30 Inexpensive Beauty Products That’ll Probably Become Your Holy Grail Items

Table of Contents

Bold eyeliners, lip scrub, hair clay and other items you’ll never want to live without.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

1.

Nyx Butter Gloss comes in 32 amazing shades from bold reds to subtle nudes. Each tube delivers a sheer tint that makes your lips feel as soft as satin.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “Skip the expensive mall store — buy this. This is one of those drugstore products that lives up to its reputation. ‘Angel Food Cake’ is a nice, rose mauve color with no yellow undertones. The color stays true and won’t turn orange while you’re wearing it. It’s not sticky like so many inexpensive lip glosses. It will also keep your lips reasonably hydrated. The color won’t be dramatic enough for some, but as an..ahem…mature woman I need to keep it subtle. This gloss is all you need for everyday wear.” —Toomanycats

Get it from Amazon for $4.97 (available in 32 colors).


2.

24-Hour Edge Tamer lays your edges and is safe to use every day. It’s won’t flake, adds shine without weighing hair down, *plus* it comes in 16 different amazing scents.


amazon.com

Just a note that you don’t have to lay your edges, but this is great if you do!

Promising review: “Girl! This edge control is bomb. I have 4b/4c hair and this lays my edges no problem! It even survives the Caribbean heat. It didn’t turn white on me unless I packed too much on, but I just sprayed with some water before I applied and it worked out. It smells GREAT and it’ll last me ages. I bought it like, months ago and I still have about half left and I use it every day. GREAT bang for your buck.” —Chelsea R.

Get it from Amazon from $4.99+ (available in three sizes).

3.

BestLand Hair Finishing Stick tames fly aways that refuse to cooperate. This petite stick fits in a purse or pocket for your convenience — just pop it out to instantly slick back and moisturize unruly strands without weighing your hair down.


amazon.com

Promising review: “No matter what I do or what expensive and high rated product I try, my flyaways are an annoying constant. This product has completely rid me of my daily top of head flyaway frizz! I wish I would have discovered this product years ago! It smooths my hair out and truly lasts all day. Be careful, as a tiny bit goes a long way!” —RachelOK

Get it from Amazon for $5.42.


4.

Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 provides your skin with protection from UVA and UVB sun rays. The solution dries to a matte finish and blurs pores, plus it’s packed with silk extract and wild rose to combat redness and make your skin feel as soft as a cloud.


Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

Promising review: “The best daily sunscreen I have ever used! It has improved my skins texture, blurs pores, absorbs in immediately and leaves my skin feeling great!” —ancanc

Get it from Sephora for $65.

5.

The Crayon Case Contoursition Palette turns beauty novices into Michelangelo with their super easy-to-follow face sculpting instructions. Add this to cart and soon you’ll be sporting a contour that’ll convince everyone you’re a pro-MUA.


thecrayoncase.com

The Crayon Case is a small Black-woman owned business founded by New Orleans entrepreneur and influencer, Supa Cent. The brand creates school supply themed makeup products for eyes, lips, and face.

Promising review: “This contour palette is bomb for the price! I am really pale and use Ross and Raven to contour and bronze. I’ve used the darker highlight as an eyeshadow and it’s gorgeous. I would recommend this to all skin tones!” —Sarah

Get it from The Crayon Case for $18.


6.

Denman Hair Brush cuts styling time in half because it detangles and shapes curls at the same time! The evenly spaced bristles ensure you always have a head of perfectly sculpted spirals.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “I love this brush! I ordered because I saw a Youtube video of a girl with curly hair using it, and her curls came out amazing! I always do wash-and-gos, and I usually would only brush/comb my hair in the shower style it once I was out, but sometimes if I waited a little longer to style it, my hair would get dry and frizzy. It would be almost impossible to get my curls defined without getting back in the shower. With this brush, now all I have to do it spray my hair with water, put product in it, and comb it through with this brush, and my curls are poppin’! My image shows before and after use of the brush about 30 minutes after getting out of the shower. The brush is also very sturdy and you can take rows out if you want a looser curl!” —Kirstie

Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in three styles and eight colors).


7.

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Face Oil contains antioxidants and omegas suited for all skin types (oily, dry, and combo). This holy-grail beauty item will give you a ~luxurious~ glow and provide the perfect base layer for your makeup.


Buzzfeed/Christine Forbes

Promising review: “This oil is pretty thick, and that’s why I like it. I have oily skin, so I only use it after I apply drying products. It’s nonirritating and absorbs quickly. A single drop goes a long way, believe me. I would definitely repurchase this since I love using it with the night serum.” —Christine Forbes

Get it from Amazon for $40.

8.

Lanoplips Ointment 101 kicks dry skin to the curb. This cruelty-free cult fave can be used on everything from brows to toes; it uses vitamin E and other moisturizing agents to cure dry lips, cracked skin, tame unruly brows, and ease itching caused by psoriasis and eczema.


Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed

Promising review: “This stuff does not just sit on top of your lips and make them slimy — it actually absorbs and makes them feel like baby-soft skin. Not sticky at all and no shine so it’s great to go outside around the lip where the dryness is without showing. In winter especially, my lips are red and irritated and stinging from the dryness and I have to keep applying lip goo all day. This stuff, one application and they feel soft for hours even after eating. Use it at bedtime and they are perfect the next a.m.” —pltrn

Get it from Amazon for $13.50.


9.

It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product contains sunflower seed, green tea leaf extract, and silk amino acids that wrap around your strands to help repair them. The mixture seals split ends, moisturizes dry hair, acts as a heat protectant, and absorbs quickly so it won’t weigh your hair down.


amazon.com

Promising review: “I love this product! It makes my hair so soft and shiny! I spray four to six pumps into my hand and distribute it evenly in my towel dried hair (damp). It cuts down on the frizziness when feel like air drying my hair. If I feel like styling my hair, this product helps product against the heat from the air dryer and the flat iron. I also apply a very small amount (one pump) to my styled hair to tame fly always. One more thing, I prefer to spray the product onto my hand because then I can see how much is going on my hair. I also rub my hands together so the product is evenly distributed on my hands and it makes applying much easier.” —K. M. Saunders

Get it from Amazon for $10.94.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “I switched from using make-up pads and make-up remover for environmental purposes, and switched over to re-useable make-up cloths and micellar water. This has been my favorite, as it removes make-up and cleanses skin. I have very sensitive skin, so I just use this on my face at night and follow up with a light moisturizer. This combination has done wonders for my skin, and I keep on coming back to this one by Garnier because I’ve had no negative side-effects.” —Claire

Get it from Amazon for $6.34.


11.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is destined to become your holy grail hair mask — and with over 29,000 + reviews, you won’t be alone. Just mix this 100% natural calcium bentonite clay with apple cider vinegar for a clean that digs deep to remove impurities and buildup from your scalp and strands.


amazon.com, amazon.com

The Aztec Healing Clay can also be used as a face mask that’s great for people with oily skin and hyperpigmentation. Combine the powder with apple cider vinegar.

Promising review: “I have very thick, super curly, coarse hair. I have been natural going on nine years. I’ve never been able to wear my hair in a wash and go style because my roots were always puffy, tangled, and had no curl definition. It would just swell up and look like cotton. Oh but then I used this miracle in a jar. It’s messy, and takes forever. But for the first time in my natural hair journey, I have been consistently wearing wash-and-gos. Takes me no time to style my hair, it’s moisturized, shiny, and looks so healthy. I’ve had soooo many people tell me how healthier my hair looks now. If I could give it 20 stars just for my hair I would!” —keina

Get it from Amazon for $14.95+.


12.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer feels like Tinkerbell applied your makeup with a light but magical touch. The formula glides on, is oil-free, and provides protection from the sun (SPF 40)! It blurs redness, acne, and lasts all day — so sign me up!


Sephora

Promising review: “This tinted moisturizer melts into my skin, blurs my redness and pores PERFECTLY with very minimal amount of product. If I have a pimple I will dot it with concealer first but I literally do not need anything else, no powder no nothing. I just sweep my blush and bronzer on and set with a spray.” —thebabykels

Get it from Sephora for $47 (available in 20 shades).

13.

Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray aims to cut down heat-styling time by 50%, condition hair, and tame frizz. Based on their 12,000+ positive reviews and TikTok hype, it looks like they’ve achieved their goal. TL;DR: If you’re in the market for a triple-threat thermal protectant, add this to your cart.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “I LOVE the smell of this! Bought it due to frizzing from coloring my hair, but really didn’t believe that it shortened drying time. I mean, how can something putting moisture on you hair shorten the drying time, right? I was shocked. I don’t know if it cut it down by 50%, but I did notice blow-drying my hair took quit a bit less time. I am sold on this stuff. Makes my hair feel like silk, but not greasy (I was worried about it making my hair greasy) and it takes only a few sprays to get the results. I hold it about 15″ from my head and spray the top, both sides and the back once, the rub it in with my hands. Perfect!” —Janice C. Henderson

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $59.50.


14.

Grande Cosmetics Lash Enhancing Serum promotes thicker and longer eyelashes — your mascara is about to last a lot longer because you’ll only need one swipe per use after this product. It’s made from a blend of vitamin peptides and amino acids and it has over 13,000+ positive reviews!


amazon.com

“I use this religiously and notice a huuuge difference. I have allergies and tend to rub my eyes, which isn’t great for my lashes, but this serum seriously helps with fallout and helps my lashes look much longer — when I use this they grow long enough to brush my brow bone, which would never happen otherwise. At the end of last year, I tried a different lash product (after running out of Grande lash for a while because ::shrugs:: pandemic) and it did *nothing* after *weeks*of trying. Now I’m back on the Grande lash for five to six weeks now and my lashes are already significantly longer. It just works, my friends.” —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Amazon for $65+.

15.

Aunt Jackie’s Flaxseed Gel solves a common problem in the natural hair community — how to achieve curls that are 1. defined, 2. soft, and most importantly 3. don’t shrivel up! The answer is packed into this generously sized tub all for under $13 bucks.


Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: “This is the holy grail for moisture absorption, hair clumping without tangling, and defined curls! I’m SICK over how amazing my hair looks PRIOR to me adding the Flaxseed gel! I have 4c hair primarily and 4b at my hairline in the back and at other random places on my head. I’ve been a product junkie and nothing except Ecostyler would define my curls but NEVER on this level Girl my hair from root to end remain defined for beyond 7 days! That doesn’t happen with my wash and go EVER! I’m a product junky and have bought every new poduct designed for 4c hair and my graveyard has no room for new products that promised the world and NEVER delivered!” —Batchelorette

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.


16.

Glory Lip Duo kicks dry skin to the curb so you can finally add all those matte lippies to your cart. It comes with a scrub and balm that uses vitamin E and shea butter to cure cracked lips for good.


Glory Skincare

Glory Skincare is a WOC-owned business that sells products formulated without the “Toxic 20,” aka the 20 most questionable/harmful products commonly found in skincare (think parabens, phthalates, and even formaldehyde). They source their products from women and minority owned skincare brands, including new launches from established brands and lesser-known items from smaller businesses.

Promising review: “This is the lip mask and scrub combo I’ve been searching for. I used to have a great lip scrub that completely obliterated every particle of dead skin, but the brand stopped making it and I’ve been searching for an equally effective alternative ever since. Well, here it is! The Cocolippy scrub exfoliates like a dream and moisturizes with shea butter. It’s pretty much as effective as using steel wool on your mouth, but obviously way more gentle. Then you can follow up with the Cocobliss hydrating lip balm for an extra layer of moisture packed with vitamin E and shea butter. The scrub is rough enough to really get rid of dead skin, and the balm is satisfyingly thick and buttery smooth. My lips have never been happier.”—Rebecca O’Connell, BuzzFeed Staff

Get them from Glory Skincare for $36.

17.

Verb Ghost Oil acts as a tiny hairstylist in a tube when you need a touch-up but can’t get to the salon. This lightweight oil refreshes your hair, adds shine, and tames frizz without making your strands look or feel greasy.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “This stuff has changed my hair game. I have excessively bleached hair. But this stuff is so great to my hair it has returned it to a soft, healthy, silky feeling. My regime is wash, condition for a while or use a protein treatment, let it dry till it’s damp then I run like two to three pumps through my hair (I have long thick hair) and work it into the bleached parts. I dry and then add a little more after. I also add more before curling my hair to protect it from heat damage. The amount you get for the price is astonishing, considering most hair oils are less product for like twice as much. Buy it: works great, smells great, feels great.” —Eva

Get it from Amazon for $18.


18.

Kajal Eyeliner makes it super easy to create bold or subtle looks that will last all day because it won’t flake or crease. The liners come in five beautiful shades and are made with aloe vera and vitamin E, so it’s gentle on skin.


Kulfi Beauty

It’s also cruelty-free and vegan!

Kulfi Beauty, affectionately named after a type of South-Asian ice cream, is a South Asian woman-owned beauty brand that makes products to celebrate and empower the diverse needs of their culture.

Promising review: “Love the eyeliner. It’s the best I have ever used. It goes on smoothly, neatly, and easily. It still looks good at the end of the day.” —Charlotte A.

Get it from Kulfi Beauty for $20 (available in five shades).


19.

L’Oreal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water revamps your hair quicker than you can say “abracadabra!” This rinse out treatment uses a blend of moisturizers and amino acids to reverse damage in seconds, making your tresses feel light as a feather while looking shiny and feeling silky.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising Review: “I don’t usually do reviews on products, but for this one I absolutely have to. I have 3c type hair and struggle with a lot a breakage, unmanageability, and moisture. When my mom mentioned this product to me I didn’t take her seriously because of the simple fact that we have two completely different hair textures. I never would’ve thought this brand would work on my hair. I have never in my 22 years felt my hair like this. I feel like I have a completely different head of hair. This product is so amazing and I will FOREVER be using this product in my hair regimen.” —Theressa Hailey

Get it from Amazon for $8.97.


20.

Stack Brush BFF acts as your personal on-the-go glam squad when you need a touch-up. Remove the cap and powder your face, add blush, or blend your makeup, then toss it right in your bag — no cosmetic case needed!


Subtl Beauty

This small biz specializes in innovative, on-the-go makeup essentials and is known for their compact and customizable beauty product stacks.

Promising review: “Such a great little brush! So versatile. One of those makeup basics everyone should have. My adult daughter spotted mine in my makeup bag and immediately wanted one for herself.” —Shawn Morgan

Get it from Subtl Beauty for $20.


21.

Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 works like a time machine to repair your back to its glory days. The formula works beneath the cuticle to smooth and strengthen the feel and appearance of your strands.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “Magic, I swear this stuff is made from unicorns. I was doubtful, given that I have tried the gamut of hair conditioning treatments (yes, yes, I know this is NOT a conditioner, but a bonder) and all I have to say is WOWZA! After some really harsh processing (got my hair from dark dark brown to very very blonde so I could add funky colors), my hair more closely resembled hay than it did actual hair and as the weeks went on, the breakage started getting worse. I tried this at my last feeble attempt to salvage my locks after a friend recommended it and I am BLOWN AWAY by the results! It really does work.” —shel.b.phd

Get it from Amazon for $28.


22.

Revlon Volcanic Face Roller absorbs shine in seconds without messing up your makeup. Pass this magical wand over any greasy areas of your face instead of packing on more powder, and you’ll be amazed at the results.


Amazon, amazon.com

The face roller is reusable! Just twist the ring to pop out the stone, then wash it with a mild soap/cleanser and let it air dry after every use.

Promising review: “This rolling device is like pure magic. Or voodoo?! You simply roll it around your oily areas and BOOM the oil magically vanishes into the ball never to be seen again! This is an item that #tiktokmademebuyit for sure! I saw a video on TikTok and immediately went on the hunt only to be disappointed that this item was sold out everywhere! I eventually got added to a waiting list here on Amazon and once they had it in stock again, they charged my card and sent it my way! If you have the chance to purchase this and you have oily skin, get yourself on the waiting list if you need to and just kick it until it shows up. You will be pleased. Thank me later.” —Veronica Cooper

Get it from Amazon for $9.98.


23.

Hot Tools One Step Dryer Volumizer delivers a salon-worthy blowout for a fraction of the cost. It pays for itself after just one use because it cuts blow-drying time in half *and* doesn’t require a round brush.


amazon.com

Promising review: “First, let me start off with saying I have always HATED styling my hair. I’m not good at it and it takes WAY too long to do. My hair is fluffy/frizzy, and I have a lot of it. It takes me about 20–25 minutes to dry it with a normal blow drier. When I’m done with drying, it’s normally so frizzy and crazy that I MUST flat iron, or else it looks like I just woke up. Flat ironing would take me another 20 min or so, so we’re looking at 45 min total to do my hair. Nope. I don’t have the time or patience for all that, unless I’m going out at night. And then I discovered this Hot Tools miracle. I’ve only been using this a little less than a week, but it’s changed my hair life and I am telling all my girlfriends. It’s reduced my time from 45 minutes to 10. TEN!! Not only that, I don’t have to flat iron my hair, which saves time and heat exposure to my fine hair. The end result is SO smooth.” —BayAreaShopper

Get it from Amazon for $52.52.


24.

Lovoir Winged Eyeliner Stamp creates the perfect winged eyeliner every 👏 single👏 time👏. AND it will last! Whether you’re sweating, swimming, or crying, you can confidently wipe your eyes without fear of messing up your purr-fect cat-eye.


Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

Promising Review: “I just want to make my morning routine as easy as possible. i love winged liner but i don’t have the steady hand for it without mistakes. This makes the perfect and consistent wing every time. Love it! I ordered the 10mm and now i’ll have to try the 12mm!” —Julie B

Get it from Amazon for $14.97.


25.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream replenishes dry skin with essential ceramides so you can say goodbye to dry, flaky, itchy skin in just four weeks. It’s great for all skin types and is suitable for face *and* body!


Amazon

Promising review: “I am a doctor. Not a dermatologist though. In our world when it comes to dermatology issues we have a saying: “if the skin is too wet, then dry it; if it is too dry then wet it; if this doesn’t work, then use steroids!” I have struggled with a dry skin for a long time and have used a lot of different emollients and moisturizing creams. My face was often red, and would peel off. I really though I had some autoimmune condition, and tried a course of steroids. I tried this cream, and did wonders for me.” —Mounir Errami

Get it from Amazon for $14.83.


26.

Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Concealer – it’s mask-friendly because it goes right under your eyes to hide dark circles and bags. Plus, it takes seconds to apply and blend because of the handy sponge applicator.


Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed

Promising review: “I really like this concealer for everyday use. Let me start off by saying I’m an admitted makeup addict so I have a ton of concealers mostly more expensive ones but this little gem really surprised me. I have very sensitive skin especially around my eyes and this concealer didn’t bother me at all. It works well, not a super glam perfect canvas well but great for a natural everyday look. It’s quick and easy to put on and doesn’t crease or wear off easily. It washes off easily with soap though. This is my new go to concealer for quick everyday makeup.” —Amanda

Check out BuzzFeed’s full review of Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Concealer for more deets.

Get it from Amazon for $5.46 (available in 18 shades).


27.

Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil acts as your hairs own personal security guard by protecting it from sun damage and frizz, all while preserving your natural or dyed hue. Plus, it’s lightweight and works on a variety of hair types.


Sephora

Promising review: “I have had my eye on this product for about a year. I saw great reviews but was hesitant to buy it because it’s not “curly girl friendly”. I ended up getting it after running out of my last oil and it’s AMAZING. It doesn’t make my hair greasy and my hair looks shiny and is so soft. I can’t wait to see how it helps my damage in the long run.” —EliseKush

Get it from Sephora for $28.


28.

Glossier Lash Slick delivers on its promise of making you look like you’re wearing falsies. The water-resistant formula thickens your lashes so that they look long and natural, and it won’t wear off until your day is done.


BuzzFeed / AnaMaria

Promising review: “If you’ve ever wanted lash extensions but didn’t want the hassle associated with them, you will fall unconditionally and irrevocably in love with the Glossier Lash Slick. (That’s a Twilight reference, don’t h8.) I admit that I didn’t think I would like it — I’m not an eyeliner gal (I lack the patience required) and rely heavily on blush and mascara to make me look half awake, so I usually prefer formulas that add a crap ton of drama. But this! This is so surprisingly good! It doesn’t flake, doesn’t clump, lengthens a ton, and looks *extremely* natural. It’s also incredibly easy to remove! My regular face wash is able to take off every last speck, no intense rubbing required. It’s also very buildable, so I can add on multiple swipes to give my look some extra oomph if I wanted to… and it still doesn’t look clumpy or smudge. I’ve stopped wearing mascara every day due to ::looks around:: these times, but this is my holy grail eye product and will eventually become my ~wear this every single day~ mascara once I get back to the office.” —AnaMaria Glavan

Get it from Glossier for $16.


29.

Eva Naturals Vitamin C Serum packs retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and salicylic acid into one bottle. Just a few drops can moisturize, slough away dead skin, and eradicate bacteria in one quick swoop.


amazon.com

Promising review: “This product is just perfect for my skin type! I’m using it every night and it’s helping me a lot with my post inflammatory hyperpigmentation problems caused by my last acne outbreak. I have been using this product for 1.5 months and the results are visible. My skin looks more hydrated and the dark spots have cleared. (I’m also using benzoyl peroxide based acne treatment to control my acne while I’m using this product).” —Desiree

Get it from Amazon for $14.95.

30.

E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer is made with squalane and blurs your pores to help your complexion feel soft as silk. It’s perfect for oily complexions because it provides a matte finish that doesn’t look dry, plus it’s tiny enough to toss in your bag in case you need a midday touchup.


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “This is smooth, blends well with foundation and feels good on the skin. Sets well with powder. I sometimes wear it alone for a little smoother look, since it’s colorless it doesn’t look like foundation. The price is great and I’ve yet to see it in a store. I like that I can control how much to apply and a little goes a long way. It appears to wash off well. Will be buying it again.” —Y. C.

Get it from Amazon for $8.50.


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The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.

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