
60 Clever Things That Make You Look So Much Better & Are Under $15
Budget-friendly ways to boost your appearance.
Believe it or not, you can give your grooming and getting-ready routines a major boost for the price of just a couple of lattes. How so, you might ask? With any of these clever things on Amazon that’ll make you look so much better — all for less than $15 a pop. From cheap but effective skin care heroes to clever little fashion accessories you didn’t know existed, this list offers so many ways to take your look to the next level.
01A Convenient Spray For Hard-To-Reach Body Acne
Breakouts can be a bummer regardless of where they pop up, but there’s something especially frustrating about trying to treat acne on hard-to-reach areas like your back. This spray-on acne treatment lets you target stubborn blemishes with ease, using salicylic acid to deep clean your pores, as well as niacinamide, aloe vera, and cucumber fruit extract to help with regulating oil production and minimizing redness.
02Hair Ties That Double As Jewelry
Make the hair ties on your wrist a part of your outfit with this set of decorative elastics. Designed to look like bracelets, the 10-piece set includes a variety of braided and metal embellished ties that you can mix and match or wear together. Plus, when you wear them to style your hair back, the elastics add a cute touch to your ponytails.
- Available options: 12
03Fleece-Lined Stockings That Look Sheer, But Aren’t
If you refuse to give up your mini skirts and dresses in the winter, your average stockings probably aren’t going to cut it. These genius tights are lined with cozy fleece to give you some extra insulation in cold weather, and have a clever sheer effect even though they actually aren’t sheer at all.
- Available options: 27
- Available sizes: XS – L
04A Lip Liner That Works Like A Long-Lasting Stain
Like a temporary tattoo for your lips, this liner starts off as a dark tint that peels away after about 10 minutes to reveal a long-lasting lip color. When worn on its own or topped with a gloss, the lip liner can be used to create the perfect your-lips-but-better look (in one of the neutral shades), or paired with a lipstick in a similar color.
- Available shades: 10
05An Easy Way To Exfoliate At Home & On The Go
These individually packaged pads come saturated in an exfoliating formula that can be swiped right over your face before moving onto the rest of your skin care routine. A 10% concentration of glycolic acid powers the peel pads, which helps to improve skin texture and tone by sloughing away dead skin cells. Then, to calm skin and restore moisture, the fragrance-free pads contain calendula flower extract, licorice root extract, and vitamin E.
06A Travel-Friendly Duo For Glowing Skin
For a skin care routine that gives you a just-back-from-vacation glow that you can actually take with you on vacation, try this drugstore duo. When you need a nighttime moisturizer or a makeup primer in the morning, there’s the serum, which includes niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and hibiscus extract to nourish skin and brighten with continued use. Then, there are the bronzing drops, which can be used on their own (or mixed in with the serum) to give skin an immediate, sun-kissed glow.
07An Eye Contour Mask Made With Gemstone Powder
This hydrogel eye mask combines skin-healing ingredients with crystal healing for a unique way to perk up tired eyes. The 30-minute mask includes centella asiatica extract, niacinamide, and caffeine to take down puffiness and provide a bit of a glow, as well as hydrolyzed collagen to plump up dry skin. But it’s gemstone powders like amethyst, ruby, and amber that really set the mask apart from the rest.
08A Brow-Defining Kit That Comes With Everything You Need
Finding the right color match is half the battle when it comes to filling in sparse brows while still making them look natural. This $10 brow kit comes in 22 shades to blend in with blonde, brunette, and even gray hair colors. It doesn’t skimp on the product options either, with its brow pencil, pomade, dual-ended blending brush, and bonus liquid eyeliner pen.
- Available shades: 22
09Pimple Patches That Are Anything But Boring
Give your clear hydrocolloid pimple patches an upgrade with this pack of pink hearts, purple flowers, and blue clouds. No matter which shape you choose, each of the patches seals moisture in and locks bacteria out to promote healing. They’re also infused with salicylic acid and tea tree oil to deliver acne-fighting ingredients straight to the source to clear up active breakouts, faster.
10An Ice Roller To Soothe Tired, Puffy Skin
A few minutes of massaging your face with this ice roller can reduce puffiness and inflammation, creating a temporary brightening effect before you even apply your skin care and makeup. Sure, you could use an ice cube, but this roller tool gives you a mess-free way to refresh your skin and take down any puffiness.
- Available colors: 6
11A Faux-Sweater For The Perfect Over-The-Shoulder Look
Tying a sweater over your shoulders has become the most on-trend way to pull together both casual and polished looks. But how do you get that effortless draped effect every time? With this knitted shawl, which is more lightweight than your typical sweater, so you can drape it around your shoulders without adding any bulk.
- Available colors: 12
12A TikTok-Viral Setting Spray From Korea
For a setting solution that locks makeup in place without mattifying skin, skip the powder and spritz this makeup fixer over your face instead. The lightweight mist doesn’t leave skin feeling sticky or oily, according to Amazon reviewers, but it does give your makeup a sweat- and transfer-proof finish. It also adds a radiant glow without the grease, thanks to a combination of light-scattering technology that blurs imperfections and green apple polyphenols that help to control excess oil.
13A Vegan Gloss That Gives Your Lips A Custom Tint Of Pink Color
This lip gloss will become your new go-to when you want a subtle tint of color with a high-shine finish. Once the cruelty-free and vegan formula hits your lips, it reacts with your pH to create a custom pink tint that looks completely natural. The gloss is also packed with nourishing ingredients like mango seed butter, shea butter, and rosehip seed oil to keep your lips moisturized and feeling smooth.
- Available shades: 6
14A Korean Collagen Mask That Transforms Dry Hair In Minutes
Whether your hair is feeling dried out from years of color treatments at the salon or it’s taken a beating from regular use of hot styling tools, this Amazon find can help. The in-shower hair mask can be rinsed out in five minutes (or left on a bit longer for a more intense treatment), leaving straw-like strands silky-smooth with its combination of ceramides, hydrolyzed silk, hydrolyzed collagen, and hydrolyzed keratin.
15Pocket-Sized Towelettes That Tan Your Whole Body
You can reach for one of these tanning towelettes whenever you want to fake a sun-kissed glow, but they’re indispensable when it comes to topping off your tan while traveling. Offering a mess-free way to use self-tanner, each towelette comes saturated with enough product to cover your whole body, gradually developing into a bronze color in four hours. For a truly seamless finish, Amazon reviewers recommend slipping on a pair of disposable gloves to keep your palms clean.
16A Razor-Free Way To Remove Unwanted Body Hair
For an at-home hair removal method that doesn’t involve shaving or waxing, this manual tool uses etched glass to buff away hair and dead skin. While it sounds a little scary, the brand assures it’s entirely painless, something that multiple Amazon reviewers confirm with a few caveats. First, you’ll want to patch test to make sure your skin isn’t too sensitive to use the hair eraser, and you’ll also want to avoid using too much pressure or going over the same spot multiple times to minimize the risk of irritation.
17A Strengthening Nail Treatment That Doubles As A Barely There Polish
You can treat damaged nails without totally giving up on your polish when you opt for this nail concealer formula. Available in three neutral shades, the nourishing treatment uses ingredients like celery extract, cucumber extract, and vitamins A and E to support healthy nail growth as it instantly brightens and camouflages discoloration.
- Available shades: 3
18Versatile Scarves For Your Hair Or Handbag
An easy way to add more personality to your look, printed scarves are a surprisingly versatile accessory. Tie one around your neck or the handle of your purse for a more polished finish, or weave a patterned scarf through a braided hairstyle for more of a free-spirited vibe. For less than $10, the scarf set gives you six different color and pattern combos, so you’re never short on styling options.
- Available options: 21
19A Moisturizing Body Oil With A Shimmery Finish
This drugstore body oil helps to leave you with glowing skin in two ways. First, its nourishing formula works to restore moisture and leave dry skin feeling soft with ingredients like sunflower seed oil, cocoa seed butter, and mineral oil. Then, there’s its golden shimmer, which gives skin a glazed glow that’s further complemented by its sweet vanilla and cocoa butter scent.
20A Clarifying Treatment To Reset Your Scalp
If you load up on the styling products throughout the week, your regular shampoo may not be enough to ensure your scalp is clean. To thoroughly remove product buildup from the likes of dry shampoo and texturizing sprays (as well as the oil and dirt that naturally accumulates), work this scalp detox into your routine. The clarifying treatment works before you wash your hair, decongesting the scalp with a mix of apple cider vinegar, glycolic acid, and rosemary leaf extract.
21A Compact Lint Roller That Can Fit In Your Purse
Keep your clothes free from fuzzies and pet hair no matter where you go with this travel-friendly lint roller. The mini roller is small enough to fit in a purse, but it comes packaged in a cloud-shaped cover that doubles as a lanyard you can turn into a keychain. Each lint roller is fitted with 30 sheets of sticky paper to keep you fully stocked, and it’s easy to pop in a new roll when it’s time to replace.
- Available options: 6
22A Nourishing Lip Oil That Adds A Subtle Tint Of Plum-Like Color
This lip oil does more than moisturize, with its range of sheer tints that include everyday staples like the pale pink Peony to the more unexpected, slightly purple hue of the Black Tea shade shown here. Every color and clear option leaves lips with a smooth, slightly glossy sheen that keeps lips soft with a mix of sweet almond oil, apple seed oil, and black tea ferment.
- Available shades: 13
23A Pack Of No-Slip Headbands In Cute Floral Prints
These headbands are fitted with tiny teeth that prevent hair from slipping out of place, which is especially convenient for anyone with short or fine hair. Not just for practical purposes, the headbands are wrapped in a floral printed fabric for a delicate, detailed touch, but they also come in a variety of color-coordinated sets.
- Available options: 37
24A Single-Ingredient Oil You Can Use Several Ways
Small but mighty, this travel-friendly bottle of 100% organic, cold-pressed castor oil delivers multiple benefits. In addition to moisturizing dry skin and peeling cuticles with just a few drops, the fatty acid-rich oil can also help improve the look of dry hair and protect against further damage. But the oil’s tiny size and complimentary brushes make it ideal for combing through your brows and lashes to support growth by keeping the hairs moisturized.
25Ear Cuffs That Don’t Require A Piercing
There’s an effortlessly cool appeal to stacks of dainty earrings, but if you don’t have pierced ears (or you called it quits after your first piercing), there’s nothing effortless about it. Unless you have these adjustable ear cuffs, that is. The 14-karat gold-plated cuffs are lightweight and easy to bend so you can clip them right in place. This set comes with two cubic zirconia-embellished cuffs, but because they have an ‘X’ shape, each earring almost looks like two for more of a stacked effect.
- Available options: 3
26Lifting Tape For Braless Looks
For strapless dresses or plunging necklines where a bra doesn’t quite work, this boob tape provides some support and lift that’s virtually undetectable. Though Amazon reviewers report that the tape doesn’t cause any irritation once removed, it also stays in place throughout the day with its sweat-proof and water-resistant adhesive. The petal-shaped tape features tapered edges for a secure fit, and even though it comes in a range of sizes, it’s easy to cut if you need to adjust the size or angle for a specific neckline.
- Available sizes: A – H
27An Exfoliating Powder That’s Easy To Travel With
A gentler take on an exfoliating cleanser, this powder formula transforms into a foam once you add water, using papaya enzyme and rice powder to remove dead skin cells and leave you with a brighter complexion. Adding more water will make the exfoliation even gentler, but it’s also formulated with rice extract and allantoin to soothe and hydrate. Plus, because it’s a powder, the cleanser won’t take up any precious space in your TSA-approved liquid carry-on bag.
28Double-Sided Tape To Temporarily Tailor Clothes
When a fashion emergency like a gaping neckline or visible bra straps strikes, this clothing tape is like a personal tailor. Designed to stick to clothing and skin, the double-sided tape uses a hypoallergenic adhesive that doesn’t cause irritation or leave any residue behind. In addition to the strip tape that works to temporarily secure necklines, hem pant legs, and prevent socks from slipping, the clothing tape tin also includes dot-shaped adhesives that are ideal for adjusting jewelry.
29A Creamy Balm That Covers Multiple Makeup Steps
You don’t even need a brush to apply this tinted, shimmer-infused balm that covers multiple makeup steps. The creamy formula uses ingredients like jojoba seed oil and rose flower oil to easily blend into the skin while providing moisture, but it also provides buildable color that can be used as blush, lip balm, eyeshadow, or highlighter.
- Available options: 10
30Easy-To-Style Hair Bows That Make Your Blowout Look More Polished
If you find headbands to be uncomfortable, but you still want to accessorize your hair, try a ribbon. These oversized bows are fitted with metal sliding clips, so you can easily secure one above your ponytail or into a half-up, half-down hairstyle. They come in multiple color combos to match with your outfit, including a few crystal-embellished options for a Barbie-inspired blowout.
- Available options: 26
31A Stencil For A Crisp Cat Eye On The Very First Try
This mini ruler is actually a stencil that makes cat eyeliner completely foolproof. The angled stencil serves as a guide for creating crisp lines on the first try, so you don’t have to mess with makeup remover or play a back-and-forth guessing game to get an even wing. Best of all, because it’s a separate tool, you can use the stencil alongside any pencil, gel, or liquid liner.
32An Oversized Pin For A Chic French Twist
This metal pin is as easy to use as a claw clip, but it leaves you with a more elegant finish, whether you’re styling your hair into a classic French twist or a quick messy bun. Amazon reviewers rave that the oversized pin is surprisingly effective when it comes to securing hair, which is due to its U-like shape. It’s gentler on your hair than a traditional elastic, and the pin comes gold, silver, and hematite (shown here) finishes.
- Available options: 3
33Slouchy Socks That Make Your Outfit Look 10x Cooler
Whether you live in workout wear because you never miss a Pilates classs or it’s your go-to look while running errands, no athleisure look is complete without socks and sneakers. These slightly oversized socks create a slouchy effect that’s totally on-trend and comfortable, too.
- Available options: 6
34Hydrating Eye Patches Inspired By Superfoods
Taking inspiration from the nutrient-packed foods that make up a healthy diet, these under-eye patches use some of those popular foods as ingredients to boost your skin care routine. The hydrogel masks can be stored in the refrigerator for an added cooling effect, and work in just 15 minutes to refresh tired eyes. Each of the six brightly colored masks includes a unique superfood in its formula, like blueberry fruit extract and coconut fruit extract, but they all contain hydrolyzed collagen and hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated and plump.
35Sectioning Clips That Make Styling Your Hair More Efficient
These alligator hair clips are one of those accessories that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without once you add them to your styling routine. The nonslip clips were designed to help section off your hair while you’re using your curling iron or straightener, but they can also be used to keep your hair out of your face while applying makeup. Each set comes with four clips, and they feature double-hinged jaws that extend further to hold long and thick hair types in addition to shorter and finer hair.
36A Brightening Face Mask That Looks Like Plastic Wrap
This two-step face mask features a patented film technology that kind of resembles plastic wrap. But the skin-adhering face film was designed to seal in the first step’s ingredients. Niacinamide and rose flower extract in the film provide some additional brightening ingredients to the ampoule, but both parts of the mask count glutathione as their hero ingredient, which helps promote a brighter, glowier complexion.
37Liquid Contour With A Built-In Sponge Applicator
Even contouring newbies can handle this liquid formula, which comes with a built-in sponge applicator to dot the bronzed color exactly where you want it. The cream-to-gel contour is easy to blend with your fingers or a brush, and dries down to a matte finish for more seamless sculpting, whether you use it on your cheekbones or your nose.
- Available shades: 7
38A Faux Collar For A Layered Look Without The Bulk
A dress shirt worn under a crew-neck sweater is a staple look in any professional wardrobe. But sometimes it can be too bulky, and it certainly isn’t a practical choice on warmer days. To get the polished finish of layering up without the actual layers, there’s this detachable collar, which is more like a half shirt. The button closures create the appearance of a full dress shirt, but it leaves you with a smoother finish because there are no sleeves involved.
- Available options: 7
- Available sizes: M – L
39A Strawberry-Scented Cuticle Oil
This cuticle oil can be swiped right over your nails for a quick (but indulgent-feeling) way to moisturize. A strawberry scent adds to the luxe effect of the cuticle oil, but it’s the dried flowers suspended in the vitamin E-rich formula that make it worthy of displaying on your vanity.
40Half Socks That Treat Dry Heels
If dry heels are a concern, these half socks let you target the area in your sleep while letting the rest of your feet breath (a nonnegotiable for those of us who refuse to sleep in socks). Vented with a breathable fabric for even more comfort, the heel socks feature a gel pad lining that’s infused with aloe vera, jojoba seed oil, and grapeseed oil to smooth rough, cracked heels.
41Realistic-Looking Press-On Nails That Last 2 Weeks
Made of real gel polish and designed with a classic almond shape, these press-on nails will make it look like you just left the salon. Not only do they look amazing, but they’re also incredibly easy to apply, and — best of all — last around two weeks, as plenty of Amazon reviewers can confirm.
- Available colors: 37
42Makeup Remover Pads That Double As A Foamy Cleanser
A double-cleanse has nothing on these makeup remover pads that can cleanse and exfoliate your skin with a single disk. The double-sided pads come saturated in a soap- and oil-free cleansing solution that lathers into a light foam as you massage the pad over wet skin. Use the smooth side for removing makeup, but turn to the textured side when you want a deeper, more exfoliating cleanse.
43A Peptide Serum At An Unbelievable Price
After retinol, peptides are the ingredient you’ll most often hear dermatologists recommend for keeping your skin looking and feeling its best. The only downside? Peptide serums tend to be pricey. This one, however, costs less than $15, and contains a blend of three different peptides, as well as hyaluronic acid, glycern, and aloe, to offer plenty of hydration.
44Disposable Face Razors For At-Home Dermaplaning
There are more than 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon for these face razors, which create a smoother base for your makeup by removing peach fuzz and exfoliating the skin. Known as dermaplaning when performed by a dermatologist or other licensed professional, the technique can offer similar benefits at home with the right tools (and the right routine). These disposable razors use stainless steel and micro-guarded blades to give you a gentle, precise shave, and they come with a protective sleeve to keep the razors clean and make them easier to travel with.
- Available colors: 4
45A Fabric Shaver For Clothes That Always Look Brand New
Ensure your cashmere sweaters and other knits always look their best with this fabric shaver. It can be used on almost any fabric to remove pilling, but it also doubles as a lint remover. It’s lightweight and compact enough to travel with, and will last for up to two hours on a single charge.
46An At-Home Solution For Managing Dry Cuticles
Clipping or picking at hangnails and overgrown cuticles is a risky game, as it could lead to an infection. To keep your at-home manicure or unpolished nails looking pristine, consider this liquid cuticle remover. The powerful solution softens excess dead skin with a single drop, making it easier to (gently) push back with your cuticle pusher.
47Under-Eye Shields For Catching Eyeshadow Fallout & More
Under-eye shields, like these, are often used by makeup artists to catch eyeshadow fallout. But another cool use for them? They can double as a guide for your winged liner or smoky eye, resulting in a perfectly snatched look every time. Each order comes with 120 shields, so you’ll be set for a while.
48A Sticky Bra With An Adjustable Drawstring Front
If you like the idea of a sticky bra, but find that it doesn’t offer enough support, consider this unique design. The sticky bra still uses silicone adhesive to keep it in place without any straps or back clasps, but the front features an adjustable drawstring to give you the option of tightening for more support.
- Available sizes: A – E
49Velvety Soft Puffs For Baking & Setting Your Makeup
Another makeup artist hack? Using these velvety puffs for applying setting powder for the most flawless finish possible. They can be used for baking your under eyes, powder contouring, and more — something about the texture makes the finish look more airbrushed than it would with a regular brush.
50Eye Makeup Remover That’s Safe On Lash Extensions
Lash extensions come with a whole list of maintenance dos and don’ts, including how you wash your face. This foaming eyelash cleanser was specifically created for lash extension wearers, with its oil-free formula that removes makeup without messing with your extensions. It even comes with a spoolie and mini brush to help with removing makeup since rubbing at your eyes is another extension no-no.
51Lilac Setting Powder That Has A Brightening Effect
Because of color theory, lilac setting powder can be used to brighten up any unwanted warm tones in the skin — for example, skin that’s exhibiting signs of dullness or sallowness. This one comes from buzzy makeup brand SHEGLAM, and is also sold in a few other color-correcting shades to suit a wide variety of skin tones.
52A Makeup Sponge Set For Seamless Foundation
For liquid formulas, makeup sponges help create a more seamless finish as you press the product right into your skin. While prestige versions can cost you $20, this set gives you six full-size sponges (and a mini sponge that’s ideal for concealer) for less than $10.
53A Tanning Lotion That You Can Apply In The Shower
Designed to be applied to wet skin, this best-selling tanning lotion will save so much time in your routine. You can apply it while you’re still standing wet in the shower, and it even dries down quickly without transferring to your sheets or clothing.
- Available shades: 2
54A Velvety Matte Lipstick That Isn’t Drying
For those who aren’t a fan of a glossy lip, this matte lipstick gives you bold color without a hint of shine. At the same time, it was formulated to combat that dried out, cracked feeling that most matte lipsticks can leave you with, using ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E.
- Available shades: 6
55Blotting Sheets That Use Charcoal To Soak Up Shine
These blotting sheets soak up excess oil using charcoal and biodegradable paper, resulting in a less shiny appearance wherever you might be. Handy for keeping in your purse, each pack contains 100 sheets, so you’ll be stocked for ages.
56A 2-in-1 Mascara For Dramatic Lashes
Fussy falsies and extensions aren’t the only way to achieve over-the-top lashes. This double-sided mascara pairs a lengthening formula with a volumizing formula to give you the best of both mascara worlds. Each step is labeled to make the process easier, and the formulas include panthenol, vitamin E, and bamboo extract to condition your natural lashes.
57A Brow Tinting Kit That’s Easy To Master On Your Own
No need to shell out upwards of $50 on a brow tint. Instead, this kit contains everything you’ll need to tint your brows at home. The process takes just a few minutes, but, as anyone who tints their brows can tell you, the results are major (especially for natural blondes).
58A Moisturizer That Works To Reduce Redness Overnight
If you’re prone to redness, this moisturizer uses a blend of allantoin, caffeine, and licorice root extract to fight flushing while you sleep. While it helps to ensure you wake up with a less rosy complexion, it also offers plenty of hydration and skin-strengthening benefits.
59An XL Brush For Flawless Foundation & Body Makeup
Yes, this giant makeup brush can undoubtedly be used to give you a flawless foundation finish. But it’s also super useful for applying body makeup (or even self-tanner) given that it covers a larger surface area. It’s super popular on Amazon, with thousands of five-star ratings and counting.
60A Scalp Soothing Brush That Helps Keep Dandruff At Bay
Scalp brushes are so beloved because they feel amazing when massaged onto dry, tight, itchy scalps. But they also offer another major benefit: they help remove the buildup of dandruff flakes and leftover product (e.g. hair gel or dry shampoo), leaving you with a scalp that doesn’t just feel good, but is actually a lot healthier, too. And we all know that a healthy scalp equals healthy hair.