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55 Cheap Things That Make You Look So Much Hotter

Budget-friendly buys that are guaranteed to boost your confidence.

by Marissa DeSantis
We may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

With the budget-friendly beauty buys on this list, you don’t need to visit the aesthetician or make an appointment at the hair salon to zhuzh up your appearance. Simply take your pick from any of these confidence-booting products, and revel in how much better they’ll make you look and feel. In addition to effective, fast-acting beauty products that work overtime, you’ll also find a few fun fashion accessories, such as body chains and illusion jewelry. And the best bit? Everything featured here costs less than $30.

01A Firming Retinol Balm For The Under-Eye Area

The retinol products that you use on your face are typically too potent to use around the more delicate under-eye area. But this easy-to-apply balm stick gives you a retinol-infused formula that was specifically designed to be gentle enough to use around the eyes. It helps promote firmer, smoother skin by stimulating collagen production and speeding up skin cell turnover, and can be swiped on quickly even when you’re on the go.

02Mini Chains That Let You Extend The Length Of Your Favorite Necklaces

When you want to wear multiple necklaces at once, these extender chains make layering more seamless. Each $5 set comes with 10 separate chains in five different lengths to better customize your look, and they come in silver- and gold-plated options to match the jewelry you already own.

  • Available options: 3

03Liquid Blush In Matte & Shimmery Finishes

No makeup routine is complete without blush, and there’s an option to suit any look you’re after with this Amazon-viral liquid blush. The gel-cream formula comes in two dozen shades, each one highly pigmented and easy to blend with your fingers or a brush. You can choose from matte or shimmery finishes depending on your preference, and it comes in a compact tube that’s easy to store in your purse or makeup bag when you’re on the go.

  • Available shades: 24

04A Soothing Sheet Mask For Preventing Irritation In The Bikini Area

Whether waxing or shaving is your preferred hair removal method — if you choose to remove your body hair at all, that is — redness and irritation in the form of bumps or ingrowns is always a risk. This three-piece hydrogel sheet mask was made with treating the bikini area in mind, and helps to soothe irritated skin in just 10 minutes with ingredients like aloe vera, green tea leaf extract, and hyaluronic acid.

05An Embellished Body Chain That Makes Low-Cut Necklines More Fun

This gold-plated body chain makes for an easy way to add some sparkle to your swimwear or festival look. The delicate chain gets a touch of embellishment with cubic zirconia gems that come in clear and color options, and multiple Amazon reviewers shared they were pleasantly surprised by how durable the $10 body chain is.

  • Available options: 3

06A Pink-Tinted Setting Powder That Makes Skin Look More Luminous

This setting powder works overtime to mattify shine and blur visible pores for an instantly smoother finish. But the pressed powder also has the slightest of pink tints to it, which helps to give your skin a brighter, more luminous finish. Plus, it comes in a mirrored compact with a tiny powder puff to stop shine throughout the day.

07Overnight Patches That Promote Smoother Skin While You Sleep

These forehead-shaped hydrogel patches work in two ways to reduce the appearance of unwanted lines: first, the patch itself helps to restrict muscle movement that leads to lines in the first place. Second, each individually packaged patch seals a hydrating serum to the skin, using a combination of hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to immediately hydrate skin and stimulate collagen production with continued use. While the patches were designed to be worn while you sleep for the best results, you can pop them on whenever you can commit to a few hours of treatment.

08Sticky Bra Inserts For Instant Cleavage

Add lift to your favorite going out top without buying a new bra or struggling with boob tape. These silicone and foam inserts are thin enough to slip into your bra, but magically enhance your bust by up to two cup sizes. The bra inserts use a hypoallergenic adhesive that won’t irritate skin but is still sweatproof and waterproof to stay in place all day long.

  • Available sizes: 3

09Bronzing Drops That Add A Sun-Kissed Glow To Your Moisturizer

If you want to give your skin a boost without any makeup, mix a few drops of this bronzing liquid into your morning moisturizer. The tinted, shimmer-infused formula gives you a versatile way to create a sun-kissed glow, as it can still be paired with your foundation or even worn on its own, thanks to moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, jojoba esters, and vitamin E.

10Press-On Gel Nails That Rival Your Salon Manicure

Get a gel manicure right from your couch with these at-home press-on nails. Each $15 set saves you time and money, as the gel nails can be applied in five minutes without layering on polish or using an LED lamp. You’ll receive 16 nail sizes to give you the most natural fit, and each kit comes with all of your application tools, from a prep pad and glue to a cuticle stick and file.

  • Available options: 35

11A Creamy Cheek & Lip Tint Made With Nourishing Ingredients

Your powder blush can’t compete with this multi-tasking cream formula that blends like a dream to leave behind a soft flush of color on cheeks and lips (and eyelids if you’re into monochromatic makeup). Cruelty-free and vegan, the blush stick includes pearlescent pigments and botanical ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile flower extract, and ginseng root extract to create a dewy finish.

  • Available shades: 6

12An Acne-Fighting Treatment For Your Derrière

Acne is a bummer wherever it pops up, but when it’s on your backside, it can be especially frustrating. This daily acne treatment uses 2% salicylic acid and antimicrobial tea tree oil to help clear pores of acne-causing debris and bacteria without staining your clothes. It also works to soothe inflammation and redness with allantoin, bisabolol, and ceramides, so you can apply it multiple times a day without causing irritation.

13A Body Cream That Uses Retinol To Promote Firmer Skin

Just as retinol can improve the tone and texture of the skin on your face, it can work similarly on the rest of your body. This daily body cream combines retinol with ferulic acid and licorice root extract to firm skin and brighten unwanted hyperpigmentation over time. Meanwhile, classic moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, and aloe vera immediately leave skin feeling softer.

14Underwear That Doesn’t Leave Visible Lines Under Clothing

From pencil skirts at the office to your weekend workout wear, this seamless thong underwear guarantees you won’t be left with visible lines. With more than 50,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, the underwear is made from a blend of synthetic fabrics that are soft, stretchy, and breathable. Even though each $15 set comes with five thongs, the underwear is so comfortable that you’ll want to add multiple color combos to cart.

  • Available options: 10
  • Available sizes: XS – XXL

15A Hair Serum That Uses Keratin To Smooth Frizz

This multipurpose hair serum can be used on damp hair pre-styling to smooth and add heat protection, or on hair that’s already dry to lock out frizz. Hydrolyzed keratin is the star ingredient in here, which reduces the effects of humidity on your hair while also helping to leave strands moisturized and shiny. You only need a small amount to get results, and the hair serum is lightweight enough to be used by finer textures without weighing their hair down.

16A Moisturizing Body Oil Infused With Shimmer

Give your skin an immediate glow without slacking on the moisturizing benefits when you apply this shimmery body oil. Ideal for post-beach day dinners, the body oil contains a copper shimmer that enhances tanned skin alongside nourishing cocoa seed butter, squalane, and sunflower seed oil.

17A Daily Serum That Targets Hyperpigmentation & Dullness

An even skin tone goes a long way in making you look healthier and feel more confident, and this daily serum can help you get there by targeting unwanted hyperpigmentation and all-around dullness. Clinically tested to be safe on sensitive skin types, the serum uses arbutin, vitamin C, and niacinamide to brighten skin without causing irritation.

18A Bracelet Set You Can Mix & Match

This five-piece bracelet set takes the guesswork out of layering your jewelry with its mix of chains that never look too matchy-matchy. The 14-karat gold-filled bracelets feature adjustable extenders to fit a range of sizes, and they come in multiple chain designs to complement any style.

  • Available options: 8

19An Overnight Lip Mask That Exfoliates & Smooths By Morning

While you sleep, this K-beauty lip mask is hard at work exfoliating away dead skin cells and restoring hydration for smoother, fuller-looking lips by the time you wake up. The glossy pink mask uses a polyhydroxy acid to remove dry skin without causing irritation, as raspberry seed oil, pomegranate extract, and olive oil seal moisture to the lips. It even comes with a mini spatula to keep the mask free from outside germs when you slather it over your lips.

  • Available options: 4

20Ear Cuffs That Let You Fake More Piercings

Whether you want to test out piercings before you commit or you’ve avoided them altogether but still want to accessorize, these ear cuffs have you covered. The lightweight cuff earrings are really adjustable clips that fit securely without causing any irritation. Each set comes with nine ear cuffs you can stack in multiple ways, and there are several different hypoallergenic metals to choose from.

  • Available options: 3

21A Beauty Award-Winning Shampoo That Makes Thin Hair Look Thicker

For thinning hair or textures that are just naturally on the finer side, this shampoo is a beauty award-winning formula that leaves hair feeling more voluminous after the first wash. The sulfate-free shampoo is still capable of removing buildup from the scalp, but it’s also packed with a proprietary complex of nourishing and hair-thickening ingredients like hydrolyzed rice protein, copper peptides, and amino acids.

22An Exfoliating Body Lotion For Rough, Bumpy Skin

Ever wondered why those tiny, rough bumps on your arms aren’t budging? You could be dealing with a skin condition known as keratosis pilaris (or KP for short). Caused by a buildup up keratin, KP requires a dedicated exfoliating and moisturizing routine. This body butter covers both bases with its blend of exfoliating alpha-hydroxy acids and smoothing shea butter and squalane.

23An Oil-Absorbing Powder With A Pore-Blurring Finish

You can prevent your makeup from looking shiny by midday without leaving your skin looking cakey and dried out when you switch to this setting powder. There are actually three powders in the spill-proof compact, which absorb excess oil and blur pores for a more seamless finish. Then, to restore a bit of moisture, the K-beauty powder uses ingredients like chamomile water and hyaluronic acid.

24Facial Tanning Drops That Won’t Clog Your Pores

If you tend to skip out on self-tanning your face for fear of breakouts, these tanning drops are the perfect solution. The gradual tanning drops are noncomedogenic, so they won’t clog your pores, but they contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and coconut water to double as skin care. You can control just how deep your tan develops depending on the number of drops you use, but you’ll always want to blend them in with your moisturizer for the most natural finish.

  • Available shades: 2

25A Hair Powder That Fills In Sparse Spots

From a widening part to patches of hair loss, this hair powder has more than 20,000 five-star ratings on Amazon for its ability to fill in sparse spots. Tinted cotton fibers are behind the beauty award-winning formula, which binds to existing strands for a fuller appearance. The thickening fibers come in 14 different shades for your best color match, and they’re gentle on the scalp and able to be shampooed out.

  • Available shades: 14

26A Heat-Free Way To Get Bouncy Curls

These satin-covered curling rods let you take a break from damaging hot styling tools without giving up your bombshell curls. Each set comes with a curling rod to wrap your hair around, as well as two satin scrunchies to keep it in place while you sleep. By the time you wake up, you’ll have frizz-free curls that didn’t require any heat.

  • Available options: 14

27A Minimizing Bra That’s Anything But Boring

If you’re looking to minimize the appearance of your bust rather than enhance it, this full-coverage bra does just that. The underwire bra provides support without any lining or cups, and it features wider straps and clasps for a more comfortable fit. Even though the bra was created to make your bust look smaller, it’s still a fun lacy design that comes in multiple colors.

  • Available colors: 14
  • Available sizes: 44

28A 6-Shade Eyeshadow Palette Small Enough To Fit In Your Purse

The last beauty mistake you want to make while traveling is lugging around a massive eyeshadow palette just so you can use the same two colors all week long. This compact eyeshadow palette stacks up six complementary colors so that they’re small enough to fit in your pocket. In keeping with its travel-friendly packaging, the compact features a built-in mirror and comes with a double-sided brush.

  • Available options: 4

29A Lip Mask That Doubles As A Gloss

You can put this berry-scented lip mask on as the last step in your evening skin care routine or wear it as a pink-tinted gloss during the day. Either way, the creamy formula imparts long-lasting moisture with shea butter, cocoa seed butter, and jojoba seed oil. Bonus points for the lovely berry scent.

30A Silky Cleanser That’s Gentle On Skin But Tough On Makeup

Better skin starts with a better cleanse; one that thoroughly removes makeup and debris from pores without stripping your skin. This cleansing oil does just that by changing into a milky lather once you add water, which melts away makeup and clears out pores with calamine powder and milk oil. It also leaves skin feeling baby-soft with its blend of olive fruit oil, coconut oil, and oatmeal extract.

31A Spa-Quality Mud Mask In A Travel-Friendly Packet

Whether you use it at home or take it with you on your next weekend getaway, this mud mask gives you a full spa treatment for less than $20. Designed to be used on the body, the mud mask uses authentic Dead Sea mud, which is naturally rich in minerals that are believed to nourish the skin while drawing out impurities. For a more soothing experience, try heating the mud up before evenly applying it over your skin.

32Pimple Patches With More Than 100,000 Five-Star Ratings On Amazon

To zap zits overnight without any harsh ingredients that will dry your skin out, Amazon reviewers swear by these hydrocolloid pimple patches (they currently have more than 125,000 five-star ratings, in case you were wondering). Each clear patch is made of medical-grade hydrocolloid, which absorbs fluid from pimples while sealing out bacteria. After one eight-hour treatment, you’ll notice a smaller, less inflamed zit that’s easier to cover with makeup.

33A Gentle Serum That Enhances Your Natural Brows

If your brows are looking a little sparse, you can encourage growth with a few swipes of this brow serum each night. The gentle formula uses amino acids, peptides, and panthenol to reduce breakage and support hair growth without any prostaglandin analogues, which are popular in lash and brow growth serums but can cause irritation.

34Crystal Clip-Ins To Accessorize Your Hair

Like jewelry for your hair, these clip-in chains can be used to add sparkle to any style — from a sleek blowout to a textured braided updo. Each six-piece set comes in multiple rhinestone and chain designs, and because the extensions are attached to a mini clip, they’re easy to style.

  • Available options: 9

35A Moisturizing Balm That Uses Salmon Sperm To Firm Skin

This K-beauty moisturizing balm uses the industry’s current “it” ingredient: salmon sperm. Known as PDRN, it’s really fragments of DNA that are extracted from salmon sperm, and has been shown through research to increase collagen production. This convenient balm stick lets you swipe the ingredient right over your skin, and it also includes other tried-and-true hydrating and brightening ingredients like shea butter, sweet almond oil, and licorice root extract.

36A Lightweight Gel That Refreshes & Depuffs Tired Eyes

To help perk up tired eyes, this eye gel uses a combination of yerba mate extract, caffeine, and peptides to reduce puffiness and brighten signs of fatigue. The gel texture adds a slight cooling effect to further refresh skin, but it also allows the treatment to absorb quickly without interfering with your makeup application.

37A Facial Hair Removal Device That Doesn’t Cause Irritation

An electric razor may not give you the same level of precision when you’re dermaplaning, but it’s a solid option for removing facial hair without the risk of irritation. This compact electric razor features a double rotating head and stainless steel blade that’s small enough to target areas like the upper lip and forehead line, but won’t leave you with bumps or redness. It has a built-in light to help you see exactly where you’re shaving, and the device is chargeable, so you don’t have to mess with batteries.

  • Available colors: 9

38An Earring For Single Piercings That Creates A Stacked Effect

If you love the effortlessly cool look of stacked earrings, but you only have a single piercing, this clever huggie design gives you three hoops with a single stud. Each earring stack features three different 14-karat gold-plated styles to really pull off the layered look, including two cubic zirconia-embellished hoops for some extra sparkle.

  • Available options: 28

39A Flat Claw Clip That Doesn’t Dig Into Your Scalp

Claw clips are having a major moment, but as convenient as they are to keep your hair out of your face, they’re not exactly comfortable when you’re driving your car, trying to squeeze in a Pilates session, or just lounging on the couch. This oval take on the classic claw clip sits flat against your head, so there’s no digging or stabbing sensations to deal with. It’s also great for thicker or finer hair types, as the teeth and clip combo holds hair more securely.

40A Mini Exfoliating Mitt For Your Face & Body

This exfoliating mitt can be used to gently remove dead skin cells without the addition of any irritating actives, but it really shines as a way to prep for your self-tanner. Small enough to use on your face, the mitt can also be used on your body to buff away the dry skin that can lead to a patchy fake tan, leaving you with a more even canvas. Once your done, rinse the mitt out thoroughly and let it dry before your next exfoliating sesh.

41On-Trend Sunglasses That Won’t Break The Bank

Small, oval sunglasses are the current must-have accessory of every It girl. This Amazon set gives you two pairs of ‘90s-inspired sunnies for $15, for an on-trend look that still protects your eyes from UVA and UVB rays. The black and tortoise shell combo featured here is a classic pick, but the sunglasses come in more statement-making colors like a sea green and cherry red.

  • Available options: 43

42Gold-Plated Stacking Bracelets That Look More Expensive Than They Are

For less than the price of most individual bracelets, this set gives you five 14-karat gold-plated bracelets that you can wear together or stack with some of your other favorite bangles. The beaded design sits on an elastic band, so the bracelets are easy to slip on and off, and multiple Amazon reviewers share that they “hold up well” and “look high-end.”

  • Available options: 30

43A Hair Smoothing Essence With A Warm, Black Tea Scent

For smoother, shinier hair in an instant, apply a pump of this hair essence oil from your mid-lengths to your ends. Lightweight and non-greasy, the hair oil uses black tea ferment and botanical oils like marula and moringa to eliminate frizz without weighing your hair down. Best of all, it doubles as a hair fragrance. The black tea hair treatment featured here is scented with a blend of earthy notes like cedarwood, vetiver, and black tea, of course, but it also comes in other floral and fruity fragrances.

  • Available fragrances: 5

44Teeth Whitening Wipes That Let You Prevent Stains During The Day

Carrying a toothbrush around all day isn’t the most practical way to combat stains from settling in. But if you want to keep your teeth pearly white — even after a midmorning coffee or post-work glass of wine — keep these pocket-sized cleaning wipes on hand. The individually packaged wipes fit over your finger and use a textured surface to polish teeth, while a sugar-free mint flavor works to freshen breath, fast.

45A Mascara-Size Wand To Give Hair A Slicked-Back Finish

If baby hairs are keeping you from achieving a slicked back hairstyle that’s truly sleek, this genius little wand is a total game-changer. Each tube holds a mascara-sized spoolie and a serum-like gel that smooths back flyaways and frizz and keeps them in place without any flakes or greasy residue. It won’t dry out your hair either, as the gel includes moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, and vitamin E.

46A Nail-Strengthening Treatment That Delivers Polish-Like Color

For nails that look better right away and in the long run, try using this strengthening treatment in between your manicures. A proprietary complex made up of botanical ingredients like evening primrose oil, cucumber extract, and garlic extract helps to moisturize dry, weak nails and protect against breakage. At the same time, the nail treatment coats nails in a sheer tint that brightens dullness and yellowing while adding a touch of color.

  • Available shades: 9

47Disposable Under-Eye Patches That Catch Eyeshadow Fallout

These woven under-eye pads serve as disposable shields that keep your makeup safe from eyeshadow fallout and mascara smudges. The disposable pads use a gentle adhesive that’s non-irritating, and the half moon shape can also be used to guide you when applying winged liner. Pro tip: you can also help to minimize eyeshadow fallout in the first place by applying the smallest speck of primer to your lids first.

48Daily Exfoliating Pads That Stop Ingrown Hairs From Ever Popping Up

Gently exfoliating is the easiest way to ensure your skin stays smooth after shaving or waxing. These exfoliating pads make the process even more seamless with a glycolic acid and salicylic acid treatment that’s delivered to the skin in one swipe via single-use pads you can use on the legs, bikini area, underarms, neck, and face. As the acid ingredients remove dead skin cells and debris that can otherwise trap hairs and lead to ingrowns, the pads also work to soothe with aloe vera and green tea leaf extract, so you can use them every day without experiencing irritation.

49A Peel-Off Lip Stain That Lasts All Day Long

No matter what lip color you’re after, this long-lasting lip stain starts as a metallic blue mask that peels right off after a few seconds. The longer you leave the mask on, the more intense your finishing color, which is waterproof and transfer-proof for up to 10 hours. Even though the cruelty-free and vegan lip color won’t budge, it also won’t dry out your lips, thanks to ingredients like squalane, glycerin, and seaweed extract.

  • Available options: 29

50A Trio Of Travel-Friendly Makeup Sticks For Sculpting Your Face

Create a more chiseled jawline and sculpted cheekbones sans injectables or fancy facial techniques with these face contouring makeup sticks. The trio includes a bronzer, highlighter, and blush — all using a creamy formula that glides over skin and blends in quickly with fingertips or a brush. You’ll also find multiple color combos that are categorized by skin tone, so the makeup sticks are easy to integrate into your routine.

  • Available options: 8

51A Backless Twist On The Classic Black T-Shirt

If a T-shirt and jeans is in your weekly wardrobe rotation, switch things up without totally deviating from your comfort zone. This backless top features cutout detailing from the shoulders to the waistline with a slightly cropped style and boat neckline. Keep it classic with a black or white T-shirt, or choose from dozens of other colors and shirt designs.

  • Available options: 32
  • Available sizes: XS – L

52Berry-Inspired Stains For Your Lips & Cheeks

For a flush of long-lasting color that can take you from day to night, this lip stain duo was designed to give you a rich berry tint that looks effortless. The liquid formula can be dabbed sparingly onto cheeks and lips or layered on for a more intense cherry or raspberry red.

  • Available options: 4

53A Frizz-Smoothing Hair Primer That Guarantees A Glossy Blowout

Rather than cocktailing multiple products to try to leave hair looking glossy, use this blowout primer on damp hair and ditch the rest. The mist-on formula was designed to be activated with the heat of your hair dryer to smooth strands and prevent frizz from ever interfering with your look — whether you’re going for a sleek blowout or bombshell curls.

54Eyeliner Stamps For Instant Cat Eyes

Liquid eyeliner is probably the trickiest makeup skill to master, but you don’t have to struggle with evening out winged liner when you have this clever stamp tool on hand. The double-sided liner gives you a traditional black liquid pen on one side and a winged stamp on the other for mastering cat eyeliner in seconds. You’ll get two pens in each set (one with a wing for the left eye and one with a wing for the right eye), each one delivering pigmented, waterproof color.

  • Available options: 4

55A Firming Sheet Mask Just For Your Jawline

Sheet masks usually stop at the jaw, but this hydrogel option is really a disposable chin strap that helps to provide a temporary lift. You’ll find five disposable chin masks in each box, which are formulated with skin-firming collagen, retinol, and 24-karat gold, and feature ear straps for hands-free wear.

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