Because “less is more” has been our middle name for the past 10 months and we’re not seeing signs of that changing anytime soon.
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.
A tube of Glossier boy brow for your fluffiest, fullest (you might as well throw your tweezers away) brows. With just a couple swipes, this formula holds unruly hairs in place and fills in the gaps that tend to look a little sparse.
Glossier
Promising review: “This is my favorite eyebrow gel ever! It really fluffs up your eyebrows and gives them a nice tint! If I want to go for a more natural look I can use this without having to fill in my eyebrows! Definitely one of the best brow gels out there!” —Jocelin
An Australian plum night cream rich in nutrients and lauded by reviewers who boast its ability to smooth and firm skin after just a couple uses. Because what could be easier than applying one product that restores your skin’s natural barrier and gets to work while you catch your zzzs?
Lather
This overnight renewal formula contains potent phytonutrients (aka chemical compounds produced from plants) from the Australian Kakadu plum. And features grape seed extract, chamomile, plus has citrusy goodness from lemons, oranges, and grapefruit.
Promising review: “My favorite skin product. It’s thick and has a nice gentle scent, but soaks in without feeling greasy and makes my face feel incredibly soft. I highly recommend it.” —Ann W.
An Hourglass lengthening mascara that doesn’t just appease the low effort high impact mood we’ve been fan-girling over recently, but it also coats your lashes instead of clumping them together. (Which reviewers mention makes it super duper easy to remove.) A lashlift in a tube, you say? Eye love it!
Sephora
This instantly gratifying formula is also vegan, cruelty-, and gluten-free.
Promising review: “Since I tried this mascara, it is the only one I’ve been using for months now! It makes my lashes LONG and the best part about it is how easy it is to take off at the end of the day — water is all it takes. This is the perfect mascara to use on a daily basis! The packaging is stunning too. My favorite so far!” —Customer
A set of 16 Dermal Korea collagen sheet face masks so you can pick a different skin concern to tackle each week. Picture this: in as little as 15 minutes you can banish dull, tired skin all the while you’re putting your feet up and scrolling into the abyss. Ah, the luxury.
Amazon, Samantha Wieder/BuzzFeed
Some ingredient highlights include: soothing aloe, cooling cucumber, and restorative green tea.
Promising review: “These masks are amazing!!! Having ‘ice pick’ scars left over from acne I was told that I’d have to pay for expensive laser therapy because the body can’t produce enough collagen to heal deep scars. I’ve been using these masks for two months and I’ve seen SIGNIFICANT reduction in my scars. They are almost completely gone!” —Shaun
A Squish lip gloss that defines skinminimalism to a tee, because donning a red lip? Not for you. Sporting a translucent glassy balm to give your puckers a nice sheen? *Inserts sign up sheet.*
Squish
Lip gloss + nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil = a ’90s throwback beauty trend we’re ready to revisit.
A set of Nexxus frizz taming sheets, aka dryer sheets but for your hair (static sufferers, I’m looking at you). These are a *fantastic* on-the-go solution if you deal with frustrating flyaways, plus they contain frizz-defying ingredients like argan oil.
Walmart
Promising review: “Nexus anti-frizz sheets are effective and convenient. Throughout the day, my hair tends to get frizzy or dull looking. With these sheets I can grab one out of my purse and glide it right over my hair and bam, no more frizz. The sheet helped my frizz and made my hair shiny. I absolutely love the convenience of this product. You can keep a few in your purse and use one half way throughout the day for a touch up.” —Walmart Customer
A Glossier gel-cream blush for subtle, buildable color when you want to look kissed by the sun without having to, you know, actually see the sun. This won’t look cakey either thanks to the lightweight formula and its shockingly easy-to-use applicator: your finger.
Glossier
Promising review: “I am such a minimalist when it comes to makeup. I used to never use blush or bronzer. A simple tinted moisturizer with some concealer and whatever. BUT CLOUD PAINT CHANGED THAT. I absolutely love the color and glow it adds to my face. And it only takes three seconds to put it on. Perfect for a makeup minimalist like me.” —Jennifer T
A back-to-basics CeraVe face wash, featuring ceramides and hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin in a non-oily, breakout-free fashion. If you suffer from flaky winter skin and you happen to be acne-prone, this noncomedogenic option might be for you.
This stuff removes makeup and impurities without disrupting the protective barrier and feeds skin with the moisture it needs on a daily basis.
Promising review: “I was kind of hesitant at first because the texture is like lotion, but don’t let it fool you! It’s such a great face wash! I have struggled with my acne for years and have tried a billion different products and none of them worked like this one. It took about a month of consistent use but it made my skin look almost flawless. I’m not wearing makeup in either pictures.” —Cassidy Cooper
A Laura Mercier oil-free tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 for a soft and sheer layer of coverage that still feels like your actual skin (and not a greasy layer of baked on makeup).
Sephora
I can attest that this foundation-alt doesn’t draw attention to areas of dryness either — it actually does a great job of nourishing your skin as well as providing medium coverage to naturally mask blemishes. I especially love it because I can even out my skin tone in a pinch with just *one* product, instead of having to throw a bajillion things on my face to achieve a healthy-looking glow.
Promising review: “AMAZING! but you already knew that. So lightweight and perfect for everyday. It literally looks like I am wearing nothing, but I have that extra coverage and it’s very buildable. SO worth every penny!” —Customer
Or! A L’oreal glow-enhancing face lotion if you’d prefer something that features a highlighting quality as well. This formula is infused with glycerin and shea butter to feed your skin while producing a luminous layer that’ll make you appear more awake (even if your caffeine hasn’t kicked in yet).
Promising review: “I love this product. It makes it look like you have a natural glow, without feeling heavy or looking cakey. Great for those with dry skin who can’t wear heavy foundation but want to smooth out their skin.” —Jessica Giles
A Revlon one-step dryer and hot air brush because needing two+ tools to do your hair in a pandemic?! I don’t think so. Enter: the one styling device that’ll cut down your routine and help you achieve silky smooth locks in ~20 minutes.
Folks, one of my favorite quarantine purchases has been this godsend from Revlon. I’ve never been much of a blow-dryer myself — I never had the patience, energy, or the technique for that matter. But then in swoops this two-in-one tool to give my hair the glam of Jackie O in just about 20 minutes. I have short, very thick, wavy locks and I’ve never enjoyed seeing a transformation quite like I’m able to achieve with this styler. Giving myself a quick, ~salon-worthy~ blow out for Monday morning meetings has been my new way to feel a little less disheveled for the day.
Promising review: “WOW! I’ve seen reviews and YouTube videos praising this product and being the minimalist I am I had to try it. A product that can dry and give my hair body/style at the same time, yes please! So, first impression, WOW. There are so many ways I could have dried my hair to give it more added body, but simply drying it without product gave it noticeable body and curl (depending on how I manipulated the dryer). I can’t beleive I used to dry my hair with a round brush in one and a dryer in the other- NEVER AGAIN. Great product for anyone!” —Amazon Customer
A winged eyeliner stamp that has received cult-status with beauty newbs and experts alike — and for good reason. So fret no more, because this revolutionary tool will award you with the ability to *finally* nail your cat-eye on both sides (so they actually look related, and not like step cousins!).
Promising review: “Let me start by saying this isn’t my first cat-eye rodeo. I’ve tried the taping method, normal liquid liner, plastic winged stamping devices, stencils, all of it! Well, this gem arrived and I immediately had to try it out, all while laughing at how terrible this would probably turn out…but to my surprise I put the left cat-eye on first and it was perfect. I thought this was a fluke and did the right eye…again, it came out clean and perfect! I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN ABLE TO DO A CAT-EYE IN UNDER 10 MINUTES, LET ALONE THE TWO MINUTES THIS TOOK TO DO! There were no sloppy streaks that I had to touch up or anything you would expect. Just a clean crisp line. I can now do a cat-eye EVERY day and look/feel like a badass. Everyone can think I spend hours doing my makeup in the morning.” —LadyMeow
Get it from Amazon for $12.72 (available in three sizes).
13.
A CeraVe moisturizing lotion for our skin minimalists who favor a more stripped back, does-it-all-for-you formula — this one product can target Sahara-like dryness from your face to feet.
This trusted lotion contains hyaluronic acid and a non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula.
Promising review: “The best moisturizer ever. I have extremely oily skin and I was worried that this would break me out but it doesn’t and it is so moisturizing in the most lightweight way possible. It doesn’t have fragrance or oils so it’s great for sensitive skin. This is the only facial moisturizer I have used for the past year or so. I keep two bottles at a time, one in the bathroom and one by my bed. It’s great on the body as well, but for the body I prefer the CeraVe cream since it’s thicker.” —Briana
An Aveeno in-shower scrub which goes on like a face mask, sits on your skin for 60 seconds — so you can focus on cleaning the rest of your bod — and once removed, buffs away impurities to provide you with a facial-like treatment. Look at you go, you multi-tasker!
I particularly *love* this as it’s not like other exfoliators that feel coarse and contain those bad-for-the-environment beads. The creamy formula consists of gentle white beads that melt into your skin and work with the steam of the shower. Every time I’ve used this, I’ve consistently stepped out of the shower with a smooth, and, dare I say, ~glowing~ canvas.
Promising review: “I am very picky with skincare and I was blown away by this!! It works so well! It works great for dry skin to help exfoliate off the top layer. My skin was dry and dull from going out of town to somewhere drier than where I’m from, and I was so impressed that this cleanser fixed my skin after one wash! I haven’t been impressed by a skincare product in quite awhile, but this is a new holy grail for me!” —Francism
A Ouai wave spray for those indoor air drying days we’ve been having a lot of lately. This is perfect for anyone who wants to ditch the heat tools, scrunch those tresses, and achieve a quick beachy, frizz-free look. (Sun, sea, and sand not included, sadly.)
Sephora
Promising review: “I’d say this product is the best for people with naturally wavy hair. I wasn’t expecting much when I got this and most products like this don’t work with my hair or make my ends tangled or dry. First time trying it I just sprayed it in after my leave in conditioner and scrunched it a bit. Let it air dry and they’re such defined & shiny beach waves! Does exactly what it says. And it literally doubles as a perfume because this stuff smells AMAZING. I put my hair in a hair clip for the day and when I took it out it still smelled so good! I feel like it added quite a bit of volume also. I’m excited to stop using the heat tools for a bit!” —Customer
A pack of Avarelle tea tree oil acne patches that powerfully combats blemishes and blend in with the tone of your complexion – so you can get on with your day knowing that a lil’ sticker is doing all the work and you don’t have to lift a finger. (Except for when you have to remove it and ~satisfyingly~ see all the gunk that gets sucked out of your pores!)
Promising review: “When it comes to acne patches, I have tried them all, from Cosrx to the very expensive and not worth it Zitsticka. These patches are the best that I’ve tried. I like that they have more soothing ingredients in them than just being a bandage. I can see the evidence in my skin, (and on the patch- eww) that they’re working to shrink my pimple. I also love their packaging- it’s genius that they have a knotch in the plastic to make it easy to get the peel the patch off without touching the patch. I’m wearing a patch during the day, at my office in this photo, and you can barely see it. I will buy these again!” —Chris Johnson
A can of Batiste dry shampoo for a fan-favorite fix to freshen up grease-ridden hair instantly — and as an added bonus, it also creates volume. Pro tip: Spritz this on your roots before bed and let it work the night shift on your oily locks for a serious time-saving solution.
Promising review: “This dry shampoo is amazing! I have tried so many brands over the years and was so dissatisfied with all of them that I thought dry shampoo just wasn’t for me. To give context, I have a very oily scalp with long, fine blonde hair. Batiste saves the day! I don’t like washing my hair every day and this product helps me last two to three days from my last shampoo. It gives good volume and doesn’t feel loaded with product. Also, it does leave some white residue, but a blow-dryer on cool gets almost all of this out. I highly recommend this dry shampoo to anyone with an oily scalp! It’s amazing for the price and for how frequently I need to use it. And for anyone worried about build-up, I have never had an issue with this dry shampoo and I use it about four times a week.” —Laurel Adkins
A Biossance one-ingredient squalane oil that’s become a taste-maker within the beauty industry for its multiple uses and rejuvenating benefits. Use it on anywhere from a dry scalp to scaly elbows to flaky cheeks (see: face or derrière).
Biossance
Promising review: “I bought this oil as a last resort. I have eczema that primarily affects my scalp and most hair oils have some sort of fragrant component to them and can be heavy but not hydrating thereby proliferating my eczema. I also have fairly thick curly hair which loves oil so removing it from my routine wasn’t an option because I’d be replacing one issue with another. So, I set out to find a fragrance free oil that was most like the oil produced by my own skin. Being familiar with squalane and Biossance as I also use the cleansing oil for the brand I decided to see if they had a hair oil and stumbled upon this gem! This oil hydrates my hair and scalp without being too heavy or tacky and it also causes no irritation. A little goes a long way. I will use this oil for as long as Biossance makes it, which I hope is forever.” —LEKEISHA W.
BuzzFeed Editor Bek O’Connell says: “This is the stuff of dreams, people! I put it on my face at night after serum and before my night cream, and wake up with bouncy, bright skin. The first time I used it, I had overnight results. I am constantly yelling about this product to everyone who will listen; I even convinced my dermatologist to try it.”
A Maybelline age rewind concealer to treat and defeat dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines that are taking up prime real estate around your delicate eye area. This even comes with a built-in sponge applicator to cut down the amount of products you’ll need on hand.
Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed
Promising review: “I am a makeup snob. I have stupidly high standards for cosmetic performance, and drugstore brands have let me down every single time I’ve given them a shot. So when I graduated from Covergirl to Sephora after college, I never looked back. My kit is full of Dior and YSL foundation, Armani concealer, Benefit brighteners, etc. But this thing is truly great. The sponge applicator is better than you think. Firstly, it’s antimicrobial, so you don’t have to worry about the hygiene aspect. Secondly, its ability to blend the product is outstanding. The concealer itself doubles as a highlighter, it looks good without primer, and it lasts so much longer than you’d expect.” —Sarita
Get it from Amazon for $4.74+ (available in 18 shades).
A Dr. Jart+ color correcting treatment (with SPF 30!) for an all-in-one treatment if you suffer from discoloration. This has a green tint that works to correct and neutralize red blotchiness (throwback to the colorwheel we learned about in school!)
Sephora
The active ingredient centella asiatica has been recognized for its medicinal use and helps support wounded skin exhibiting inflammation, redness, or blemishes.
Promising review: “This stuff is a life changer for me. I’m early forties with light skin tone and freckles. I have blotchy redness around the nose and dark eye circles. I applied this after my daily moisturizing routine and I’m speechless. I’m not a heavy makeup wearer to begin with so I will be buying the bigger size and ditching all my concealer. 10/10 recommend for a NATURAL look… don’t buy this thinking you’ll come out looking airbrushed though.” —SaltyPearl
Get it from Sephora for $18 (available in two sizes).
21.
A bareMinerals hydrating foundation stick if you want more coverage than a tinted moisturizer but don’t want to spend ~hours buffing a liquid-y consistency into your face. This convenient applicator will have your skin evened out quicker than you can say “OMG, I forgot about the meeting I have in 10 minutes!”
bareMinerals
This has a lightweight, water-based formula that’s vegan and mimics the same hydration as a moisturizer but comes in an on-the-go, handheld stick.
Promising review: “I love how silky and perfect my skin looks with his foundation. I am 40 yrs old and I never look cakey or dull even wearing it for hours. It’s the best stick, I tried other high brands and Bare Minerals is the only one that doesn’t make my skin breakout. The shade matches my skin perfectly. It’s worthy!” —Vivibaris
A Supergoop! SPF 40 suncreen for a clean-feeling primer that grips makeup and actually keeps it in place — all while shielding you from UV rays. This pearlescent lotion also features a star-studded lineup of skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, B5 vitamins, and blue-light protecting peptides.
Sephora
Promising review: “Super glowy as I wanted — leaves you looking healthier and you can skip the makeup and look more photo-ready. It’s like a light highlighter, and it lasts all day. Perfect for the person that hates reapplication and is on the go.” —Customer
A four-in-one makeup brush if you’re looking to Marie Kondo your makeup bag. Because if there are multi-tasking formulas, there are applicators that can do more than one thing, too. Think: concealer, blush, shadow, brows all taken care of with one handy tool.
Alleyoop
Promising review: “The fibers are soft with just the right density. The eye brushes especially aren’t too stiff and fluffy enough for blending. I own a ton of brushes from drugstore to high end but this one really has everything you need if you need to get your face on in a flash. The option to replace the sponge tip is amazing.” —Pam
A Fresh roll-on deodorant for a naturally scented antiperspirant that uses sugar as its main ingredient to protect from sweat (and ideal if you have super-sensitive ‘pits). One quick swipe under each arm = a clear, refreshing formula that won’t stain your favorite black top.
Sephora, Kayla Suazo/BuzzFeed
Promising review: “In a time when so many brands are pushing to be more ‘clean’ and therefore not selling true antiperspirants, I appreciate this for being not just a nice smelling paste to sit on top of my underarms but an effective tool for preventing sweat. The roll on feels great and moisturizing. It comes on completely clear so it never stains clothes. The scent is a light floral, citrus kind of smell. The best part, I have very sensitive armpits that can breakout in itching with the wrong product and this never does that. It’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.” —Panagababy
A set of gold collagen masks if carrying less [undereye] baggage into the new year has been on your list of 2021 goals. Perfect if you’re going for a no-makeup Monday (and Tuesday and Wednesday…you get it) since these little miracle workers hydrate, plump, and brighten deep dark crescents that live beneath your eyes.
I decided to put these golden gems to the test after coming off of a red-eye flight with practically no sleep. After cooling them off in the fridge (which is what was suggested on the packet), I applied them to my purpley, puffy eyes, and…w-o-w. Not only did I feel like I was receiving some kind of royal treatment (because, gold), but after 20 minutes, my undereyes appeared brighter and any fine lines that were once lingering had vanished! After wearing these I didn’t feel compelled to apply concealer either, which is usually my go-to to disguise dark circles — and I even felt confident enough to go bare-faced for the rest of the day. Now, I find that I integrate these into my routine anytime I want to let my skin breathe free of makeup.
Promising review: “Bye-bye sunken eyes and dark circles! I can’t believe they are this effective and this cheap. The size is perfect and they are slightly indented on one side so they suction right to your under-eye. Nothing ever helps my dark circles but these were amazing in just one session. The plumping effect it gave was amazing under-eyes were brighter and more hydrated.” —J. Oliver
A six-in-one palette to prove that there is a world where you can have a less cluttered bathroom cabinet and routine. Because in one handheld palette you can achieve multiple, rich pigmented looks for a natural, ~less is more~ complexion worthy of an Insta.
Beauty Pie
This includes one matte bronzer, one blusher, one highlighter and three long-wear eyeshadows in matte and shimmer finishes.
Promising review: “What a brilliant product! The darkest brown eyeshadow works well as an eyebrow-powder and the bronzer/blusher/highlighter are fantastic shades too. The quality of the compact feels expensive; all in all I’m delighted with this product, thank you!” —Customer
A pack of Amie biodegradable cleansing cloths with vitamin B5 to help even out your complexion while removing makeup and refreshing your skin. Perfect for post-workouts or to fight back against that infamous word of 2020: Maskne.
Target
Promising review: “These wipes don’t have an overpowering smell like you get with some makeup cleansing wipes. They make my face actually feel clean, if you use cleansing wipes regularly, you know what I mean. They clean my makeup without a problem.” —Lex
A Simple alcohol-free toner from the purveyor and experts in ~less is more~ skin. This potion in a bottle, specifically designed for sensitive epidermis, contains calming ingredients like witch hazel to gently remove leftover makeup and pollutants.
Walmart
I am here to inform you that this has been a staple in my bathroom cabinet since my late teens, and, honestly, something I wish I had introduced into my routine sooner when I first started to get acne. I have very temperamental skin and this has been a constant to soothe and clear my face of impurities after cleansing. I’m also one of ~those~ people who finds it oddly satisfying to see the dirt come off on a cotton pad after I give my face a quick full swipe. (You’d be surprised at how much cleansers can miss!)
Promising review: “It’s the lightest toner in the market and at a great price. If you have sensitive skin, such as rosacea, this product will do the trick. I use it every night after washing off my makeup. Doesn’t sting or burn like other products that contain alcohol or other harsh chemicals.” —Customer
A set of nail adhesives for anyone who simply does not have the patience to wait for lacquer to dry or the ability to keep their nails scuff-free after painting them (#me). In two simple steps of peel and press, you can ~nail~ salon-worthy results in little to no time.
Promising review: “I love these nails. I grabbed them in a hurry for a girls weekend and had no time for a salon visit. I put these on in the car and was instantly impressed. I got so many compliments. The ladies assumed I had a professional mani. They stayed on really well; through hair styling, showering, cooking, etc. They look great, feel great and I know they’re not going anywhere until I’m ready to remove them. I so love these. I love gel manicures, just not crazy about sitting in nail salons for hours. I don’t love paying $30-$40 per visit and feeling obligated to do it all over again in two weeks when they grow out. I’ve tried DIY gel manicures which didn’t quite work out. And regular polish chips after one day. This is so quick, simple and best of all for me a big time and money saver. I’ll buy these over and over again.” —MrsDavis
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The reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
Need more for your skin? Check out Korean skincare products you need to know, cheap skincare products that are even better than luxury brands, products for an even skin tone or to deal with acne scars, or check out all of our beauty content for even more great stuff for your hair, skin, and more.
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