Cheap Thrills

Makeup

NYC New York Color City Duet Blendable Brights Eyeshadow in Island Sunset. This is a brilliant purple and a hot pink—and together they prove that high-pigment shadows don't have to be high-priced.

WHAT IT IS:
A pink and purple eye-shadow duo

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
The shadows are matte and highly pigmented. 

WHY WE LIKE IT:
For a fun, bright effect, this duo is tops: The color is rich and saturated, and it has great staying power. Just wear one color at a time (or keep the application sheer) to avoid looking clownish. 

Wet n Wild Idol Eyes Crème Shadow Pencil in Pixie and Graphite. These chubby sticks work as eyeliner and shimmering shadow; they're exceptionally smudgeable.

 

 

WHAT IT IS:
A champagne-colored cream eye shadow in pencil form

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
The creamy pencil is a little bigger than a crayon and glides over skin without dragging; the shade is a sheer, shimmering gold.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
The Best of Beauty–winning formula is silky and easy to blend; conveniently, it's also firm enough to work as eyeliner, and it's nice as a highlighter on cheekbones, brow bones, or the center of the lips. Plus, the price is right.

Maybelline New York EyeStudio Color Pearls Marbleized Eye Shadow in Carbon Frost.Blend the sooty charcoal with the pearlized pink for delicate smoky eyes—or wear one shade alone when you want either dark or light.

WHAT IT IS:
A powder eye-shadow duo

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
One side is a shimmery charcoal; the other is a mix of four shades that blend together to create an iridescent silver.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner's marbled side yields a gorgeous shimmery silver that, when paired with the charcoal, makes for killer smoky eyes. 

Mark Save the Day Anti-Acne Concealer Stick. This truly opaque cover-up contains 2 percent salicylic acid to help clear blemishes as it camouflages.

WHAT IT IS:
A concealer that hides blemishes while it treats them

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
It's oil-free and nongreasy; the concealer provides full coverage.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This rich concealer disguises zits while also helping to get rid of them with a serious dose of pore-clearing salicylic acid (2 percent—the maximum amount allowed in an over-the-counter product) and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Almay One Coat Dial Up Mascara. An adjustable tube means you get three mascaras in one: One click defines lashes, two add volume, and three—well, let's just say you won't have to buy your own drinks.

WHAT IT IS:
A volumizing mascara

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
An adjustable dial either loosens or tightens the neck of the tube, allowing you to control the amount of product that goes on the wand; the plastic brush has short, stiff, comblike bristles. The formula is hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist-tested.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
It's almost like having multiple mascaras in one tube. Turning the dial to 1 gives you lightly coated, slightly thickened lashes that are good for day; level 3 gives fat, long, dramatic lashes perfect for a night out. Plus, the molded brush really helps to eliminate clumps and is great for reaching the tiny corner lashes.

Rimmel London Sexy Curves Mascara. Place the uniquely curvy wand at the base of your lashes and pull skyward for full, upturned fringe (minus the lash curler).

WHAT IT IS:
A curling and volumizing mascara available in two shades (Extreme Black and Black)

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
The metallic purple tube holds a spiky silicone brush that has three rounded curves in it; the lightweight formula doesn't clump.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
In addition to adding lots of volume and a slight curl, this Best of Beauty winner also creates amazing definition and length.


Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Raisin. All-natural ingredients and lip-quenching emollients in a sheer berry shade that looks gorgeous on everyone. (One top makeup artist who officially works for a different brand has been caught using this.)

WHAT IT IS:
A tinted lip balm

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
The formula is moisturizing; the color is a sheer, shimmery berry.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Makeup artists have used this rich berry lip tint on some of the world's biggest fashion runways because it truly looks good on everyone. It's also 100 percent natural and adds a ton of moisture.

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Concealer. Small package, big results: These three tiny vials hold separate colors to neutralize and then cover dark circles and highlight the inner corners of the eyes.

WHAT IT IS:
A three-in-one product with a correcting fluid (available in yellow, shown here, to cover dark circles, or green to reduce redness), a concealer, and a highlighter

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
They look like Easter-egg colors in their containers, but each shade blends well into the skin.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Layering the yellow and beige colors covers even deep, dark undereye circles; the pink highlighter lends a brightening effect. The three vials conveniently snap together.

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm. This stick has a precise marker tip on one end and a moisturizing balm on the other. Why didn't anybody think of this before?

WHAT IT IS:
A lip stain and balm in a dual-ended pen

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
The stain is light and matte; the balm is velvety and sheer.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
The stain offers a long-lasting pop of color in ten shades, including pretty pinks and mauves. Just be gentle with the balm: It's so buttery that if you press too hard, it may break off.


E.L.F. Hypershine Gloss in Fairy and Joy. These click pens deposit iridescent baby pink and lilac glosses for about a penny per application.

 

WHAT IT IS:
A pale pink lip gloss

HOW IT LOOKS/FEELS:
The twist-up pen has a brush applicator; the color is a sheer pink with slight iridescence.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This gloss adds just a slight hint of color and shine to the lips. Plus, the price is amazing.

Body

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Fast Absorbing Hand Cream. With the same beloved hydrating benefits as the original—minus the stickiness—this cream makes parched hands look ten years younger in about ten seconds.

WHAT IT IS:
A hand cream

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Glycerin and panthenol (moisturizers)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
Unlike the classic original formula, this one is a lightweight white cream instead of a viscous translucent gel.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This two-time Best of Beauty winner provides serious moisture in a flash and leaves hands soft and supple, not greasy.

 

Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer. The perfect self-tanner for Snooki-phobes: Use the fast-drying formula for a few days, and watch as it gradually creates a streakfree, gentle bronze. (Really, you can't go wrong.)

WHAT IT IS:
A gradual self-tanning foam

WHAT IT DOES:
Builds a subtle, natural-looking bronze over several days while lightly moisturizing skin

KEY INGREDIENTS:
DHA and erythrulose (self-tanning agents); glycerin and butylene glycol (moisturizers)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The airy foam dries faster than lotions, has no detectable smell, and comes in two tones (fair to medium and medium to tan).

WHY WE LIKE IT:
It gives a warm, streak-free bronze after about two applications and doesn't leave skin sticky or stinky—why it's a Best of Beauty winner. A little goes a long way—start with a single pump so you're not left with excess.

Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Ooh La La. A tasteful shade of fuchsia? It exists.

WHAT IT IS:
A fuchsia nail polish

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Not too bright or too purple, this is the perfect fuchsia. It's sophisticated, flatters most skin tones, and stays shiny for days. Plus, the formula is toluene-, formaldehyde-, and DBP-free.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in Mochachino. The color looks crazy shimmery in the bottle but comes out a rich, tasteful chocolate-burgundy; plus, it dries in under a minute (we swear).

 

 

Dial NutriSkin with Fruit Oil Grape Seed Oil & Lemongrass Ultra Hydrating Body Wash. The citrusy fragrance is sophisticated; fruit-oil-filled microbeads burst upon lathering, making showers more fun (and more moisturizing).

 

WHAT IT IS:
A shower gel

WHAT IT DOES:
Cleanses without stripping skin of moisture

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Grape-seed oil (antioxidant and moisturizer)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The green gel has tiny gold spheres of serum running throughout and a fruity fragrance.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner produces major lather and leaves skin feeling supermoisturized—like you just slathered on a body lotion. The crisp fragrance is refreshing first thing in the morning.

Hair

Neutrogena Shampoo Anti-Residue Formula. This rinse leaves hair clean of product buildup and (unlike other clarifying shampoos) soft, not starchy.

WHAT IT IS:
A weekly clarifying shampoo

WHAT IT DOES:
Removes dulling residue without stripping hair or scalp

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Ammonium lauryl sulfate (cleanser); glycerin (conditioner)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
Clear formula; fresh, green smell; rich lather

WHY WE LIKE IT:
After one wash, hair feels ultraclean and full of bounce, not buildup. The shampoo can be a little drying—especially for chemically treated hair—so always follow it up with conditioner.

Suave Professionals Weather Protection 365 Anti-Frizz & Flyaway Cream Gel. This combines the moisturization of a cream with the hold of a gel for fuzz-free (and crunch-free) hair, no matter the temperature.

 

 

Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion. This foam sets and smooths African-American hair; when scrunched into damp roots, it boosts body in even the finest Caucasian hair.

WHAT IT IS:
A styling lotion for African-American hair

WHAT IT DOES:
Adds shine and hold to wraps, wet sets, and thermal styles

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Polyquaternium-11 (provides flexible hold); PEG-12 dimethicone (adds shine and prevents flaking); tea lauroyl collagen amino acids (condition)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The clear liquid dispenses as a foam and has a honey-like scent.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner sets and smooths African-American hair without drying it out; it also works well on anyone with fine hair as a volumizing mousse

 

Suave Professionals Rosemary Mint Invigorating Clean Shampoo and Conditioner. Start the day with this duo to get high-shine hair and— thank the perky scent for this—a boost of energy.

WHAT IT IS:
A scented shampoo

WHAT IT DOES:
Cleans hair and scalp

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Rosemary and spearmint-leaf oil (invigorate); sodium laureth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine (cleanse)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
Minimal lather; has a fresh, minty scent

WHY WE LIKE IT:
It doesn't tingle like other herbal shampoos, and the smell of the rosemary and mint oils is truly energizing. It's especially good for those with an oily scalp (though it's safe for all hair types, including chemically treated).

Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Glossing Spray. A few spritzes of this light mist are the perfect finishing touch to a sleek blowout.

WHAT IT IS:
A shine-boosting spray

WHAT IT DOES:
Gives a glossy finish when sprayed on wet or dry hair

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Mango and apricot kernel glycerides (condition and add shine)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The lightweight spray smells fresh and fruity

WHY WE LIKE IT:
It adds a beautiful sheen—and no greasy residue—to freshly blown-out hair, sleek ponytails, and ballerina buns.

Tresemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray. An essential for heat-tool junkies, this spray gun releases silicones that protect hair from blow-dryer and flatiron damage.

WHAT IT IS:
A heat-protective styling spray

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Glycerin and panthenol (condition); biotin (strengthens); cetylpyridinium chloride (provides heat protection)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The mist feels clean and light; the scent is fresh—a soapy-fruity mix.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
The spray bottle works impeccably well, covering a lot of hair quickly and evenly, and the mist leaves hair supersoft after styling—not gunky or stiff.


WHAT IT IS:
A heat-protective styling spray

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Glycerin and panthenol (condition); biotin (strengthens); cetylpyridinium chloride (provides heat protection)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The mist feels clean and light; the scent is fresh—a soapy-fruity mix.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
The spray bottle works impeccably well, covering a lot of hair quickly and evenly, and the mist leaves hair supersoft after styling—not gunky or stiff.

Skin

St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub. Silica grains gently exfoliate the skin, while green-tea extracts soothe it.

WHAT IT IS:

A redness-reducing facial scrub for acne-prone skin

WHAT IT DOES:
Dissolves dirt and oil, prevents and treats blemishes, and quells redness

KEY INGREDIENTS:
1 percent salicylic acid (fights acne); green tea (soothes); silica (buffs)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The pale-green paste contains fine silica sand grains that glide over skin without irritating; the smell is somewhat reminiscent of SweeTarts candy.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner is gritty enough to feel like it's working, but it doesn't leave skin red or raw. After rinsing, skin is noticeably brighter and smoother.

 Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-in-1 Fight & Fade Gel. This potent blemish treatment also dabbles in post-pimple care, shrinking leftover marks and counteracting redness.

WHAT IT IS:
An acne spot treatment

WHAT IT DOES:
Reduces blemishes and the marks they leave behind

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Two percent salicylic acid (unclogs pores); glycolic acid (speeds up exfoliation) 

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The gel is slightly tacky and has a mild medicinal scent.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty–winning treatment gets rid of zits in a few days, then helps noticeably fade the marks left on the skin. It doesn't work as well with makeup, so nighttime use is best. 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Power-Cream Wash. This abolished our zits in just two days without causing dry patches

WHAT IT IS:
A facial cleanser for oily, acne-prone skin

WHAT IT DOES:
Blasts oil, zits, inflammation, and redness

KEY INGREDIENTS:
2 percent salicylic acid (anti-acne treatment); green tea and cucumber extracts (soothe)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The green cream has a botanical smell and feels cool on the skin.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
Cream cleansers are usually off-limits for problem skin. But this Best of Beauty winner clears zits (within days) and tackles redness (within minutes) without drying. It doesn't dissolve makeup, though, so use a separate remover before washing.

Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer SPF 15. This is the Levi's 501 jeans of moisturizers—an everyday basic with a fantastic fit (there's a formula for every skin type).

 

 

Ambi Skincare Fade Cream. The skin-lightening hydroquinone in this cream diminishes dark spots on the cheap— one reason dermatologists can't stop talking about it.

WHAT IT IS:
A treatment cream for dark spots

WHAT IT DOES:
Gradually lightens hyperpigmentation

KEY INGREDIENTS:
2 percent hydroquinone (bleaches skin); alpha hydroxy acid (exfoliates and moisturizes); vitamin E (hydrates and soothes)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The white cream has a slight chemical scent; it comes in two formulas: normal skin and oily skin.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner fades dark spots anywhere on your body with an effective level of hydroquinone (2 percent)—one of the top ingredients recommended by dermatologists to lighten spots. It also moisturizes and exfoliates skin because of the alpha hydroxy acids.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment. There's a tube of this in every makeup artist's kit. Use it to moisturize lips, elbows, or cuticles, seal split ends, or even add sheen to eyelids.

WHAT IT IS:
A moisturizing treatment gel

WHAT IT DOES:
Hydrates and heals dry, cracked skin

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Petrolatum and glycerin (moisturizers)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The clear ointment doesn't have a scent; it feels thick and heavy.

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner is a dermatologist favorite, and for good reason: It can eliminate virtually any type of dry skin, whether it's on your lips, your elbows, your cuticles, your feet—or even your baby's bottom. Doctors recommend it to keep skin moist after injuries or surgery.

L'Oréal Paris Go 360° Clean Deep Cream Cleanser. A dirt-obliterating, pore-refining powerhouse, thanks to the "Scrublet"—a nubby disc that makes face-washing feel like a mini massage.

 

 

WHAT IT IS:
A cream cleanser with attached brush for all skin types

WHAT IT DOES:
Built into the bottle is a pop-out buffing brush with soft plastic bristles that scrubs skin while the creamy formula removes dirt, oil, and makeup.

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The oil-free cream produces a rich lather and has an invigorating minty-orange scent; the scrubber doesn't scratch or irritate.

KEY INGREDIENTS:
Salicylic acid (fights acne); naranji, orange flower, and mint extracts (cleansers)

WHY WE LIKE IT:
This Best of Beauty winner prevents blackheads and makes pores look smaller; the nubby scrubbing disc a) is cool and b) gives skin a gentle massage. Even though its base is a cream, the salicylic acid works for anyone with a tendency to break out.