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    34 Splurge-Worthy Beauty Products With Truly Impressive Before-And-After Photos

    Instead of being disappointed by the cheaper option (and having to purchase the more expensive version anyway), go ahead and splurge. You deserve it.

    1. A vegan exfoliating body scrub to slough away the rough bumps on the back of your arms and legs (keratosis pilaris is its name but you may have heard it called "strawberry skin" or "chicken skin") with a combination of powerful alpha-hydroxy acids.

    a split reviewer photo of their arm before and after using the body scrub

    2. A box of pore-tightening, skin-lifting face masks that'll truly terrify you, first because you'll look like a zombie once you've applied it, and second because it's so darn effective at reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

    Promising review: "I wasn't a fan of this mask when I first tried it (I found it a little irritating and it didn't seem to make much of a difference). Then I used it multiple times a week, and I noticed a huge difference. My friends and family noticed it, too. My skin has a more even tone, the wrinkles around my eyes aren't as noticeable, and it really eliminated clogged pores and breakouts. I've never tried Hanacure, but I think this mask is great." —SpruceMoose

    Get a box of eight masks from Amazon for $17.70.

    3. A hardworking Boscia exfoliating gel cleanser for — clears throat — removing dead skin cells from the surface of your face with its exfoliating molecules (you can literally see "beads" of dead skin), penetrating deeply with AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) to purify your pores and stimulate collagen production, and firming and brightening your skin with pomegranate enzymes.

    4. A lightweight moisturizer because it provides a barrier between your precious skin and all the nasties, like pollution and stressors. Sunflower seed oil, vitamins E and B5, and more nourishing ingredients help the skin retain moisture, improve softness, fade hyperpigmentation, brighten, and gently exfoliate.

    before photo of a reviewer with tired-looking skin and breakouts next to a photo of the same reviewer with clear, plumper-looking skin after using the moisturizer

    5. A Briogeo exfoliating shampoo if you need help preventing flakes and buildup. It penetrates deeply, lifting dead skin and leftover products. Plus, the cooling formula soothes itching with a combination of anti-fungal oils, as well as moisturizing coconut oil that prevents future flakes.

    before photo of a flaky scalp next to an after photo of a flake-free scalp after using the scrub

    6. A color-depositing conditioner so you can skip the hassle and mess of at-home box dyes or the hefty price tag of a salon visit. Each time you wash your hair using this conditioner, the color will become more vibrant.

    7. A powerful benzoyl peroxide body wash to tackle buttne, backne, and cystic breakouts. Benzoyl peroxide is an antimicrobial agent that targets the bacteria on your skin that causes acne and also helps clear out your pores.

    8. A skin spatula that'll help remove blackheads and de-gunk pores using high frequency vibrations. This can also help your skincare absorb better since your pores won't be blocked with debris.

    9. A Foreo Luna Mini 2 for gently exfoliating your skin without leaving it red, raw, or tight. You can wave goodbye to dead skin cells clogging your pores! 👋

    10. A Chi automatic curling iron, because you deserve perfect curls in mere minutes. All you do is insert your hair into the chamber and the curler will automatically wrap it around the heated rod. Then, just wait until it beeps to let you know that the curl has set. The best part: the barrel protects your fingers from getting burned.

    11. Octocurl, a no-heat hair curler if you want to achieve beautiful loose curls, spirals, twist outs, or beachy waves overnight. Just set your hair, go to sleep, and wake up to results!

    Reviewer with 3B/3C hair wrapped around the octocurl, which is wrapped around their head
    The same reviewer showing their beautifully defined curls the next day

    Promising review: "This product was very easy to use and my hair actually curled! My hair is naturally very straight and fine, and I am allergic to most hair products so I try and avoid using any. I ran a wet hair brush through my hair to dampen, rolled each hair strand around two of the vertical strips, rolled up, and used the provided hair ties to tie each strand up. The next morning I ran my fingers through my hair and I was done! It is fast, easy and the final result exceeded my expectations." —Verona B.

    Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in three styles and nine colors).

    12. A First Aid Beauty cream so your dry, itchy skin is soothed with a mixture of colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, allantoin.

    13. A powerful glycolic acid peel to help improve texture, reduce fine lines, and soften skin. Glycolic acid helps sort of unglue skin cells, so the softer, brighter layer underneath can emerge. But it can be a bit irritating to your skin so start slowly — especially because this peel also contains retinol, a collagen-boosting ingredient that can make your skin more sensitive.

    14. A powerful snail repair cream that'll brighten dull skin, fade discoloration, add plumpness. Snail mucin extract is a popular ingredient in K-beauty products and is rich in hyaluronic acid (hydrates) and glycolic acid (stimulates collagen production).

    Promising review: "I'm 55 years old and my skin is a bit sensitive. I don't have a lot of wrinkles, but I'm definitely noticing a few more laugh lines and forehead crinkles than I had a few years ago! I've tried several moisturizers and have not been terribly impressed with any of them until now. This stuff really is great — incredibly hydrating without feeling greasy and it absorbs quickly. It feels great on my skin. In just a few short weeks, I definitely notice an improvement in my skin tone and fewer lines and wrinkles! Plus, the customer service is great. I had questions when I first received the product and got followup response immediately. I will definitely be ordering this product again. I use it in the evening and morning; no need for two different moisturizers. Very pleased!" —sbakey

    Get it from Amazon for $20.

    15. A box of Crest 3D whitening strips for lightening your smile and removing up to 14 years of teeth stains sans the exorbitant dentist bill.

    16. A Dr. Jart color-correcting treatment because it neutralizes redness while simultaneously protecting your skin from the sun's damaging rays. This color-changing cream goes from green to beige and absorbs into the skin flawlessly; in fact, some reviewers wear it in place of foundation when they need light coverage.

    BuzzFeed editor wearing the cream on half of their face

    17. Or a calming cream if your complexion is often red and splotchy. This soothing formula contains centella asiatica — also called "tiger grass" — which calms redness and irritation.

    18. An InStyler hot brush so folks with thick, coily hair don't have to spend forever straightening their hair. The paddle offers more surface area for your strands, meaning it needs fewer passes to straighten.

    19. Or a Revlon hot air brush to help you go from wet, tangled, frizzy hair to a shiny, salon-worthy blowout in minutes. FYI this is the hot air brush that all the influencers you follow on IG are raving about because it is just 👏 that 👏 good 👏.

    20. A Paula's Choice liquid exfoliant that'll resurface the skin, brighten hyperpigmentation and acne scars, clear pores, and improve skin texture. If you're just dipping your toes in the chemical exfoliant pool (first of all, welcome!!), start by applying this every other day or a few times a week to build up a tolerance and not irritate your skin.

    Reviewer's before and after showing the exfoliant dramatically reduced hyperpigmentation on their cheek and made the skin smoother
    A reviewer with dark skin and their before and after showing the exfoliant brightened dark spots along their hairline and made their skin look bright

    Promising review: "Love this product. Have already purchased it twice. I could actually see improvement in the size of my pores, redness around my nose and dullness. Mind you, I do follow a very strict skincare routine, but I think that I will stick to this product for a while. I use a cleaner, toner, then this Paula product, followed by my nighttime serum and my vitamin A (retinol) cream for face and the neck, and décolletage cream as well. My husband has noticed the improvement as well. If you are hesitant, you can always try buying the traveling size bottle as well. That's what I did and then I got hooked. Get it! It won't disappoint!" —Felicitas Martinez

    Get it from Amazon for $13+ (available in two sizes).

    21. A purifying serum for anyone with blemish-prone skin. It contains niacinamide (also called vitamin B3), a superstar ingredient that protects against moisture loss, tightens pores, and reduces discoloration.

    before photo of a reviewer with red splotches and breakouts on their cheek and an after photo of the same cheek, which looks less irritated and has fewer acne scars

    22. A bottle of Olaplex No. 3, a splurge-worthy repairing treatment because it helps revive your dry, damaged, colored hair. As someone who spends four-plus hours bleaching my hair every six to eight weeks, I can 100% vouch for this miracle in a bottle

    23. Or K18, a leave-in reparative treatment if you've put your hair through the wringer. It's fan-flipping-tastic at restoring moisture and softness in your strands if you frequently bleach or chemically treat your hair, or if you use heat-styling tools often.

    a buzzfeed editor with soft blonde hair
    before photo of hair that looks stringy and weak after it's been bleached and another section of hair that looks strong smooth after K18 was used
    Melanie Aman / BuzzFeed, Sephora

    I was immediately intrigued when I first heard some stylists at my salon raving about K18. And it turns out the rest of the world loves it too, because it was sold out at Sephora the first time I tried to buy it. I was gobsmacked at how much softer my hair was. Seriously. I spent the whole day touching my hair, and even my boyfriend agreed that my mane was noticeably silkier. 

    I still have a jar of Olaplex in my shower and I still stand by it as a product, but I really love that K18 is a leave-in treatment rather than an in-shower mask. Olaplex needs to sit for 10 minutes so I use it on days that I take an everything shower (you know, the ones where you exfoliate, shave, hair mask, etc). With K18, you let it sit in your hair for four minutes post shower to activate and then you can style your hair (or just let it air dry like I do). 

    I've found that my hair is softest the next day, so don't be discouraged if your hair looks or feels the same the day you use it. One last thing: it is pretty pricey but a little goes a long way. The 15 mL tube I bought has lasted ~five washes, and eventually K18 can become a maintenance product so you won't need to use it every time you wash your hair."

    Get it from Sephora for $75.

    24. A bottle of azelaic acid so you can add a new skincare ingredient to your vocabulary *and* reap its benefits. It can help prevent pimples and blackheads from forming because it increases the speed of cell renewal — which has the added benefit of correcting dark spots. And, it helps kill the bacteria that causes rosacea and acne, so consider it a win-win.

    before photo of a reviewer with light discoloration and dark spots next to an after photo of the same reviewer and many of their dark spots are gone to reveal a smoother, more glowy complexion

    25. A beloved tightening cream because the 20,000+ reviewers who rated it 5 stars is all the proof you need. It's infused with caffeine, coconut oil, and guarana extract to firm, smooth, and add shimmer to the skin. Plus the vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio scent is better than any perfume out there.

    before photo of a 60-year-old reviewer's legs and cellulite on their thighs
    after photo of the same reviewer showing their leg skin is much tighter and the cellulite is basically gone

    Promising review: "I am 60 and notice that no matter how much diet and exercise I do, I could not get rid of the cellulite on my legs. I started using this product six weeks ago and can noticeably see a difference. I apply morning and evening, before bed for optimal results. It goes on smooth and has a creamy, non-sticky feel. The smell is dreamy, and even my husband has commented on the improvement. Make sure you apply in a circular motion for optimal coverage, absorption and circulation." —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $22+ (available in two sizes).

    26. A dark spot corrector for brightening dark spots, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and melasma. This serum contains hydroquinone and kojic acid, among other things, to fade any discoloration so your skin looks glowy and smooth.

    Reviewer with very dark scars and pigmentation on their forehead at the beginning of treatment and then with dramatically brighter skin after two weeks

    27. A wave spray because it creates the perfect beachy waves — but minus the sand, sweat, and screaming seagulls. Its weightless formula uses rice protein to produce some hold in your hair so everyone on your Zoom call can enjoy your effortlessly tousled curls.

    28. An overnight lip mask if you're looking for all-day hydration in just a few simple swipes. And it's infused with vitamin C to exfoliate dry flakes.

    29. An corded epilator so you can enjoy smoother, hair-free legs and armpits for longer than you would if you shaved.

    Reviewer comparing their smooth epilated legs to their fuzzy non-epilated leg

    30. A potent matrixyl 3000 serum (ooooh fancy!) to hydrate, repair damage, boost collagen production, improve skin texture, firm, and even out pigmentation.

    31. A vegan and cruelty-free pH-balanced oil to foam cleanser because it cleans your face — like really cleans it — without leaving it feeling tight and stripped. It's made with vitamin B5, chinaberry extract, and olive oil.

    32. A leave-in balm for telling frizz and dryness to take a hike, depositing lasting hydration in its lightweight formula that keeps hair smooth and shiny.

    Before and after of model wearing the product showing its added curl definition, increased shine, and reduced frizziness

    33. A vitamin C serum because it'll help you say ~c~ you later to hyperpigmentation. It also contains vitamin E and ferulic acid (both have antioxidant properties), and hyaluronic acid (works to plump and hydrate).

    before and after showing the vitamin c helped significantly fade reviewer's hyperpigmentation on their cheek

    34. A Dyson hair dryer for making you shed happy tears when it gives you the salon-worthy blowout of your dreams in a fraction of the time. Not only does it dry hair faster, but it also helps define curls, reduces frizz, adds shine and smoothness, and even protects against extreme heat damage. Who'd a thunk it? A genius, that's who!

    before photo of a model with an afro and an after photo of the same model whose afro has been styled into more defined curls

    Me when you question whether you need any of these products: