We Use Every Single One Of These Under-$25 Beauty Products — And We Can't Believe How Effective They Are
My colleagues and I understand that good beauty journalism goes beyond just superficial research and trending internet hype. It often involves trying products out for ourselves, many of which make the cut into our personal rotation of skin care and beauty goods, to be purchased again and again, because they are just that good.
Although we report on and sample products from every price point, we're consistently impressed with the formulas and performances of items in the more moderately priced category. Below, you can find the beauty standouts that we swear by and use nearly every day — and none of them are over $25.
Kristen Aiken
A high-strength retinal serum with plumping peptides
Editorial director Kristen Aiken said she started using the Celimax Retinal Shot after her prescription tretinoin (a powerful retinol) caused skin peeling, no matter what she tried, and instead opted for this Korean serum boasting a high dose of anti-aging ingredients, including retinal, which increases cell turnover and stimulates collagen production.
"I've found that the concentration of retinal in this Celimax formula is just enough to smooth out the texture of my skin, but NOT enough to make my skin peel, which gives a huge boost in self-confidence," Aiken said.
Experts previously told us that the Celimax Booster contains a peptide combination designed to produce more collagen, and studies show that these peptides can modestly improve skin texture and wrinkles. Another key element of this lightwieght serum has to do with the way the product is delivered and absorbed into the skin, otherwise referred to as the "Shot" component of its title. The brand claims to use nano-particles that are 16 times thinner than pores and are uniformly sized.
Kristen Aiken
Merit's Signature creamy lip pencil
Aiken uses Merit's Signature creamy lip pencil , a hydrating and buildable liner that gives lips soft definition without any harsh lines. In fact, the brand claims "it's impossible to mess up." Available in 14 ultra-wearable shades (Aiken uses the shade Cassis), the formula contains a jojoba complex, which softens lips and helps support skin barrier function.
"I like that it's so creamy that I don't need to put anything on top of it. It's basically a skinny lipstick," Aiken said.
Lourdes Avila Uribe
A magical under-eye brightener at an amazing price
Senior shopping writer Lourdes Avila Uribe has been locked in a lifelong battle with dark undereye circles since childhood, and she recently wrote about her promising experience with this $6 "Instant Awake" eye brightener by Catrice .
"I don't know what sorcery is contained within this product, but it somehow has the ability to make me look like I am wearing a full face of makeup," Uribe said. "I apply it in the morning after my skin care routine on my entire eye area, including my lids, which tend to be a bit dark as well. The brightening effect is swiftly apparent. I keep it with my skin care products instead of my makeup so that I can swipe it on and not worry about having to do a whole makeup routine."
Available in four flexible shades designed to adapt to your skin tone and leave your skin looking fresh, the Instant Awake is formulated with hyaluronic acid and shea butter and has a creamy, nourishing texture that melts into the skin, leaving behind a hydrated, radiant glow.
Merit
Merit's 1980 volumizing pomade for brows
"After years of using Glossier's brow pomade, I've switched allegiances for good," Uribe previously said of Merit's volumizing gel for brows . Available in three shades, Uribe assures us that the formula adds color and structure to even the wimpiest of brows, making them look fluffy and full, but never stiff or dry.
"The tube lasts longer than most other brow pomades I've tried and gives brows a very natural, yet robust, appearance. I never walk out the door without swiping it on first," she said.
Tessa Flores
A faux brow pen that mimics hair strokes
The L'Oréal Faux Brow pen , which I've been using for about a year now, is unlike pencils, gels or brow powders that create just a generically filled-in look on brows, which works fine if you don't have sparse brows or bald patches, as I do. Instead, the brow pen accurately mimics hair strokes, creating a very convincing effect that blends imperceptibly with your existing brow hairs — or creates a new brow altogether. Part of what makes this product so effective at creating those hair-like strokes is the ultra-fine felt tip, which is two-pronged with slightly different widths on each tip. The reason for this is that, when you look at natural eyebrows, not all hairs are the same thickness, so it really adds to that organic-looking brow. And trust me, this formula, which feels more like ink than anything else, stays put once it dries down.
Tessa Flores
A beta-glucan Korean sunscreen that makes my skin look incredible
I've truly tried the gamut of Korean sunscreens, and the Iunik Beta-Glucan Barrier sunscreen is my favorite formula to date . Part of the brand's Beta-Glucan skin care line — a multi-beneficial ingredient that can help improve skin barrier function, increase hydration, and soothe redness — the water barrier sunscreen is closer to a daily lotion than anything else. It really is that Goldilocks in-between that you want most from your daytime moisturizer: hydrating without any heaviness, lightweight without being watery or thin, and a texture that quickly soaks into the skin for an instantly quenched, bouncy, and plump feeling— all while offering an impressive SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection from the sun, a whitecast-free finish, and no pilling to speak of.
Tessa Flores
A Volufiline multi-balm stick for an instant "filler-like" effect
I was most eager to try this versatile multi-balm by Medicube because of all the wonderful things I've been hearing about Volufiline, a trademarked ingredient that creates a subtle, instant plumping effect by supporting lipid content in the skin, producing what dermatologists have previously explained is a natural and temporary "filler-like" appearance.
For the past couple of months or so, I've been targeting the application under my eyes up to my upper cheeks and along my nasolabial folds as well as my lips, and I can certainly attest to the instant surface plumping effect and instant hydration. In addition to 5% Volufiline, this multi-stick contains PDRN, retinol, and peptides, which are the holy trinity for promoting collagen production and improving skin elasticity, while the inclusion of caffeine brightens dark circles. I really like that this isn't a heavy balm, but instead feels really silky, lightweight, and melts into the skin.
Tessa Flores
A unique jelly lip mask packed with plumping PDRN
I swear by this Korean lip mask with a distinctive jelly texture and a heavy dose of PDRN to minimize the appearance of my lip lines, make my pout look more plump and, above all, stave off my chronic dryness — especially around the corners of my mouth where regular retinol use can make it go flaky. Not quite a balm and not quite a gloss, but somewhere in a delightful jammy middle, the Abib treatment feels cushiony and velvet-like on the lips and not at all sticky. Because of this, it's much more comfortable to wear as an overnight lip mask, and I love waking up with noticeably softer lips.
Many users also said that this thick and nourishing lip gel "was the best product" they had ever used and worked miracles on wrinkled, aging lips .
Amazon
A satin-y collagen cream that gave me aesthetician-approved results
Uribe previously wrote about her love-love relationship with Medicube's PDRN collagen capsule cream , a unique moisturizer featuring suspended spheres in a jelly-like cream — an encapsulation formula the brand claims is the most effective delivery method of its main plumping ingredient, PDRN.
According to Uribe, the result is a highly customizable and effective cream that is light as a feather yet somehow also incredibly hydrating, and the satiny, dewy finish makes it feel like it's much more expensive than it actually is.
"I recently got a facial, and my aesthetician confirmed that the state of my skin was much improved. It's a must for dry or finicky middle-aged skin like mine," she said.
Marquaysa Battle
A brightening vitamin C eye cream by one of HuffPost's favorite skin care brands
" My CeraVe vitamin C eye serum became a staple around the time I turned 35, when burnout made an appearance via the dark circles around my eyes," said managing editor Marquaysa Battle. Miraculously, Battle said that this gentle, previously reported-on cream reversed all her undereye woes in about two months of use.
"I also love how it reduces puffiness and doesn't burn like other eye creams have," she said. "Like all skin care, it's most effective with consistent use. Please don't think this is going to be an instant fix. I have used eye cream religiously since my 20s. It's only the past year that I switched to this vitamin C version. So far, so GREAT."
Lourdes Avila Uribe/HuffPost
A Korean skin-firming serum with growth factors
Uribe previously said she was "pleasantly surprised" by this firming serum , which is one of Medicube's newest releases. She explained that tt uses innovative ingredients like NAD+ and EGF ( growth factor ) peptides, along with a collagen firming complex, to target common signs of aging like smile lines, wrinkles, and overall firmness.
"I've been using it religiously on my neck wrinkles and have found that they're softening with time, becoming less pronounced and deep," Uribe said. According to her, the serum itself is incredibly lightweight and smooth, giving skin a nice glow without feeling greasy or heavy.
"My neck is very sensitive to powerful active ingredients, and so far I've had zero negative reactions. I'm excited to see how results shake out long-term, and am again delighted by the cost. Any other luxury brand would have charged over $100 for these exact same ingredients," she added.
Lourdes Avila Uribe/HuffPost
The brightening "Zero Pore" pads that are so much more effective than expensive versions
"Few items have impressed me as much as these cult-favorite toning facial pads ," Uribe previously said about these budget-friendly exfoliators by universally adored K-beauty brand Medicube. "Since using them, I've ditched my traditional AHA serums for these bad boys, and my skin has never looked better."
The incredibly potent Medicube pads are designed to help exfoliate, balance, and brighten skin while reducing oil production, minimizing breakouts, and refining the look of pores. They are formulated with powerful alpha and beta hydroxy acids like white willow bark, vitamin C, and calming botanical extracts like lavender to soothe skin.
The result, Uribe said, is skin that's softer and smoother with a noticeable glow. Most importantly, she detects a decrease in her melasma, which has plagued her since her pregnancy.
"I've tried out other exfoliating pads and can confidently say that these are just as, if not more, effective at a fraction of the price. They've been a game-changer for my skin in the last couple of months," she said.
Amazon
A tried-and-true hydrating cleanser that dermatologists love
The CeraVe hydrating facial cleanser has been my face wash of choice for several years, and no matter how far I stray, I always come back to this perfect formula as someone with extremely dry skin who can't handle the oil-stripping effects of most foaming washes. It also may be one of the most recommended cleansers at HuffPost. The lotion-like consistency and non-foaming formula contain hyaluronic acid and essential ceramides necessary for ensuring a healthy barrier function. It's also fragrance-free, making it a great option for all skin types.
Amazon/Tessa Flores
Pre-loaded teeth whitening pens that don't cause tooth sensitivity
As a daily coffee and tea drinker, my teeth are far from pearly white. After trying conventional whitening strips, I was underwhelmed with the results, but more disappointed by how unbelievably sensitive they made my teeth, so I tried these unassuming enamel-safe whitening pens that actually brighten your smile without pain or burning. This is because these pre-filled pens use carbamide peroxide rather than hydrogen peroxide, which breaks down more slowly over time , releasing the whitening agent gradually, thus causing less sensitivity. And according to some studies , carbamide peroxide may be just as effective as hydrogen peroxide when more applications are performed.
After sporadic use over the next month or so, I noticed surface stains continued to lighten, even in areas like around my gumline and between my teeth, where my staining is typically the most stubborn and where whitening strips have the hardest time reaching.
Lourdes Avila Uribe
My magic kojic acid bar soap that brightened my underarms (24% off list price)
I have used this kojic acid bar soap as the first in-line product in my shower routine for about two years now, particularly on my arms for my KP and my underarms for any hyperpigmentation — and it really works. These bar soaps harness the power of active ingredients like vitamin C and retinol combined with the nourishing benefits of hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, shea butter, and olive oil to potentially help even out skin tone, lighten dark spots, smooth skin, and reduce blemishes. This two-pack has myriad glowing reviews attesting to its prowess and could be a good tool in your skin-health arsenal.
Tessa Flores
A tinted SPF-30 lip gloss that looks shockingly stunning on the lips
Back in May, I tried these glossy balms by Sun Bum for myself after coming across a TikTok creator who claims to be an esthetician , put them to the UV light test to see how well they protect.
It looks and feels vastly different from any SPF-containing lip formulas I've used in the past. It feels strikingly high-end and looks like a beautiful gloss with a lasting sheen and a cushiony, hydrating texture on the lips. It has the perfect amount of stick, so you know it lasts, and the tints, especially the shade Heat Wave, are shockingly pretty.
Along with SPF 30, these balms contain vitamin E, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals generated by UV exposure, and aloe, which can soothe dry skin.
Tessa Flores
A beyond nourishing cold-pressed rosehip oil with multiple uses
The Ordinary's cheap and effective rosehip oil is my long-time favorite product for adding to my moisturizer each night or creating the much-needed slip and layer of protection on my skin when dermaplaning. Rosehip oil, as dermatologists have previously told us , is a significantly less potent form of retinol and a natural anti-inflammatory that's packed with essential fatty acids.
This formula always has a place in my bathroom cabinet and very simply contains just rosa canina seed oil that's been cold-pressed, an extraction process that yields higher nutrient concentration and retention and offers better absorption into the skin.
Related...
HuffPost and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.
