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 tube of Essence's Lash Princess mascara (over 208,000 5-star ratings!) — it defines and separates lashes to give you the bold look you usually need ~falsies~ for. Not anymore! Plus, it'll last all day — even in hot weather — without clumping, flaking, fading, or wearing.
Here's what BuzzFeed editor Kayla Boyd has to say about these:
"As someone who isn't a big fan of false lashes (the glue irritates my eyes and I'm terrible at applying them) this budget-friendly holy grail does the trick for both lengthening and volumizing my lashes. After you've given it a minute to dry, it lasts all day long and doesn't smudge or fade. It seriously gives the effect of false lashes, without the discomfort."
Promising review: "After using Lights, Camera, Lashes by Tarte for the past year, I got tired of breaking the bank over mascara. My sister suggested Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect and I IMMEDIATELY fell in love. It provides dramatic length and great volume. I can honestly say I can’t stop looking at my eyelashes in the mirror every single day because of how awesome they look. Also, it is very long-wearing. I go from an eight-hour workday right to the gym and sweat like crazy...and this stuff doesn’t budge! I love it!!" —Carrie E Weikert
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
For more info and review pics, check out Kayla's full review of the Essence Lash Princess Mascara!
2. A splurge-worthy bottle of Olaplex No. 3 (over 86,000 5-star ratings!) for anyone looking for something that'll help bring dry and damaged hair back to life. If you're always bleaching and coloring your hair, try this and thank me later!
Here's why BuzzFeed editor Melanie Aman loves this stuff:
"I went from very dark brown/almost black Asian hair to platinum blonde, a color I've maintained for almost four years. I truly believe the only reason I still have hair on my head is because 1. my colorist is amazing and 2. Olaplex. Despite having pretty strong hair, I remember globs of it breaking off in the shower right after I bleached my mane. In a panic, I bought a bottle of Olaplex and my hair has been thanking me ever since. I hate how expensive a single small bottle is, but I truly can't be without this. It's reduced breakage and brittleness, minimized frizziness, and just generally helped my hair look healthy."
Promising review: "Has done wonders for my hair. My hair was fried by an inexperienced stylist, and my old stylist recommended this product to restore my dry, frizzy, stripped hair. It worked wonders right away, although over time it's gotten even better. When it was damaged, this took it from standing on end to soft enough to style lightly. And now it's incredibly strong and well moisturized. I typically use it once a week these days (wash every three to five days), but I was using it every wash and leaving it in overnight." —Erin Yezbick
Get it from Amazon for $30.
Check out our full Olaplex review for more deets and some before and afters that'll make you buy this in bulk.
3. A hydrating Laneige's Lip Sleeping Mask here to save your lips from a long, cold winter of being dry and chapped. You won't believe how soft and moisturized your lips will be thanks to this! It has over *10,000 5-star ratings* on Sephora for a reason.
BTW, some people use it as a daily lip balm or lip protectant over their lipstick too!
Promising reviews: "Holy freakin grail!! I pick at my lips so they’re constantly chapped and raw. I used this once and by the second day all the dry/dead skin had come off and my lips were softer than I’ve ever felt. Totally worth the money and smells amazing!!" —Anissamarie01
"I swear by this!! I have dry skin and lips in the winter and this is literally the only thing that keeps them hydrated while making my lips look glossy! I even layer some lip color underneath when I go out. I know it’s meant for when you sleep, but I use it as my normal everyday lip moisturizer. Awesome product!" —SammieAnd
"Lives up to ALL the hype. Holy grail amazing product. I have been Chapstick-obsessed since birth, and this product goes above and beyond. I carry it around in my purse and use it every day and my lips look super glowy and hydrated, and it lasts a long time after application. I'm slowly collecting every shade." —honeycbxdger
Get it from Sephora for $24 (available in seven scents) or from Amazon for $22 (available in four scents).
4. An adorable octopus-shaped blackhead remover that'll be your new main squeeze. All you have to do is simply massage it onto your damp skin in a circular motion, and it'll gently, but effectively, pull out whiteheads, blackheads, and other pore-clogging ickies all on its own.
See it in action on TikTok here.
it has over 5,000 5-star ratings!
Promising review: "After just two days of use, this adorable little octopus has done wonders for me, and it smells great too. Here's how I used it: I wore down the stick just a little to where the texture from the salt is visible, scrubbed around on my face so there was plenty of product, then I used my fingers to gently massage all the gunk away. Rinse, pat dry, and enjoy the softness. Highly recommended for people with sensitive skin like myself." —LuckLocust
Get it from Amazon for $11.52.
5. Some reviewer-beloved professional-level Crest Whitestrips because they can remove 14 years of stains in under a month using the same enamel-safe whitening ingredient that dentists use. *Three* days is all it takes to see a whiter smile, and they even come with two bonus one-hour express treatments if you need same-day results!
It has over 54,000 5-star ratings!
Check out a TikTok of the Crest 3D Whitestrips in action.
Promising review: "I haven't used Crest White Strips in over five years. Since then my teeth have stayed really white and I frequently get compliments or questions on how I get my teeth so white. I decided to get a box to boost the whiteness of my teeth. Wow, I was shocked on how much these have improved! Before the strips were really flimsy, hard to remove from the package and were really hard to keep on your teeth — the old ones would slip or bunch up.
These are such an improvement! The new strips remove easily from the plastic they are on. The strips are REALLY adhesive! These will not budge! Since I've purchased I have only used about four times and I can already notice a difference. Other people have noticed too. I think these are well worth the money and work as good as a professional treatment. I have had friends who have done professional treatments and their teeth are not as white as mine. I highly recommend these to anyone who wants a brighter/whiter smile!" —Vanessa5o5
Get a pack of 22 from Amazon for $45.99.
6. Or a painless mint-flavored Venus teeth-whitening pen designed to give you quick results with just 30 seconds (!) of daily use. Even *years* of stains from things like coffee, tea, wine, smoking, soda, and more are no match for this thing.
It has over 8,000 5-star ratings!
Promising review: "I really liked this product because it gave me significant results in just a few days. I have tried other whitening products but I definitely think this one is my favorite because it's not only easy to use but also works very well. There is also no weird aftertaste, and all I do is keep my mouth open wide for around 30 seconds. The whitening capabilities were also great, and I know this because my teeth were stained before but now they are not. Lastly, these pens were very easy to use because all you have to do is twist the dial at the bottom of the pen clockwise, and product comes out. So overall I would rate this pen a 10/10 and I am definitely planning on buying more in the future." —Roy Joseph
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.99 (also available as a four-pack).
7. A bottle of plant-powered vitamin C serum (over 74,000 5-star ratings) that'll make your skin look radiant as ever! It can help lighten dark spots, fight off wrinkles, prevent UV damage, and increase skin firmness and elasticity without resorting to harsh chemicals or synthetic colors.
Promising review: "I love love love this product! I’m nearing 30 and needed a good skin care regimen, as I’ve NEVER had one. I can’t believe my results! Not only has it taken away all dullness, it has reversed some sun damage! My before and after pictures are taken WITHOUT filters in the same lighting/same area of my bathroom. I’m highly satisfied!" —Heather C.
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in two sizes).
8. A detangling brush (over 27,000 5-star ratings) specifically designed for natural Black hair so you can get the tangles out of wet *or* dry hair with NO pain!
Promising review: "I’m in love with this brush. For someone who used to spend anywhere between 6–12+ hours detangling my 4c Z-pattern hair, I literally can get my hair detangled in 30 minutes or less. And my hair is like a fluffy cloud afterwards. If you don’t already have this brush, you’re honestly missing out. 10/10 recommend." —Dee
Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in five colors).
9. A bottle of natural nail and cuticle repair oil that helps soften cuticles and strengthen nails when used daily. This stuff has over 19,000 5-star ratings!
Promising review: "After my acrylics came off during quarantine, I wanted to make my natural nails stronger as they had had acrylics on them constantly for the better part of two years. I searched around Amazon and gave this product a try. I'm glad I did. I started using it twice a day, once in the morning and once toward the end of my workday. I'm down to once every few days now and my nails are much stronger after the past two months. I'll continue to use it until I can get back to the salon." —Alice B.
Get it from Amazon for $8.50+ (available in five sizes).
10. E.l.f.'s Poreless Putty Primer (26,000 5-star ratings!) because it'll give you a smoothing layer to help your makeup go on a whole lot more evenly. Simply apply a thin layer, wait 30 seconds for it to absorb, and apply your foundation!
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 $9.99.
11. A Zombie Pack with almost ~supernatural~ lifting, hydrating, brightening, and pore-tightening abilities. The results are so good, you won't even mind that wearing the wash-off face mask makes you slightly resemble...the undead.
It has over 5,000 5-star ratings!
Promising review: "I’ll be honest. I don’t write reviews very often. Today was especially a hard day working from home, not sleeping last night, an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old. I was feeling beat! My skin was sure showing the stress. I had LOW expectations — no way this could make me feel better but I decided to treat myself at least a little. Well, was I in for a BIG surprise! I was FaceTiming my mom, also my BFF, during the tightening. I sure was scared, we both thought this would be perfect for a Halloween night! LOL! But as soon as I rinsed it off... WOW! My mom was asking all about it! She will try it too! LOL! I will surely continue using it! Please leave this awesome product at this awesome price! Greatly appreciated by tired mommies like me!! Gracias!!" —TAYD3
Get a set of eight masks from Amazon for $25.
12. A Revlon hot-air brush (over 255,000 5-star ratings) that'll simplify your routine by using special vents that allow air to flow, so hair dries faster without damaging. It's much quicker and easier than using a dryer, flat iron, or curling iron, and the results will make you feel like you just came from the salon!
Promising reviews: "I have thick curly dark Middle Eastern hair... I’m typically the roll-my-curls-into-a-bun-for-days-because-I-can’t-deal-with-it-any-other-way type gal...This thing is a work of art, so far I’ve used it four times and it’s completely blown out my hair beautifully. My hair is soft and smooth and actually manageable. I usually only get this type of relief when I get a hair trim and beg my hair stylist to blow dry afterwards. It’s about as close to a salon as I can do by myself...Definitely worth a buy!" —Lewka
"I’m really happy I bought this for myself! I have medium/thin blonde hair and it gets dry and brittle so I try not to wash and blow dry as often as other people. This hair brush blow-dryer works great for me and my hair type. The first time I tried it, I was able to finish my hair in about seven minutes which is so impressive. I didn’t even have to section off my hair! No more hair brush, clip, and blow dryer. It’s just all in one with this thing... My hair really held on to the bristles and stayed there while it was drying. My hair turned out really soft and had more fluff to it which makes it easier to move around and flip over... If you're thinking about getting it, just get it!! I’m really so happy I did!" —Kaeli
"Let me just start off with the fact that I absolutely loved this product!! I have between 3b and 3c hair with a couple of 3a strands so for anyone with similar hair type, I highly recommend...I do happen to have more fine hair which is why I don't usually get much volume when I straighten my curls but when I tried this out I kid you not I fell in love with it. All I did was wash my hair then pat off the excess water, and once you de-tangled my hair I basically just started brushing with it on hot air and it made my hair looks amazing with the desired volume... this was such a great find for me and totally worth the money. :)" —Drea
Get it from Amazon for $37.04.
BTW, Revlon's got a One-Step Styler specifically for curly hair, too for only $39.99! It has over 38,000 5-star ratings and has earned just as much love as this one!
13. A First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant reviewers swear by for getting rid of dry, rough bumps while brightening and soothing skin. It's particularly helpful for anyone dealing with keratosis pilaris — also known as chicken or strawberry skin.
This stuff has over 18,000 5-star ratings!
BuzzFeed editor Ciera Velarde loves this product! Here's why:
"I've had keratosis pilaris since I was a teenager (it's especially bad on my thighs), and after trying dozens of products to treat it with no luck, this magical product is the only thing that's truly worked for me. I usually use this once a week for maintenance, but in the winter if I notice a flare-up and I have drier, rougher, bumpier skin, I use this twice a week, and any flare-ups disappear within the week. I scrub it over my thighs and then actually let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off. I have notoriously sensitive skin, and I've never had an issue with this before. It's truly the best product out there for any fellow KP sufferers!"
Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and Instagram. I decided to try it and it really works. I used it on my thighs and upper arms. I noticed a difference the first time and even more the second time!!! Fabulous product. Worth every penny." —Launa
Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in three sizes).
14. A Schick Silk Touch-Up Tool (with over 120,000 5-star ratings!!) so you don't have to pay to remove peach fuzz. Plus, it works painlessly and precisely, leaving your face oh so smooth without the irritation marks that most threading or razors leave behind.
Promising review: "I regularly used the Tinkle facial razors which I thought worked well, but I just used one of these razors for the first time yesterday and OMG the amount of peach fuzz and, to my surprise, dead skin that came off was shocking and oh-so-satisfying. I will definitely be stocking up." —I & S. Stark
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $4.99.
15. A popular Bio-Oil that uses vitamins A and E, chamomile, and lavender to soothe cracked and dry skin, fade new *and* old scars, and moisturize without clogging up your pores. Reviewers who have been washing their hands a lot and ending up with painful dry skin say this really helps! No wonder it has over 67,000 5-star ratings.
Here's why BuzzFeed editor Emma Lord loves this:
"FWIW re: scars, this stuff really works. I had thyroid surgery a few years ago and Bio-Oil took me from looking like I'd stumbled out of the Red Wedding to virtually no detectable scar within a few months. All I did was apply it once in the morning and once at night."
Promising review: "This stuff is awesome. I get dry patches on my face in the winter and since using this, no more dry patches! I have pretty sensitive skin and I can't use most creamy moisturizers because I'll break out, Bio-Oil adds the moisture I need without breaking me out. It also helps to reduce old acne scars and evens out my skin tone. As an added benefit, the smell is light and clean!." —Lydia
Get it from Amazon for $8.92+ (available in three sizes).
16. Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Protein Treatment — it uses ceramides and collagen to magically bring your damaged hair back to life with all the body and silky softness you could possibly dream of!
It has over 23,000 5-star ratings and works great for all hair types!
Promising review: "I have 4c hair and was looking for a protein treatment for my thin and fragile hair. I had recently used a product in my hair that had so much alcohol in it that it wreaked havoc on my hair, leaving it pretty damaged. I was very skeptical about this product because I have never seen anyone with my hair type use it. Boy was I wrong to doubt this product. It left my hair looking and feeling beautiful. I highly recommend it to anyone natural or with curly hair." —Therese-Claire
Get it from Amazon for $7.75.
And check out a former BuzzFeeder's full review of the Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Protein Treatment for more deets!
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