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 pack of multipurpose dermaplaning razors makeup artists love for shaping eyebrows and removing peach fuzz on cheeks and the upper lip area. It helps make sure your foundation and blush applies *extra* smoothly.
Promising review: "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).
2. The cult-famous Essence Lash Princess mascara that gives truly dramatic length without clumping or flaking. It's cruelty-free, has over *200,000* five-star ratings, and is less than $5. Makeup artists only ask that you keep this holy grail find on the DL.
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.
3. A vegan, pro-approved Maybelline Dark Circles treatment concealer for when you were up all night watching Love Is Blind but need to look like a ~well-adjusted and rested human~ at work. It's medium coverage and wears for up to 12 hours (while simultaneously moisturizing your skin)!
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 $6.60+ (available in 16 shades).
4. A waterproof eyeliner stamp makeup artists love as a hack for applying an expert wing perfectly on the first try, because even the pros admit they need help getting this notoriously tricky look right.
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.
Promising review: "I can’t even with the 🎉awesomeness🎊 of this product! I live in Florida with the humidity and this DOES NOT BUDGE!!! Easiest eye EVER and perfect for those who have a hard time with this look! Even we makeup artists (I personally have over 20 years experience) will take an easy way out!! Why make it hard when it doesn’t have to be?! That is what I teach in my makeup classes and this will be a STAPLE in my classes!!! Love this so much!!!" —Natalee Goehrig
The Flick Stick comes from New Zealand-based brand and small biz Lovoir Beauty.
Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in three sizes and a combo pack).
5. An eye primer MUAs use to make sure shadow looks on their clients can hold up for hours on end without creasing or smudging. If you don't use primers for your eye makeup yet, trust me, it's game changing — especially if you have oily eyelids like I do.
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.
6. A multitasking cruelty-free eye cream with a gold-star combo of vitamin C, rosehip oil, and aloe that MUAs use to hydrate under-eyes and help reduce puffiness, fine lines, and dark circles.
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 four sizes).
7. A pack of soft makeup blending sponges makeup artists say work even better than the $20 Beauty Blender, especially at under $2 per sponge. You'll love your new application trick for its efficacy *and* its price.
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, trying 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.
8. And a foundation brush with thousands of dense, soft bristles that MUAs use to apply makeup without streaking or absorbing (read: wasting) any product. YES PLEASE.
This brush is best used wet for applying makeup and can be used on powder or liquid formulas.
Promising reviews: "I was looking for a makeup brush and came across this little gem. I was hesitant for a couple of reasons. First off, the price! I thought surely nothing of quality could come at this price. Also, I wasn't familiar with this brand or type of brush. After reading some reviews and researching a bit more I figured why not. After all, its cheap enough. I was beyond surprised when it arrived. First of all it came in this little container that can be great for travel or just storage in general! Loved that! Then felt the bristles and used it for the first time. Wow! Just wow! It worked amazing. I use it for blending foundation and it works 💯 better than expected. I can't believe how impressed I am with this product. It feels wonderful on my face and is completely easy to do a quick wipe off. Its definitely worth the low price. Give it a try!" —Jennifer Reinhart
"As a professional makeup artist who has worked on actors, this brush saves so much time and it's BETTER than the Beauty Blender. No joke. Try it!!!" —Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in 10 colors).
9. Maybelline Lip Lifter gloss to give your lips tinted, glossy shine without any annoying stickiness, while simultaneously nourishing with mega-hydrating hyaluronic acid. It's like a perfectly colored lip gloss–lip balm hybrid.
Promising review: "As a pro makeup artist I find myself reaching for these more than any of my lux 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 12 shades).
10. A pack of 24-karat gold cooling eye gels packed with hyaluronic acid, collagen, and seaweed that makeup artists love for depuffing and moisturizing the delicate under-eye area, and for helping reduce under-eye circles. TL;DR: These masks are a pro must-have not just because they feature glam 24k gold 🤩 but also because of their seriously powerful results.
Promising review: "As a makeup artist, I’m always trying to find new products to moisturize the under-eye area, which is a particularly dry area for most of my clients. I absolutely love these patches, as they also help with dark under-eye circles! I usually keep them in the fridge so they are cool when I place them on my clients' faces, leave it for 10 minutes and it immediately looks like they got the best facial of their lives!!! Love these masks, can’t live without them! So easy to use, and a great beauty hack for under-eye puffiness and dark circles!!" —Fernanda
Get a pack of 20 pairs from Amazon for $17.97.
11. A bestselling, oil-absorbing facial roller made of real volcanic stone that pros use to quickly mattify skin without disturbing makeup.
The facial roller is also small enough to fit comfortably in your makeup bag.
Promising review: "As a pro makeup artist, I need something super quick for on-set touch ups that won't spill powder everywhere. This thing works great for quick and easy shine control!" —Becky Laschanzky
Get it from Amazon for $14.49.
And check out this pack of natural bamboo charcoal blotting papers for another tried-and-true method for getting rid of facial oil while preserving makeup.
12. A vegan and cruelty-free makeup setting spray that'll have your makeup looking as perfect at the end of the day as it did when you applied it that morning. It promises to extend makeup wear to 16 hours, though reviewers say it works for even longer — and lasts through sleep, sobbing, swimming, and more.
Promising review: "I worked as a makeup artist for years, including with major brands like Lancôme, Clinique, Estée Lauder, Mac, etc. I could not find anything that worked this GREAT! I still get amazed at how busy I can get and at the end of the day, my makeup still looks fresh. So worth the little money spent on this product. I just love it!" —Geri
Get it from Amazon for $9.12+ (available in two sizes).
13. A lightweight yet sturdy eyelash comb to clean up your mascara so your lashes will be neat, clump-free, and look fuller (a *major* improvement over using tweezers, bobby pins, or (god forbid) pins to separate your lashes).
The metal on the comb is anti-rust and easy to clean, and comes with a protective cover for maximum hygiene.
Promising reviews: "As a pro makeup artist, this is an excellent tool to have in my kit. Excellent for removing mascara clumps." —Lady Marina
"One of the best-kept makeup artist secrets." —Karln Savitz
Get it from Amazon for $4.49.
14. A smudge-proof Maybelline matte liquid lipstick so easy to apply, you won't feel like you're even putting on a matte lip — until it's been on your lips a full day after you first applied it, like it was for this makeup artist.
Promising review: "Wow! Very happy and need to order in more colors. I’m a makeup artist and I test longevity of wear on all my makeup. I literally still had lipstick on the following day after putting it on at 3 p.m. the day before. It is matte so if you have dry lips I suggest you exfoliate prior to use. Definitely buy!" —S.S.
Check out BuzzFeed's Maybelline liquid lipstick review for more.
Get it from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in 34 colors).
15. A bottle of Tower 28's SOS Daily Rescue spray that MUAs use in their pro and personal kits to balance pH and gently calm inflamed skin. The formula contains hypochlorous acid, a groundbreaking ingredient that strengthens the skin barrier and minimizes irritation, which is also found naturally in our white blood cells.
Spritz on your skin morning and night, or whenever your skin needs a little extra TLC.
I finally bought a bottle of this, and I'm so glad I did. It soothes my parched skin, and I can tell it's calming irritation, too — I recently noticed an incoming perioral dermatitis breakout (an acne-rosacea hybrid that's notoriously difficult to treat), and after a few days of using this, the bumps and redness on my face were completely gone. It saved me from needing to scramble for an expensive treatment, which is kind of unbelievable. It also makes my skin feel more hydrated and more balanced. This thing is understated but mighty, and has a permanent place in my skincare collection.
Promising review: "This is a must-have in both my professional kit and my personal kit. Tower 28 doesn’t disappoint with any of their products and this is no exception. Amazing for prepping your skin before makeup application, helpful in reducing redness and keeping your skin hydrated so makeup looks flawless. Your skin feels instantly refreshed and dewy." —jlopez2397
Tower 28 is an Asian woman-owned business designed for sensitive skin. Their products are free of any sensitivity-causing ingredients, and are also vegan and cruelty-free.
Get it from Sephora or direct from Tower 28 for $12+ (available in mini, full, or value sizes).
16. The infamous Weleda Skin Food cream to intensely nourish dry skin with chamomile, pansy, and rosemary so you'll get a moisture boost that's downright luxurious. It can also be used as a makeup primer!
Promising review: "This is the best moisturizer I have ever used. I’m an esthetician/makeup artist and have spent so much money on skincare. This is by far my favorite product. I use it at night, mainly on my face, and my skin soaks it right up. Does not break me out. I love a dewy look to my skin so I also use it under my makeup. You have to warm it up in your hands before applying. It will leave a glow to the skin. It makes skin sooo much softer and decreases texture and discoloration. It has a herbal smell, which I enjoy, but it’s an acquired smell. I’ve read reviews saying it doesn’t absorb but I didn’t experience that. I use a pea sized amount, rub it between my hands for five seconds and pat it gently into my face. I have combination to oily skin." —Alex pope
Get it from Amazon for $14.24.
17. A Rare Beauty blush the entire internet is obsessed with for its super pigmented, buildable shades that look stunning on all skin tones. The pros attest: It's gonna be hard for any other liquid blush to beat this one.
Promising reviews: "A holy grail blush! You need it as a makeup artist. Pigmented, easy to blend, and super long lasting! Yassss Queen Selena!" —dallasmus
"I'm a makeup artist and have used this on every skin tone imaginable and it blends seamlessly! This even works on top of powders too, which is amazing!" —TheKingKasie
Get it from Sephora for $23 (available in six shades).
18. A pack of 40 acne patches to treat and heal blemishes using hydrocolloid *plus* tea tree oil and calendula to soothe irritated skin and reduce redness. They're extra thin without sacrificing any effectiveness, so you can confidently wear them to work, school, and when you go out. (They're so good, MUAs even use them for emergency blemish coverage on clients' wedding days).
I recently tried Avarelle pimple patches, because *yes* I love a good hydrocolloid patch like little else. I wasn't sure whether these would be any different from the patches I already had from another brand, but I was so wrong. The Avarelle patches drew out gunk more effectively from my blemishes and gently sped up the healing process (I think because of the calendula, tea tree, and cica). My sensitive, reactive skin loves this stuff. I also could tell immediately that the patches were in fact thinner and more transparent than others I've had, which especially given how well they work is quite a feat. Will be a repurchase for me for sure.
Promising review: "Overall great experience, was pleasantly surprised. I'm a makeup artist and use this for emergency blemish coverage with brides and grooms." —Mavis Kirk
Avarelle is a small business that aims to make the best skincare that's also honest and affordable. All their products are vegan and cruelty-free!
Get a 40-pack of the small patches from Amazon for $8.49 (also available as a pack of 80).
19. Alcohol-free micellar water infused with rose water and glycerin to gently cleanse skin, hydrate, and remove makeup, with no rinsing required. Essentially, a low-maintenance dream.
I've used this micellar water for several years and *love* it for my sensitive skin! It's especially great for days when I don't have the energy to drag myself to the bathroom to properly wash my face. I keep a bottle of this by my bed and just soak a cotton pad with micellar water to clean my face.
Promising review: "I am a makeup artist with very sensitive skin. I break out from everything, including a certain famous makeup wipe. This stuff is amazing! It even takes off waterproof with a few swipes. For harder to remove makeup I just hold down a cotton pad for a few seconds then wipe it off. I will stick to this from now on. I recommend it to everyone. It also has a nice rose water scent that isn't overpowering. My face feels moisturized and refreshed afterwards." —Amanda G.
Get it from Amazon for $7.97.
20. An award-winning, long-wearing multipurpose lip, cheek, and eye pigment meticulously designed by makeup artist Danessa Myricks in an array of glossy, matte, and metallic shades so your makeup will *literally* be green lit by a professional. BTW, I own one in the shade Chocolate, and it's bomb.
Promising review: "Colorfix is a makeup artist's dream. If you want to create a bold opaque eye, vivid liner, or budge proof primer then you will LOVE this product. I use this on photo shoots and on myself daily and there is no product like it on the market." —gabbyfishermua
Danessa Myricks is a Black woman makeup artist–owned small biz that makes unique, high-performing, multifunctional makeup.
Get it from Sephora for $18 (available in 21 shades and finishes) or from Danessa Myricks Beauty, also for $18 (available in 50 shades and finishes).
21. Cult-fave, ~multi-talented~ Mario Badescu Facial Spray pros use to rejuvenate skin and refresh makeup with little to no effort. You can even use it for your hair when it needs some quick moisture!
Try storing it in the fridge for an extra pick-me-up on hot days — it's a game changer!
Promising review: "I'm a professional makeup artist, and I couldn't LIVE without this stuff. My clients love it, too. It smells amazing, gives your skin a nice glow, reduces redness, and can even set or refreshen your makeup! Awesome, awesome stuff." —Amazon Customer
Check out this BuzzFeeder's Mario Badescu Facial Spray deep dive for more info!
Get it from Amazon for $7+ (available in two sizes and various packs).
22. A blurring setting powder to give you smooth, pore-less, matte skin for up to 14 hours. You know it's the real deal when a makeup artist is using it on THEMSELVES.
BuzzFeed Shopping writer Jordan Grigsby owns this and swears by it. She writes "I love love love this stufffff, omg. My skin is oily oily (gotta say it twice for emphasis) and I have spent my entire teen/adult life looking for products that'll make me matte and KEEP me matte. I've tried so many setting powders and literally none can compete with this one. This powder is a serious bad B. I mean, pores? Nonexistent. Oily shiny face? Not up in here. BTW I am a brown-skinned woman and the translucent shade works perfect for me. No caking, no flashback, nothing. Looks just like my skin!!
One/Size is a queer, Filipino-owned business founded by makeup guru Patrick Starr to ensure that makeup is really one size fits all.
Promising review: "A friend told me this powder was amazing, and WOW, I cannot say enough good things about it! It smoothes my pores and fine lines flawlessly. I’ve been using it on myself but as an MUA I cannot wait to use this on my clients! Definitely recommends" —chloest
Get it from Sephora for $18+ (available in two sizes and finishes).
23. A sharpener (boasting over 17,000 5-star ratings) with two sharpening sizes that'll fit your jumbo and regular pencils, so your sharpener will no longer be constantly breaking...and then spilling all your shards and shavings in your makeup bag or on the ground for you to clean up.
Promising reviews: "I have used this sharpener for over 20 years. It doesn’t break, I just lost mine. You can’t find it in the store. It sharpens lipliners or small eyeliners, and it sharpens large pencils as well. It keeps the shavings in the back, so the only time to remove is when it needs to be emptied. REVLON: Do not ever stop selling this beauty holy grail of sharpeners." —MrsMommyLoves7
"I’ve been a professional makeup artist for 13 years. This is the sharpener you want." —Drea Lorraine
Get it from Amazon for $3.12.
24. An ergonomic ultra-fine continuous water mister, aka the hack to perfectly touching up your hair and refreshing your face that you've been searching for. It's aerosol-free, so it's better for the environment *and* for you, and releases its fine spray with just a gentle squeeze so you don't have to tire out your hand squeezing, and squeezing, and squeezing to get the coverage you want.
It can also spray 360-degrees with 98% water evacuation, so it's designed not to waste a single drop of liquid!
Promising reviews: "Another amazing product TikTok made me buy. Was looking for some thing for when I wet my hair in the mornings. My old typical spray bottles kept breaking or leaking. This one has a longer spray time and the mist is perfect when I don’t want to get my hair too wet. All in all worth it especially for the price." —M. Zuniga
"I’m not one to write reviews, but trust me this bottle is a must-have. It sprays easily without needing to apply much pressure. I’m a makeup artist and I’m in love with this product. Will buy again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" —Andrea
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes and in a pack of three).
25. A Nyx glitter primer MUAs use for keeping sparkly looks in place, whether you're rocking a metallic eye look or some body art.
Promising reviews: "Loooooove this. I've used a lot of glitter primers and usually they work for a little while an hour, maybe two, and never up against sweat. I used this on Halloween and am now using it to swatch any of my glitters for nails or makeup. And this holds AMAZINGLY. I did dishes and made lunch while having the pictured snowflake on to swatch glitter colors and it did not budge, I had to use micellar water and a makeup wipe just to get it off a little. So definitely recommend!" —Seriously Lacqueing
"I’m a professional makeup artist and I use this on all my glitter-eyed brides. My brides always gave me positive feedback about glitter staying all throughout the day/night. I would recommend this 100%. Also, for the price it is WORTH IT." —Shruti
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
26. A versatile Urban Decay Naked palette filled with rose-hued neutrals that MUAs say can create looks for just abut any event you go to, whether that's work, dinner with your in-laws, a night out, or literally your wedding.
It contains 12 shades, with matte, shimmer, and metallic options. It's also cruelty-free.
Promising reviews: "Beautiful colors! I'm a professional makeup artist and this is my favorite palette. I actually love the brush that comes with it, too." —makeupdiva12001
"All the brides I've had always ask me for looks that this palette holds. Goes well with a lot of natural looks, whether meeting your mother-in-law for the first time or a midday brunch. Looks amazing on older clients, too. Highly recommend this to all makeup artists, folks with lots of brunch dates and people over 50 that want to look radiant and fresh! Love love love!" —BeautifulEden
Get it from Sephora for $59.
27. And some eyeshadow patches to catch any eyeshadow that might fall while you're applying it, so the rest of your makeup doesn't get ruined. Pros also love it for making eyeliner and shadow lines sharp as heck.
These babies have adhesive on back so nothing moves around in the process.
Promising reviews: "My prayers were finally answered. I’ve been looking for something like this for a long time. It keeps eye shadow from getting on the cheeks, which tends to happen every time I apply eye shadow. These strips catch all the falling eye makeup. I’m glad I found them. Highly recommend." —Frequent shopper
"I am a makeup artist and I love these for sharp lines. I will say the adhesive is very strong so my tip is to stick it in the back of your hand twice first and get some of the strong adhesive worn down." —Leila VonSleichter
Get a 120-pack from Amazon for $6.99.
28. A lip-plumping gloss set for making your lips so luscious and full, you'll feel like you got fillers — for a literal fraction of the price and without actually injecting anything into your bod.
You'll get one lip plumper and one minty sleeping mask for your lips.
Promising reviews: "I loved this stuff, it was magic. The evening moisturizer was fabulous. It is the first plumper that actually works for me. Will be buying more for gifts!!!!!" —Alexandra
"I love this duo!!! I am a makeup artist so I've tried almost every lip plumper on the market! This is a great value since you get two different products for lower than the cost of one tube by other brands. Keeps my lips hydrated as I live in dry Arizona. I'm so excited I came across this!" —Mandy Burden
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.