Latest news with #SeoulCeuticals
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Health
- Buzz Feed
If Pricey Beauty Products Are Putting A Dent In Your Budget, Try These 33 Affordable Alternatives
A Briotech spray for soothing rashes, sunburns, rosacea, eczema, and other skin irritations, *extremely* similar to the beloved (but pricey) Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray. Its secret is hypochlorous acid, an ingredient found naturally in our white blood cells that helps soothe inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier. This stuff = magic in a bottle. Cosrx Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence, a holy grail serum for many people with dry, sensitive skin and a gentler, cheaper alternative to many name-brand products. It's effective on all skin types, and reviewers report seeing improvement after just a few uses! Acne scars, dark spots, and fine lines are about to meet their match. And SeoulCeuticals Snail Repair Cream for applying after any serums — this non-comedogenic moisturizer contains 97.5% snail mucin filtrate as well as vitamin E, organic aloe, and shea butter. Softer, smoother, brighter skin is in your you didn't even have to splurge on Sunday Riley or Drunk Elephant. A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment formulated to deeply repair and hydrate your hair thanks to restorative ingredients like collagen and ceramide 3. You just apply it after shampooing, wait as little as five minutes, then rinse it out for hair that looks *and* feels silky soft. Some reviewers say it's even BETTER than Olaplex, which is over three times the price! Long-lasting Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint, worth the try if you like a little color on your lips but can't be bothered with lipsticks that constantly need touch-ups. This'll give your pout a smooth, ultra-pigmented stain with a silky finish, *and* it also has a lightweight feel that's not sticky or clumpy! E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, which blurs your pores and creates a smooth, velvety texture for makeup to glide over and also grip onto. Infused with squalane for hydration, Poreless Putty Primer has a mattifying effect that doesn't look dry — plus, it's small enough to take on the go in case you need touch-ups. Blink, and you might mistake it for Tatcha's Silk Canvas primer and other pricier options. A pack of two Venus Visage teeth whitening pens, minty fresh without the weird aftertaste and completely painless — no discomfort for sensitive teeth and gums! But most importantly, it leaves your teeth noticeably whiter, and at a fraction of the cost of the dentist (and Crest Whitestrips). A bottle of Fanola "No Yellow" purple shampoo to help your blonde or gray hair continue looking its best in between salon appointments, since this'll neutralize yellow, brassy tones that start to peek through over time. Reviewers say they see a big difference in their hair after each use! Peach Slices acne spot dots for a *super* budget-friendly hydrocolloid acne patch option compared to other brands like Mighty Patch. Keep them around if you're prone to sudden breakouts, and they'll come in clutch: Just apply one to a zit, and it'll literally suck out all that nasty gunk, leaving the area noticeably flatter with less redness overnight. Or LivaClean Superstar pimple patches if you love the look of those cute but pricey Starface patches — reviewers swear up and down that these work waaay better, *and* you're literally paying 3 cents per patch. A L'Oreal Paris rinse-out lamellar water treatment that'll transform your hair in just eight seconds (!) to leave your hair shiny, silky, and ultra-hydrated, no matter your hair type! Psst — they might reach for Redken at your local salon, but this has the same ingredients as that brand's lamellar treatment for way less. LilyAna Naturals eye cream to brighten and firm undereye skin to reduce puffiness, fine lines, and bags, but it doesn't stop there — this potent cream also nourishes the delicate area with restorative ingredients like rosehip seed oil, organic hibiscus flower extracts, and vitamin E. And unlike some eye creams, it also won't break the bank — a win-win. Essence's Lash Princess mascara beloved for its ability to give you bold, dramatic lashes while also separating them to prevent clumping — and for its $5 price tag. People *rave* about this bestselling tube as a swap for more expensive mascaras like Too Faced Better Than Sex, L'Oreal Telescopic Lift, and many, many more. A Revlon one-step hair dryer and volumizer so you can give yourself a gorgeous blowout without visiting the salon — it knocks out drying *and* styling your hair in one step to save time in the mornings too! Dropping $500+ on a Dyson Airwrap suddenly less appealing. An internet-beloved set of makeup sponges — reviewers sing their praises as a budget-friendly swap for Beauty Blender and Real Techniques, since you get five of these for less than $10! Plus, when it comes to blending foundation, concealer, powder, and BB creams, there's no better tool for a ~flawless~ finish. And a bottle of makeup brush-cleaning shampoo because chances are, your sponges and brushes are overdue for a good cleaning. Made with gentle, plant-based ingredients, this cleanser will remove all the built-up makeup, oil, and impurities from your tools — and watching all the gunk be washed down the sink is *so* satisfying. Nyx Fat Oil Lip Drip in case that $40 Dior lip oil has been in your cart forever, but you just can't bring yourself to pull the trigger. At $9, this version's a much lighter hit to your wallet, with the same burst of hydration (made with vegan squalane!) sheer color, and non-sticky finish reviewers can't get enough of. A pack of bamboo oil-blotting sheets to keep yourself from looking greasy by 10 a.m. — you can keep these in your bag for quick touch-ups throughout the day as needed! (Don't worry, your makeup will remain unscathed.) This 100-count pack will cost you less than 10 bucks, a fraction of what premium brands like Tatcha charge. A trio of hydrating lip sleeping masks if you've been hesitant to pull the trigger on that $24 Laneige lip mask that's *everywhere* these days — getting three flavors for under $10 feels like a great alternative if you ask me. Just smear some on your dry, cracked lips before bed and dream of the smooth, soft lips you'll have come morning. A rainbow-inspired eyeshadow palette with 40 matte, shimmer, and metallic shades so you can play with pretty much any color to paint the ~canvas~ that is your lovely face. Loved by amateurs and professional makeup artists alike, this is a great all-in-one palette for anyone who's not afraid to dabble with bright colors. And a tube of Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Base because if you're applying eyeshadow without primer, you're not getting its full effect. Not only will it make your eyeshadow look bolder and extra pigmented, but it'll also combat oil and creasing so your smoky eye looks flawless all night long. Mac Paint Pot, it was nice knowin' ya. Physicians Formula Diamond Dust translucent powder for brushing some shimmer onto your cheeks, eyes, lips, and elsewhere for a glassy skin effect. Reviewers compare this to Fenty Beauty's Diamond Bomb highlighter (which retails for over $40), though this is *slightly* less pigmented, which some said they actually prefer. Maybelline's Cheek Heat gel-cream blush because, don't get me wrong, we love Glossier Cloud Paint around stocking up on your favorite shades is admittedly painful at $20 per tube. This water-based formula will give you that gorgeous natural flush, applied easily using just your fingers, for a fraction of the cost. An eyebrow soap kit reviewers love as an alternative to name brands to help you sculpt your brows so they have the exact shape, volume, and texture you're going for — and keep them looking defined and fluffy throughout the day. When it comes to precision and hold, this stuff is *chef's kiss*. CeraVe's Retinol Serum in case you've been wanting to add a retinoid to your routine but have been scared off by potential flaking and redness — or the price tag of other brands, like Murad's $92 retinol serum. This uses encapsulated retinol designed to help prevent irritation while still resurfacing the skin to help reduce the appearance of acne scars, pores, and more. A bottle of Nyx matte setting spray so your carefully crafted makeup look can survive up to 16 hours of wear, through humidity, sweat, rain, and snow, without any smudging or melting. Reviewers have put it to the test and say it's a cheaper swap for Mac and Urban Decay's setting sprays. A 12-pack of soft microfiber makeup removing towels, a true hack for budget-savvy makeup wearers, since they can gently remove makeup using only water and be reused over and over! Perfect for travel and everyday use, they'll cost you just over $1 per cloth, which amounts to nearly 20 times cheaper than the infamous Makeup Eraser. Or Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water in case it's time for you to replace your beloved bottle of Bioderma. This has the same gentle but powerful makeup-removing abilities, lifting away even waterproof makeup along with dirt and excess oil (without totally stripping your skin of moisture). BestLand's high-performance matte lipsticks, which might be cheap (less than $2 each!) but bear results that feel ~expensive~ — especially since so many reviewers swear they're even *better* than those pricey name brand liquid lipsticks! This set is honestly a must-have if you love red and pink lip shades, since it contains six long-lasting staples that'll have you look fierce all day long. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, a cult-favorite you can wield as part of your multistep daily routine *or* for quick touch-ups (without cakiness!) on days when you're not feeling a full face of makeup. Dark, puffy under-eye circles and redness are no match for it — and neither are the name-brand concealers, at this price. L'Oreal's illuminating Lumi Glotion if you're going for a dewy, no-makeup makeup look — this works beautifully as a lightweight foundation alternative or for adding a little glow on top of your makeup! And at under $15, it's a reviewer-fave swap for pricier options like Glossier Futuredew and Drunk Elephant's D-Bronzi Drops. Eve Hansen Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum reviewers compare to the coveted TNS Recovery Complex serum that's — prepare yourself — over $200 for a 1-ounce bottle. This budget-friendly alternative offers similar benefits: It deeply hydrates, reduces under-eye puffiness and dark circles, smooths fine lines, boosts overall hydration, and creates a radiant glow that's giving, "I just got a facial." Eva Naturals' vitamin C serum, which deserves a spot in your bag because it's basically a skincare superhero with powerful ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinimide, and salicylic acid all rolled into one. This stuff might just spell the end for any acne, rough skin, fine lines, clogged pores, and dark spots you have.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
26 Beauty Products Reviewers Wish They Could Give More Than 5 Stars
SeoulCeuticals is a small skincare business that was founded in 2017 by a husband and wife review: "I was actually hesitant to buy this product because I figured it could just be hyped-up fancy water. It is NOT. For me, at least, it is a miracle in a bottle! I LOVE this stuff and never want to be without it! Why, you ask? Let me explain. For the past few years I've suffered from dry, flaky, rough skin. I had found some products that would help to some degree, but none that would eliminate the problem. Well, when I tried another product in this line (the snail repair cream), I noticed a BIG difference. Almost all the flakes gone and I could wear makeup again without looking like a desiccated monster. "HOWEVER, when I added this product to my regimen? Holy guacamole, Batman! My skin is SO soft, hydrated and SMOOTH! My foundation (well, CC cream) goes on like a dream! The two products together worked wonders, BUT even when I use this product alone with absolutely nothing else (out of sheer laziness, mind you), my skin still looks dewy, smooth, hydrated and glowing! I'm sold! If I could give it 10 stars I would. It even helps keep my normally dry, chapped, peeling lips baby smooth! Life changing, I tell ya." — M. Joiner $20 at Amazon Promising review: "The scent is nice. I'd give this 10 stars if I could. I've been using salon products for over a decade, and this is way better. And cheaper. I've even gotten compliments how silky smooth my hair looks. I put it on while my hair is wet, then again when I style if my hair gets frizzy from my flat-iron and to tame flyaways. It's my favorite hair product I own." — Amy Wilt $19 at Amazon Check out this TikTok of Mikayla Nogueira's review of this foundation. Available in 40 shades and two finishes. Promising review: "This is my first time trying Korean makeup, and I'm very happy with my purchase! It feels like nothing I've ever tried before. I have oily skin, and this isn't a matte product, but it's not dewy either, which I love. It's moisturizing, but not oily at all. I think any skin type can use it. It's literally perfect. The application and the cushion made it go on my skin flawlessly. I wish I could give this 10 stars; it really exceeded my expectations! It will definitely be a staple in my makeup routine now." — CathyCheck the product page for additional coupons and promo codes for up to 10% off. $21 at Amazon See it in action on TikTok. Promising reviews: "TEN STARS!!!!! Where has this product been all my life??? A couple of weeks into using it, and I have nothing but great things to say about it. It's soothing and has a very, very mild scent and great gel consistency. Simple ingredients. My under eyes have never looked better. Softer, brighter, tighter, lines are going away! Great for sensitive skin. Just try it yourself!!! Oh, and worth every little penny it cost me, which was hardly any!" — Hopper $6 at Amazon To use, apply this in thin layers to avoid creasing, then follow with your favorite concealer and setting powder if you like. If you don't like applying products with your fingers, they also make a triangle-shaped puff that's perfect for using with this. Available in four review: "I am SO GLAD I happened upon this wonderful brightener! I use it every day, whether I wear other makeup or not. It's exactly the right color and texture for me. Catrice Eye Brightener is the best solution EVER for my inherited dark circles. I'd give it 10 stars if I could." — Caitlin Scott-Turner $6 at Amazon It also helps tighten eye wrinkles if you'd prefer for them not to be as noticeable. And here's a tip! It reduces puffiness faster if used after review: "I have eczema around my eyes and they are always red, dry, flaky, and puffy. This is the first product that I have tried that has healed my eyes! In less than one week, my eyes were completely transformed! I would give this more than five stars if I could!!!!" — amy $10 at Amazon It's also vegan, cruelty free, made from recycled materials, and doesn't leave any gross fake tan smells! Available in five tanning levels and 12 review: 'I wish I had taken a before and after of my results but I was so excited that I forgot. Anyone who says it doesn't work just isn't doing it right. It WILL go on a grey/green color. You're supposed to let it sit between 1–4 hours and then wash it off. Over the next 24 hours, my skin got even darker and it's beautiful!! Super even color. Not orange. I LOVE IT.10/5 stars." — Meg $9+ at Amazon Listen to one user's glowing review on TikTok. Promising review: "I could not have fallen more in love with this product! It smells AMAZING and not too strong. I have sensitive skin, and I'm sensitive to smell, and it doesn't bother me on either front. I seriously want to buy a bottle of this for all of my friends. It makes you feel so soft, and the consistency is amazing. I wish I could give this 100 stars." — M $10 at Amazon Promising review: "I never leave reviews but I had to praise this product. This is seriously a holy grail staple to your makeup. I've tried dozens of primers, and none have even come close to this. It doesn't matter if you're using oil-based or silicone-based makeup. It will all blend and sit seamlessly. I have dry skin and oily skin, so finding something that suits both needs is hard. It doesn't get patchy either, which is something I struggle with. But THIS primer is absolutely perfect. 10/10. Would give 100 stars if I could!!" — Placeholder $12 at Amazon Elizabeth Mott is owned by Korean American Alice Kim and partners with top Korean manufacturers to bring affordable yet effective K-beauty products to the reviews: "This stuff works!! Wish I would've known about this product years ago!! 10 stars!" — TJ"This eye primer is amazing!!! I have super oily eyelids and was getting to the point that I would rarely bother with eyeshadow because even with expensive primers it would be smudged and creased within an hour. So glad I don't need to shell out for Urban Decay or Mac Paint Pot anymore; they don't hold a candle to this and it's so much cheaper." — Chloe $15 at Amazon Seriously, people are obsessed with how this stuff smells. Its warm gourmand fragrance has notes of salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla — yum!Caffeine can brighten skin and temporarily minimize the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite, if that's something you're looking for in a product. Read more about the skincare benefits of caffeine at the Cleveland reviews: "OMG! The smell is amazing! I've had people follow me to ask what I'm wearing. The scent lasts most of the day. No need for perfume. Yes, it's a great moisturizer, but it's the scent that keeps me coming back for more. 100 stars!!!" — Autm88 $24+ at Amazon It's fragrance-free, and you can apply morning and night!Promising review: "I'll be honest, I've never wanted to try Gold Bond. It's like I've tried everything but Gold Bond before now. I thought this brand was just medicated foot stuff. They have reinvented themselves on another level. This along with the body lotion, omg. Effective products like this at this price are impossible to find. It also can be found locally. I've tried expensive creams that do little to nothing. This deserves 10 stars!" — Earth $12 at Amazon Promising review: "Cured my dry skin in one day. ONE DAY. I can't believe how good this stuff is. It's absolutely incredible. It is super moisturizing but doesn't leave any greasy feeling, is gentle on my sensitive skin, and leaves it so smooth and glowing. I told everyone I know to buy this. I would give it 10 million stars if I could." — Leviiiii $17 at Amazon Promising review: "This is the best mascara on the market. I checked out the reviews, and they were all raving about this inexpensive mascara. I was blown away by my first application. I'm not going to write a long, drawn-out review about this mascara. All I've got to say is it beats ALL THOSE EXPENSIVE HIGH-END mascaras on the market. It gives the look of false eyelashes but still looks natural. Would give it 10 stars if I could. I just love love love this mascara. Will never buy those other mascaras ever again. You won't be disappointed with this one. I'm in my '60s, and I do know a thing or two about makeup, or so I thought until I ran into this baby. Enjoy looking fabulous." — Havilla $5 at Amazon Promising review: "This changed my life. I have been struggling with blemishes for a long time, along with facial redness. Let me tell YOU, this product has transformed my face overnight. The right side of my face was riddled with blemishes — within two days, my facial redness was drastically reduced, and all of my blemishes disappeared. I haven't experienced a smooth, soft, non-red face in YEARS. I was very skeptical at first because I have used to many products and this absolutely does the trick. So thankful I found this product, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! If I could give 10 stars, I would!" — Vivianna $17 at Amazon As far as skincare goes, this is stuff is basically pure gold in bar soap form. ✨ You can use it on your face, neck, and all over your body as review: "10-star soap. Love, love, love this soap. I have KP, which is a skin condition that makes the back of your arms look rash-y and red. I've tried everything. Glycolic, salicylic, retinol, and more. Nothing has ever worked until this. It leaves your skin feeling so soft and has taken away a lot of the discoloration. So happy I found this." — Sanctuarytampa 2-pack: $12 at Amazon Promising review: "I've always needed dry shampoo for my top roots, which get oily far before the rest of my hair. I relied on aerosol products, never considering the dangerous chemicals I was breathing. After the recall, I began to look for safe options and tried a few that weren't that great. THIS is by FAR the best I've ever used. The applicator is genius — it goes on so easily. And I've NEVER had a dry shampoo last like this for DAYS! It's easy to work in with my fingers and it is a wonderful volumizer. The size is great for travel. I hope they never change the formula — it is just wonderful — even the very light, delicate fragrance is perfect. I give it 100 STARS for its safety, convenience, design, AND for all the time it saves me." — Lexi Jean Available in six shades. $13 at Amazon Promising review: "This thing is really what everyone said it is: MAGIC. I cannot believe, after one use, the results of my calluses. Just years and years of pain shaved down without any surgical treatment! WOW! I seriously have no words. If I could give this product 1 million stars, I would. If you're someone who's had callused feet for years, PLEASE BUY THIS!" — jess $10 at Amazon Promising review: "Adding this to my CC cream foundation gives a subtle glow to my face and has made my foundation extra smooth! I wouldn't have thought there would be such a great enhancement to my makeup, but I am so happy with how this looks and the silky soft feel it gives! I'd give 10 stars if I could!!" — Dija $14 at Amazon Promising review: "If I could rate this 10 stars, I would. It's super easy to use and dries quickly, leaving my lips vibrant and super soft like nothing is even there. After wiping your lips, the stain stays and is transfer-proof. I'm obsessed, and this was definitely worth it! Here I go to order every color lol." — Alana VentrellaAvailable in 28 shades. $22 at Amazon The oval brush design smooths the hair and the round edges create volume — leaving you with a salon-worthy blowout at home. It also has two heat and speed settings and a cool option, and it's designed to work on all hair textures — reviewers with 2b–4c hair mentioned it working for them. Promising review: "I always read the reviews before I buy them. If I could give this product 1,000 stars, I would. Just buy it and see the difference to your hair. I have thick, wavy, shoulder-length hair. This hair dryer got my hair really salon perfect. It cuts hair blowing time in half and left my hair frizz-free, silky, and soft. Love this product soooo much that I threw out my blow-dryer and brushes." — Antonella M. $49 at Amazon RobeCurls is a woman-founded small business that specializes in heatless hair curling tools. This rod is designed to work with all hair types, with tutorials included on their site! Promising review: "If I could give 10 stars I would!! This is the best curling tool I have ever used on my hair. I have long, thin, straight hair that does not hold a curl no matter how hard I try. It was fairly easy to use after watching the tutorial video, and I slept with it in. It is super comfortable and I slept with no issues. I was stunned when I took it out in the morning. I will definitely be using this frequently!!" — Janelle $28 at Amazon BTW, a lot of reviewers say they use this as part of their double cleansing routine. As the name implies, double cleansing is a method of cleansing your face twice: first with an oil-based cleanser, and again with a water-based cleanser to help get all the yucky stuff out of your review: "I'm in my early 40s and have been dealing with skin issues since my preteen years, so we're talking three decades of struggles. I noticed an improvement with my very first use, and it's only continued getting better. It's corrected texture problems I thought would never be solved. I'm about two weeks in and my skin is clearer and smoother than it's been in a loooong time. I have sensitive skin, so for a few days my face was a little cranky, but everything has settled nicely enough that I even bought the moisturizer too. I use the cleansing oil in the evenings and the moisturizer in the mornings, along with my regular face wash, and I'm so happy! I'd give this 10 stars if possible!" — Amazon Customer $18 at Amazon Bek O'Connell / BuzzFeed Bek O'Connell / BuzzFeed Promising review: "Brought this product after seeing it on BuzzFeed. After first use, I saw an immediate difference; my dry/damaged hair felt soft and healthy. Would rate six stars if I could!" — NatalieRead our Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment review to learn more about why my colleague calls it "the miracle product I've been searching for." $8 at Amazon Londontown is a small biz making products that'll help keep your nails healthy and beautiful. Available in five review: "If I could give this polish more than 5 stars I would. Goes on so smooth with absolutely no streaking even with the initial application. I have trouble keeping polish on my nails; it usually chips within a day. This is the first polish that actually stays and doesn't chip, and I am overjoyed with it. Everything in the ad about this product is true, I highly recommend!" — Jill $14 at Amazon Promising review: "Hardly ever do I review, but this This product blew me away after only three uses! First off, the ease of use! I've tried a ton a products for teeth whitening and all have been either inconvenient to use, or make you wear a mouthguard, etc. This is a PEN/brush! Hold it like a writing pen and twist up for the solution, the solution feeds through onto the brush, which is actually the size of a tooth and you just brush-stroke on dry teeth as you are smiling! It dries on, and you rinse off. Magical! I've seen a noticeable difference after only using this for three days!! My husband even said, WOW, your teeth look amazingly white. I'm a smoker/tea drinker/coffee drinker, too! What's even more awesome is the price! Two pens for such an amazingly low price. If I could give this 1,000 stars, you would have earned 1,001, know what I mean?!" — Lisa Edwards 2-pack: $9 at Amazon I'm A Beauty Reporter. I Swear These Drugstore Products Are Even Better Than Luxury Ones. These Cult-Favorite K-Beauty Products Are Hiding In Plain Sight On Amazon What To Buy Now Before Tariffs Make Everyday Essentials More Expensive
Buzz Feed
17-05-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Wait, Before You Restock Your Pricey Name-Brand Beauty Products, Check Out These 30 More Affordable Versions That Provide Stunning Results
A Briotech spray with results rivaling that of the pricier Tower 28 spray. Packed with the same key ingredient, hypochlorous acid, this little gem can be your go-to whenever your skin feels like it's on the brink of a meltdown. Just a quick spritz, and it'll get to work soothing inflammation, calming angry red patches, and fortifying your skin's barrier like a protective spell. The cult-fave Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence formulated with 96.3% snail secretion, which is perfectly lightweight and hydrating for all skin types. This essence leaves a nice glow and keeps skin visibly smooth after a few uses — so you're getting expensive-looking *results* without the hefty bill of name-brand moisturizers. And SeoulCeuticals Snail Repair Cream, a non-comedogenic moisturizer that can help reduce fine lines and dark spots. It contains shea butter, aloe, and jojoba oil to help your skin feel smoother and more rejuvenated than ever. Think of it as your wallet-friendly secret weapon against pricier brands like Sunday Riley and Drunk Elephant. A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment, which will have your hair feeling like it's on cloud nine. This hair mask is infused with collagen and protein extracts — after applying to wet hair and sitting for only five minutes, your hair will be completely transformed. It's giving Olaplex (without the $$$). A long-lasting Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint boasting over 18,000 5-star ratings. Reviewers say it's so pigmented that you only need one swipe and you're good to go — and the *amazing* part is this tint stays on all day. Drawing comparisons to Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution, YSL Velvet Cream, and Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint, it's giving 10s across the board! E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, a lightweight base that won't have you feeling like you're wearing a mask all day. This primer also has a blurring effect that reduces the appearance of pores and gives you a velvety smooth canvas for your makeup. Tatcha Silk Canvas, I've got your competition on the phone. A pack of two Venus Visage teeth whitening pens because come on, who doesn't want pearly white teeth? These easy-to-use pens brush the whitening gel onto your teeth so you won't have to struggle with the awkward feeling of Crest Whitestrips. (Besides, these are a fraction of the cost.) A bottle of Fanola "No Yellow" purple shampoo as the ultimate solution to your brassy hair problems. Not only will it neutralize those unwanted yellow hues in gray or blonde hair, but it'll also help blend out darker roots as they grow in — now you can put off that expensive salon visit for a little longer! Peach Slices acne spot dots ready to shrink your problems overnight. OK, I'm not talking student loans or awkward first date type of problems, but they do help with pimples! These patches, which are comparable to (and cheaper than) Mighty Patch, not only cover up your zits, but they also suck out all the gross gunk, leaving your skin looking fresh and clear. A L'Oreal Paris rinse-out lamellar water treatment created with the same key ingredients as salon-brand versions (like Redken's). It instantly smoothes and detangles, making it a breeze to brush through your hair. No more annoying knots or tangles to deal with! Plus, when you dry your hair, you'll notice much less frizz than usual. LilyAna Naturals eye cream so you'll look more like you got a full eight hours of sleep (even if you only got three). With restorative ingredients like rosehip seed oil, organic hibiscus flower extracts, and vitamin E, this cream helps tackle dark circles, fine lines, and puffy under-eye bags — and a little goes a long way, so you won't need to break the bank to see results. A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel capable of achieving results so good, the pictures speak for themselves. It's like a spa pedicure in a bottle! Just apply the gel and let it sit for 5–10 minutes, then finish up with a foot scrubber to ensure there's no dead skin left behind. If you love the results of Baby Foot but can't rationalize shelling out $25, snag this instead. L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion so you don't have to burn a hole in your wallet rebuying Drunk Elephant's D-Bronzi Drops. This moisturizer has light coverage, so it feels amazing on your skin, and it also helps to lightly color-correct any little blemishes you might have. It was MADE just for you to bask in the glow of fabulous skin. Essence's Lash Princess mascara that gives instant volume and length while also being smudge-proof, so you don't have to worry about looking like a hot mess by the end of the day. And the best part? Reviewers say this $5 mascara delivers the same (if not better) results as options from high-end brands like Too Faced and Benefit — no wonder it has over 260,000 5-star ratings! A Revlon one-step hair dryer and volumizer 2.0 so you can dry and style your hair in one fell swoop, which means you can hit snooze a few more times in the morning and still come out looking like you just stepped out of the salon. Nice try, Drybar Brush, you're not breaking any banks over here! A pack of soft and bouncy makeup sponges — people are saying they're better than Beauty Blender and Real Techniques at a fraction of the cost. Their soft texture allows for a smooth and even application, whether you're blending out foundation, concealer, or contour. Reviewers also love how durable these little sponges are and that they don't easily rip or tear when you wash them. And a bottle of makeup brush-cleaning shampoo to give your glam tools a good refresh in case they're starting to look like you used them for an art project. Packed with gentle, plant-based ingredients, this removes all that gunky makeup and oil, leaving your brushes squeaky clean. A super juicy Nyx lip oil that reviewers are saying is even better than the *much* more expensive Dior lip oil. With just one swipe, this magical lip oil will turn your desert cactus lips into a lush oasis. It ALSO has staying power so you can sip your coffee, eat your lunch, and smooch your S.O. without worrying about losing that perfect pout. 👄 A pack of bamboo oil-blotting sheets to help you avoid looking like a greasy mess by 11 a.m. They're perfect for quick touch-ups throughout the day and won't mess with your makeup! With 100 sheets in a pack for under 10 bucks, they're a steal compared to pricier brands like Tatcha. A popular pack of Skin1004 8-in-1 treatment masks ready to give you similar (if not better) results as the v expensive Hanacure, if you don't mind looking like a zombie for 15 minutes in exchange for (*takes a deep breath*): reduced fine lines, lifted skin, cleared acne, tightened pores, deeply hydrated skin, improved skin texture, balanced pH level, and a brightened complexion. A trio of hydrating lip sleeping masks because sometimes our wallet can't handle the splurge of a Laneige lip mask. A little goes a long way with this gem, and it will have your lips feeling soft and moisturized in no time. A rainbow-inspired eyeshadow palette complete with 40 matte, shimmer, and metallic shades for less than $10! This single palette offers endless possibilities for creativity, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking to simplify their makeup collection. And if you noticed this looks similar to the James Charles x Morphe collab, well, you're not the only one. A tube of the cult-favorite Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later eye primer that'll help enhance the pigment of your eyeshadow, giving it that ✨ pop ✨ you crave. It also helps control oil on your lids to make your makeup last all day. Why spend more on Urban Decay's Primer Potion when this exists (and half the price at that)? A Sol de Janeiro fragrance mist in scent Cheirosa '68 — reviewers are buzzing about how similar it is to the super luxe and famously coveted Baccarat Rouge 540, but with a lighter twist. It's a blend of sultry jasmine, playful hibiscus, and that warm, sun-kissed musk. Maybelline's Cheek Heat gel-cream blush, which is so simple to use that even the newest of newbies can handle it — just dab it onto your skin for the prettiest pop of color. This blush lets you play around until you get the look that's just right for you — add a little for a natural flush or layer on more for a dramatic rosy look. Reviewers say if you're into Glossier Cloud Paint, this is totally up your alley. A paraben-free self-tanner perfect for summoning a sun-kissed glow without ever needing to step outside. This dreamy mousse glides over your skin smoothly, ensuring an even application without those awful streaks *and* you don't have to wait ages to see the magic happen — just one hour, and you'll be glowing like you've spent a day basking in the sun. CeraVe's Retinol Serum — if you're diving into the retinoid pool for the first time or if your skin usually throws a fit with stronger stuff, this serum uses encapsulated retinol to help reduce the appearance of scars and pores *without* making your skin flake or turn tomato red. Some folks have even started to ditch their pricier potions (yeah, I'm looking at you, Murad's $92 Retinol Serum). A bottle of Nyx matte setting spray that every makeup enthusiast should have in their arsenal. A few spritzes of this miracle elixir will lock your makeup in place, preventing it from smudging, melting, or fading away. It's perfect for those days when your foundation seems to have a mind of its own. A bottle of Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, which is capable of taking off every last bit of makeup and excess oil without any rough scrubbing or risk of irritating your sensitive skin. So long, Bioderma, you will *not* be missed. Physicians Formula Diamond Dust translucent powder so you can shine bright like a diamond without sacrificing your wallet. This highlight is similar to the $40 Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb, but for the people on a budget who also prefer a more subtle shimmer.
Buzz Feed
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
28 Beauty Products That Reviewers Will Use 'Forever'
A SeoulCeuticals toner mist — a powerful potion that not only hydrates and plumps your skin but is also a *miracle* worker on blemishes, helping keep those pesky breakouts at bay. It's made with 98% naturally derived ingredients like refreshing cucumber, antioxidant-rich green tea, tamarind, soothing aloe, and rejuvenating marine minerals for a perfect dose of dewy radiance. A moisturizing hair serum here to breathe some life back into your locks and rescue them from eternal dryness. This delightful blend is derived from seven incredible oils: argan, olive, coconut, apricot, marula, jojoba, and camellia. This reviewer says it gives you gloss without the grease, and that the scent alone makes them want to keep using it! A satin-finish TirTir cushion foundation that's got the whole TikTok beauty community in a chokehold. This all-star gem lets you enjoy 72-hour flawless coverage and offers effortless blending to hide redness, blemishes, and under-eye bags. Plus, it comes in 40 shades and is *packed* with hibiscus and red propolis extracts for a boost in skin elasticity. Perfect for beauty enthusiasts who love effortless applications anytime, anywhere. A hydrating Yerba Mate Wake Up eye gel, which is like treating your face to a morning espresso shot. It uses the power of yerba mate, caffeine, and peptides to soothe the delicate skin under your eyes, and also contains three forms of hyaluronic acid to moisturize your skin. And here I was thinking there was only one type of hyaluronic acid — the more ya know! Or a cruelty-free under-eye brightener to help balance out the bluish tones of under-eye shadows and dark circles. And bonus! It's infused with hyaluronic acid and shea butter to nourish your skin and give you a radiant glow. Wear it by itself or under your concealer for a more full-coverage look! A paraben-free self-tanner with a dreamy mousse formula that glides over your skin smoothly, ensuring an even application without those pesky streaks. In just one hour, you'll be glowing like you just got back from an exotic, tropical getaway — and you didn't even have to step a foot outside. A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel that only needs one "before and after" pic to prove that it works wonders on those rough, dry areas that can develop on your feet. Just apply the gel and let it sit for 5–10 minutes, then follow up with a foot scrubber. This is the *perfect* addition to your next self-care day. And Dermora's foot exfoliation mask — you apply the two bootie-shaped masks on your feet for an hour, wash your feet, and then, over the next five to seven days, enjoy the disgustingly satisfying experience of watching all of your dead skin fall away to reveal baby-soft feet. Reviewers swear by this for calluses and rough, cracked skin! An EOS Vanilla Cashmere shea butter body lotion that's so silky, it might just give more expensive brands like Philosophy and Bath & Body Works a run for their money. It provides lightweight, long-lasting moisture *and* its delicious scent has notes of whipped vanilla and caramel. No wonder TikTok is going *feral* over this. A light, silky Touch in Sol No Poreblem primer to banish the flaky patches and dryness that dare to mess with your glam. This ultra-hydrating primer will create a base for your makeup that's so satisfyingly smooth, you'll be singin' 🎶smooth operatorrr🎶. It also works *chef's kiss* wonders when it comes to minimizing the appearance of spots, blemishes, and pores! And a tube of Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later eye primer because it'll make the eyeshadow look you created 10 hours ago look like it's only been 10 minutes. It helps keep your eyeshadow from wearing off, smudging, or creasing, and enhances your eyeshadow's color and vibrance! A bestselling Sol De Janeiro firming cream if you want to be known for your absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS scent. Enriched with caffeine, guarana extract, and coconut oil, this miraculous little jar of cream will help smooth, firm, and add a glow to your skin. But may I just highlight again its intoxicating scent? According to the reviewers, you might just get a little obsessed. And a Gold Bond neck and chest firming cream, because our décolletage is too often forgotten when it comes to skincare needs. This elixir is a pro at improving your skin's firmness, texture, *and* elasticity. Its salicylic acid gently exfoliates dead skin cells while its stress response proteins boost your skin's moisture retention to improve smoothness and suppleness. It also contains glycerin and aloe, which adds some extra hydration. Iconic, truly. A pack of two dark spot corrector soap bars, which you can use on your face as well as your hands, neck, bikini area, inner thighs, and underarms. Its wonderful mix of shea butter, olive oil, turmeric, hyaluronic acid, and retinol will give hyper-pigmented areas an even glow by helping to reduce scars and restore moisture. The cult-favorite Cosrx snail mucin repairing essence because it will soothe and rejuvenate your skin so effectively, it'll make you think the exact opposite of "ew" when you think of snail mucin. It can also give your skin a natural "I woke up like this" glow that has earned it over 66,000 5-star ratings! An easy-to-apply fungal nail renewal formula if you wanna get those toes lookin' healthy and sandal-ready for the sunny season. Apply this fast-acting formula, and you can start seeing visual improvements in as little as two days! A cruelty-free Essence Lash Princess mascara, which might make you want to throw out your falsies. It gives you all the length and volume WITHOUT the clumps and globs and has shocked reviewers with how full it leaves their lashes looking compared to other, more expensive brands. It's a fan fave for a reason! A Briotech spray that might even give the pricier Tower 28 spray a run for its money. Packed with the same key ingredient, hypochlorous acid, this skincare gem will quickly become one of your staples as it effectively works to soothe inflammation, calm angry red patches, and fortify your skin's barrier. A benzene-free mattifying dry shampoo powder to trick people into thinking it most definitely has not been a week since you last washed your hair. This is infused with biotin, black ginseng, and root-boosting powder and comes with a conveniently attached puff so that you can dab, dab, dab away all that excess oil and grease to instantly add some volume back into your hair. Retinol body lotion that'll enhance your already beautiful skin. It's overflowing with powerful ingredients like vitamins A and E, ferulic acid, shea butter, and green tea to help diminish the look of deep wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, crepey skin, and even sun damage — all while giving your collagen production a *major* boost to help with firming. An illuminating L'Oreal moisturizer because it'll have you looking glowy, sun-kissed, and ready for that lunchtime walk you planned your whole day around. The glycerin and shea butter in it also give it a mega hydrating factor. It's a lotion, glowy foundation base, and highlighter all in one bottle. Oh, and it has over 33,000 5-star ratings! A Wonderskin lip stain that reviewers rave about because of how true it is to its long-lasting, transfer-resistant reputation! It glides on as a vibrant blue hue that you can peel off to reveal an adorable, rosy lip stain. So treat yourself, and ~kiss~ those constant lipstick re-applications goodbye. 💋 An *iconic* Revlon one-step hair dryer and volumizer (with over 400,000 5-star ratings!!!) that will save you more than double the time it takes you to style your hair with a traditional blow-dryer and round brush — it'll give you soft, smooth waves with just a few passes! 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. A satin-covered RobeCurls heatless hair rod if you want voluminous, Barbie-worthy curls without the need for heat damage. Wrap your hair into it before bedtime, and you'll wake up with envy-worthy, bouncy curls. A pore-clearing cleansing oil because it uses the calming powers of heartleaf oil to soothe irritated skin and eliminate makeup residue, blackheads, and sebum while preventing pore congestion — perfect to incorporate in a double cleansing routine! It's also hypoallergenic and works wonders for sensitive, acne-prone skin. An easy-to-use collagen-coating hair mask 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. A lightly tinted nail concealer to give your nails a milky, healthy-looking glow. It's perfect for covering up any discoloration, or if you're just a minimalist looking for something that'll give your nails a soft, flawless finish.
The Guardian
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
There's a deep ugliness and some slippery ethics behind the snail slime beauty boom
Apologies. As a reasonably attentive student of generational divides, I'm still late to one of the most dramatic divergences yet: the normalisation of snail slime. At some point, maybe around the time I stopped believing in face cream miracles, smearing on snail mucus, in serums or lotions, was hailed by newcomers to Korean-made skin products as transformative, almost immediately. Its most cherished effect being, as an industry spokeswoman told British Vogue in 2023, 'a radiant youthful glow'. Today, thanks more to rhapsodising influencers than age-defying evidence, the slime phenomenon persists, gathers converts and withstands objections from snail supporters, who do not, sadly, seem that numerous. What snails need now, perhaps more than any other animal, is celebrity allies, supposing there are any willing to sacrifice the magical power of slime. Early ethical concerns about the snails' treatment were satisfied, to a remarkable extent, by industry assurances, duly recited by slime fans, that the slime makers are treated like kings, even when sprayed in their thousands with acidic solution that prompts slime secretion as a defence mechanism. After a few such sessions these snails are caringly euthanised. Yet more blessed gastropods, according to a popular K-Beauty brand, SeoulCeuticals, live out their days in less stressful 'snail havens, allowing snails to meander freely over mesh setups, mimicking their natural environment'. Either way, all snails, fortunate and not, are natural, and thus appeal to key demographics in the soaring market for snail beauty products: millennials and gen Z, 'who actively seek skin-friendly, cruelty-free beauty solutions'. In a masterstroke by the beauty industry, gen Z consumers (aged under 28) have begun spending on anti-ageing while still young. The value of the snail beauty product market has been projected as $3.4bn by 2034. The industry can also take credit for what appears to be, though not that helpfully for the snails, much diminished levels of snail- and slime-related revulsion. This is hard to quantify, but not so long ago Patricia Highsmith's affection and respect for snails, which she wrote about and kept as pets, was routinely portrayed as bizarre and repellent. Her 1948 short story, The Snail Watcher, featuring a kind of awful snail apotheosis, was initially rejected by periodicals 'with horror and disgust'. Highsmith's habit of transporting pet snails in her handbag or, for smuggling purposes, her bra (10 under each breast) was likewise presented, before the arrival of snail slime beauty, as deficient if not actively disgusting. Now, in a eulogy to a Korean snail product, Vogue rhapsodises about 'a slime-y texture that is a sensorial experience on its own'. Along with the slime-tolerance evinced by generations often considered super-sensitive, levels of incuriosity about the snail slime industry are such as to make you wonder, if you still recoil from the whole thing, if that makes you one of the weird ones. What's wrong with you! Why wouldn't you feel fine about industrialised snail labour for a product with uncertain benefits if the snail industry says it's OK? Especially for slime that could give you the prized, regularly slimed look known as 'glass skin'. Being beyond any expectation of rejuvenation, I can't, admittedly, be certain that having a reflective face would not once have seemed worth the torment and premature death of any number of gastropods. But expert consensus, not just in beauty magazines is, overwhelmingly, that it is. Including for an Atlantic magazine writer speculating, with some feeling, about the impact of tariffs on Korean beauty product prices – could US glass skin go the same, chilling way as US free speech? The trade-off between snail and human wellbeing is evidently settled. 'It has made my skin softer and only grossed me out twice,' she tells us. From the snails' perspective, the effect of tariffs – if they drive US buyers back to domestic, non-snail slime products – might amount to a more important commercial pushback than anything so far achieved by animal welfare organisations. While the soaring demand for slime products could encourage recourse to unethical types of extraction, Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has just tried another intervention, warning that 'snails are not skincare tools. They can feel stress, pain and fear.' Secrecy by some within the industry, along with a moderately stressed snail looking, to an amateur, much like a relaxed one, makes this easier to claim than to demonstrate. Even so, in the limited snail mucin studies concerned with ethics, the animals' treatment by some manufacturers sounds, when not actively barbaric, difficult to reconcile with industry assurances. The slime is, after all, a stress response. There is film of snails frothing and retracting into their shells. An analysis by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center found that common methods of snail slime collection include, as well as allegedly low-stress techniques that deliver less product, electrical stimulation, the application of salt solution ('osmotically drawing out a snail's hydration') and the use of force (featuring 'objects such as glass rods, cotton swabs, syringes, droppers, sticks or needles') to increase the yield. Alternatively, the shell might be cracked, generating more mucus, or the extractors might try vibrational, ozone-assisted and ultrasonic stimulation: 'These methods are less favoured as snails often die easily.' The authors prioritise, in conclusion, 'the need for ethical extraction'. Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion But without the exposure of a cruel snail extraction facility, it's not obvious how snails get beyond their current designation as insensate slime machines. At some point, the popularity of mucus might give way to another miracle face-plumper, possibly a synthetic version of snail mucin. Alternatively, if the snails get lucky, this resourceful industry will discover superior secretions in another unfortunate animal, ideally one similarly docile, cheap and unlovable enough to be euthanised in its millions. Not that consumers seem to be too picky. No matter how distressing the process, it's not so distressing, even among the usually tender-hearted, as the prospect of looking old. Catherine Bennett is an Observer columnist
