Stop Struggling With Your Beauty Routine And Start Embracing It With These 15 Products

The only thing that could make your routine better than these products is a professional taking care of it all for you, but for now, these will do.

1. Elizabeth Mott's Thank Me Later Eye Primer which will help make sure that smoky eye (that you spent way longer on than you'd like to admit) actually lasts through the night instead of melting off your face as soon as you walk out the door.

Promising review: "So let me start by saying I have used nearly every eyeshadow primer available. From high-end to low — MAC, Lorac, Urban Decay...they don't hold a candle to Thank Me Later. I have very oily skin. I use this primer and my shadow lasts a full eight hours or more. I could get maybe five or six out of the other brands, if I'm lucky. I got this as a sample in my Ipsy bag, and I had to buy the full-size product straight away! I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Thank you Elizabeth Mott for finally making a primer that lasts! I love this stuff!"

2. And a long-lasting Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray that'll protect all your hard work and prevent it from smudging or fading. 🙌🏼 Honestly the only explanation for this is that it is some magical potion. 

BuzzFeed shopping editor Jenae Sitzes has this and absolutely loves it, "I first put this setting spray to the test for a wedding that involved taking many trains in and out of Manhattan on a hot day and being in crowded rooms where airflow was ~limited~. As such, I was sweating up a storm, but my makeup looked *flawless* by the time I got home that night — all thanks to this Urban Decay setting spray that I knew after one use I'd be repurchasing. I'm new to setting sprays, so it felt weird at first to spray something *on top* of my carefully crafted makeup look, but it dried in no time without messing anything up. It also didn't feel heavy or sticky on my face — it didn't feel like anything at all, actually — and my makeup looked better than it ever has after hours of wear. (For reference, I have dry, sensitive skin, and it caused me no issues.) 

Soon after that event, I put it to an even bigger task: surviving sweat, tears, and 12 hours of wear for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. My makeup look (pictured above) was done by 2 p.m., and thanks to my now highly trusted Urban Decay spray, it stayed completely intact (minus the lipstick I purposefully wiped off while scarfing down post-concert pizza) until the time I got home just after 2 a.m. Here's what it endured during that timespan: multi-leg public transportation to and from the venue, waiting in lines under the blaring sun to get in, multiple meals and drinks, jumping, screaming, and literally full-on crying multiple times during the show. My liquid eyeliner, eyeshadow, non-waterproof mascara, foundation, blush, and even glitter (for the most part) were unfazed, and I owe it all to this setting spray."

3. A deeply conditioning hair mask made with castor oil and biotin that'll help bring your hair back from dry and damaged to healthy and hydrated. Bonus: it'll help reduce shedding and breakage! 

Thank God It's Natural is a Black woman-owned small biz based in Chicago that specializes in hair products. This hair mask is designed for all hair types to help repair breakage, heat, and color damage.

Read more about how biotin shampoo could help with the fullness of hair at Cleveland Clinic.

Promising review: "My scalp felt invigorated after applying. I left the masque on overnight and when I rinsed the next morning my scalp felt refreshed and clean. I actually think this product also aided in elongating my curls. Hair looks hydrated as well! I plan to use every two weeks."

4. A smudge-proof eyeliner stamp that will literally put an end to the constant struggle of trying to get your eyeliner perfectly even. Now you can have perfectly even eyeliner in minutes which means you can still look ~fab~ even if you have to rush out the door.

Watch one TikToker test it out here! Oh, and it comes with two stamp pens — one for each eye!

Promising review: "This eyeliner is so easy to use and makes a perfect winged eyeliner look every time! I saw it on TikTok and I'm glad I tried, it saved me so much time rather than trying to make a winged one myself." 

5. An E.l.f putty primer so you can feel confident that the makeup you just spent a lot of time on will actually stay in place all day. Plus this primer is designed to help reduce the appearance of your pores, so your skin will look extra ~smooth~ and hydrated.

Promising review: "I was skeptical but after trying this poreless putty my mind is forever changed! It shrunk my pores and made them seem like they were gone forever! Apply it and then apply foundation. It makes my skin feel great! No bad odor and doesn't make my skin oily! I will keep using this product!"

6. A Denman styling brush that will help you form perfectly styled and defined curls while also detangling and reducing frizz — talk about a win–win–win–win.

Promising review: "I never would have believed I would go against everything I thought I knew about curls. As someone who has had a love/hate relationship with my hair, it had taken years to perfect my method of wide tooth comb in the shower and never would think to put a brush through my wet hair. After my curl expert hair stylist rocked my world by using this brush, I’ve converted! And my curls have never been more uniform, less frizzy, hold better the next day, etc. Go for it, curly one!" 

7. Glossier Wowder, and no, the name isn't a lie, you will say "wow" every time you put it on because you forget how well it softens shine and smooths skin. Your foundation lasting all night is just the icing on the cake.

BuzzFeed editor Jasmin Sandal has this and says, "I had been meaning to give this a whirl since its release a few years ago, and, boy, I don't know why I waited so long to snag it because this stuff has changed the game. I recently moved from New York to California and, let me tell you, with this change in climate, my skin has gone through every phase imaginable: Painfully flaky with patches of dryness, breakouts beyond belief, and shine, ooh, so much shine you'd think there had been an oil spill. (And I'm telling you all of this because no matter what I put on my face, makeup never sits on it quite like I want it to.) Enter Wowder — the pillowy-soft powder that has done the unthinkable: blurred my imperfections and sets my concealer without leaving a chalky residue. Now any time I catch my reflection in the mirror I literally have to do a double take. My skin appears smoother and any fine lines look so much softer. A little goes a long way — and now I can leave my house with a little more confidence and return with a look that hasn't wavered."

Oh! And it's vegan and cruelty-free.

Promising review: "I have pretty oily skin and I always look shiny by the end of the day. This setting powder left me with a matte finish that lasted all day.

8. A bottle of L’Oreal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water because why use anything else if you could achieve moisture, shine, and silkiness in EIGHT SECONDS?! I mean come on, that seems too good to be true, but the over 25,000 5-star ratings prove that this might just be real life wizardry.

It's recommended to use this product on the ends of your hair (be careful to avoid your scalp) two to three times per week on wet hair after you shampoo. You should use one dose if you have fine to medium textured hair, two to three if you have thick to curly textured hair and add one extra dose if you have long hair. 

Promising reviews: "Yes, I actually saw this product reviewed on TikTok and had to try it. It is amazing stuff, OMGOSH!!! I have already purchased my second bottle. I have a lot of hair, and it gets tangled easily this stuff made it soft and easy to brush after the first use. PLEASE be careful not to get it on your scalp it does start to feel warm almost like when you have had your hair color on too long, I just use it more towards the ends. Overall great stuff." —Jennifer Borchers

"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."

9. Juno & Co.'s Clean 10 Cleansing Balm that'll remove every last speck of your makeup. (Yup, even waterproof mascara doesn't stand a chance!) It features Japanese pearl barley, which melts into your skin to hydrate while cleansing away impurities.

Promising review: "I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!! I found it on TikTok and OMG!! It works so well. I don't have to sit there and rub the crap out of my eyelashes to get the waterproof mascara off. I will admit, it doesn't take 100% of the makeup off but about 95% of my makeup comes off. It is not water-resistant, as emulsifying it with water helps take the makeup off. I have not found a better makeup remover, and yes, that includes micellar water (which also works well but leaves my skin feeling oily). With this cleansing balm, my face feels hydrated and smooth. 

10. And some reusable facial pads designed to easily remove makeup or apply product so you can ditch those single use pads and wipes. Once you've used them all up, put them in the mesh bag they come with and toss it in the washing machine to get them squeaky clean.

The pack comes with seven so you can get through the week before washing!

11. An outrageously popular Differin gel beloved by reviewers for helping get rid of existing acne *and* working to prevent new pimples from forming with its prescription-strength retinoid. Go ahead and order a couple of bottles, this is now a staple in your beauty routine. 

Because of the prescription-strength retinoid, make sure to consult your dermatologist before introducing this into your skincare routine.

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Natalie Brown has tried this out on her own skin! Here are her takeaways: 

• "1. One pea-sized application per day is all it takes. 
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• 2. It's just as effective over moisturizer as it would be if you applied it directly to your skin. 
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• 3. Apply it at night, and you MUST wear sunscreen every day when you use this!"

You can read her full review in this post "11 Products We Use, Love, And Swear By So Much, We Had To Share Them With You" at #6.

Promising review: "This product is a MAGIC ERASER on acne. This is the only product that works on my acne. It dried up my hormonal acne within one night! So I have mild hormonal acne due to menstrual cycle but after using this gel every night and following the directions in the package, it has really helped me get rid of acne and dark spots. This product did not break me out in initial use or even later. This one tube lasted me for a couple of months and a few days over. I love the results and I will buy another tube if my acne acts up again but for now I have clean and clear skin. Thanks Differin!" 

12. A Korean microdermabrasion mitt so you can finally ~effectively~ remove all the dead skin that has been building up on your body for...longer than we might like to admit. Is it gross? Maybe, but is it satisfying? Absolutely.

Watch one TikToker use it to remove their self-tanner build-up here!

Promising review: "I love these mitts so much, I wish I found them sooner! For me, brushes and loofas don’t give me enough exfoliation and they fall apart and get gross too fast. These mitts are perfect. Also, they are way more cost effective and easier to use than a sugar scrub type product. I feel like these mitts will last a long time, and they’re easy to clean and have a loop so you can hang them to dry in your shower. I keep one at my place and one at my boyfriend's. They are a little rough so it’s not something you want to use more than twice per week, and use gentle motions in sensitive areas. My skin is so smooth after I use these and it’s helped me get rid of ingrown hairs on my bikini line. Just make sure to moisturize after using! I’m excited to use it for when I apply fake tan in the summer months."

13. Corated's Heatless Hair Curler to give you amazingly bouncy curls with no damage because there is no heat!! Which also means you don't have to spend time in the morning trying to get your hair to look perfect, just pull the rod out, give your hair a shake, and VOILA ~beautiful~ curls with hardly any effort.

This heatless curler comes as a set, so you'll also get two matching silk scrunchies and a hair clip with purchase! The curler is also made with mulberry satin to help prevent tangled hair.

Promising review: "I could not be more obsessed with this. I have stick straight hair and I'm a new mom. I love feeling glam but have about seven minutes to get ready every morning. I put these in when I go to sleep at night....They're comfy and only take two minutes to put in. And when I wake up, I pull them out in 15 seconds, mist with hairspray and I have bouncy curls for the rest of the day... Works better than curling irons for me!"

14. Or the Revlon One-Step dryer that will give you a salon-like blowout in the comfort of your own home. No more juggling a blow-dryer and a hair brush — this tool combines them and will make your life soooo much easier.

Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this product. I haven’t had to use a blow dryer or straightener since getting this. It is so easy to use and cuts my time in half. My hair is thinning as I age and this gives me much more body to my hair. Wish I got one of these years ago." —Kelly Carreiro

"Omg! It really works on natural 4c hair!! This thing is amazing and what I have been needing for a long time! I was skeptical and thought only worked on people that already had good hair. So not true!!! I’m so impressed! It’s sturdy and heavy. The hot gets really hot and the cool it really cool! To get the results I achieved, I washed and towel blotted my hair. Added a little castor oil and dried using a rolling motion. My hair was completely dry in about 15 minutes! It’s so nice and fluffy and has so much body! Oh yeah I have to mention that when drying and using the rolling motion, the cord turns along with it so you don’t have to worry about it curling and knotting up! I hope it lasts a while because this is my go-to now!!" 

15. A tube of Essence's Lash Princess mascara because this little tube of magic costs UNDER $5 and can deliver the ultimate lash look without the struggle of putting on fake lashes every day.

Promising review: "I have used every mascara on the planet (not literally but I have tried dozens) from the most expensive to the least. This little jewel is the best-kept mascara secret ever! Lifts and separates lashes with no clumping, and did you see this price?? Trust me, this is a must have for any make-up collection. You absolutely can't go wrong with this!"

16. A bottle of Blume's meltdown acne oil that will help combat acne-prone skin while still keeping your face moisturized. Use it directly on your face or mix it in with your daily moisturizer and it'll help fight your skincare woes all day long. ✨ Don't worry, this is safe for sensitive skin *and* can be worn under your makeup.

Blume is a BIPOC-, woman-, and family-owned small biz based in Vancouver that makes cruelty-free, vegan, environmentally-friendly skincare in snazzy packaging. 

Promising review: "Been using Meltdown for two weeks straight and I'm happy to say that it has done wonders for my skin. It has brightened up my complexion and kept my skin moisturized during these cold winter months. Don't skip out on this magic serum."

17. A lash-lifting kit to add some curl to your lashes. You'll be able to wake up every morning looking like you just put on a fresh coat of mascara. Everyone is about to walk up to you demanding to know your secrets. 

This kit includes lash glue, lash perm, lash fixation, lash nutrition, lash cleanser, five silicone pads, three lash cleaning brushes, 10 lash micropores, 10 brushes, and five gel under-eye pads. 

Promising review: "Okay I'm not gonna lie, I was worried that this stuff would either not work at all or make all my lashes fall out. Thankfully, it was neither and the results are UNREAL. I HIGHLY suggest watching some YouTube videos of other people using their perm kits before attempting to use yours. I have big fingers and small eyes so it was difficult for me to get the lift pads in the right positions but once that was over, the rest was a breeze. Unlike some of the other kits I've seen on here, this one has basically everything you need. The only other things I needed were a mirror, some tissue, and a little bit of plastic wrap to cover my lashes while waiting for the lotions to work their magic. I'm totally impressed and will definitely be buying this again!