(Beauty)
There are certain beauty products that everyone knows about — your cult-favorites, if you will. They're the products that editors and consumers sing their praises for, that wind up in just about every single beauty roundup, and that celebrities wax poetic about every time they detail their routines. But whether or not those products are as good as everyone says they are, they aren't fully representative of all of the amazing buys available on the Internet. In fact, Amazon is a bastion of under-the-radar beauty products that are a little more niche. These products, however, get rave reviews from the people who have used them. And when it comes to shopping for beauty products online, there's no better resource than reviews by real customers.
This list comprises the best hidden beauty gems you've never heard of; think German bath salts that'll lull you to sleep, Korean mud masks made from volcanic lava, and hair towels that reduce your air-drying time by half. There are handmade glass nail files from the Czech Republic that people swear by, milky Japanese lotions that'll give you baby soft skin, and a French acne treatment that's so good, it'll save you a trip to the dermatologist.
Ahead, find all of these brilliant beauty buys and more. You may not have heard of them, but give them a shot. If the reviews are to be believed, they're pretty life-changing.
1A Cult-Favorite Vitamin A Cream That Keeps Skin Clear And Firm
If you have acne and are interested in incorporating vitamin A, or retinol, into your routine, this is one of the best formulas to start with. Vitamin A encourages healthy cell turnover, which means your skin heals from breakouts that much faster. It also stimulates fibroblasts, which help keep your complexion looking firm and glow-y. As for the formula itself? It's a pomade that starts out solid and then melts into your hands as it warms.
2A Three-Pack Of Facial Razors For Dermaplaning & Grooming
If you're anything like me, and you hate the idea of waxing or plucking your eyebrows, then you'll love these dermaplaners. They're easier to maneuver around the smaller areas of your face, which makes them ideal for grooming your brows and upper-lip (if you choose to, of course). They can also be used for dermaplaning your face, which is a form of exfoliation. Dermaplaning promotes smoother skin, making it a great option for folks with flaky faces, and it also creates a more even base for makeup.
3These Bath Salts That Help Lull You Into A Deep Sleep
If you have trouble falling asleep or simply love taking a relaxing bath before bed, you might want to try these mineral salts from Kneipp. Infused with valerian and hops, which are both known for their natural calming effects, they're specially formulated to help lull you into a sound sleep. And yes, they do turn your bath water a purple-blue, but don't worry: they don't stain. The other great thing is that Kneipp is a super old brand from Germany that puts nature and health at the forefront of their products, so you don't have to worry about exposing your skin to any icky chemicals or irritating ingredients.
4A Microfiber Turban That Dries Your Hair Faster
A microfiber towel is a great investment for folks with curly or thick hair — or anyone hoping to cut down on their air-drying time, really. Microfiber absorbs moisture better than most other fabrics, and it's also gentler on hair, which makes it ideal for minimizing frizz. This turban from Aquis has gotten rave reviews on Amazon thanks to its self-securing closure that ensures it stays in place, making it super easy to do chores while your hair is drying.
5These Handmade Glass Nail Files That Work Way Better Than Emery & Foam
How life-changing can a nail file really be? Well, once you try these Mont Bleu Crystal Nail Files, you'll understand. They're handmade in the Czech Republic and work so much better than flimsy foam files and emery boards. According to reviewers on Amazon, these babies stay seriously sharp use after use. The pointed tip ensures you're getting a precise line as you shape, and the thin edges mean that there's no nicking or dragging.
6A USDA-Organic Argan Oil That Has Tons Of Uses
Argan oil in general is a beauty staple that everyone should have on hand, but for green beauty lovers, this formula goes the extra mile with its USDA Organic certification. It can be used as a hair oil to increase shine or smooth split ends; on your body as an all-over nourishing treatment; or on your face as a moisturizer.
7These Gold Collagen Eye Masks That Depuff & Hydrate
If you've been in the market for a good under-eye treatment, then say hello to Grace & Stella Anti-Wrinkle + Energizing Eye Masks. These gold masks are placed under your eyes to treat puffiness and dryness, leaving you looking more awake and energized with just one use. Pro tip: Pop them in your fridge until you're ready to use them; they'll feel especially refreshing after a night out.
8These Muji Cotton Pads That Are Game-Changers For People With Sensitive Skin
These gentle cotton pads from Muji are hailed as an amazing dupe for the very pricey Shiseido facial cottons. They're unbleached, super soft, and made with 100 percent cotton, which makes them incredibly good for people with sensitive or easily-irritated skin. For only $12, you'll get a whopping 360 sheets, which should last you ages. Fair warning, though: You'll never be able to use drugstore cotton pads again.
9An All-Purpose Moisturizer For Seriously Chapped Skin
Weleda Skin Food has been touted as one of the best beauty multi-taskers on the market. It's amazing for dry skin, be it on your face, hands, or elbows; some people use it in place of highlighter on their cheekbones for some extra glow. It's so intensely moisturizing that you can use it as a face mask, or even to treat chapped lips and scaly, flaky feet. Hailing from a reputable all-natural brand, the formula is free of parabens, fragrances, colorants, and mineral oils, so it's suitable for use on sensitive skin. Full disclosure, though: some people who don't love super heavy creams find this stuff too thick for their face.
10A Lightweight Hydrating Lotion From One Of Japan's Top Skin Care Brands
If you're one of those people who hates the feeling of thick, heavy moisturizers, you'll love Hada Labo's Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion. It's a super lightweight lotion with more of a milky consistency than a cream, and it comes from one of Japan's most popular skin care brands. The star ingredient here is hyaluronic acid, which is a lightweight molecule that holds 1,000 times its weight in water. You can use it before a heavier cream or on its own; either way, the result will be seriously moisturized skin.
11A Rose-Tinted Lip Treatment Made With Hawaiian Ingredients
Can't choose between a lip tint and a lip treatment? Thanks to this cute little tube, you don't have to. Hanalei's Rose Lip Treatment delivers some serious moisture to your lips in just one swipe. But that's not all. This balm also deposits a sweet, natural-looking pink tint to your pout.
12A Japanese Cleansing Oil That Reddit Swears By
This deep cleansing oil from DHC is the crème de la crème of cleansing oils. Its formula is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, so it nourishes your skin while it cleanses. It also expertly removes grime and makeup like no other. And if you have dry skin, you're in luck. This cleanser leaves your face feeling moisturized (but not greasy!) instead of stripped, making it perfect for anyone with chapped, flaky skin.
13A Milky French Cleanser For Dry And/Or Sensitive Skin
This is another great cleanser from beloved French pharmacy brand La-Roche Posay. Unlike the oil cleanser from DHC, this one is creamy, with a milky consistency. It gently hydrates and cleanses your skin, removes makeup, and leaves your face feeling soft and nourished. It was specifically formulated for sensitive skin, so even if you're acne-prone or get irritated easily, you should be safe with this fragrance-free goodness.
14This Amazing Mascara From Japan That's Apparently The Best One Out There
Kiss Me Heroine Mascara might just be Japan's best-kept makeup secret. Not only does it have hundreds of five-star reviews on Amazon, but Reddit's devoted beauty community swears by it, too. The formula contains fibers that cling to one another, thus lengthening your lashes — and it doesn't smudge.
15A Clarifying Shampoo That Everyone Should Be Using Once A Week
If you ever have an itchy, flaky, or even painful scalp — whether it's from too much product buildup or just plain grease — you should be using a clarifying shampoo, like this one from Neutrogena, about once a week. It removes any sort of excess residue in your hair, leaving it squeaky clean and flake-free.
16A Heavy-Duty Moisturizer For Seriously Dry Skin
Not all rich, moisturizing creams have to be greasy, and Avène Rich Compensating Cream is a perfect example of that. It melts into skin without leaving behind an oil slick and deposits serious antioxidant protection in the process. The formula also helps rebuild your skin's natural protective barrier, which helps with moisture levels in the long run. For very dry skin, this is a must-have — especially during winter.
17A Deep-Cleansing Clay Mask Made From Volcanic Korean Lava
Clay masks are some of the most reliable skin care products in general, and this one from Innisfree amps things up a notch even further. It's made with volcanic scoria clay from Jeju Island in Korea, which sucks up excess sebum and unclogs pores. Regardless of whether you're suffering from intense breakouts or a lackluster complexion, this mask can help.
18An All-Natural Vitamin C Serum For Green Beauty Lovers
Vitamin C is a miracle ingredient that helps reverse unwanted discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. But it's hard to find a good all-natural formula that really works. Enter: this serum from Mad Hippie, a vegan, cruelty-free, and GMO-free brand that green beauty lovers swear by. Just a note: Vitamin C can make your skin more photosensitive, so make sure to use this serum with a good sunscreen.
19A Salicylic Acid Lotion For Rough & Bumpy Skin
If you have rough, bumpy skin or full-blown keratosis pilaris, this CeraVe SA Lotion can help. With lactic, salicylic, and hyaluronic acids, this moisturizer exfoliates and hydrates your skin at the same time. It absorbs quickly and is non-greasy, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free, making it safe for all skin types.
20A Nail Polish Remover With An Easy-To-Dispense Pump
This pump-top nail polish remover makes removing varnish easier than ever. It works incredibly well, eliminates the risk of spills, and is non-drying. Simple, but useful — what's not to love?
21An Old School Italian Shaving Cream That Moisturizes Dry Skin
Thanks to this shaving cream from Proraso, you no longer have to choose between a close shave and a moisturized one. It's rich in shea butter and emollients, which soften unwanted hair, thus making it easier to shave. These emollients also soften your skin and protect it from razor burn, and there's also a dose of sandalwood oil to soothe any irritation.
22A High-Coverage Setting Powder That Ensures Your Makeup Stays Put
Dermablend Loose Setting Powder is the Cadillac of setting powders. It stays put for 16 hours without smudging or transferring and settles into a nice, matte texture. It's dermatologist-tested, fragrance-free, allergy-tested, non-comedogenic, and non-acnegenic, so you can use it regardless of your skin type.
23An Amazing French Cleansing Gel For Sensitive Skin
Folks with sensitive skin know difficult it can be to find a cleanser — especially a foaming one — that doesn't send your skin into freak-out mode. But Bioderma Sensibio Mild Cleansing Foaming Gel is the rare exception. It's made with soothing ingredients to calm inflamed skin, and its foaming formula whisks away dirt and makeup like a champ. Soap-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and developed specifically for sensitive skin, this stuff will leave your face feeling squeaky clean, but not dried out.
24A Great Matte Bronzer For Folks Who Hate Shimmer
Hate a bronzer with shimmer? Then TheBalm's Bahama Mama is for you. It's a matte formula that doesn't have any orange undertones and creates a natural, sun-kissed look. As a bonus, customers say that this shade works great as a brown eyeshadow, so you're technically getting two products for the price of one.
25A Four-In-One Powder Foundation With SPF
If you've got oily or combination skin, then you probably already know how effective powder makeup can be. And according to Amazon customers, PÜR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation is as good as it gets. This bitty compact works as a foundation, concealer, powder, and sunscreen, with an SPF of 15.
26An All-In-One Kit For Dermarolling Newbies
Dermarolling — the process in which tiny needles prick your skin, thus allowing ingredients to penetrate it deeply — has become all the rage in skin care circles. If you'd like to give it a shot, then this kit from Linduray Skincare is a great place to start. It contains a roller with .30-millimeter needles, so it won't damage the skin. But it also contains a hyaluronic acid serum to apply afterwards to aid with moisture and hydration.
27A Hard-Working Micellar Water With An Easy-To-Use Pump
Micellar water has become a beauty staple for most modern makeup lovers, and while Bioderma's classic Sensibio formula is most people's go-to, this one is just a step above, as the bottle boasts a convenient pump. The non-drying formula is just as effective as the Sensibio line, but is especially great for combination and/or oily skin types.
28This Teeth Whitening Light That Speeds Up The Process
If you're into whitening your teeth, this light can help speed up the process. It's meant to be used with teeth whitening gels or strips, both of which are sold separately. Once you pop your desired formula on, turn the light on and hold it up to your mouth. The 5 LEDs work to break down the gel, which helps them whiten your teeth more quickly than the strips on their own.
29A Refreshing Body Gel That Soothes Sore Muscles
This body gel from Elemis cools, refreshes, and revives achy muscles in need of some extra TLC. Swipe it on after a long flight, workout, or whenever your muscles are sore. It's also safe to use during pregnancy, which is fabulous for any moms-to-be suffering from painful, swollen feet.
30An Eye-Makeup Remover That's Safe For Sensitive Eyes & Contacts
If you wear contacts or have sensitive eyes, you'll want to pick up a bottle of La Roche-Posay's Respectissime Eye Makeup Remover. The gentle formula dissolves eyeliner and mascara in one swipe, without making your eyes red and itchy. It's ophthalmologist-tested and can even be used on the toughest waterproof makeup you've got.
31These Dual-Sided Cleansing Pads For Exfoliating On The Go
NuFACE Prep-N-Glow Cloths are perfect for those who want to take good care of their skin, but are frequently on the go or short on time. These dual-sided cloths cleanse, exfoliate, and hydrate skin. You can also use them on your chest and back to help with breakouts, and since they're liquid-free, you can travel with them without worrying about spills or TSA rules.
32The Ultimate Brush Set For Beginners And Pros
If you're looking for an affordable new set of makeup brushes, it doesn't get much better than Shany's Professional Brush Set. This set contains 32 brushes with natural bristles as well as a leather carrying case. Every kind of brush you could want is accounted for — for eyeliner, foundation, powder and more.
33A Hydrating Lip Cream That Prevents Lipstick Feathering
If you're looking for a lip balm upgrade, say hello to Elizabeth Arden's Advanced Lip Fix Cream. This luxe treatment softens and moisturizes lips in just one swipe, and if you hate the feeling of greasy balms and sticky ointments, you'll love how the creamy formula absorbs instantly. It also works as a fantastic lipstick primer, since it prevents bleeding and feathering.
34This Skin Solution That Prevents Razor Bumps And Ingrown Hairs
Tend Skin Solution is a cult-favorite treatment for razor bumps and ingrown hairs — regardless of where on your body they tend to crop up. You can use it one of two ways. First, you can apply it immediately after shaving to prevent ingrowns, or, if you're already suffering from bumps and burns, you can swipe it on whatever area is ailing you to help heal it without picking or tweezing.
35An Eyeliner That Can Help Your Lashes Grow
It's rare to find an eyeliner that delivers gorgeous pigment while also stimulating lash growth, but Hairgenics Pronexa Lavish Liner does exactly that; plus, it's waterproof, cruelty-free, and hypoallergenic to boot. Its felt precision tip delivers a smooth, heavily-pigmented line, and the included serum encourages longer, fuller lashes in as little as 60 days.
36A K-Beauty Cleansing Toner That Does It All
Beauty waters are a Korean beauty staple, and it doesn't get much better than this one from Son & Park. It cleanses, tones, and even mildly exfoliates your skin; use it after washing your face, but before applying your moisturizers and serums. The formula is full of soothing, hydrating, and antioxidant-rich ingredients, like green tea, willow bark, rose water, and papaya extract.
37A Skin-Perfecting Makeup Primer That Creates A Smooth, Luminous Base
Whether you're prepping your skin for a full face of makeup or prefer going au natural, DHC's Velvet Skin Coat creates the smoothest, most luminous base. It evens out skin tone and creates a velvet-like appearance that looks gorgeous on its own or under foundation and powder. The matte formula is also great for soaking up excess sebum, so oily skin types will especially benefit from this powdery gel primer.
38This Nourishing Foot Cream Made With Minerals From The Dead Sea
Our feet bear the brunt of our weight on a daily basis, yet too often, they go neglected — which is why everyone should own a tube of nourishing foot cream. This one from Ahava is all-natural and packed with minerals from the Dead Sea, as well as hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like sweet almond oil, aloe vera, and avocado. It softens skin and repairs dry, cracked heels, but that's not all. Thanks to tea tree oil and salicylic acid, it also exfoliates and fights the growth of bacteria, so it can even help treat unwanted odor or fungus.
39A French Pharmacy Smoothing Cream That Reduces The Appearance Of Pores
Here's a beauty secret very few people like to admit: Pores can't actually shrink. (Sorry about that.) But primers like Bioderma Sébium Pore Refining Cream help reduce the appearance of pores, which is just as good, right? Swipe this stuff on before applying the rest of your makeup (or use it on its own) for a powder-like effect that blurs imperfections and evens out skin tone.
40An All-Natural, Non-Drying Toner That's Safe For All Skin Types
Thayer's witch hazel toner has been a beauty cabinet staple for years, thanks to its super gentle formula that's safe for all skin types. Most toners are usually harsh and drying, but this one is alcohol-free. And, since it contains aloe vera, it's actually hydrating. It tones skin, soaks up excess oil, and sweeps away any remaining traces of dirt and makeup. The aloe vera and rose work to calm skin, so it can even help soothe away redness.
41A Protein-Rich Deep Conditioner That Repairs Dry & Damaged Hair
Whether you have coarse and curly or dry and damaged hair, incorporating a deep conditioner into your shower routine can help nourish it back to life. People love It's A 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner Plus Keratin because of its seriously hydrating formula that detangles and moisturizes hair from root-to-tip. It makes hair smoother, shinier, and overall easier to manage. Use it at least once a week as a 5-10 minute mask; or, you can even wear it overnight under a shower cap.
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