7 Game-Changing Beauty Products We're Obsessed With

Tried, tested, and loved by BuzzFeeders!

1. Cure Natural Aqua Gel is an exfoliant that's gentle enough to be used across your entire body, but most people use it on their face for those satisfying little lint roller–like balls that pick up dead skin cells and dirt — hello, deep clean!

Sufei Zhao

I have sensitive skin, and every time I try an acidic or physical exfoliator, my cheeks start to sting. Skincare should be relaxing and rejuvenating, not painful! A friend of mine made me try this exfoliator when I went to Japan a few years ago. Cure Gel is clear and doesn't smell like anything, but when you start rubbing it into your skin, somehow the dead skin just melts right off. You can actually see and feel the beads of debris.

I didn't believe that a product could be so magical, so I thought they must have put something in there that makes fake beads as it comes in contact with water. But when I tried it again after the first rinse, no more gunk!! It felt very validating to know there was nothing else to remove from my skin. And it did indeed feel baby soft! Best part is that Cure is not acidic or irritating, it's a gentle exfoliator that I can use as often as I need to. —Sufei Zhao

Get it from Amazon for $39.

2. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in "Diamond Milk" feels like a hydrating lip balm but gives you the intense, juicy shine of a lip gloss without feeling heavy, gloopy, or straight up tacky — it looks just as fab when you wear it alone, or you can use it as a lipstick topper for a little extra oomph.

Rachel Dunkel

I've deemed 2019 my "Year of Lip Gloss," and Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb is absolutely my go-to. Its formula doesn't feel heavy and gloopy like most high-shine glosses, and it doesn't leave my lips feeling tacky at all. My coffee mugs don't even get that gross, dried-on-gloss mark.

Because it has added shea butter, it feels almost like a balm but still delivers the intense shine I'm going for. I have the color "Diamond Milk" (which is described as a shimmering pearl) and wear it by itself for a more "natural" look (by gloss standards) *or* over any colored balm or lipstick to make EVERY lip color I have into a gloss. It's like having every gloss color in one tube! Just be sure to wipe off the applicator after layering so you'll always have a clean slate to start from again. —Rachel Dunkel

Get it from Sephora for $18 (available in three shades).

3. For everyone who's over liquid lipsticks emphasizing their already dried-out lips, Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick gives you the matte-ish finish you want while keeping your lips happy, smooth, and moisturized*. Oh, and "Bond Girl" is the perfect everyday berry color. 💁

Sarah Han, Jillian Karande

*This is due to orchid extract and a secret ingredient. WHAT IS IT, CHARLOTTE?

I've probably mentioned that I'm 100% a liquid lipstick girl in many BuzzFeed product reviews in the past, but consider me a (kinda) changed girl! I still love liquids, but I've been wearing creamy, slightly more hydrating lipsticks more often to try and save my lips from being perpetually 3D-textured and chapped from this never-ending NYC winter — and specifically, Charlotte Tilbury's Bond Girl has become my go-to. It wears super comfortably and smoothly, and definitely feels more like a demi-matte than a true matte, which is extremely fine by me. It has surprisingly decent staying power, so it'll hold up through a medium-heavy meal, but the packaging is so pretty that I'm constantly pulling it out for retouches just because. It's the perfect everyday color: not too bold, but still packs a pretty berry punch, and it ~complements~ my hair, which is always a bonus. —Sarah Han

It is a truth universally acknowledged that cold weather and matte lipstick are not friends. Why would you want to put something on that only emphasizes the fact that your lips are somehow even dryer than your scaly elbows? Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipstick in Bond Girl is the answer for anyone who wants a matte lip but isn’t a fan of liquid formulas that tend to suck out any trace of moisture. It’s one of the very few ~pricey~ lipsticks I’ve ever bought — at $34 it’s considerably more expensive than my average drugstore buy or Glossier balm — and it’s become a staple in my makeup bag (sorry @mywallet). Matte but moisturizing and with a buildable formula, this lipstick is the perfect neutral berry. –Jillian Karande

Get it from Sephora for $34 (available in 12 shades total).

4. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask keeps dry skin hydrated, plump, and absolutely glowing — whether you're traveling a ton or experiencing wintery skin woes, this gentle formula exfoliates and brightens overnight, so your face is soft and prepped for the busy day ahead.

AnaMaria Glavan

Winter wreaks havoc on my skin. It always feels SO dry and dull (especially around my nose, under my eyes, and on my cheeks), and I really struggle to keep it feeling moisturized. Until now. Let me introduce you to the Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask. Yes, the one you’ve probably seen all over Instagram. Honestly? Holy moly, it is so good.

This fast-absorbing mask has a fresh and minty scent that feels super clean on your skin — which makes sense considering it’s free of parabens, sulfates, and dyes. It uses chestnut extract that acts as a mild exfoliation to combat dullness, but it also contains niacinamide and Vitamin C to hydrate the HECK out of your complexion. You can use it as an overnight mask OR as a primer for your makeup. Does it work? YEAH. My skin hasn’t felt dry in months, the smell is absolutely lovely, and it gives my complexion a dewy glow. I also love that I can use it as an eye cream/mask when that area is feeling particularly dry. Plus I've been flying a ton, and this has seriously saved my skin from breaking out or feeling dull while traveling (no small feat).

The first time I used this, I was actually shocked at how dewy my complexion looked. Even a friend commented on how “I was having a good skin day” and asked what I was using. Is this pricey? Yes. But skincare is an investment, and this is definitely something to have in your product arsenal. —AnaMaria Glavan

Get it from Sephora for $48.

5. Clove + Hallow Pressed Mineral Foundation smooths over visible pores like butter and makes them disappear instantly, all *without* drying out your skin and looking cakey or flakey halfway through the day. Expensive facials, your days are gone!

Kayla Suazo

Real talk here: I’m incredibly self-conscious about my pores, especially those on and around my nose. And to be very transparent, I’ve spent hundreds (probably thousands) on expensive facials, just to realize that no amount of fancy spa appointments will change my nose (ok, maybe if I had millions of dollars, which I sadly don’t!). So about a year ago I decided to start looking for quality makeup products that could give me smoother coverage…and save me some serious cash.



Enter: Clove + Hallow’s pressed mineral powders. I’ve written about this brand before (Hello, Hydratint!), but I will mention again that they’re vegan and cruelty-free, and have a full line of incredible products, but the powder is the thing that REALLY stands out for me. It gives me soft, buttery coverage that doesn’t flake or dry out my skin, and my pores just seem to absorb it up, almost eliminating the sight of them altogether (the pics speak for themselves!). I first use Tarte’s Poreless Mattifying Primer, then lightly pat on the pressed powder, and just like that my pores are G-O-N-E. And since I was originally looking to save money when I started this journey, all their pressed powders are refillable pans so I never have to replace the entire compact case itself. —Kayla Suazo

Get the Pressed Mineral Foundation pans from Amazon or Clove + Hallow for $22 each (available in 14 shades) and the Refillable Compact from Amazon or Clove + Hallow for $8.

6. Kristen Ess Style Reviving Dry Conditioner hits the "revive" button on humidity-destroyed hair and keeps your blowouts looking sleek and salon-fresh for way longer.

Maitland Quitmeyer

Once upon a time (ok this past Saturday) I washed and blew out my hair for a party. It looked great — used my John Frieda Hot Air brush, the works — and wasn't planning on washing or redoing it all week. But tragedy struck when I was running errands on Sunday and EVEN THOUGH my weather app said no rain, it did indeed rain. My naturally curly-slash-bonkers hair turned into a frizzy ball of poof, and I only got one night out of my blowout.

Then I remembered an impulse buy from my most recent Target run: Kristen Ess Dry Conditioner. I hate washing my hair and love dry shampoo, so I was intrigued. You just spray it on, and it adds moisture, "zips-up" split ends (idk how but sure!), detangles, adds shine, AND thermal protects so you can use hot tools to restyle without damage. WHOO that's a lot. So I spritzed some on and combed it through my hair. The tangles came apart, the frizz was calmed down completely, and my hair smelled like I was fresh from the salon. With my newly sleek hair, I popped in a couple hot rollers and 25 minutes later — TOTALLY FRESH BLOWOUT. When it comes to dry shampoo, no one beats my beloved Living Proof in terms of volumizing and grease-busting, but this is a total game-changer for reviving humidity-destroyed hair and keeping that blowout sleek and glossy for days on end. Brb, going to try all the other Kristin Ess products (and wind up buying everything else) at Target right now. —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Target for $14.

7. One Love Organics Vitamin B Enzyme Cleansing Oil + Makeup Remover is a certified organic and cruelty-free option for skincare aficionados who want a gentle yet effective cleanser formulated with good-for-skin ingredients like papain (a fruit enzyme that exfoliates and softens), pumpkin oil, and Vitamin E. Clean beauty that delivers results, check!

Allison Kim

I had heard about One Love's Organic Cleansing Oil from a number of clean beauty aficionados, but was hesitant to spend $42 on an oil cleaner/makeup remover. Then I had the chance to test it out when I visited The Detox Market, and I was instantly hooked. Not only did it remove my makeup effectively, it left my skin moisturized without feeling greasy. It's absolutely worth the investment, and it has now become a necessity in my skincare routine. Bonus points for smelling DELICIOUS and being formulated with clean, natural ingredients! —Allison Kim

Get it from Dermstore for $42.

Now, if we could only look THIS CUTE when washing our faces:

Monterey Bay Aquarium / Via giphy.com

Need more for your skin? Check out Korean skincare products you need to know, drugstore products that actually fight acne, products to help deal with dry skin, or check out all of our beauty content for even more great stuff for your hair, skin, and more.

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