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35 Beauty Products On Amazon That Work So Well, Nobody Would Know They're Cheap AF
We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team.
If you’re used to opening your bathroom cabinet or drawer and sighing upon seeing the tired collection of beauty products that have long lost their luster (and functionality), it’s time to make some changes. Toss out that mascara that has now transformed into a hardened goop reminiscent of magma and get ready to stock your collection with affordable products that really work. On this list you’ll find 35 beauty products on Amazon that work so well, nobody would know they’re cheap AF.
Searching for something restorative and soothing to the skin? I’ve got you covered with products like a skin serum that contains brightening vitamin C, a multi-tasking marula oil that can be used to nourish and hydrate your skin and hair, or a highly rated body cream that moisturizes for up to 48 hours. Best of all: all of these products cost $20 or less. Or maybe you’re looking to refresh your makeup collection. You don’t have to spend a fortune for defined brows or a blendable cream blush that gives you major glow-from-within outcomes (even if you’ve barely slept and do not feel your usual glowy self).
Whatever the need — be it dealing with emergency blemishes or longing for a relaxing facial massage — this list has all that and more. And the cherry on top: it still leaves money in the bank for margaritas and macchiatos.
1This Fan Favorite Volumizing Mascara
With over 69,000 reviews on Amazon, people seem obsessed with this volumizing mascara that costs just $7 and adds both length and volume without causing clumping, smudging, or flaking. Offered in both a waterproof and washable formula, choose from seven different shades such as mystic black and dark navy. According to one fan: “It is simply the best, best product I have ever used.”
2A Retinol Face Serum For Less Than $15
Many products with retinol (a gold standard ingredient in skincare) cost upwards of $100 or more, but not this gem. This retinol face serum is packed with skin-beneficial antioxidants and ascorbic acid and comes in a convenient one-ounce size, perfect for taking on the go. It is gentle enough to use every day and is described as a non-greasy, non-comedogenic, and paraben-free formula. Tested by dermatologists, this serum claims to make the skin feel smoother within four weeks of use, on top of costing less than $20.
3This Skin Serum With Brightening Vitamin C
If pouring fresh orange juice all over your face isn’t doing the skin brightening trick you were hoping for, then this skin serum with pure vitamin C might be the answer. Made with three essential ceramides that help protect the skin’s barrier, 10% l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin C, the skin-brightening formula comes in a non-greasy gel texture. The addition of hyaluronic acid can also help boost hydration for smoother, softer skin.
4A Lipstick That Comes In A Velvety Matte Finish
If you prefer a velvety matte lip to a gloss, this liquid matte lipstick not only has the right finish but also comes at an affordable price point, costing less than $10. Available in 41 saturated shades, the highly pigmented formula stays on for up to 16 hours and promises not to transfer, so you can rock that intense shade and enjoy a meal or drink without worrying about it coming off.
5This Multi-Tasking Marula Oil For Intense Hydration
If you’re feeling like the Sahara desert has taken up residence in your body, this pure and cold-pressed marula oil can be used to repair chapped skin as well as dry hair. The oil is rich in proteins and omega fatty acids and helps improve hydration. Lightweight and absorbed easily, this product is 100% vegan and cruelty-free on top of skipping the pesticides.
6A Cream Eyeshadow With A Built-In Brush
Not only totally luxurious in texture, but this cream eyeshadow also includes a built-in shadow brush tucked into the cap for extra convenience. Available in both a matte and shimmer finish, this eyeshadow goes on smooth and is blendable. Its waterproof formula wears for up to 24 hours and comes in 13 shades such as caramel and cherry blossom.
7This Gel Cleanser That Keeps Breakouts At Bay
If you can sense your skin is feeling a little out of whack, this affordable gel cleanser seeks to restore that balance and keep breakouts from occurring. With the aim of banishing irritants and removing impurities, the gel is made of BHA (specifically betaine salicylate) and tea tree oil. Hypoallergenic and paraben-free, use it to gently cleanse both morning and night.
8A Lip Tint That Acts As A Natural Lip Stain
For less than a couple of fancy lattes for you and your BFF, this intensely pigmented lip tint applies with a precision tip then effortlessly blends into a silky finish that has the look of a natural lip stain. It’s designed in an eyedropper shape that makes it simple to apply and you can choose from 16 shades, all of which will leave a lightweight and velvety texture on your lips for all-day wearing comfort.
9This Hand & Nail Cream That Comes In Delicious Scents
Why not indulge in a heavenly scented cream that also provides intense hydration? This hand and nail cream not only moisturizes for up to 24 hours but also comes in delicious scents such as fig and pomegranate or Hawaiian hibiscus. Made with ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, and macadamia nut oil, your hands will luxuriate in softness all the while offering layered notes of the delightful scent of your choice.
10An Eyelash & Eyebrow Growth Serum That Uses Natural Ingredients
In the course of one’s personal beauty journey, few have escaped the unfortunate over-tweeze scenario or the plight of dealing with gaps in lashes. This eyelash growth serum uses all-natural, cold-pressed castor oil to promote growth and regeneration deep in the hair follicle, providing both nutrients and vitamins. Simply use one end of the applicator to swipe over the lash line and the other end to apply to the lashes or brows themselves. Apply before bed and wash off in the morning.
11This Makeup Remover Perfect For Sensitive Skin
If you feel hesitation at the thought of putting on makeup in the morning knowing that the end of the day will bring the skin-irritating process of removing it, this makeup remover will alleviate those fears immediately. Made with micellar water, the formula soothes and calms even the most sensitive of skin types, while being free of any oil, alcohol, or parabens. This gentle cleanser removes up to 99% of makeup and has more than 28,000 reviews.
12This Microfiber Hair Towel That Dries Your Hair In A Pinch
This super-absorbent microfiber hair towel wraps around your head to dry your hair quickly and efficiently, cutting down on blow-drying time significantly. Use the button and loop to fashion it as a handy turban after a shower and choose from nine different colors to make your post-shower ritual a dream for your hair.
13A Body Cream That Moisturizes For 48 Hours
This body cream provides long-lasting moisture (up to an amazing 48 hours long) to help soothe dry and rough skin. Containing unique ingredients such as prebiotic and postbiotic thermal water as well as shea butter, this cream can restore the skin’s barrier. It’s safe for sensitive skin and can also be used on the face.
14These Hydrocolloid Acne Patches That Reduce Inflammation
There’s nothing worse than becoming aware of burgeoning acne only hours before an important event — but these hydrocolloid acne patches will come to the rescue by absorbing pus and helping to diminish acne within hours. The transparent patches blend in with your skin to be virtually undetectable so you can pop one on and go about your day.
15A Mask Made With 24-Karat Gold To Wake Up Eyes
Not only are these eye masks made with real 24-karat gold, but they’re also infused with hyaluronic acid that can help moisturize dry, flaking skin. Each pair is wrapped individually so that they’re easy to take with you when traveling — and many reviewers wrote about how they were able to “see a difference” after just a few minutes of wear.
16This Popular Facial Mask Made From Bentonite Clay
The people have spoken and declared this Indian healing clay made of natural calcium bentonite as a go-to favorite. With over 61,000 reviews on Amazon, this highly rated clay mixes with the recommended water or apple cider vinegar to create a powerful clay face or body mask that can extract impurities in the skin, act as a foot soak, and even treat bug bites. Coming in a one-pound tub, the affordable loose clay will last you a long time.
17A Powder Bronzer Made With Moisturizing Ingredients
Though it would be nice to jet set to St. Barts for an afternoon, sometimes settling for a superb bronzer is the best option at hand. This bronzer takes you on vacation, not only via its scent, but also thanks to ingredients such as Amazonian murumuru, cupuaçu, and tucuma butters, all packed with essential fatty acids and pro-vitamins. Conveniently hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, choose from four shades that deliver a subtle shimmery post-beach glow.
18This Versatile Cream For Your Face, Hands & Body
“The one creme to rule them all” might be the headline for this versatile creme that can be used on the hands, face, and body. Enriched with Provitamin B5, it can moisturize and repair dry skin and rough spots and its luxurious formula is great for protecting skin against cold temperatures and windy conditions. On top of acting as a lotion, this creme can also serve as a massage, elbow, and foot cream in addition to a face mask and makeup remover.
19A Tinted Brow Mascara With Buildable Coverage
With the buildable coverage of this tinted brow mascara, you can take your pick between a heavier, dramatic brow or subtly defined brow depending on the mood and look of the day. Available in five shades (blonde, brunette, chocolate, espresso, and black) you’ll be sure to find the color that’s right for you. Simply comb the formula onto your brows and they will set in place without any excess product or hardening.
20This Makeup Setting Spray Full Of Antioxidants & Peptides
There’s nothing as frustrating as spending an age putting on your makeup in the morning to have it look like you didn’t even bother by noon. This makeup setting spray makes your effort worthwhile by extending the life of your makeup, locking in that foundation and concealer with the help of an antioxidant formula, and all for less than $15. Virtually weightless, ingredients like peptides give you an extra refreshed look and a glow to boot.
21A Cream Blush That Melts Into Your Skin
This cream blush goes on the cheeks as a gel-like texture only to melt into the skin and give a “lit from within” look. Made of amino-acid-based emollients, the silky and stretchy gel dries once applied to your cheeks and lasts for hours. Take your pick between sweet apricot, love peach, and coral orange.
22This Gua Sha Facial Tool For Increased Circulation
Who wouldn’t like a touch more well-being on the regular? This gua sha facial tool massages the face to increase circulation and blood flow, possibly offering a bit of relaxation along the way. Made of natural premium jade stone (so every piece is unique), the surface is super smooth on the skin. Use specific sides of the stone on certain parts of your face, and don’t be afraid to use it on your wrists, shoulders, or feet as well.
23A Purple Shampoo To Preserve Platinum Locks
You may have worked hard to achieve your platinum look and the last thing you’ll want is for those pesky brassy tones to creep in. This platinum blonde shampoo uses a purple tint to re-tone chemically lightened or naturally light hair, so your shade of Marilyn stays exactly as it should be. With the scent of cucumber melon mixed with violet and water flower, it also adds conditioning, softness, and a touch of shine.
24This Vegan Tinted Lip Balm Made With Acai & Avocado Oil
For those who prefer to rock a lip balm every day but still want a hint of lipstick-like color, this tinted lip balm offers the best of both worlds. Totally vegan, it’s formulated with antioxidant-rich acai extract and avocado oil for serious moisturizing. It goes on sheer but is completely buildable so you can choose how saturated you’d like your color to be. With eight yummy-sounding colors to choose from, this balm should stay on for up to eight hours without constant reapplication.
25A Hand Mask To Soothe Dry Skin In 10 Minutes
Our hands can seriously take a beating throughout the day to day, so it’s only right to take extra good care of them. This hand mask is made with moisturizing shea butter as well as soothing prebiotic oat to repair dry and cracked hands and restore them to vitality. Simply slip on these non-drip masks and go about your business for 10 minutes and, voilà, you’ll soon experience soft, smooth, and moisturized hands ready to take on anything.
26This Coconut Oil To Make Your Own Skincare Products
Not only is this coconut oil great for applying directly to the skin as a moisturizing agent, but because it is fractionated, it acts as a great carrier oil so you can blend it with other ingredients to create your own DIY skin care products. Odorless and non-greasy, you can use it to treat sunburn and add instant hydration to dry skin, and it also works well as an aromatherapy massage oil.
27An Eye Makeup Remover Pad That’s Made For Sensitive Skin
If every time you remove your eye makeup, your eyes end up itchy and red, then these super gentle eye makeup remover pads may offer some relief. Devised for the sensitive skin around the eyes, they are oil-free and hypoallergenic, but still effectively remove every trace of makeup. Ophthalmologist tested, every pad contains a botanical blend of aloe, cucumber, and green tea. And for the budget-conscious out there: you get 80 pads for less than $7.
28This Shaving Cream Packed With Moisturizing Shea
Preventing all possible woes of painful razor burn and bumps, this shaving cream comes jam-packed with shea butter and shea oil for maximum smoothness. Able to be used wet or dry, it contains vitamins C and E and aloe to soothe and nourish skin. The cream is able to provide hydration for up to 24 hours and you can take your pick among five different scents such as pomegranate raspberry or vanilla bliss.
29A Sheet Mask Made With Hydrating Bamboo Extract
Extremely easy to apply and extra budget-friendly, this sheet mask goes on for as little as 20 minutes and costs less than $5. Made with moisturizing bamboo extract, every mask is soaked with different types of enriched essences to make your skin feel extra smooth and hydrated. Choose from 19 different masks featuring ingredients that target specific skin concerns, such as avocado for nourishing tired skin or green tea for skin purifying.
30This Nail Polish That Gives You A Gel-Like Finish
It turns out you don’t need to spend hours and lots of money at the nail salon because with this nail polish you can get a gel-like finish right at home and for less than $15. With no base coat and no UV lamp required, simply apply two coats and a top coat for nails that have a gel-like shine and smoothness. Easy as can be to remove, just use your nail polish remover — no hard scraping required. Choose from seven whimsically named shades such as “caviar bar” or “spiked with style.”
31These Makeup Brushes That Come With A Bottle Of Cleanser
If you’re still using the subpar brushes that come with your eyeshadows and foundations, now’s your chance to upgrade to these premium makeup brushes. The bristles are packed densely, which helps prevent makeup from shaking off onto your clothes while you’re applying it. Plus, each order includes a bottle of cleanser — because giving your bristles a deep clean every now and then is never a bad idea.
32This Drying Lotion That Banishes Blemishes Overnight
With the help of some good sleep and this drying lotion, any surface blemishes that popped up the night before are promised to be soothed by morning. This classic treatment that’s been around since 1967 involves a mixture of calamine, salicylic acid, sulfur, and zinc oxide to extract impurities and reduce the appearance of blemishes. Dab directly with a cotton swab and wait overnight for the magic to happen.
33A Satin Scrunchie That’s Extra Gentle On Your Hair
This satin scrunchie is so gentle on your hair you can even wear it overnight and it won’t leave a troublesome bend. Made with a soft and silky material, it prevents breakage, frizz, ponytail bumps, and split ends, and is perfect for any number of styles involving buns or braids. Coming in a pack of five, choose between six colors and patternss such as leopard or stripes.
34This No-Frills Hyaluronic Acid Serum
If you’re the type of person who prefers to go straight for the jugular and access the purest skincare ingredient, then this hyaluronic acid dropper is a great way to get the most unadulterated version of supreme and lasting hydration for your skin. Coming in a 60-milliliter bottle, it also contains vitamin B5 for more surface moisture. Plus, the formulation is cruelty-free.
35A 5-Piece Makeup Brushes And Sponge Blender Set
This set of makeup brushes will cover all your bases when it comes to crafting the makeup look of your choice. Coming in pretty colors ranging from blush to coral, each brush serves a purpose from applying eyeshadow to blending blush to setting the whole face. A latex-free sponge blender is also provided to evenly blend foundation into the skin for a smooth finish.
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