 wearable stencils that ensure your brows look ~flawless~ every time. It's also extra helpful for anyone who's ever had an over-plucking phase (the early 2000s did a number on us 🙃).

    a reviewer wearing one of the included eyebrow stencils
    top: a reviewers eyebrows with many of the outer hairs gone, bottom: the same reviewer after using the stencil to fill in their brows

    The kit comes with 30 different eyebrow stencils, a shaping razor, and a double-sided waterproof eyebrow pencil.

    Promising review: "Really great! Surprisingly! I bought these expecting the worst and they were awesome! There are tons of different eyebrow stencil options. I found one closest to my eyebrow shape. I struggle with drawing my eyebrows to match. Their shapes are naturally quite different. This set did a great job. I used my own brow pencil however because the light brown color is very crayon brown. I like a more taupe color for my brows." —Chls

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three colors).

    12. Eyeshadow color removal sponges that'll help simplify the makeup process. This lets you use your go-to eye brush for your whole eye shadow routine by instantly cleaning off even your darkest shades.

    gif showing an eyeshadow brush leaving pigment on an arm, then cleaned in the sponge for a few seconds, then wiped again on the arm showing no makeup is left on it
    product photo of an eyeshadow brush being dipped into the container

    Here's what BuzzFeeder Jenae Sitzes has to say about it: "I picked up this color removal sponge from Amazon after hearing about this hack on TikTok and can testify that it actually works SO well. I'm *so* bad about cleaning my brushes (I know...shameful) and this makes it super easy to clean a brush in a matter of seconds. So even if I'm trying to do a *slightly* more elaborate eyeshadow look for the day, this makes the process of switching colors as quick and painless as possible. Also, it's *super* lightweight, and I've already tossed it in my bag and brought it on vacation with me. This is one of those products I won't be traveling without in the future if I plan on doing eyeshadow at any point — and it means you only need to pack one or two eyeshadow brushes!" 

    Promising review: "This product makes it even easier for me to be lazy when it comes to cleaning my brushes. It also allows me to use the same brush for a makeup look since I can swish away a previous shadow and move on to the next. Great buy. Super easy to wash. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, but when I do finally travel again, I'm sure this will be excellent to travel with and make it so that I only need to bring one or two brushes." —Azaleah Bumpus-Barnett

    Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (also available as a pack of four).

    13. Or, a creamy eyeshadow stick if you want to add a quick pop of glow that requires almost no effort. Just swipe this across your lids — no brush required! — and you're good to go. Plus, they're enriched with vitamins C and E, and you can choose from a variety of gorgeous shimmery, matte, and metallic shades.

    three models each with a different skintone wearing the eyeshadow in a metallic mauve color
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This is my fifth color. This is the best thing to happen to makeup. I can do a smokey eye or a natural one in under a minute. I suck at makeup. This makes it so easy. I am also 51. The Coco color has some shimmer. It does not crease or define my wrinkles. Putty and Clay are amazing." —kristyn

    Get it from Amazon for $16 (available in 53 colors). 

    14. A color-changing BYO Blush Oil — gone are the days of getting a blush only to find out it's anything other than the perfect rosy tone on your cheeks. This oil is designed to react to the pH of your skin so you get a lovely tint specific to *your* skin tone!

    editor dabbing clear blush on cheeks as it changes color to pink
    The green and orange bottle of blush
    Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

    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.

    Fun fact: All of Youthforia's makeup is designed with ingredients that won't muck up your skin if you sleep with it on! 

    Promising review: "This blush product is awesome. For me it only takes two very small dabs on both cheeks for desired result. I also dab on my lips for a great under-color base! I hope they never stop making this product!" —Elise F.

    Get it from Amazon for $36

    15. A pack of self-adhesive eyeshadow shields, a.k.a. your little helper when it comes to eyeshadow fallout or accidental smears. The best part? It also acts as a guide for the perfect winged liner or smoky eyeshadow look!

    four step process of an eyeshadow look created using the eyshadow shields to catch excess makeup that falls underneath the eye
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I've been a certified makeup artist for 12 years. Used for my cousin's wedding makeup, and they worked really well as far as catching fallout and shaping goes, but taking them off, they really stick so just be gentle. Still great." —Andrea

    Get a box of 120 pieces from Amazon for $5.99.

    16. Or a silicone reusable eye makeup shield to guide you through the trickiness that is winged liner while doubling as an under-eye de-puffer — you can pop it in the fridge or freezer and let it be a glorious wake-up treat for your skin in the morning!

    a model holding the silicone shield under their eye while applying eyeliner
    Amazon

    Promising review: "This moon slice is perfect and everything I’ve ever wished for. I wanted an eyeshadow shield that a) wasn’t sticky, and b) was reusable. This particular gadget gets bonus points for being made of silicone, which is stiff yet flexible and fits comfortably — and pleasantly — under the eye. I also feel the grippy nature of the silicone helps catch eyeshadow fallout better than, say, a business card. All in all, this is an amazing little tool." —Kat 

    Get it from Amazon for $14.22 (available in two colors). 

    17. A self-sharpening clear lip liner, which will help you avoid that pesky lipstick feathering. And since it's colorless, you don't have to be so cautious about mess-ups! Plus, since you can use it with any lipstick color, it's the only lip liner you'll ever need. 😉

    the lip liner tube
    Ulta

    Promising review: "I like that you don't have to sharpen this liner! It stays on good and helps my lipstick last longer." —SoonerGal

    Get it from Ulta Beauty for $8.49 (available in 18 other colors). 

    18. A creamy Maybelline matte liquid lipstick that'll feel like ~nothing~ on your lips while adding a gorgeous pop of color to your face. Plus, you'll be surprised to look in the mirror after an extra long day and realize it's still as vibrant as when you applied it.

    Reviewer with red matte lipstick on their face
    BuzzFeed editor with pink matte lipstick
    www.amazon.com, Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

    BuzzFeed editor Emma Lord is committed to this lipstick. She writes: "Personally, I absolutely swear by this lipstick to the point that I haven't used anything else in years (my favorite is the muted pink 'Seductress'). I'm pretty bad at applying anything matte, but this formula and the applicator make it close to foolproof. It lasts a long time and my lips never feel chapped or dry. I also like that when it does fade, it does it in a gradual way that doesn't look obvious or patchy and require an immediate touch-up." 

    Check out our Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick review for more.

    Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in 30 colors).

    19. Or a nongreasy, agave-based tinted lip butter if you'd prefer something that gives you a more subtle touch while requiring much less focus than a more pigmented alternative. With a nourishing mix of shea butter, vitamin E, green tea seed oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil, this'll keep your lips hydrated with a semi-sheer hint of color.

    a reviewer wearing the lip butter and holding up a tube of it
    a reviewer before applying the lip butter
    the same reviewer after applying the tinted lip butter

    Promising review: "I love these sticks. The colors are really nice and can be put on lighter or heavier for desired coloring. They aren't too dark, which I really appreciate and they're buttery soft and don't leave my lips dried, streaked, or blotchy looking." —Alyssa V

    Get it from Amazon for $15 (available in 11 colors and in three-packs). 

    20. A fine-toothed eyelash comb to give your mascara-coated lashes a more "falsie" effect. With just a quick comb-through, you can ditch the gooey clumps and achieve the full, wispy lash look you've wanted forever.

    a model using a fine-toothed comb on their lashes
    Amazon

    Promising review: "Love brushing out my lashes with this after applying mascara. Gets rid of lumpy clumpy lashes and fluffs them to a natural voluminous finish. If you use drugstore mascara that is giving mediocre results, try out this lil device. A huge difference for a small price." —Sierra Jill

    Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (available in five colors). 

    21. An eye primer because it'll make the eyeshadow look you created 10 hours ago look like it's only been 10 minutes. It helps keep your eyeshadow from wearing off, smudging, or creasing, and enhances your eyeshadow's color and vibrance!

    Reviewer showing full eye makeup at 8:30am
    Same reviewer with eye makeup still looking fresh at 6:30pm

    Promising review: "My skin is oily and at the end of the day my eye makeup looks bad. I started using your primer and what a difference. Now my eye makeup still looks good when I get home from work. Can’t believe the difference. I love it!" —Deb Rubin

    Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

    22. An easy-to-use guide wand and eyeliner duo so that you never again have to *literally* hold your breath in order to obtain the ultimate, flawless eyeliner look. This genius wand is designed to help steady shaky hands (who knew that quad shot of espresso this morning would be so strong?) and features a flexible, replaceable silicone tip that's gentle on the eyes.

    a model dipping the guide wand into a small pot of brown eyeliner
    a gif of someone using the applicator tool to apply eyeliner
    Guide Beauty, www.youtube.com

    Guide Beauty is a woman-owned small biz founded by makeup artist Terri Bryant after her own Parkinson's diagnosis made some once-routine makeup techniques more difficult. So she set out to listen to the most common makeup struggles and develop tools to make application easier for everyone!

    Promising review: "I have extremely hooded Asian eyelids and shaky hands so eyeliner has kind of always been insurmountable to me and I had pretty much given up on it before trying this. I bought it with hopes it would work but it's now an actual game changer in my makeup routine. Upon first attempt I was able to do winged eyeliner for each eye in under five min. and the eyeliner has not budged since application. I haven't worn it out yet, but it feels like a pretty strong hold. Overall I'm in love with this product." —Hailey 

    Get it from Guide Beauty for $50 (available in black and brown). 

    23. A light-up makeup mirror, which will stop you from ever again having to precariously lean over your bathroom counter while you try to create the perfect brow shape. This one has a bright LED light, 7x magnification, and brings the mirror right to you (which is *perfect* for travel, too!).

    Promising review: "The suction is awesome; I have moved this mirror every which way and it hasn’t come off once. I’m really pleased with how well it has held up on my vanity mirror. Bending over the counter top to apply my makeup in the morning was driving me wild. It took me a day or two to get used to the magnification but that has actually be super helpful with applying mascara. I’m very pleased." —Jade

    Get it from Amazon for $24.99

    24. And a digital makeup lesson guidebook — your new makeup mentor bestie. This downloadable file comes jam-packed with expert tips, tricks, and diagrams, all designed in an easy-to-digest format so that you can become a pro at everything from skincare to color correction to knowing exactly where each product goes on your face shape.

    a cover of the digital book titled
    Various makeup and skincare charts with categories like Tools, Color Correcting, and a Face Chart for shopping reference
    Olive And Lace Studio / Etsy

    Olive and Lace Studio is a woman-owned Etsy shop run by Amanda, a wife, mom, and veteran makeup artist creating digital resources to aid your own hair and makeup journey, whether you're a hobbyist or professional. 

    Promising review: "I got this for my mom to provide an easy to understand foundation to makeup — she loved it! I love the design and graphics too, very elegant and streamlined." —Tara McMahon

    Get it from Olive and Lace Studio on Etsy for $22.20

    You after enhancing all those beautiful features of yours: