55 Cheap Things That Make You Look So Good, You'll Wish You Got Them Ages Ago

If you’ve ever had a gloss treatment at the salon, you know how transformative it can be when it comes to adding shine and boosting your color. But you’ll also remember that the effects don’t last more than a few weeks. When I want something that feels just as luxurious at a fraction of the cost, I’ve been turning to this at-home gloss that goes on after you shampoo and gets rinsed out after just 10 minutes. The vegan and cruelty-free formula doesn’t require following up with a conditioner, thanks to nourishing ingredients like babassu oil and vitamin E. The clear gloss featured here can be used by anyone, but it also comes in tinted options for virgin hair looking for a little color boost.

This mineral sunscreen combines the best of skin care and makeup to shield your face from harmful UVA and UVB rays while providing a tint of color that eliminates the need for foundation. In addition to being fragrance-free and noncomedogenic, the face sunscreen includes ceramides and hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin, as well as salicylic acid and niacinamide to reduce the appearance of pores.

• Available shades: 3

The best makeup products in the world don’t matter much if you can’t see where you’re applying them. This portable mirror is trimmed with LED lighting that features adjustable brightness, so you can ensure your makeup always looks flawless even if you’re in a badly lit room. It’s small enough to fit in a large makeup pouch or tote bag and is chargeable for on-the-go use, but the mirror also has a built in stand so you can set it up wherever you’re doing your makeup.

• Available colors: 4
• Available sizes: 2

For those who are sensitive to teeth whitening strips or simply can’t be bothered with the typical 30-minute application instructions that come with them, meet MySmile’s teeth whitening pen. The more precise method lets you paint a carbamide peroxide-infused gel right onto your teeth (that’s the active ingredient, for those wondering), working to whiten in just 10 minutes without the risk of tooth sensitivity.

This brow sculpting set is the size of a mascara wand, but it comes with three brushes that can be used separately or together to shape brows exactly how you want them. One side of the wand houses a spoolie and a clear wax-gel hybrid that’s strong enough to hold brows in place but won’t leave them feeling tacky or looking flaky. And at the opposite end is a dual comb/brush applicator that can brush brows up for a more laminated effect.

For highlighted skin that looks dewy, add a few swipes of this drugstore formula along the high points of your face. The champagne gold shimmer featured here was used on Kendall Jenner for the 2025 Met Gala, but the jojoba seed oil-infused highlighter stick comes in several other pearlescent shades (including the Glowy Sparkling Rose that actress, Halle Berry, wore to the same event).

• Available shades: 6

To actively whiten teeth and prevent future surface stains from setting in, this daily mouthwash contains hydrogen peroxide. But it was also formulated with sodium fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel and help prevent cavities, making it a multi-tasking treatment for improving your oral health. Plus, it’s alcohol-free, which is ideal for anyone who hates the burn of an alcohol mouthwash or has a dry mouth.

Encapsulated salicylic acid in this body wash releases the exfoliating ingredient at a slower rate to gently slough away dead skin cells and clean deeper into the pores to potentially help minimize body acne. To further reduce the risk of causing irritation — even for more sensitive skin types — the body wash is fragrance-free and includes moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, sunflower seed oil, and olive oil.

You can perk up tired under eyes immediately and in the long run with the help of this convenient eye balm stick. Packed with vitamin C to brighten tired skin with continued use, the ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested eye balm also works to moisturize and firm with the help of peptides, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E. The lightweight texture adds a cooling effect as you apply the eye balm, and despite its apparent orange tint, it looks completely invisible on the skin.

Retinoids are a dermatologist-approved way to help clear acne (and keep it from coming back). But the topical treatment historically required a trip to the dermatologist for a prescription — until Differin introduced its 0.1% adapalene gel, that is. The prescription-strength treatment speeds up skin cell turnover to clear pores of acne-causing bacteria and debris, leaving you with a more even skin tone and texture in the process.

Sure, moisturizing your skin will enhance its glow, but when you really want your skin to shine, a shimmer-infused formula like this drugstore body oil is essential. Mineral oil and sweet almond oil keep skin soft, while copper shimmer makes skin instantly luminous.

If you can’t stand the look of clumped up lashes, but you love to layer on mascara for a more dramatic eye, this tiny lash comb is a must. Made with a curved design to mimic the shape of the eye, the comb is fitted with dozens of stainless steel prongs that are small enough to separate lash hairs and remove excess mascara as you comb it through your lashes.

If you’ve all but given up on self-tanners because of the guide color that inevitably transfers onto your clothes and sheets, don’t throw in the towel just yet. These tanning drops are completely clear, and were designed to be mixed in with your moisturizer. They’re noncomedogenic, so they can be used on the face and body without causing breakouts, and you can control just how deep you want your faux glow by the number of drops you use.

• Available shades: 4

Whether you find curling irons confusing or you simply appreciate an inexpensive way to get undone waves, this hair waver tool doesn’t disappoint. The S-shaped barrel works like a hair crimper, letting you quickly clamp your way through sections of hair for beachy waves that get a dose of shine, thanks to the tourmaline ceramic plates.

When you need to add volume and a little extra hold to hair, a dry texturizing spray is key. This more affordable option means you can generously spray the texturizer through beachy waves and braided updos without any guilt, especially because it’s infused with conditioning ingredients like hibiscus extract, amaranth extract, and biotin.

If spending double digits on a lip balm isn’t in your beauty budget, e.l.f. is making sure you can still find a tinted, moisturizing formula for under $5. This squeezable lip balm comes in several fruity scents and provides the sheerest of tints and a glossy finish that nourishes with ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and goji berry extract.

• Available shades: 5

Whether you’re a contour pro or a total beginner, a stick formula makes it easy to glide your bronze color exactly where you want to look more sculpted. This bronze stick comes in six shades to better complement your skin as you create the illusion of chiseled cheekbones and a sharper jawline. The creamy formula makes it easy to blend, but the bronzer has a matte finish to prevent you from looking shiny.

• Available shades: 6

I saw board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Shereene Idriss, talk about this shampoo on Instagram a while back, and immediately picked it up at the drugstore. Yes, it’s a dandruff shampoo, but the ketoconazole that targets dandruff-causing fungus has also been shown to stimulate hair growth by killing that same fungus while also reducing inflammation and potentially even blocking the DHT hormone that causes hair loss.

If you still haven’t gotten in on the snail mucin trend, your skin is missing out. The beloved ingredient is the ultimate multitasker, capable of hydrating the skin and improving elasticity, while also fading unwanted scars and soothing irritation. This nightly serum amps up the snail mucin benefits by pairing it with vitamin C to brighten and support collagen production, as well as ingredients like centella asiatica extract, aloe vera, and jojoba oil for more skin-calming moisture.

The easiest at-home manicure may not involve any polish at all. These glue-on nails can be applied in minutes (with the help of the included glue, file, and manicure stick), but they’ll last a full week. The longer size also means you can better customize the nails by clipping and filing them into shape like singer and actress, Suki Waterhouse, who wore this exact color to the 2025 Met Gala.

This hybrid hair accessory looks like an oversized scrunchie, but it really works like a non-slip claw clip to secure ponytails and half-up, half-down hairstyles in place. Adjustable so they fit a range of hair lengths and textures, the clips are also covered in a velvet material to avoid snagging your hair or digging into your scalp.

• Available options: 9

This travel-friendly spray pulls double duty as a way to temporarily hide gray roots in between color appointments and fake fuller hair. Created by Rita Hazan, a colorist to celebrities like Beyoncé and founder of her eponymous New York City salon, the root concealer spray uses a concentrated aerosol nozzle that gives you better control over where you’re applying the buildable color pigments. Safe for all hair types and textures (yes, even color-treated hair), the root touch-up remains transfer-proof and waterproof, but can be shampooed right out at the end of the day.

• Available shades: 5

Don’t let the bold color in the tube fool you. This liquid blush formula is a lightweight gel that blends into a sheer flush of color with a radiant finish that’s never greasy. The oil-free blush delivers a burst of color with just the smallest dot of product, and it’s even cruelty-free and vegan.

• Available shades: 3

For dry skin types looking for a cleanser that doesn’t strip skin but is still powerful enough to remove sunscreen and makeup at the end of the day, there’s this oil-to-milk cleanser by Weleda. Designed to be massaged onto skin while it’s still dry, the replenishing cleanser includes sunflower seed oil, chamomile flower extract, and calendula flower extract to moisturize and soothe.

Treating fragile nails doesn’t mean you have to go polish-free. This nail veil gives you the best of both worlds, using a formula that strengthens and moisturizes damaged nails with ingredients like garlic bulb extract, evening primrose oil, and biotin. At the same time, sheer color helps to hide imperfections and lets you play with color, as the treatment is available in a range of neutral (and even a few brighter) shades.

• Available shades: 9

Not only does this drugstore lip gloss have more than 30,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, but it was also worn by Miley Cyrus to the 2025 Met Gala. Moisturizing and non-sticky, the gloss naturally helps give lips a fuller look thanks to hyaluronic acid and its high-shine finish. While Cyrus wore the shimmery pale pink Opal shade featured here, the gloss is available in more than two dozen colors.

• Available shades: 26

This double-sided makeup sponge lets you expertly blend foundation into your skin with the egg-shaped side we’ve all seen the makeup pros use. But the opposite end features a flat surface that’s ideal for patting setting powder into place. Plus, for less than $10, you get two makeup sponges.

Does your makeup do a disappearing act by midday? Prepping your skin with just the smallest amount of primer can create a smoother canvas that grips onto makeup for all-day wear. This duo includes a face primer and an eye primer that are both formulated with a sebum-controlling powder to keep skin from looking shiny and prevent your makeup from smudging or creasing throughout the day.

Whether eyeshadow is an everyday essential in your makeup routine or something reserved for occasional use, it doesn’t have to be a major investment. ColourPop has created a range of eyeshadow palettes for less than $15 that each feature nine color coordinated shades in a mix of matte and shimmery finishes. The Going Coconuts palette shown here includes neutral brown shadows for creating softer looks and more dramatic smoky eyes, but there are also more colorful purple, blue, and burgundy options to experiment with.

• Available options: 29

For a less-is-more approach to your beauty routine, this cruelty-free and vegan solution contains just one ingredient: cold-pressed castor oil. Naturally rich in fatty acids that are great for moisturizing, the castor oil can be used daily to nourish skin, hair, brows, lashes, and cuticles. Plus, it’s housed in a pump bottle that makes it easy to dispense the oil without any mess.

This mascara-sized wand actually holds a clear hair serum that was formulated to help smooth flyaways and frizz with just a couple of swipes. Ingredients like argan oil and hydrolyzed wheat protein give you a sleek, shiny finish while also giving your hair a moisturizing boost. It’s easy to apply at home and on-the-go, thanks to its compact size, and Amazon reviewers assure that the hair serum doesn’t flake or leave hair feeling stiff.

A facial oil may not be for every skin type, but for those with dry skin who are looking to add more moisture to their daily vitamin C, there’s this brightening oil. As vitamin C boosts the efficacy of your sunscreen and works to brighten the skin tone and stimulate collagen production over time, a blend of botanical oils like sunflower, rosehip, and argan floods skin with moisture.

When you can feel a pimple forming, reach for this two-step kit to reduce inflammation and help speed up healing time. First, you’ll want to clean the area with one of the salicylic acid- and tea tree oil-infused swabs. Then, apply one of the zit stickers for an overnight treatment (or whenever you can commit to wearing the clear adhesive for a solid six hours). The microdart stickers deliver the active ingredients deeper into the skin, using salicylic acid to clear bacteria from pores, niacinamide to calm red skin, and hyaluronic acid to restore hydration.

You can use this Halo Glow Liquid Filter on the high points of the face only to give a soft, highlighted effect to your finished makeup. But it really shines as an all-over complexion booster that can be applied to prep your skin or mixed in with your foundation. Just a few dots buffed into the skin creates a radiant, dewy finish that’s as close to a filter that you’ll find outside of Instagram.

• Available shades: 12

From color-treated and curly to poker straight, this hair mask works to strengthen damaged hair and leave it noticeably softer and smoother after a single 20-minute treatment. Amino acids in the mask work to improve hair structure over time, as hydrolyzed keratin coats the hair shaft to temporarily act as a patch that protects against damage (just be careful you’re not overusing the mask or pairing it with other keratin products, which can have the reverse effect).

For lashes that almost look like they’re naturally voluminous, try a brown mascara. This French beauty find gives you softer color but still excels when it comes to lengthening and thickening lashes for drama sans clumps. It’s also a fan-favorite on Amazon with tens of thousands of five-star ratings and reviews.

If you’re not into the greasy or tacky residue that body lotion can leave behind, consider this spray-on formula. With its milky consistency, the lotion spray still includes the same moisturizing ingredients you’d find in a traditional body lotion, but in a lighter formula that’s faster to absorb. The lotion spray is cruelty-free and vegan, and it’s scented with jasmine and vanilla.

For a lighter take on vitamin C, this serum pairs the active ingredient with a tri-peptide for more collagen-boosting benefits. There’s licorice root extract to further brighten the skin, and the serum doesn’t skimp on moisture either with skin care favorites like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and squalane.

For longer hair that’s tough to comb through after washing, a leave-in conditioner can help to detangle knots and moisturize hair at the same time. The leave-in conditioner featured here was specifically developed with longer hair types in mind, adding caffeine and ginseng root extract into the mix to smooth frizz and reduce split ends for longer, healthier hair overall.

This lip duo lets you define your lips however you like. Use the neutral liner on its own to exaggerate your lips and fake a fuller pout. Or, glide the balm over lips for a more foolproof way to enhance color and moisturize. Of course, you can also use the liner and balm together for the perfect color-coordinated look.

• Available shades: 4

Makeup setting sprays are great for keeping a full face of makeup in place the entire day, but they can also be drying (largely due to the alcohol included to help them work their magic). To counteract the dryness, this drugstore setting spray features ingredients like vitamin E and watermelon fruit extract, as well as brightening caffeine. In addition to improving the longevity of your makeup, the cruelty-free and vegan setting spray also imparts a dewy finish.

This mini razor was designed to help you shape brows at home, but its smaller size is also ideal for shaving the peach fuzz from your face for a smoother complexion (aka dermaplaning). The dermaplaning tool features a curved design and nonslip handle to make it easier to maneuver. It also comes with six refillable stainless steel blades for your closest shave, every single time.

• Available colors: 5

This pink sugar scrub looks more like watermelon sorbet, but it works to get skin touchably soft in minutes. Sugar crystals gently exfoliate dry skin for a smoother texture and more even surface, while watermelon extract soothes and helps to replenish moisture (and inspires the scrub’s sweet scent!).

For a more sculpted looking jaw and neck that doesn’t involve any contouring, there’s this at-home chin lifting mask. In 30 minutes, 24-karat gold and collagen peptides improve skin firmness and elasticity, while caffeine helps to depuff and create a temporary tightening effect.

One of my favorite French beauty finds, this dreamy body oil leaves skin with the ultimate glow, but it can be used (very sparingly) through the ends of the hair, too. A blend of botanical oils that includes argan, macadamia, and sweet almond is behind its next-level nourishing benefits, but it also imparts a luxe floral fragrance that’s surprisingly long-lasting without being overpowering.

Though not for the squeamish, these at-home foot masks are an Amazon favorite for getting smooth, callus-free feet. While you let the disposable booties sit for a good 90 minutes, a combination of malic acid, citric acid, and papaya extract breaks down dead skin cells to start a skin-shedding process that takes about a week to complete (Amazon reviewers recommend giving yourself a full two weeks before wearing sandals or open-toe shoes, just to be safe!).

• Available scents: 4

For those who find the rich texture of a body butter to be more luxurious than your average lotion, this under-$20 find melts into skin with a light coconut scent. The beauty award-winning cream has a whipped consistency that’s fast absorbing, but it still delivers deep hydration with ingredients like shea butter, mango seed butter, and argan oil.

Polished, slicked-back updos are a whole lot easier to create when you have this hair wax stick. From baby hairs that won’t sit flat to unwanted frizz, the wax stick uses nourishing ingredients like hydrolyzed silk protein and avocado oil to smooth both the look and feel of hair without leaving it greasy or sticky.

Among the hero skin care ingredients that get all the glory, rosehip oil is one that’s less often talked about. But for a brighter complexion, regardless of skin type, this 100% cold-pressed rosehip seed oil is certainly worth a try. Rich in vitamins A and C, rosehip oil can help speed up skin cell turnover, stimulate collagen production, and fade unwanted hyperpigmentation.

Usually, trending beauty treatments fall on the pricey side or come with a slightly scary-sounding technique (consider LED light masks or microneedling). But dry body brushing is accessible to everyone (and it doesn’t involve any needles, either). This synthetic bristle body brush from EcoTools can be used daily to exfoliate rough skin for a smoother, softer texture and potentially even help with toning as it stimulates circulation.

• Available colors: 2

You can use this lip scrub before applying your lip liner and lipstick for smoother, longer-lasting color during the day, or try it at night before a more conditioning lip mask for super-soft lips when you wake up. Either way, the sugar scrub gently buffs away dry skin with a juicy watermelon scent that Amazon reviewers rave about.

Tired of dealing with creases after taking your ponytail down post-workout? These satin scrunchies help to prevent indents, but they’re still sturdy enough to keep your hair in place through running, downward dog, and dreaded cardio. The set of five ensures you always have a hair tie on hand – both for yourself and your friend who always forgets to bring their own.

To keep your feet smooth all year long, this callus remover features a double-sided foot file for a more customized treatment. For rougher skin, try the coarse side, while those who are more sensitive will want to stick with the medium file to avoid overdoing it. Either way, the file uses a nickel surface to effectively remove calluses from dry feet without irritating the skin.

• Available colors: 6

To get the most precise matte lip possible, this lipstick is more like a crayon that has a pencil-like tip for tracing and filling in your lips with ease. It’s a beauty award-winning formula that promises to keep bold color in place for up to eight hours, and it’s available in more than 20 red, pink, and neutral hues.

• Available shades: 27

If a hair clip is part of your daily routine, try customizing your own claw clip for less than $20. This large size clip comes in several color options, and it lets you add your name (or any text up to eight characters) in rhinestones for a touch of sparkle.

• Available colors: 7