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1. THE PRODUCT: Mascara — Since it applies wet, it's notoriously a breeding ground for bacteria and should be replaced every three months. It's crucial to swap mascara out that frequently since it's applied so close to your eyes, where you *especially* don't want any bacteria buildup or other nastiness.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Essence Lash Princess mascara, a cult-favorite pick with over *200,000* 5-star ratings that gives truly dramatic length without clumping or flaking, and is less than $5. It's also cruelty-free!
Promising review: "I am a makeup artist. This mascara outperforms nearly every other mascara I have used, and I am 55 and have purchased and used an innumerable amount of drugstore and specialty mascaras. All the high priced ones are SUPPOSED to do what this very quiet, low marketed very black mascara does; coats every lash, thickens, and lengthens every time and for this price?!?! Sssshhh, don't tell anyone, lol." —Laura Price
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
And check out our full Essence Lash Princess Mascara review for more details.
2. THE PRODUCT: Vitamin C: A must in any skincare routine due to its ability to brighten dull skin and help repair previous sun damage — but it's a notoriously fragile ingredient and expires fast when exposed to sunlight, so it should be replaced frequently.
A tell-tale sign that your vitamin C has expired is if the product appears darker in color instead of applying clear.
REVIEWERS LOVE: TruSkin vitamin C serum, an affordable, popular vit C for making your skin look like the glowiest, healthiest version of itself without breaking the bank.
Promising review: "I've had acne for over 12 years. I tried medications, pretty much every skincare line out there, but thanks to a random girl on TikTok, I found this product and will never go back. This is the only serum that has helped clear my scars! I never write reviews, but because I noticed a difference within days of using, I had to write one. I’m only on month 2 and I have seen a noticeable difference. My skin looks clear and glowing for the first time since my preteen years. I use this vitamin C serum and a simple wash and moisturizer/sunscreen every day and that’s it!" —Rebekah
Get it from Amazon for $21.97+ (available in two sizes and in packs of two).
3. THE PRODUCT: Razors — They should be replaced after five to seven shaves, or else you risk irritating skin with rusty blades or razor heads clogged with dead skin and hair.
REVIEWERS LOVE: A fresh Gillette Venus razor with a pivoting, rounded head so you can get to all the tricky spots you want to shave without worrying about deep nicks and cuts. It has a water-activated moisture ribbon to provide skin some extra protection (and hydration)!
This comes with a razor and four blade refills.
Promising review: "I can hardly feel this thing gliding across my skin. It’s so smooth! I’ve tried what feels like every other razor, including men's razors, and this is the smoothest and cleanest shave ever! The handle is heavier than expected, but it’s good, I feel like I have better control with it." —Dan & Brittany
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
4. THE PRODUCT: Sunscreen — The number one trick to protecting against skin cancer and an absolute *must* for any skincare routine, but it's also less effective when it expires. And for proper sun protection, you should really be using it up pretty damn fast.
BTW, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends selecting a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher!
REVIEWERS LOVE: Antioxidant-rich Supergoop broad-spectrum SPF 40 sunscreen, which goes on completely clear, making it perfect for all skin tones, and doubles as a primer to prolong the wear of your makeup and make skin look poreless. Best of all (IMO), it protects your skin from the blue light emitted by tech devices, too.
This sunscreen is my holy grail, full stop. I love how smooth it leaves my skin, and it applies practically invisible. This is one of those products I've purchased again and again and again. And since I love applying it, it actually makes me wear sunscreen more — which is the real win.
Promising review: "This is the most luxurious sunscreen I've ever used. It feels so nice on, it makes my skin feel so soft and I think it blurs my pores! It doesn't leave a white cast and it won't cause any other skincare to pill. I let my mother use some and she was blown away by the quality of this sunscreen too! If you aren't sure if you want to buy this, at least buy the mini version just to try it, although you'll probably end up purchasing the full size immediately after you try it! It's that good! You won't regret it!" —SoTru
Get it from Amazon for $18+ or from Sephora for $22+ (available in two sizes).
5. THE PRODUCT: Moisturizer — It should be swapped out every six months to help prevent breakouts and loss of effectiveness.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Cerave AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, a holy grail drugstore option rich with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and SPF 30. Reviewers (and kinda the whole internet) say this affordable hydrating find is 👏 worth 👏 the 👏 hype.
Promising review: "Hands-down holy grail product. I have extremely sensitive skin. No itching, burning, or redness, my skin is combination and it moisturizes very evenly. Even helps with my natural redness and dark circles. Best product on the market." —joseph gauthier
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
6. THE PRODUCT: Concealer — A staple in even the most minimalist of makeup bags for covering dark circles, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation, but even concealer expires after about a year, which can cause skin irritation and breakouts.
Your concealer may collect bacteria even faster if it comes in a jar that you use your fingers to apply from, or if it comes with a doe foot applicator that you use directly on your face.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Vegan Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, which provides medium coverage and wears for up to 12 hours while simultaneously moisturizing skin (aka everything you could ever want in a concealer).
It has an antimicrobial cushion applicator so you can dispense concealer and immediately apply it without a mess.
Promising review: "As a makeup artist using everything under the sun product-wise, I am extremely impressed by this concealer! I use this personally on myself and don't even have to touch the product with my fingers! Blends like a dream and is very light, does not cake in the creases AT ALL, and wears all day perfectly. Totally recommend this to everyone!" —Bioya Shopper
Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in 15 shades).
7. THE PRODUCT: Dry shampoo — Ideal for cleaning up oily roots when you don't have time (or energy) to shampoo your hair or shower — but a bunch of dry shampoos were recalled recently for including toxic ingredients like benzene.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Non-aerosol, benzene-free I Dew Care dry shampoo powder with black ginseng and biotin that helps quickly soak up grease and refresh hair with just a pat of its applicator.
Check it out on TikTok.
Promising review: "Best dry shampoo ever. I have been literally obsessed with finding the perfect affordable dry shampoo. I have tried plenty of sprays, none of them really do the job. I happened upon this product. Let me tell you…changed my world. I washed Wednesday. Used it Thursday, Friday and was blown away. My hair wasn’t greasy. The powder gives your hair a texture so you can get some good lift if you want. Also, I could have gone a third day no wash if I wanted. I am 100% percent happy with this." —Kristina Boddie
Get it from Amazon for $16 (also available in packs of two and three).
8. THE PRODUCT: Facial cleanser — Though crucial for getting all the dirt, oil, makeup, and even pollution off your skin after a long day, it might do more harm than good if you use it past its expiration date.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Cerave hydrating facial cleanser formulated with a combo of ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to remove makeup and grime while keeping your skin barrier nourished and healthy. Boasting over 80,000 five-star ratings (!), it's a particularly great option for folks with sensitive skin or who are prone to acne or dryness.
Promising review: "I got this after seeing a recommendation on TikTok. It's been a lifesaver for me. I have dry, red, sensitive, acne-prone skin. Most cleansers strip my skin, but not this one. It’s been helping keep my skin clear while not drying it for a few months now. If you have dry skin this is a must!" —L. Ashburne
Get it from Amazon for $14.57+ (available in two sizes).
9. THE PRODUCT: Pencil eyeliner — Great for tight-lining and making lashes appear thicker, but it expires after about a year of use.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Creamy Kulfi kajal eyeliner enriched with aloe vera for a dramatic cat-eye or a smudge-free tight-lined look.
Promising review: "New favorite eyeliner by a landslide. The staying power is incredible. No smudging or raccoon eyes and no need to reapply — even 8 hours later. 100% a new staple item in my makeup bag." —MarieNov
Kulfi Beauty is a South Asian woman-owned small business created to celebrate culture and beauty and to empower others to rediscover the joy in makeup as a means of self-expression. "Kulfi" is a colorful South Asian ice cream!
Get it from Sephora or Kulfi Beauty for $20 (available in up to seven shades).
10. THE PRODUCT: Clay masks — They work wonders for clarifying the skin and helping heal breakouts, but once you open clay masks, they're only good for about six months.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Aztec Secret healing clay mask, a cult-fave with 100% calcium bentonite clay folks call incredible for its ability to deep clean pores and help fight acne and hyperpigmentation. People also love it for clarifying their hair and body!
Promising reviews: "A staple in my home. This is the best 'pulling' mask that I've ever come across. You can use it with water or with apple cider vinegar (ACV). I use ACV because it makes the mask more intense and pulls more stuff out of my pores. If you have blackheads, get this now! It will pull that stuff out. It will make your face red for a little while afterward but my redness goes away in an hour or so. But keep in mind, it's 'pulling' so it's going to be drawing blood to the surface. It doesn't necessarily mean you're allergic to the product or too sensitive to use it. I hope you find it to be the excellent product that I do." —Heather Newsome
"I used this product as a 'shampoo' mask for my natural, type 4 hair. (I mix it with water and apple cider vinegar.) It removes all of my product build-up while also giving me definition. It’s now one of my go-to products." —lynn brashears
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
Learn more about the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay in our deep dive!
11. THE PRODUCT: Retinoids — They prevent the breakdown of collagen in skin, improve texture, and bolster elasticity to keep skin looking plump and healthy, but your years-old retinoid is ~probably~ expired by now, which might explain why it hasn't been working as well lately.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Prescription-strength Differin retinoid gel with over 54,000 five-star ratings (!) to promote cell turnover, reduce inflammation, and help clear breakouts for less than $15. This is the kind of product you should be running, not walking, to add to your arsenal — it's almost guaranteed to be your new holy grail.
Promising reviews: "Has completely transformed my skin. I used to get hormonal acne every single month, I still get it now but far less often and severely. Differin has really made a big difference on my quality of life. I have sensitive skin, so I only use it a couple of times a week and always over a light layer of lotion. When I first started using it, my acne did get worse for about a month, and then magically one day, my skin looked amazing. It's worth a try for sure!" —Britt
"I have literally struggled with acne since I was in fourth grade. Often I'd get really deep painful cystic acne which left terrible scars, but other times, I'd get tons of smaller pimples that left their mark long after the pimple was gone. It was nonstop, and I tried nearly everything. I’ve had one blemish appear in the five months since I started Differin, and amazingly, it was gone in a day, and didn’t leave a scar!! FYI, I have sensitive, combination skin that likes to alternate between being brittle dry and baby oil slick." —Angelique
Get it from Amazon for $13.47.
12. THE PRODUCT: Dermaplaning razors — To keep them sanitary and clean (not to mention rust-free), they should be replaced often...like, ideally every few times you use them.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Schick Hydro Silk razors for touching up brows and getting rid of hair on your cheeks and upper lip so your foundation and blush apply *extra* smoothly. They gently exfoliate your skin, too!
Promising reviews: "I'm a makeup artist and kept hearing from others about how face shaving (derma-planing) makes makeup look better and makes skin glowy, and decided why not, let's try it! And I'm so impressed! I wish I had a picture of how much white peach fuzz came off in small strokes as I was using this! I loved it as an eyebrow tool, too.
"It's important to properly cleanse before using as you will be opening up your pores in the process for exfoliating, some of the reviews said they broke out and I imagine it's because they didn't properly cleanse. From research, they recommend not wearing makeup the day you use this and applying moisturizer after. I dipped the blade in rubbing alcohol to sanitize after using, too. I don't know how some reviews said they cut theirselves with this tool, I was nervous to try this because of those reviews but honestly no. Hold the tool at a 45 degree angle, make small strokes downward and hold the skin taut on the area you are shaving, and you'll be fine. Give it a try!" —dl
Get a three-count from Amazon for $5.94 (also available as a pack of nine).
13. THE PRODUCT: Eye cream — It should be replaced after six months of use since it targets such a sensitive area: your extra-delicate undereye skin.
REVIEWERS LOVE: LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream to hydrate under-eyes while reducing puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles using a gold-star combo of brightening vitamin C, gentle rosehip oil, and uber-soothing aloe — for refreshingly cheap.
Promising review: "I don’t think I’ve ever left a review on Amazon before. This eye cream is THAT good. I worked as a makeup artist for years and am still a product lover. I’ve been using an eye cream daily since I was 19 (over a decade), so have tried lots of brands, and this stuff is phenomenal! It’s now become my go-to cream for my face, eyes, neck, AND décolletage. My skin veers toward dry and I haven’t found a face cream I like as much as this that isn’t $75, so I just use it all over. The jar is big enough for that and a little goes a LONG way. Use this cream twice a day under the eye, and you will fall in love, too. I keep telling people about this and sending them the link so they can buy their own. I just randomly found this on Amazon while browsing and feel like I hit the jackpot. I hope they never stop making it." —L.R.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three sizes).
14. THE PRODUCT: Makeup blenders — These get so much use that they can be hotbeds for bacteria and dead skin. In addition to washing them regularly, you should replace them once they start to look funky.
REVIEWERS LOVE: A pack of soft, bouncy Paw Paw makeup blending sponges for applying foundation, blush, concealer, and more so smooth and streak-free, your skin may just look airbrushed. Makeup artists say these work even better than the $20 Beauty Blender at under $2 per sponge.
To use the blending sponge, wet your sponge and squeeze out excess water so that it's damp, not soaking. For extra high-coverage looks, try using the sponge dry.
Promising review: "I’m a professional makeup artist and I can seriously tell you I will never switch again! These sponges are by far better than brands like Beauty Blenders, Real Techniques, etc. They are not stiff, which makes the makeup apply beautifully and seamlessly. My favorite way to use them is to wet them and wring them out. Order them asap! You won’t regret it :)" —Mabel
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95.
15. THE PRODUCT: Tweezers — Over time, tweezers can lose their tension and become dull, making them fail to remove hair effectively and even break hairs mid-pull, which is the WORST (and contributes to ingrown hairs on your face).
REVIEWERS LOVE: Stainless steel Tweezerman slant tweezers, because not all tweezers are made equal, and this cult-fave will latch on to even the tiniest of hairs so you can primp and pluck your brows (and upper lip, chin, etc.) to your exact liking. They're the only ones I'll use!
Promising review: "I had tweezers for a while that were really dull and it was difficult to pluck fine hairs. They were the only pair I'd ever had, so I thought that's just how it was supposed to be. I finally decided to purge them and get a new pair, and landed on these Tweezerman ones. They are so easy to use! They're sharp and get the little hairs easily. I actually like them so much I got a pair for my mom for Christmas as a stocking stuffer, and she loves it too!" —Smileyshira
16. THE PRODUCT: Lip pencils — A must-have for defining lips and adding some extra ~oomph~ to any look, but you should really be replacing them every year to make sure your products stay sanitary.
REVIEWERS LOVE: NYX lip pencil you can use this to define your pout or as an all-over product to color your lips (extra points for topping with some clear gloss for a unique DIY look)! It also acts as a primer to help your lip looks last longer.
Psssst! The Peakaboo Neutral shade is a cheaper substitute for Charlotte Tilbury's popular "Pillow Talk" shade.
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 $4.96+ (available in 11 shades).
17. THE PRODUCT: Liquid eyeliner — It accumulates bacteria easily due to its wet formula, so you should switch it out every three months to ensure your eyes stay healthy.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Nyx waterproof liquid eyeliner for easily defining eyes with a long-lasting matte finish, thanks to its flexible, precise brush tip and vegan, cruelty-free formula.
Promising review: "I am a long time user of this product, somewhere around five years. I'm also a makeup artist so I am always trying new eyeliners and I have to say that this is the only eyeliner you ever need! It doesn't bleed, it's super easy to apply, and it's super affordable. This beats any high-end eyeliner." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $8.72 (available in two colors and in packs of two).
18. THE PRODUCT: Lip gloss — You should toss this lip-plumping staple after about six months of use (I know...major bummer).
REVIEWERS LOVE: Maybelline Lip Lifter gloss, a gloss-balm hybrid that'll give your lips a tinted, glossy shine without any annoying stickiness while *simultaneously* nourishing with mega-hydrating hyaluronic acid.
Promising review: "As a pro makeup artist I find myself reaching for these more than any of my luxe brand lip products. Literally every shade is gorgeous. The large applicator applies the product smoothly and quickly. I cannot say enough good things about this product. An amazing value. Every client I have introduced these to has reached out to me and told me how much they loved the gloss and immediately purchased additional shades. You will not be disappointed." —Justin Case
Get it from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in 20 shades).
19. THE PRODUCT: Foundation — Beloved by beauty aficionados for evening out and perfecting the ~facial canvas~, it should be swapped out every six to eight months to prevent bacteria buildup, especially if your foundation comes in a jar or compact that you apply with your fingers.
REVIEWERS LOVE: An oil-free, pore-blurring, matte-finish Maybelline Fit Me foundation with over 77,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and dozens of shades, so it's almost sure to have your *exact match*.
Reviewers say it gives excellent coverage and wears all day.
Promising review: "I love this foundation. This is the first foundation I have tried that has matched my skin so closely. It gives me medium to light coverage which I personally love since I like wearing this during the summertime. I have acne scars, but this product provided coverage over them. Also what tops it all is that this foundation is matte! I have very oily skin so this thing is my holy grail. If you are wondering whether to get it just read this review. It goes on and blends flawlessly. I bought another bottle just because I love it so much!" —Simpleebekah
Check out our deep dive on the Maybelline Fit Me foundation for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $6.94 (available in 36 shades).
20. THE PRODUCT: Eye primer — *THE* hack for making sure your shadow looks don't crease, especially for folks with oily eyelids, but once it expires it works less effectively. Plus, it's just not a good idea to have old makeup near your eyes.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Elizabeth Mott eye primer for ensuring your eye makeup can hold up for hours on end without rubbing off or smudging. Psst: even makeup artists swear by this stuff.
Promising review: "I am very happy with this purchase! The primer lasted on my client for 14 hours, including 10 hours of on-camera work and running around doing interviews. Pleased as punch! This is what I needed to hear! Finding a good shadow primer is like the holy grail in the life of a makeup artist. I have used many products and wasted a lot of money and I believe I found a winner with Elizabeth Mott’s product! I am thankful and impressed!" —Miss Lilly
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
21. THE PRODUCT: Hairbands — Essential for keeping hair pulled back and out of the way, but after a while, they may get so stretched out they barely hold your ponytail back anymore.
REVIEWERS LOVE: The Hair Edit rolled hair ties, which aren't your run-of-the-mill elastics. Inspired by ballerina 'dos, they're the softest hairbands I've ever encountered, ensuring your strands won't break or frizz in their care, plus they keep hair securely in place without hurting your head or scalp. TL;DR: These are MVP hairbands.
The set comes with dusty rose, burgundy, navy, light blue, and cream colored hairbands.
It's me, I'm reviewers, and I GOTTA say these hair ties wildly exceeded my expectations. I haven't touched any of my other hairbands or scrunchies since — like, I actively dread using any other ones again. These hold my thick curls securely without pulling on my scalp and causing me headaches like countless other elastics have, and they're so soft and smooth that they actually keep my frizz at bay. I've noticed I've had less breakage since I started using these, too. These are the ones you should get, folks — they're more than worth the money.
The Hair Edit is a small biz that curates quality hair products and accessories to elevate your look effortlessly.
Get a set of 10 from Amazon, Ulta, or The Hair Edit for $7.99.
22. THE PRODUCT: Exfoliating towels — Awesome at scrubbing dead skin off your body, they're reusable but should be swapped out regularly to prevent buildup of fungi, bacteria, and even mold.
REVIEWERS LOVE: A pack of K-Beauty exfoliating washcloths that multiple reviewers call a holy grail for their ability to remove dead skin, revealing the ~baby-soft~ skin underneath. Fans attest: these do *not* come to play.
I use these about once a week, and they are *chef's kiss*. Stay in the shower or bath for five or 10 minutes with moderately hot water before using, which will soften up your skin so that when you start scrubbing; dead skin will basically roll straight off your body. Your skin will look and feel as good as new after, and SUPER soft. One of my favorite shower products, and worth every penny.
Promising reviews: "I stumbled upon these from watching a TikTok and I’m so glad I did! Definitely look into how to use them before you start so you do it efficiently and find what works best for you. I use them after being in a hot shower for at least five minutes then I start with long strokes in one direction. These got lots of gunk off my body and left my skin feeling so soft and smooth!" —Mariah C.
"Okay, these things are AWESOME! I watched a TikTok about this gal using them and I figured why not try them. They weren’t expensive and I spend $5 on useless crap all the time. This, my friends, is NOT useless crap. This gets so much gunk off my body it’s disgusting. How can I have so much dead skin on my body!? I don’t know, but this gets it all off and leaves my skin so soft! Just throw some baby oil on your skin after using it and you are good to go!" —Emilee Deveraux
Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $8.70.
23. THE PRODUCT: Blush — You may have multiple blush options and go through them more slowly than other products, but even blush expires — and it goes bad even faster if you use your fingers to apply it straight from a pot or compact.
REVIEWERS LOVE: Tower 28 luminous cream blush for cheeks, lips, and eyelids, inspired by the colors of the Santa Monica sunset. This pigmented, creamy option is sure to be an upgrade from your old rouge: Made with skin-loving ingredients like green tea and aloe vera, it'll make you look like you were kissed by the sun.
I'm obsessed with these blushes. They're the whole package: beautifully glow-y, pigmented and creamy, yet so buildable that it's basically impossible to mess up applying them. They've made me lose interest in all the other blushes I own lol — they're just phenomenal, and I really think no collection is complete without at least one.
Tower 28 is an Asian woman-owned business that makes products designed for sensitive skin. Their products are free of any sensitivity-causing ingredients and are vegan and cruelty-free.
Get it from Amazon, Sephora, or Tower 28 for $20 (available in up to eight shades).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.