7 Game-Changing Beauty Products You'll Wish You'd Tried Sooner

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1. NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder makes filling your brows in a total breeze, from beginners who like to keep it relatively subtle to pros who like a bold, all-filled-in look — the two shades make it easy to mix and match to your desired intensity.

Sarah Han

I'm no pro at doing my eyebrows, but wow, this NYX kit makes it so easy — and by it, I mean making my brows appear fuller and accentuating their natural shape, but not making them look ~too done~ or clearly drawn on. I use the lighter shade for the inner, more sparse hairs and the darker shade (which is closer to my actually black brows — but I like to go a shade lighter) for everything else, especially the ends. And sometimes I mix both colors together for an in-between brown!

The teeny brush that comes with does just fine when it comes to mimicking my hairs, outlining my arch, and extending the ends of my brows just a tad, and the spoolie blends out any particularly harsh strokes. But if you're not into itty bitty tools, you can just get a regular-sized angled brush and spoolie.

P.S. Another super cheap option I love is Etude House's Drawing Eye Brow, which you can also get on Amazon for $4.15+ (available in eight shades — I use No.1 Dark Brown). —Sarah Han, As/Is and Shopping & Products Writer

Check out my full review for more deets!

Get it from Amazon for $6 or Walmart for $7.99+ (available in six shades).

2. Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick doesn't dry out your precious pout, nor does it come off in unwanted areas through meals, rough days, etc — and it has a color for every mood and season, so you're basically covered for life!

Maybelline, Jennifer Tonti

I've had a love (mostly hate) relationship with liquid lips. They either always dry out my lips, or the applicator is bulky for me and I end up staining my face (lmao). Even if those two problems aren't an issue, it'll come off after one meal! So if you're like me and have sworn off liquid lips for these reasons, I'm here to say, give Maybelline SuperStay a try!

The applicator itself is revolutionary to me; it has a pointed oval shape with a hole in the middle — the hole holds a bit of product in it, and as you swipe across the lips, it paints a full-coverage coat in one go. One thin layer dries down in about a minute. Throughout the day it remains smooth and pigmented. It doesn't crack or peel either! Plus, it comes in the cutest colors for every season! —Jennifer Tonti, Shopping & Products Writer

Read her full review for more deets!

Get it from Amazon for $5.12+ (available in 20 colors, and there's also a 20% off clippable coupon for your first order!) or Walmart for $7.94 (available in 10 colors).

3. GingerChi Jade Roller feels like being hugged by a non-melting ice cube first thing in the morning for the perfect lil' "hello, time to wake up!" call that also soothes redness and depuffs your skin, especially around the cheeks and eyes.

Claudia Mei

I've become a big fan of using a jade roller. Any skepticism I had about rubbing a piece of rock on my face evaporated after my first day of use — it’s hard to overstate how soothing it feels. It's icy-cool on your face in the most pleasing of ways (like you're being caressed by an ice cube, without the mess).

I pop it in the fridge every night, and take it out to use in the morning, right before I put on any makeup. I start by rolling the smaller roller underneath my eyes, and then I use the larger roller on the other end for the sides of my face and forehead. It takes up to three minutes, tops — just enough to be a nice addition to my routine without adding too much time to it. It's a nice wake-up ritual, and I swear it de-puffs my face at least a little. —Claudia Mei, Product Designer

Get it from Amazon for $22.99 or GingerChi for $24.

4. Acure Seriously Soothing Biocellulose Facial Gel Mask soothes your dehydrated post-sun skin with a cooling burst of hyaluronic acid and plant peptides, doesn't irritate sensitive skin at all, and is 100% vegan — wins all around!

Acure, Harper Hendrickson & Devric Kiyota

I decided to go to the beach for my birthday, where I fried myself in the sun like a little birthday cookie. I didn’t get sunburnt — because sunblock — but I was in need of some serious moisture upon finally leaving the beach at 9 p.m. Thankfully, my friend Joy gave me two ready-to-use face masks as a bday gift, because she is thoughtful as heck. Woooo boi, it definitely made all other sheet masks I’ve ever used seem like trash! This mask is thicc and made with plant peptides that feel like a gel, luscious, 100% vegan, super soothing, and just all-around amazing. I rubbed the moisture into my face after I was done using the mask, and felt it soak in. The next morning, I realized my face felt suuuuuuper soft. Like, sitting on a cloud eating cotton candy soft. I love face masks and I’ve tried many — I’m talking clay masks, mud masks, sheet masks, you name it and my dry, acne-prone skin and I have tried it — but none of them made my skin soft like this! I recommend this incredible mask to anyone who wants their skin to be renewed in just a few short minutes. —Harper Hendrickson, Shopping & Products Writer

When I watch skin care routine videos I mourn and think, “Hell yeah, I would love to exfoliate like that, but I can’t risk aggravating my skin into a plaque-ing frenzy.” Since I have psoriasis — the worst of which lurks on my face — I have to be really careful when choosing what to rub into my body. Sooo, trying this face-mask felt like a challenge to the Itchy Devil, but I went for it and it was divine. My skin is especially susceptible on the days I shave my face, and I have a set routine (devised through years of trial and error) to lower the possibility of breakouts — and this face-mask is now part of that routine. I’m so grateful I delicately slapped this onto my troublesome skin and let it soothe all my woes, and I think everyone should give it a try. Thank you, Joy — you skincare cherub; also Harper, I guess. —Devric Kiyota, Shopping & Products Writer

Get one from Target for $5.99 or a five-pack from Amazon for $23.99.

5. Winky Lux So Extra Mascara doesn't err on the side of caution when it comes to your lashes — nay, it amps them up with a weightless, non-cakey layer of black length and volume.

AnaMaria Glavan, Sarah Han

News flash: in case it wasn't obvious, I have teensy lashes that pretty much look invisible without any product. And I love 'em anyways! But on the days I'm mentally prepared to spend an extra 30 seconds rubbing in cleansing oil at the end of the day (I'm dramatic, yes), I like to give them a lil' boost from a mascara wand. However, not all mascaras are created equal. Some mascaras are messy and end up getting all over my lids during application and undereye area after a few short hours, and don't end up giving me the volume I need, because they simply can't grasp onto my little lashes. Well, folks, Winky Lux So Extra Mascara doesn't do any of that. One coat of this, and even my poor eyesight can tell a major difference — two, and my lashes are super thicc and ready to party! I like the straight wand because I find those tend to grasp onto my lashes better than hourglass applicators — for example, a super thin wand I like to use is the Innisfree Skinny Microcara — and gives me a more even coating all throughout. Honestly, I think the photos speak for themselves. So fresh, so light, and so drama-inducing (well, as much as my lashes allow). —Sarah Han, As/Is and Shopping & Products Writer

Not to brag, but I am what some would call a mascara connoisseur. I don’t REALLY use eyeliner, so I pretty much rely on the magic of mascara to make me seem more awake — which, let me tell you, is no easy feat. And this Winky Lux So Extra Mascara? It’s truly fantastic. This mascara provides a crazy amount of length without looking clumpy and gunky in the process. I don’t get panda eyes throughout the day (meaning that black doesn’t bleed from my lower lashline, LOL) and the formula itself is super buildable. I can add more of a dramatic ~oomph~ by adding an extra swipe or two and it still remains clump-free. But the truly “WOW THIS IS AMAZING!” aspect of it all? It lasts. It really, truly lasts. It’s still there at the end of the day and it looks as if I’ve just put it on. I don’t need to reapply for after-work happy hours because I really don’t need to! That is true joy. Plus, the packaging is pretty darn adorable. —AnaMaria Glavan, Shopping & Products Writer

Get it from Winky Lux for $16.

6. Lipstick Queen Mornin’ Sunshine Lipstick magically shifts into a lovely pink based on the pH of your lips, so you're left with a natural hue that totally suits you.

Crystal Ro

When I first saw Lipstick Queen's Morning' Sunshine Lipstick, I legitimately thought it was just a lip balm — mostly because the yellow looked…waxy? But when I found out that the color actually transforms to a cute peachy/coral color when you put it on I was like, “Sounds fake!” So OBVIOUSLY I had to try it.

The lipstick itself comes in a cute, summery tube. The color of the lipstick (in the container) itself looks a lot more lemon yellow than it does online so, once again, I was skeptical. However, it really did work! When applied, the color turns out a pretty, shimmery, pink. It’s not too thick, in fact it's quite sheer, so it could easily be worn as an everyday lipstick. However, if you apply a few coats it definitely gets stronger, so if that’s more your ~look~ I say go for it! Oh, and this lipstick also contains Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil, so in theory, it's also moisturizing your lips while making you look cute. Win-win, ya know? —Crystal Ro, Staff Editor

Get it from Jet for $20.23 or Amazon for $25.

7. ColourPop Jelly Much Shadows (We Jammin' and Ventura are pictured) make applying a subtle wash of glittery eyeshadow totally foolproof — and are so fun to play with.

BuzzFeed

I'm a lipstick-every-day person, and my obsession with lip colors for years and years has meant that I'm just Not Great at eyeshadow — the brushes, the light color here, dark color there, I know the basics, but I never really tried to get good at *doing* the thing. Buttttttttt, recently I've gotten really into low-key day glitter eye makeup looks to keep things fresh. So when I saw these Colourpop jelly shadows, I knew I was gonna love 'em, especially because I already love their lippie stix (which, btw won best inexpensive matte lipstick on BuzzFeed Reviews!).

I'll keep this short and sweet: These are really fab. They're SO EASY to apply with just your finger, and they build up from a light dusting of glittery color to an intense shimmering pigment, depending on the look you're going for. The color range is great, including some more out-of-the-box looks like a reptilian teal green and a Gryffindor-cosplay-ready burgundy, PLUS standard gorgeousness like golds and creams. I especially love We Jammin' for a gorgeous subtle warm gold and Ventura (pictured on my face above) which looks white in the jar, but is actually an amazing iridescent lavender. And they're such a great price (and a little goes a long way, so they'll last for-e-ver) you'll want to (like me) get 'em all! —Maitland Quitmeyer, Shopping & Products Editor

Get them from ColourPop for $8 each: We Jammin' and Ventura (available in six other shades).

Cheers to flawless lewks! Flaunt. It.

Columbia Pictures

Can't get enough of our awesome beauty reviews? Check out our previous roundups here!

And some related posts based on the products reviewed in this post, in case they strike your fancy:

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-20 Gorgeous Lipsticks That'll Actually Stay On All Day

-27 Beauty Products That Will Literally Make You Feel Cool AF

-Tell Us Your Skin Problems And We'll Recommend A Face Mask

-7 Mineral Sunscreens That Actually Work

-15 Sunscreens For Dark Skin Tones Recommended By Our Readers

-Everything You Need To Know About Mascara

-22 Amazingly Gorgeous Eyeshadows You'll Want To Add To Your Collection

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