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Discover the beauty world’s best hidden gems.
Even the most dedicated beauty fanatics can find it hard to keep up with the latest and greatest innovations in the makeup, skin, and hair care industries. Which is a shame, because for each and every overly hyped up mainstream product, there are dozens of lesser-known beauty products that deserve the attention of the masses, too — whether because of a breakthrough formula, a life-changing convenience factor, or an absolutely unbeatable price point.
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the under-the-radar beauty pool, keep scrolling to discover 40 of the cheapest beauty products with the highest Amazon ratings that you never knew existed.
1A Tinted Lip Balm That’s Made With Good-For-Skin Ingredients
This tinted lip balm from Honest Beauty has made quite a splash on Amazon, amassing well over 12,000 perfect five-star ratings to date. Like all the brand’s products, it uses plant-based ingredients, like acai extract and avocado oil, to leave lips hydrated, smooth, and with a wash of “lush” color, as one shopper described it. Another customer wrote, “This is my go to lip balm for feeling put together each day whether I’m in full makeup or not. Pop of color with [the] nice moisturizing feel of a high quality balm.” Choose from six natural-looking shades, or opt for the colorless option if you prefer that glossy, dewy finish, minus the pigment.
- Available shades: 7
2This Professional-Grade Callus Remover With Over 30,000 5-Star Ratings
After leaving it on for as little as five minutes, then following up with a file or pumice stone, this professional-grade gel works to dissolve even the most stubborn calluses and roughest heels, leaving your feet super-soft and smooth. It’s amassed over 50,000 ratings — reason enough to try it out for yourself. “I’ve been dealing with super dry, cracked heels forever!! This product along with a foot file did wonders. I can’t even describe what came off of my feet,” one customer raved.
3The Wildly Popular Cream Eyeshadow You’ve Never Even Heard Of
These Julep eyeshadow sticks are probably the most popular makeup item you’ve never even heard of — a consistent best-seller on Amazon, they’re backed by over 23,000 five-star ratings and counting. It makes sense that they’re so popular. The ultra-creamy stick formulation is foolproof to apply, and though you have a solid few seconds to blend it in (via the handy built-in sponge on the other side of the applicator), it soon sets to a budge-proof powder finish that reviewers confirm is truly long-lasting — several shoppers report that it’s even stayed on after swimming. More to love? It comes in 30 gorgeous shades with metallic, matte, and shimmery finishes — the latter two of which can pull double-duty as highlighters — and costs under $15 a pop.
- Available shades: 30
4This Best-Selling Eyeshadow Primer With Over 20,000 5-Star Ratings
Eye primer is one of those game-changing beauty products you never knew you needed (until you try it, that is). Elizabeth Mott’s Thank Me Later Eye Primer helps lock in eyeshadow from the moment you apply it until you’re ready to wash it off at the end of the day. Just a tiny dot of the pearly, pink-tinted cream helps to even your eyelid’s skin tone and enhance the color of your eyeshadow. Most importantly of all, the primer works to control sebum production to prevent that oily shine that often pops up midday and causes eyeshadow (and liner) to smudge and fade. “I’ve used many eye primers and this is the only one that works for my oily eyelids,” shared one Amazon reviewer. “After a day of Florida humidity, no budging.”
5A Popular Korean Primer That Cancels Out Any Redness In Your Skin
Touch in Sol’s No Pore Blem Primer has developed a cult following over the past few years, but this iteration is especially clever — the primer’s green tint cancels out any redness in your skin, so reviewers with rosacea, unwanted red-toned scarring, and run-of-the-mill ruddiness in particular swear by it. The primer itself works to mitigate shine and create a silky-smooth veil over your skin, so any base products you apply over the top will glide on so smoothly — or create a soft-focus effect over your bare skin if you prefer to go without makeup. Plus, it has over 8,000 five-star ratings to back it up.
6This Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment That Clarifies & Balances Itchy Scalps
Made with a potent blend of apple cider vinegar, rosemary, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, this scalp detox from Pacifica Beauty comes backed by thousands of reviews touting its transformational effects. “My hair feels fuller and stronger after just two uses,” one shopper wrote, and another reported, “It feels invigorating while on and rinses clean! My scalp felt so clean after and my hair had a nice shine to it!” Though it’s particularly great for people with oily scalps, dandruff, itchiness, irritation, or product build-up, anyone can benefit from its clarifying and balancing benefits.
7The Hair Mask That Shoppers Say Works “Miracles” On Damaged Hair
If your hair is damaged in any way — or if you’re hoping to achieve stronger hair in general — you need this under-$10 Korean hair mask that hundreds of shoppers call a “miracle” (and over 25,000 more awarded a five-star rating). The formula is packed with every strengthening ingredient imaginable, including collagen, hydrolyzed plant proteins, and ceramides, and reviewers report all kinds of hair benefits after just one use — faster regrowth, less breakage, and more volume, to name just a few.
8These Single-Use Face Towels That Are Biodegradable
Made of ultra-soft, 100% biodegradable materials, these single-use face towels are a gentler and more hygienic alternative to your usual terry cloth bath towels. They’ve garnered a cult following on Amazon, earning an impressive 4.7-star rating after over 10,000 shoppers weighed in. “I have realized such a difference in my face…mainly lack of breakouts! Also, I love how universal it is! I use it to dry my face, wipe make up, wash off clay mask, and to even clean off my vanity,” one reviewer raved. This box of 50 extra-large towels rings up at around $17, but you can take the advice of some enterprising shoppers and only use half a towel at a time.
9A Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo That Provides Added Volume
For those days when a full shampoo is not in the cards, be sure to not sleep on this dry shampoo that not only lets you walk out the door with a refreshed scalp but adds some conquer-the-day volume as well. It’s formulated without talc, parabens, or phthalates, and uses plant-based ingredients such as rice starch, colloidal oatmeal, and lavender essential oil in a non-aerosol form to work its magic. Apply the powder to roots of any hair color, working it through strands, with a result that, in the words of one reviewer, “looks so natural and stays working for literally days.”
10An Under-$10 Makeup Setting Spray That Provides A Chic Matte Finish
At less than $10, this best-selling makeup setting spray is shockingly inexpensive, and with over 97,000 reviews and a high 4.5-star rating overall, it’s also shockingly popular, while still remaining under the radar. The vegan and cruelty-free formula contains skin-soothing niacinamide and provides a lightweight, matte finish to your makeup masterpiece. It’ll keep your makeup looking fresh for up to 16 hours (think from the start of your day till post-dinner drinks), is completely transfer and sweat-proof, yet also gentle on sensitive skin. “This stuff sets your makeup for life. It's so amazing, dries quickly, and makes my makeup last all day and night,” wrote one ecstatic shopper. “I have very sensitive, combination, acne-prone skin, and this stuff is just perfect.”
11A Cult-Favorite Kabuki Brush That Gives Your Foundation A Flawless Finish
Earning an overall 4.5-star rating after over 30,000 ratings in total, this cute little kabuki brush is hands-down one of the most popular makeup brushes on Amazon. The squat, hexagonal handle fits nicely in your hand, offering much more control than long-handled brushes, and its densely packed bristles seamlessly blend out all types of makeup — including liquid, creams, and powders — to create a soft-focus finish. In other words, it’s pretty much the only base brush you’ll need — and it costs under $9.
- Available colors: 10
12A Japanese Mascara Remover With The Most Genius Packaging
Amazon is an amazing resource for top-rated Asian beauty products that are still under-the-radar Stateside, like this mascara remover from Japanese beauty brand Heroine Make, which boasts the most genius application vehicle ever: A tiny, mascara-like comb that you brush right over your lashes, allowing the makeup remover to dissolve your mascara (including waterproof formulas) without needing to tug at your delicate eyelids. With a near-perfect 4.7-star rating, Amazon users are beginning to catch onto this hidden gem.
13These Best-Selling Foot Peel Masks That Offer Seriously Impressive Results
Another best-selling product that’s nevertheless little-known outside of Amazon, these foot peel masks have amassed an impressive 4.5-star rating after over 65,000 shoppers have weighed in. These sock-like masks are infused with a blend of fruit acids that dissolve all the dead skin on your feet — including rough calluses and heels — which will start to peel over the next week or so, leaving your feet softer than you ever thought possible outside of a professional pedi. Not yet convinced? The before-and-after pictures speak for themselves.
- Available scents: 12
14This Retinol-Infused Body Lotion In A Convenient Pump-Top Bottle
This popular retinol body cream from Nature Well has earned thousands of reviews on Amazon, with a full 74% of shoppers awarding it a perfect five-star rating. In addition to ultra-hydrating ingredients like coconut oil and glycerin, it contains encapsulated retinol that steadily delivers the potent ingredient into your skin to reduce the chance of irritation. The pump-top packaging makes it so easy to apply all over your body. And since it’s relatively gentle, non-greasy, and absorbs quickly, several reviewers love using it on their faces, too.
15An Exfoliating Face Mask That Leaves Skin “Smooth, Soft, & Bright”
Thousands of Amazon reviewers love this cult-favorite mask from K-beauty brand Skinfood for its brightening and softening effects — and it’s the rare physical exfoliant that doesn’t feel too harsh on sensitive skin. “I have very dry, very sensitive skin, and this mask is one of the only products I can find that doesn’t burn it and leaves it smooth, soft, and bright,” one shopper confirmed. You can use it two ways — either as an exfoliant, or as a mask (just be sure to massage the granules into your skin when it’s time to rinse it off). However you use it, shoppers write that a little goes a long way, so this $10 jar will last you ages.
16A Rose-Infused Oil That’ll Become A Staple In Your Routine
Over 13,000 shoppers who left a five-star rating can’t live without this Provence Beauty Rose Multi-Use Oil — and it’s an editor-favorite, too. True to the name, the simple yet potent blend of apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and gorgeous dried rose petals can be used everywhere on your face, body, nails, and hair, infusing it with vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants. You can get creative with its uses, too — try it as a shave oil, massage oil, bath oil, or with your manicures.
17This Cooling & Soothing Eye Roller That’s Backed By A Professional MUA
Made with brightening vitamin C, caffeine, and mint, this eye roller is beloved by thousands of Amazon shoppers. Plus, it’s been previously recommended by Garnier’s celebrity beauty expert Millie Morales, who calls it one of the brand’s best under-the-radar products. Stick it in the fridge to really benefit from the metal roller application and the product’s soothing gel texture.
18An Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover Made With Essential Oils
This nail polish remover is one of Amazon’s best-kept secrets with over 60,000 reviews and a near-perfect 4.7-star rating, and amazingly clocks in at only $10. It’s formulated without abrasive and harsh-smelling acetone, instead, opting for effective all-natural essential oils to remove color without causing irritation, stripping, or drying. It’s free of your usual toxic suspects such as parabens, phthalates, and sodium lauryl sulfates, yet still delivers on being able to wipe away regular polish, shellac polish, and gel polishes made by the same brand — with, according to reviewers, just a single swipe.
19This Eyelash Curler With A Calibrated Hinge
Give your lashes expert attention with this eyelash curler that features a smooth, calibrated hinge to dial in the appropriate amount of pressure for the job. Made of stainless steel and available in multiple finishes such as rose gold and jet black, the ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to use with no pinching caused in the process. One reviewer gushed, “I have gone through all brands of eyelash curler brands but this has been my favorite. You don’t have to press too hard to get the lift and there is no tugging involved. Recommend!” Each purchase comes with a small travel bag and two replacement pads.
20This Exfoliating Brush That’s Amazing For Getting Rid Of Ingrowns & Razor Bumps
According to thousands of reviewers, this little exfoliating brush works wonders to prevent razor bumps, pull out ingrown hairs, or just to buff away rough, dry patches anywhere below the neck (some shoppers use it on their faces as well, but it may be too harsh for people with sensitive skin). Plus, the handle is easy to grip in your hand, and since you can clean it with soap and water, it’s a more hygienic alternative to loofahs.
21The Only Serum You Need — & It Costs $16
Niacinamide is the skin care world’s buzziest ingredient right now, so if you’ve been curious to give it a try, start with this Naturium niacinamide serum — at just about $16, and with a 4.5-star rating, you can’t go wrong. In here, 12% niacinamide is bolstered by zinc PCA and hyaluronic acid, creating a serum that basically does it all — balances oil production, refines uneven skin texture, hydrates, and more.
22A Cult-Classic Hydrating Essence From Japan
Long before hyaluronic acid became the ingredient du jour, Hada Labo was selling thousands — maybe even millions — of their hyaluronic acid essence in their native Japan. Formula wise, this lands somewhere between a toner, an essence, and a milky lotion. It makes your skin feel super soft but not sticky, and it drenches your face in multiple types of hyaluronic acid to infuse it with maximum hydration. The result? Ultra plump, dewy, radiant-looking skin.
23The Flat Top Kabuki Brush That Works With All Foundations
There’s a reason this kabuki brush is a consistent top seller as it creates a seamless finish no matter whether you’re applying powder, liquid, or cream foundation. With over 28,000 five-star reviews, beauty shoppers agree that the soft, dense, synthetic fibers do an amazing job of delivering a lightweight and perfectly-blended finish without any shedding from the brush. One happy shopper raved, “I finally decided to give one of these a try and wow I didn’t know what I was missing. It takes me half the time to put on my foundation now. It blends so much better, faster, and easier.” The cherry on top: this kind of performance only costs $10.
24This Cuticle Conditioning Cream That’ll Help Repair Dry, Weakened Nails
Cutting your cuticles is actually a major nail care no-no — instead, try a conditioning cream that will help soften your cuticles and strengthen your nails. Made with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, shea butter, vitamin E, and seaweed from Japan, this cream/serum hybrid will help restore and revive dry, brittle nails and cracked cuticles within mere days if you use it consistently. Luckily, that’s easy to do, thanks to its mess-free applicator trip and travel-friendly size.
25A Color-Correcting Palette For Every Skin Concern
Treat your face like the canvas masterpiece it is by harnessing the power of color using this color-correcting concealer palette from NYX. It comes with six different pigmented, creamy shades that are both buildable and blendable and can be used on all different areas of the face to create a uniform finish. Conceal, highlight, brighten, not to mention balance red, blue, or yellow tones – the sky’s the limit with what you can do using this powerful palette.
26The K-Beauty Snail Mucin Repair Cream That’s Only $20
Popular with K-beauty fanatics, this snail mucin repair cream is a hidden gem of a high-performing moisturizer. It’s formulated with a super high 97.5% snail mucin concentration and also contains nourishing ingredients such as vitamin E, vitamin B5, organic aloe, and organic green tea. It’s fully non-comedogenic yet is made with a rich texture that skin will love. As one five-star reviewer wrote, “I love all of the Korean skin products, but this is a regular part of my routine skin care. It’s so nice and refreshing on your skin. It makes my skin so supple and it gives it a radiant glow afterwards.”
27A Best-Selling Makeup Brush & Sponge Cleaner Free Of Toxic Ingredients
If you’ve been washing your makeup tools in simple soap and water (or not at all), this makeup brush and sponge cleaner you never knew existed is about to change your skincare game. With 50,000-plus reviews and a near-perfect 4.6-star rating, it clocks in at a reasonable $7 and uses a nontoxic formula free of parabens and sulfates to effectively remove makeup. It’s safe for those with sensitive skin and is recommended to be used at least once a week to keep your tools in great shape and your face free of skin-clogging impurities.
28This Refreshing Soap That Helps With All Sorts Of Skin Irritations & Concerns
You won’t find any sulfates or harsh cleansing agents in this body wash, which instead uses a blend of plant oils and extracts to cleanse as it soothes and hydrates. You’ll recognize common moisturizers like coconut oil and jojoba oil among the ingredients list, but the body wash also includes peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and aloe oil to deodorize and calm skin irritations. “I was breaking out in hives with folliculitis from my skin allergies,” wrote one Amazon reviewer who gave the body wash five stars. “This has completely calmed my skin down. It also makes my skin softer and smells incredible.”
29The Best French Moisturizer For Congested, Enlarged Pores
You probably already know Bioderma for its cult-favorite micellar water, which is a staple in makeup artists’ kits and backstage at every fashion week show. But the brand is also a French pharmacy staple with dozens of products across skin care, sun care, and hair care categories. One tried-and-true skin care favorite on Amazon is the Sébium Pore Refining Cream, which can be used on its own or as a pore-minimizing primer for makeup. The secret behind the cream’s effectiveness is a combination of the brand’s patented Fluidactiv complex and salicylic acid, which help to regulate sebum production and prevent your pores from becoming clogged with the dead skin and oil that contribute to a congested appearance.
30An Ingenious Eyelash Comb That Removes Unsightly Mascara Clumps
Spend only $5 and contend with clumps no more using this clever eyelash comb designed to separate every lash for a luscious and natural result. It’s earned a loyal following with over 11,000 five-star ratings, one of which commented, “I did not know this existed but I am so happy I found it. I hate clumpy lashes so this tool saved me so much time and helps me create the look I like every time.” The comb is made of fine stainless steel tines that are a cinch to clean and there’s even a cap for hygienic storage. Choose between five chic color options from pink to red to black.
31A Moisturizing Shaving Oil That Leaves Your Skin Silky Soft
Dry skin and irritation post-shaving are problems of the past with this Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil. The moisture-rich formula applies like a gel and transforms into an oil to allow for a super-close shave without causing any irritation, nicks, or cuts. Free from drying alcohols and sulfates, the shave oil instead uses ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba seed oil, and shea butter to hydrate skin, as well as soothing ingredients like allantoin and oat kernel extract. “I got a much smoother shave using this than I ever did using shaving cream and shaving butter,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “Everything was soft, smooth, and felt more moisturized. I had zero irritation anywhere.”
- Available scents: 3
32This Thermal Protection Spray That Strengthens Hair With Keratin
Keeping hair healthy throughout a regular styling routine is imperative, but it can be hard to find something that leaves your hair in better shape than when it found it. Enter this thermal protection spray that is perfect for all hair types and utilizes ingredients such as vitamins, jojoba oil, olive oil, and all-important keratin to both strengthen and nourish strands. Spray it on your hair before you fire up the curling iron with the weightless texture creating zero buildup over time. “I was shocked the first time I used it because I thought it would just protect my hair when I dried and straightened it but it makes my hair manageable, soft, silky, and virtually hides my split ends,” raved one of the over 34,000 five-star reviewers.
33A Top-Quality Vitamin C Serum For Just $20
Serums can get pricey — especially when they boast some major benefits like protecting against free radicals and brightening unwanted hyperpigmentation. Seoul Ceuticals’ Day Glow Serum delivers all of the above for just $20 with its vitamin C serum. In addition to the 20% vitamin C in the formula, the serum also includes ferulic acid and vitamin E, which together help to boost vitamin C’s effects and stabilize it (vitamin C quickly degrades when exposed to sunlight and heat).
34This Microfiber Hair Towel That Dries Hair Gently & Quickly
Having earned a high 4.6-star rating over 55,000-plus reviews, this microfiber hair towel is clearly a go-to choice for those who know how to treat their locks right. The microfiber material is incredibly absorbent, allowing hair to dry at top speed as the material wicks away moisture, and the soft texture means that each strand is treated gently, reducing damage or resulting frizz. Available in a pack of two, use the button at the back to secure it as you go about the rest of your beauty routine. Just take it from this reviewer who raved, “I love these!! They’re better for your hair than regular towels, they are easy to wear, and don’t fall off [...] Love!!”
35The Cult-Favorite Snail Mucin Essence That’s Amassed A Legion Of Fans
Leave it to the K-beauty market to come up with a lightweight moisturizer that also targets dullness, unwanted hyperpigmentation, and unevenly textured skin. COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence uses an unusual ingredient to achieve all of this: snail mucin. Snail mucin has long been used in Korean skin care, and its (many) benefits are impressive. As one Amazon reviewer put it, the essence is “worth all the hype,” and it’s also easy to integrate into your routine as the serum-like formula was designed to be applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. In addition to the soothing properties that come courtesy of the snail mucin, the essence is hypoallergenic and free from common irritants like fragrance, parabens, and drying alcohols.
36A Detangling Brush That Works With Your Hair Instead Of Against It
This incredibly popular detangling hair brush has over 52,000 five-star reviews and for good reason. It’s designed with special cone-shaped bristles that separate hair strands sideways instead of downwards, preventing damage and dismantling knots with ease. It can be used on all hair types and textures from straight or curly to thin or thick. It also is able to be used on wet and dry hair, as this avid shopper wrote, “This brush really WORKS. I waited to rate this because I knew it worked on dry hair but wanted to try it on wet hair. It works on wet too. This brush is awesome.” Choose from plenty of fun colors on offer to complement your personal aesthetic.
37This 14-Piece Makeup Brush Set To Create Literally Any Look
Flex your creative muscles because, with this under-the-radar makeup brush set, you can create each and every look of your dreams for a mere $12 investment. The set includes 14 pieces ranging from a powder brush to an angled blender to a detailed liner. Each one is made of synthetic bristles with a soft texture that applies product smoothly and, as a bonus, there’s even a cleaning solution thrown in for effortless maintenance.
38A Buildable Lip Gloss That Delivers High Shine Without Stickiness
For a honeyed shine that isn’t a literal honey trap, turn to this best-selling lip butter that graces lips with a luscious glow sans stickiness. Apply lightly for sheer coverage or layer up for even more of a gleam — no matter what, this gloss stays soft and supple as its popularity is proved by over 91,000 ratings. “I loooove this lipgloss. It is my new favorite. It is actually moisturizing and is not sticky. I don't know how they did it, but the texture is truly lovely,” wrote one loyal customer. Go for a clear shade to use over your favorite lipstick or balm or choose from over 30 tinted options such as merengue, red velvet, or strawberry cheesecake.
- Available shades: 36
39The Hyaluronic Acid Serum That Provides Serious Hydration
Who knew that caffeine could jumpstart your day and your hair care? This leave-in conditioner spray with over 47,000 reviews does just that by including not only caffeine but ginseng, biotin, and vitamin E in its powerful formula. One fan commented, “[I] had to stop and make a review because this product is fantastic. Not only does it make my hair feel soft [and] helps to detangle but it makes my hair feel healthier than it has been in years!” Simply spray it onto damp hair, comb it through from roots to ends, and style away. The conditioner will not only make hair more manageable but can add vital strength as well.
40A Shampoo Brush With Interchangeable Scrubber Heads
To get your scalp as clean as possible opt for this shampoo brush that comes with two interchangeable scrubber heads. Made of silicone, one head features longer more flexible bristles while the other has shorter and firmer ones. Each set includes two brushes with comfortable handles for shampooing, transforming your routine into a daily massage. “If you’re looking for a great scalp massager and scrubber in one, look no further! This is the one,” raved one happy customer.
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