26 Handy Makeup Essentials for Those Struggling with Their Skincare Routine
Hey there, beauty aficionados! Pumped about our makeup recommendations? Buckle up, because we've got some killer finds that'll take your makeup game to the next level—even if you're a complete beginner or just having a rush-rush morning. Good vibes only!
First up, a magic eraser stick that makes short work of makeup mistakes. No more smudgy raccoon eyes—save your bestie from witnessing those hot messes! Jenny L swears by it: "I may be a little clumsy at times, but this pen is so handy to clean up any mistakes." Toss this mischievous assistant into your purse for emergencies. Get it at Amazon for $7.97.
Next, meet Glossier's Boy Brow. It's like a fluffy, feathery broom for your brows, stepping up your natural shape effortlessly with just a couple of swipes. May-Rose R attests to its versatility: "Great, easy-to-use product. Goes on quickly, looks natural but fills everything out. Good for a natural makeup day or something more dramatic depending on how much you layer." Snag it from Glossier or Sephora for $17 (available in five shades).
Is winged liner giving you anxiety-induced night sweats? Fear not, we've got you covered with the black eyeliner stamp! Not only will it take away the guesswork, but you'll be rocking that perfect cat-eye look every time (no kidding!). MarcusGolf is a believer: "I suck at doing a winged eye. I love makeup and I have tried over and over again and I just can't do it. I was skeptical, but I wanted to try something. It worked perfectly." Pop this lifesaver into your Amazon basket for $11.98 (available in three sizes and a combo pack).
Think your flaky foundation has nothing to do with your technique and everything to do with peach fuzz on your cheeks? You're spot on, sassy! Dermaplaning razors to the rescue! They'll remove that pesky hair and exfoliate your skin, giving you a smooth canvas for perfect makeup. Ashley H can't get enough: "My makeup has never sat flat for long because I've always had that little bit of peach fuzz on my face. My husband lovingly compared it to a bumble bee covered in pollen. My makeup would sit on the tips of the hairs and seem to break apart pretty quickly. I had heard about dermaplaning salons, but wasn't going to dish out the $75 every few weeks. Then I stumbled upon these! I probably use mine about once a week. My makeup now sits nice and flat, and I am able to get that flawless matte look." Grab a three-pack on Amazon for $5.94.
Bid adieu to foundation struggles with a flat-top foundation brush that'll help you apply it smoothly and evenly, reducing texture and ensuring a flawless finish. See it in action on TikTok! Thayel M. Caison raves: "I saw this on TikTok. I LOVE IT! It gives a flawless finish with little product. I have a compact foundation that comes with its own applicator sponge. I almost threw it out because I didn't like the coverage. I tried this brush with it, and it's perfect! It also comes in a plastic case, which is great because I travel a lot with my work and my other brushes get damaged sometimes." Get it at Amazon for $9.99 (available in nine colors).
Feeling lazy? A sheer tint BB cream is just what the doctor ordered—lightweight coverage with a dash of salicylic acid to help clear acne while mattifying and reducing redness. Yes, please! Rene proclaims: "I never liked a liquid form of makeup; it was hard to use in my opinion. But this completely changed my mind! It gives a flawless finish with little product. I have a compact foundation that comes with its own applicator sponge. I almost threw it out because I didn't like the coverage. I tried this brush with it, and it's perfect!" Get it at Amazon for $4.99 (available in five shades).
Gone are the days of wrestling with a patchy concealer. Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Concealer features an intuitive, built-in sponge applicator that'll brighten up dark circles with crease-resistant coverage. Plus, it looks great with or without foundation—a versatile superstar! Pat Bradley gives it a five-star rating without hesitation: "I don't wear a lot of makeup, but concealer sure comes in handy for a quick fresher look—especially after Covid. The choice of color shades made it easy to match my fair skintone, and the formula glides on seamlessly with the applicator. It stays moist and doesn't crease and is completely blendable." Check out our full Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer review for more deets. Get it at Amazon for $6.43 (available in 18 shades).
Craving lashes so luscious you could sleep on them? Lash serum to the rescue! Not only will it strengthen your natural lashes, but you can skip that messy mascara if you're feeling fancy. Jenny Schillinger swears: "I was amazed when my daughter got this product and her eyelashes looked so long without makeup. I had to try it for myself and sure enough, it worked for me as well! Now we both have long full eyelashes without any mascara. This product is truly amazing!" Grab a pack on Amazon for $24.63 (available in two colors).
If magnetic lashes sound like the way to your heart, then feast your eyes on this magical set. Each set includes reusable lashes that stick right to the included eyeliner, cutting goopy glue out of the equation entirely. Mona shares her experience: "I don't have very long or thick lashes and I suck with makeup. I was never able to wear false lashes outside the house. Ever. And this was not my first time trying magnetic lashes. But these ones were so, SO easy to put on. The liner is very liquid, so it was easy for me to apply and fill in. I used the last set from the natural lashes side for the look in the pics." Get a 23-piece set on Amazon for $21.97.
Dial up that brow power with this precision brow brush. Its flat-top design helps you lay down product smoothly and evenly, reducing texture and achieving the flawless finish you've been aiming for. Life Hack: A dry spoolie is also great for removing mascara that's transferred to your lid during application. I do this all the time! YoyoZ sings its praises: "I don't really know how to shape and draw my eyebrows until I use this brow brush! The width of the bristle just fits my eye brow's original shape. It's also easy to apply with brow powder for a natural effect. Love it!" Snag it at Amazon or Sephora for $18.
Eyebrow stencils, baby! Thirty wearable stencils come in the kit, along with a shaping razor, and a double-sided waterproof eyebrow pencil. Shaping your brows has never been easier, even for those with a tendency to over-pluck! Chls is a happy customer: "Really great! Surprisingly! I bought these expecting the worst and they were awesome! There are tons of different eyebrow stencil options. I found one closest to my eyebrow shape. I struggled with drawing my eyebrows to match. Their shapes are naturally quite different. This set did a great job. I used my own brow pencil, however, because the light brown color is very crayon brown. I like a more taupe color for my brows." Add it to your Amazon cart for $14.99 (available in three colors).
Wanna reduce lipstick feathering? Look no further than this self-sharpening clear lip liner. Its forgiving formula reduces mistakes—a Godsend for us not-so-skilled makeup artists. SoonerGal swears, "I like that you don't have to sharpen this liner! It stays on good and helps my lipstick last longer." Pick it up at Ulta Beauty for $7.99 (available in 17 other colors).
Feeling vampy? Go for Maybelline's SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick! Its precision applicator is a dream to use, offering a foolproof way to achieve a perfect matte finish. Emma Lord, BuzzFeed writer, can't get enough: "Personally, I absolutely swear by this lipstick to the point that I haven't used anything else in years (my favorite is the muted pink 'Seductress'). I'm pretty bad at applying anything matte, but this formula and the applicator make it close to foolproof. It lasts a long time and my lips never feel chapped or dry. I also like that when it does fade, it does it in a gradual way that doesn't look obvious or patchy and require an immediate touch-up." Check out our Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick review for more info. Grab it on Amazon for $8.98 (available in 39 colors).
Craving a softer, more subtle tint for your pout? Look no further than the nongreasy tinted lip butter! Its vegan formula hydrates lips, offering a semisheer pigment that's easy to layer for a brighter pop of color. Alyssa V can't get enough: "I love these sticks. The colors are really nice and can be put on lighter or heavier for desired coloring. They aren't too dark, which I really appreciate, and they aren't too sticky or greasy." Get it on Amazon for $15 (available in 13 colors and three-packs).
Struggling with contouring? Fret not, gorgeous! The cream bronzer and contour stick makes it easy. The unique triangle tip makes clean lines a breeze, while its creamy formula ensures it won't streak or crease. Courage swoons: "This is the ONLY bronzer I use and will continue to repurchase, not messing up a good thing. It's so creamy and blends SO FREAKING EASILY! I'm impressed every time I use it lol. Just get it!" Score the Sephora-exclusive $20 find (available in four shades).
Got clumpy lashes? No need to cry your eyes out! A fine-toothed eyelash comb de-tangles them with ease, leaving you with fluffy, fanned-out lashes. Sierra Jill can't get enough: "Love brushing out my lashes with this after applying mascara. Gets rid of lumpy clumpy lashes and fluffs them to a natural voluminous finish. If you use drugstore mascara that is giving mediocre results, try out this lil device. A huge difference for a small price." Pick it up on Amazon for $4.99 (available in five colors).
Worried about eyeshadow creasing? This cruelty-free eyeshadow primer is your answer, baby! It smooths lids, allowing your eyeshadow to stay crease-free all day. Too good to be true? Deb Rubin begs to differ: "My skin is oily and at the end of the day, my eye makeup looks bad. I started using your primer and what a difference! Now my eye makeup still looks good when I get home from work. Can't believe the difference. I love it!" Get it on Amazon for $13.99.
Touched by the magic of a water-resistant strobing blush? Then dip your toes into the craze with Youthforia's BYO Blush Oil! It'll give you that perfect blend of blush and highlighter, reacting to the pH of your skin to give you a personalized, radiant glow without any extra work. Elise F, an admirer, can't stop raving: "This blush product is awesome. For me it only takes two very small dabs on both cheeks for desired result. I also dab on my lips for a great under-color base! I hope they never stop making this product!" Set yourself up with one from Amazon for $36.
Struggling to master the art of winged eyeliner? Fret not—it's all fun and games with the Guide Beauty Guide + Line Duo! Not only will it help steady shaky hands, but it features a flexible, replaceable silicone tip that's gentle on the eyes. Hailey is in love: "I have extremely hooded Asian eyelids and shaky hands, so eyeliner has always been insurmountable to me and I had pretty much given up on it before trying this. Upon first attempt, I was able to do winged eyeliner for each eye in under five minutes and the eyeliner has not budged since application. Can't believe the difference. I haven't worn it out yet, but it feels like a pretty strong hold." Primp it up for $50 (available in black and brown).
Not thrilled about leaning over your bathroom counter to apply makeup? Get the Boomerang DreamLife Light-Up Makeup Mirror, which brings the mirror to you, complete with a bright LED light and 7x magnification. Can't beat that! Jade N sings its praises: "The suction is awesome; I have moved this mirror every which way, and it hasn't come off once. I'm really pleased with how well it has held up on my vanity mirror. Bending over the counter top to apply my makeup in the morning was driving me wild. It took me a day or two to get used to the magnification, but that has actually be super helpful with applying mascara. I'm very pleased." Say "goodnight" to blurred eyeliner and "hello" to this $24.99 marvel!
Ready for beauty secrets like a pro? Load up on digital makeup knowledge with the Makeup Techniques Made Easy e-book! Featuring a free tip guide and 31-page e-book, you'll learn everything from contouring to color correction. Tara McMahon can't get enough: "I got this for my mom to provide an easy-to-understand foundation to makeup—she loved it! I love the design and graphics too, very elegant and streamlined." Pick it up from Olive and Lace Studio on Etsy for $22.20.
In the realm of beauty and makeup, precision is key. A precision brow brush (available at Amazon or Sephora for $18) can help achieve the flawless finish you've been striving for, with its flat-top design that smooths product application, reducing texture. For those struggling with clumpy lashes, a fine-toothed eyelash comb (available on Amazon for $4.99) can be a lifesaver, de-tangling lashes effortlessly. Lastly, if you're aiming for a softer, more subtle tint for your pout, a nongreasy tinted lip butter (available on Amazon for $15) could be just what you need, offering a semisheer pigment that's easy to layer for a brighter pop of color.
