
31 Beauty Products That'll Help With Upkeep Without Costing A Fortune
An OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Curl-Defining Cream so you can properly flaunt your curls for passersby to envy. This miracle cream gives you ultra-soft curls and moisturizes them to boost their shine. Bouncy spirals of hair without the need to style with heat? Yes, please.
A popular pack of Skin1004 pore tightening and lifting masks that has surprised reviewers with its immediate results. These fast-acting masks are made with albumin, aloe vera, and centella asiatica extract to hydrate and lift your skin, tighten enlarged pores, clear small breakouts, and give you that "just came fresh from the spa" glow.
A non-comedogenic CeraVe salicylic acid body wash so you can finally break up with those keratosis pilaris bumps. With hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this gently cleanses and exfoliates your skin.
A TikTok-famous VieBeauti eyelash growth serum to help with upkeep when you can't make it to the esthetician for extensions. Apply to your lashes daily to help them become longer and stronger within just a few weeks! You'll be resisting the urge to flutter your lashes like a cartoon character every time your S.O. walks by in no time.
L'Oréal Wonder Water Lamellar Hair Treatment, which works its magic in eight (!!!) seconds to give dull-looking hair a dose of shine and silkiness (without going to the salon). It'll probably make you want to do a dramatic hair flip every eight seconds, and we wouldn't mind it at all.
A Korean exfoliating mitt you can use in the bath or shower to achieve that ~buttery soft~ skin. It helps you gently lather off dead skin, prevent ingrown hairs, and eliminate bumps caused by keratosis pilaris. The best part? You can get specific about the exfoliation pressure, since it's on your own hand!
A bottle of wildly popular Bio-Oil multiuse skincare oil with vitamins A and E, chamomile, sunflower, and lavender oils to help fade scars and stretch marks while helping your skin retain moisture and achieve a more even tone. One reviewer even compares this stuff to sorcery.
A bottle of Fanola "No Yellow" purple shampoo — you already spent major money to acquire that beautiful blonde look, so why would you let unwanted yellow tones get in the way? This'll cancel out the brassiness and help you keep it looking as good as the hair inspo on your Pinterest board before your next touch-up appointment.
A CeraVe eye cream because don't you just love it when everyone points out how tired you look? This hydrates and repairs your undereye's delicate skin barrier with three essential ceramides so that you can say "see ya" to those dark circles.
A pack of popular Cosrx pimple patches if you've been in need of a trip to the dermatologist — these'll evict those pesky pimples that have no business invading your face. These are coated with hydrocolloids to protect and heal the blemish more effectively. You officially have no excuses for picking at those pimples anymore!
A bottle of highly-rated Nizoral anti-dandruff shampoo because we shouldn't be expected to deal with both bad hair days and flakiness. This gentle shampoo uses ketoconazole to help eliminate dandruff-causing fungus, along with the annoying itchiness that comes with it!
And a shampoo scalp massager reviewers have raved about because it helped them with psoriasis, dandruff, and scalp tenderness. It exfoliates your scalp and gives you the glorious, relaxing feeling of a massage ~without~ the spa fees.
A moisturizing Etude House SPF 50 sun milk, which is formulated with 20 powerful berry and plant ingredients (including açaí palm fruit extract, Barbados cherry extract, and sunflower seed oil) that are gentle on your skin and leave you with a lightweight, airy finish. It's intended to be used as the last step in your skincare routine and works like a charm as a makeup primer!
A set of antimicrobial toothbrushes for those mornings when you might not get around to flossing, but still want to get a deeper clean than a regular toothbrush can give you. The tip of each of these tiny "floss" bristles are as thick as a single human hair and reach deep into the grooves of your teeth for a cleaner, fresher mouth. And if you have sensitive teeth, no worries — reviewers say these bristles are super soft.
And a reviewer-beloved teeth-whitening pen — you'll see the difference almost immediately, and it'll help you avoid having to go get it done by a pro. It's painless, minty fresh, and helps whiten your teeth after years of drinking coffee, tea, wine, and basically anything that isn't water. 🙃
A touch-up razor and dermaplaning tool you'll need next time you want to quickly shape your brows or remove any of those other fine facial hairs that you just don't have the time or patience to pluck out one by one. Have no fear — it's super gentle and painless (and beats having to go out of your way to get threaded or waxed)!
A stainless-steel tongue scraper because, trust me, your tongue has more gunk on it than you think. This useful tool lets you scrape it allll off and instantly freshens up your breath. It works so well, one reviewer even says they can now taste specific flavors they've never detected before!
And an oral rinse if you have good oral hygiene but want your minty fresh breath to last all day. This rinse works instantly to target and fight bad breath germs for up to 24 hours. Some reviewers claim it has also helped reduce tonsil stones and prevented new ones from forming.
A hair repair serum with argan oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E that help instantly condition and hydrate your hair so that you can walk out with a little extra shine.
Or a natural curl-enhancing moisturizer — it has black castor oil, agave, and biotin that help increase your hair's shine and softness. Apply it right after the shower to help banish breakage and split ends!
A cuticle oil that uses jojoba oil and vitamin E to help strengthen your nails and soften your cuticles so you can skip out on the time (and $$$) it takes to go get a manicure. Perfect for when you're about to go to brunch and you notice your nails are looking a little too rough for those mimosa stories that will be posted later.
First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant — lots of reviewers with keratosis pilaris and similar skin textures swear by. This'll help you gently exfoliate rough patches and dry bumps so that your skin is as smooth as a baby's.
A hydrating rosemary mint strengthening edge gel infused with biotin that encourages hair growth and helps support healthy edges for a sleek look *without* the flaking and residue.
An organic mist toner made of rosewater that helps maintain your skin's pH balance and reduce redness and irritation as well as sun damage and dark spots. Plus it smells amazing and refreshes your face with a radiant glow.
CeraVe Retinol Serum — if you're just starting to explore the world of retinoids, this is a great option to start with! This gentle yet effective serum uses *encapsulated* retinol to help reduce scars and pores without flaking or redness. Plus, many reviewers rave about how they like it better than more expensive alternatives!
A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment infused with collagen, ceramides, and protein extracts to help repair your hair if it is damaged, over-processed, or has just spent too much time with that flat iron. Many reviewers are comparing it to Olaplex! Simply apply it on wet hair after shampooing, wait five minutes, and rinse it out.
An easy-to-use root touch-up that's just as effective as getting it done by a professional but *much* more affordable. Plus, it only takes 10 minutes to apply and will give you even coverage for up to four weeks!
A hair thinner and cutter for all those times you've put off stopping by the salon for a trim (same 🙃). This little helper is great not only for cutting dead ends but *also* for trimming your bangs, maintaining a cut, giving yourself some natural-looking layers, or trimming and styling wigs.
A microplane foot file capable of making calloused and cracked heels look like you just came fresh from a pedicure. Seriously, it removes more dead skin than you ever thought you could have. Yes, the results look pretty disgusting, but we know you love to see it.
A tub of O'Keeffe's hypoallergenic hand cream to help restore moisture to dry, cracked, and sensitive skin. It also creates a protective layer on your skin's surface and gives your hands some hydrating relief.
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Cosmopolitan
2 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum review, tried and tested
Retinol is my favourite skincare ingredient, hands down. For a while I ummed and ahhed about whether or not I should start using it as a 25-year-old, but then I saw this post, and realised my time is now. While retinol is known as the 'gold standard' ingredient for fading discolouration, brightening, smoothing your complexion – basically just making your skin look hella good – the only caveat is that it's quite a potent ingredient, which can cause sensitivity and irritation when used incorrectly. But luckily for those with sensitive skin, innovation has come a long way, meaning there are particular formulas that offer you the benefits of retinol without causing irritation. My fave for the job? CeraVe, obvs. I used this creamy, hydrating serum for four weeks and saw results I never imagined would come from a budget formula. The biggest difference I noticed was how glowy and smooth my complexion looked. Dark spots started to fade and post-acne scarring (even the stubborn ones) lightened in colour. All for the £23 price tag? How can you argue with that when these are the results you get... TBH, I've been loyal to a particularly popular serum for some time, but I was intrigued to discover how well an affordable player for £23 would stack up. When I first started using the CeraVe Resurface Retinol Serum, I was suffering from the consequences of an outbreak of hormonal acne on my chin. I had many stubborn, large acne scars across my face and in general, my skin lacked luminosity. Not to mention the size of my pores on my nose. I started slow, as you should with any retinol, by using the serum three-four times in my routine and made sure I followed up with a hydrating moisturiser to prevent any dryness or possible irritation. CeraVe is widely loved in the industry for its fragrance-free, dermatologist-tested, and barrier-supporting formulas that all skin types agree with. But I still progressed with caution. Yes, the bottle looks a bit clinical, but as with all CeraVe products it's about what's inside and not the lack of shelf appeal – what I found inside impressed me from the get-go. It felt so lightweight and moisturising on my skin – almost enough to be a moisturiser – and it sank in within seconds. Because the formula is so silky, a few pumps was all I needed to cover my face. I then followed up with my usual PM evening routine (remember, always use retinol in the evening) and the rest of my skincare layered well on top of the serum. After a few applications and literally experiencing *zero* redness, I upped the ante and decided to use it every day, which the brand actually says is okay to do from the get-go. The serum is formulated with encapsulated retinol – an advanced way of delivering the active to your skin cells. Rather than just sitting on the surface of your skin, which is what's likely to cause irritation, the ingredient is encapsulated in a protective layer that delivers it into the deeper levels of your skin. It then slowly activates, which is a very gentle way to introduce the ingredient. And, like all CeraVe products, it contains three forms of ceramides to keep your skin hydrated and conditioned. A slow-release delivery system, named MVE technology, is also used for the ceramides to ensure the lipids reach the deeper layers of your skin. If you're new to retinol and want to begin your journey with a gentle yet effective formula, I couldn't recommend this enough. In only four weeks, I saw an improvement in how smooth and uniform my complexion looked; acne scars had faded and red blotches on my cheeks, nose and chin evened out. While some stubborn acne scars still remained, I have zero doubt that if I continued using the serum for longer, they would eventually disappear. The level-up in glow was impressive, too. At the end of my trial, my skin looked much more radiant and healthy – thanks to the retinol, which resurfaces new skin cells and gives a brighter complexion. All in all, I'd say this is an excellent serum for anyone looking to start their retinol journey. Whether you're looking to prevent acne, fade scarring or brighten your complexion, this will be £23 you won't regret spending. The before-and-after pics speak for themselves. Shop the CeraVe Resurface Retinol Serum - £23 Clare Stephenson is the Senior Beauty Ecommerce Writer for Cosmopolitan and Women's Health, covering all things makeup, skincare and hair care, as well as deals events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Clare has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, writing matter-of-fact reviews such as deep dives into skin concerns and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need. When she's not typing away, Clare is in front of the camera creating shopping content for Cosmo's TikTok Shop, testing the most viral beauty products to know. Before working at Hearst UK, she received a BA degree in Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on the world of magazines and editorial. From there, she worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events like Fashion Week and interviewing reputable brand founders. Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling along London's Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or horseback riding in the countryside. Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson


Buzz Feed
a day ago
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46 Products That Work So Well You'll Feel Powerful
An un-spill-able drink tray so you can bring everyone's drinks, along with a heaping bowl of guacamole, out to the backyard BBQ all at once. No Cirque Du Soleil balancing abilities needed! A shoe stretch spray because autumn is sneaking up on us, and this'll keep your feet blister-free when you start breaking in those brand-new boots. But this isn't just for boots! With this stuff your loafers, sandals, and even gloves are gonna fit like a (ahem) glove. CeraVe eye repair cream, which is cooked up with their famous blend of ceramides (a skincare "secret sauce" if you will) and a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and niacinamide to help tighten and brighten the appearance of skin. If you're revitalizing your skincare routine, add this to the mix and reduce the appearance of dark circles, under-eye puffiness, *and* fine lines. ~Eye~ love to see it. A pack of Crest 3D Whitestrips with 44 strips total (meaning you'll have enough products for 20 regular treatments and two one-hour express treatments) so you can have your coffee and drink it too *without discoloring your teeth*. A Shark Tank-favorite Click & Carry Grocery Bag Carrier that'll give you Herculean strength in an instant. Hook your bags to the clip, place it around your shoulder, and lift up to *80 pounds!!!* without bag straps literally breaking your back. A ChomChom pet hair remover roller — this is gonna pick up fur and lock it inside the roller, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it doesn't lose its effectiveness with heavy use. We love our pets but woof, shedding is their greatest skill. A pack of leather cleaning wipes made with a nontoxic, grease-free formula that'll condition, clean, and protect leather without leaving residue behind. A TikTok-famous Little Green upholstery cleaner from Bissell — this spiffy (and portable!) system uses warm water and a special formula to save the day when slips turn into spills, which turn into stains. Cosrx's snail mucin repairing essence reviewers love for the extra boost of hydration it gives their skin, helping clear up acne, inflammation, peeling, fine lines, and even eczema! Stop being ~sluggish~ about investing in your skincare routine and get this on your face. Fast. A pack of two Downy fabric sprays — with this, you're *finally* gonna rid your caftans and pants of those stubborn crinkles and creases. A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel for feet that feel positively caked in callouses. A single-serving Ninja blender that's gonna make hitting your smoothie goals simple. The cups are dishwasher-safe and cleaning is a breeze! No more getting out/washing an entire blender just to get your greens in for the day! A carpet shampoo solution to get your floors and rugs back to their original color without any toxic chemicals. Who knew your brown carpet was actually a WHITE carpet? A tomato knife that'll make chopping up this pesky piece of produce tomat-oh so easy! A clip-on polarized sun visor sure to be a must if you're always squinting into the sun on your daily commute. Just clip the extender onto your existing sun visor! A drip dry cleaner so you can get your chandelier shining with just a spritz of spray. There's no need to take the dang thing down and clean each individual crystal any longer! A TubShroom that'll protect you from the things lurking in your drain, because soap-covered hair goo is too scary for even Stephen King to put down the pipes. An anxiety-eliminating baby gate — this gate features a pressure mount, so you won't have to drill holes into your wall to keep it secure. It's easy to install and easy for adults to open with one hand, which you'll definitely be thankful for when you're trying to carry your toddler and open it at the same time. A handy Souper Cubes freezer tray to make it ~souper~ easy to store notoriously hard-to-freeze things like soups and sauces. Being able to defrost individual portions of soup has my all-too-adult heart all aflutter. A jar of The Pink Stuff (the internet's favorite cleaning product) so you can clean everything from pots and pans to blotches in your bathtub. Move over firefighters, I want a calendar of THIS sexy stuff and its shiny results. A Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning stamp to polish your toilet without you ever having to touch a dirty toilet brush. With each flush, the stamp releases the cleaning gel, which foams and cleans your toilet. A purse organizer for folks who fill their bag with every item they could possibly need while compromising on organization. A versatile chop, slice, and dice unit so you can prep (and cleanup!) in no time at all. The interchangeable blades just pop out and then you can pop them right into the dishwasher! A dishwasher safe garlic peeler — simply toss your garlic in, press down, and roll to get perfectly peeled garlic in seconds. This is gentle enough to keep your freshly peeled garlic cloves intact while the grip from the material will keep the peelings inside as your cloves pop out, making meal prep simple. And a garlic rocker that'll, ahem, rock your world. This tool is so much easier than a traditional garlic press. A set of hidden magnetic locks to keep your pint-sized cat burglar from breaking into your secret candy stash (and thus, leaving wrappers *everywhere*). An overnight tank cleaner for making your toilet tank clean as the day you bought it, while *you* enjoy a snooze. Catch some ZZZs and wake up to a task that's completely taken care of. A laser leveler that has one 360-degree horizontal beam and one 140-degree vertical beam that'll guarantee your taxidermy collection looks its very best. Oh wait, you don't have one of those? You're missing out. A can of fire extinguishing spray designed for sparking your muscle memory, because nothing sounds scarier than not knowing how to use an extinguisher when you notice a fire start to spark. A drywall repair kit that can save your walls from the "save" your goalie made the *one* time you let your kids play ball in the house. A fabric defuzzer that'll clean up sweaters, sofas, and other aging fabrics that have been a real ~pill~ lately. A storage bean bag so your kid can use their signature "shove the mess where people can't see it" technique and still make their room look, you know, *actually* clean. An ingenious sandwich cutter and sealer for making crust-free sandwiches in a cinch. As all toddlers know (and I still can't figure out why), crusts are the enemy. A touchless vacuum — go ahead and throw that dust pan in the GARBAGE where it belongs. With this, you'll no longer have to bend and snap every time you sweep. A microfiber dusting glove, because microfiber is the very best material to use when picking up pesky dust particles, and you're gonna see why when you use this! Whoever thought to turn a cleaning cloth into a glove is a true genius. A length-adjustable pet hair broom can pull the years of hidden fur your vacuum never grabs (no matter how many times you plug in that clunker and run it over the carpet). A multi-use car hammer can help you escape from your car in an emergency — the safety edge slicer can cut through your seatbelt and the rounded hammer breaks through windows and windshields. An overflow cap for anyone who wants a long soak in a bath that's as full as possible! A much-needed peanut butter knife with a brilliantly shaped blade that'll guarantee not a *drop* of your perfect peanut putty goes to waste. Hate getting peanut butter all over your knuckles when scraping out the container with a standard knife? Get this in your life. A pack of "Food Cubby" dividers designed for picky eaters of all ages. These suction to your plate, preventing foods and sauces from intermingling while you eat. A set of wad-free pads for keeping your bedsheets from tangling in the wash. Get this and keep those laundry clods from wasting precious drying time! A soothing behavioral aid toy with a faux heartbeat that'll be your puppy's ~dream~ toy and help *you* finally get to sleep while crate training. A bag re-sealer I'd personally buy for the looks alone (it's basically a tiny hair straightener! CUTE!), for anyone who would love the chance to reseal their snacks and keep them feelin' fresh. A stick of NerdWax to keep your glasses on your face no matter how much you move. Well, my four-eyed face is gonna love this stuff. A "Shower Cat" for folks who spend half their time in the shower making hair art on the walls, which inevitably ends up clogging the drain. TMI? This makes catching your hair *much* easier and gives it a proper place while you finish sudsing up. And finally, a fleece-lined pouch hoodie that'll be so darn cozy even your surliest cat won't be able to resist snuggling the day away with you! FINALLY.


Buzz Feed
2 days ago
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32 Inexpensive Non-Sexy Items Reviewers Are Loving
A pair of terracotta brown sugar savers — to use, just soak the disc in water, pat it dry, and store it on top of your brown sugar. If your sugar is hard and lumpy, doing this a few times will soften it back up until it's as good as new. Cosrx's snail mucin repairing essence reviewers love for the extra boost of hydration it gives their skin, helping clear up acne, inflammation, peeling, fine lines, and even eczema! Stop being ~sluggish~ about investing in your skincare routine and get this on your face. Fast. A box of oil-free Bioré deep-cleansing pore strips — these dermatologist-tested strips are designed to help you break free from your breakouts. Use one strip a week for 10 minutes and watch your skin get satisfyingly clean and smooth. A storage shower curtain with mesh pockets for ~clearly~ keeping your shower accoutrements organized and – most importantly – off the edge of the bathtub. An adjustable duster brush that'll spruce up your window shades so well you may realize you actually *do* have a view through those dust bunnies. CeraVe eye repair cream, which is cooked up with their famous blend of ceramides (a skincare "secret sauce" if you will) and a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and niacinamide to help tighten and brighten the appearance of skin. If you're revitalizing your skincare routine, add this to the mix and reduce the appearance of dark circles, under-eye puffiness, *and* fine lines. ~Eye~ love to see it. A pickle keeper and juice strainer — tip this over like an hourglass so you can eat pickles to pass the time *without* the juice making a mess. A cervical neck "pillow" may help provide ergonomic support, align your spine, and give you a much-needed vertebrae massage simply by lying down. A ChomChom pet hair remover roller — this is gonna pick up fur and lock it inside the roller, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it doesn't lose its effectiveness with heavy use. We love our pets but woof, shedding is their greatest skill. A jar of The Pink Stuff (the internet's favorite cleaning product) that'll clean everything from pots and pans to blotches in your bathtub. Move over firefighters, I want a calendar of THIS sexy stuff and its shiny results. A pack of Spin Pins capable of holding your hair tight no matter how much you move, saving you from constantly readjusting your 'do throughout the day. A bottle of Tend Skin Solution — this can clear up redness, bumps, and razor burn. Bless. A professional-grade callus-removing gel for feet that feel positively caked in callouses. A pack of two Downy fabric sprays — with this, you're *finally* gonna rid your caftans and pants of those stubborn crinkles and creases. A bottle of Goo Gone Adhesive Remover sure to rid surfaces of those sticky, gross, and stubborn residues you've honestly just grown to accept as part of your appliances at this point. It's time to solve that problem. A jewelry cleaning pen so you can rid your rings of buildup and cloudiness. Corn-remover pads that'll cover and help treat painful corns. These medicated pads cover affected areas and stay on while you wear socks. I know this sounds ~corny~ but after using these, you might think they're magic. A bottle of makeup brush shampoo so you can stop making your skin dirty when tryn'a look fresh. A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets designed to clean your machine while it runs naturally, makin' it sparkle and shine without you spending time scrubbing! An overnight tank cleaner for making your toilet tank clean as the day you bought it, while *you* enjoy a snooze. Catch some ZZZs and wake up to a task that's completely taken care of. A roll-up drying rack made with metal grates covered in soft silicone that'll prevent scratches and take up basically no storage space. Roll this on top of the sink when in use and tuck it away in a drawer when the dishes are done! It dries fast, so no worries about drippings in your drawers. A box of washing machine cleaning tablets to dissolve residue and make your washing machine actually smell fresh, which is a big deal when you haven't washed your machine bought it. A shoe stretch spray because autumn is on the way and this'll keep your feet blister-free when you start breaking in those brand new boots. But this isn't just for boots! With this stuff your loafers, sandals, and even gloves are gonna fit like a (ahem) glove. A WD-40 pen with the rust-preventing powers your cringey hinges need, placed in an applicator your less-than-handy hands can use without making a mess. A Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning stamp that's easy peasy to put on *and* makes cleaning your toilet simpler than it's ever been! Mostly because, with this, you won't be the one cleaning your toilet. A pair of foot peel masks with over 50,000 5-star reviews(!!) formulated to help soften dry, cracked, and aching feet. These are coated in a paraben-free formula of fruit acids. After putting your feet up and relaxing for 60 minutes, you're done! You can expect your hard skin to start shedding in 6–11 days. A bottle of Better Life all-natural tile and tub cleaner that'll banish soap scum, mold, mildew, rust, and hard-water stains from tired, worn-down tiles. A foaming garbage disposal cleaner to clean out your rental's sink before your landlord decides to dispose of your deposit. A much-needed peanut butter knife with a brilliantly shaped blade that'll guarantee not a *drop* of your perfect peanut putty goes to waste. Hate getting peanut butter all over your knuckles when scraping out the container with a standard knife? Get this in your life. A bottle of nail and cuticle care oil formulated with jojoba, vitamin E, rice bran, and almond oil to strengthen and hydrate your nails — bringing them back to life. Get this if having another broken nail after a gel manicure will be the final your coffin. An exfoliating mitten lots of folks love for preventing ingrown hairs, reducing KP, and smoothing out their skin before applying tanning lotion. I personally love using an exfoliating mitt in the summer after a day covered in sunscreen and sand. There's no better way to get rid of that goop! A pack of stain-removing, nontoxic cleaning cups to clean out your Keurig's innards once your coffee starts tasting a little less bold and a little more bleh.