Top 5 Most Underrated Beauty Products
Two weeks ago, Zephyr wrote about the 5 Cult Beauty Product That DO Deserve the Hype , and last week, I posted a list of Five Beauty Products That DON’T Deserve The Hype.
The next part in the series is about products you probably haven’t heard of, or at least haven’t heard much about. Magazines don’t feature them often enough and while you may recognize them, chances are, you haven’t heard tons of rave reviews about these exact items… yet. Here are the five beauty products you need to hear about, now! And I promise guys, no mascara!
1. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream – $17 at Elizabeth Arden
This product is my Holy Grail of beauty products. As in, if I could only use one thing for the rest of my life, this would be it, hands down. It has about a million uses. Chapped lips? Smooth a teeny bit all over ‘em. Burned skin? Massage this baby in. Any minor skin irritation? Yeah, this product is for you.
At $17, this is a bit pricey and yeah, it doesn’t smell great, but a tube of this in your purse and you’re good for almost any skin problem under the sun. Oh, and one tube lasts forever. There’s a reason that my makeupphobe mother has been using this product for over two decades: simply put, it’s the best lip balm/spot moisturizer/skin soother out there!
2. Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil
Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil – $3.19 at ULTA
Six months ago, if you would have asked me about an eyebrow pencil, I would have grimaced and thought of my dear 70 year old abuela who draws her brows in. Today, it’s a product I cannot live without.
Not only does eyebrow pencil make my eyebrows look fuller and thicker, it also draws focus to my actual eyebrows, as opposed to the stray hairs around them, which is great for that awkward time in between waxing appointments. Rimmel’s pencil makes my list because it deposits great color, the tip dulls very slowly, and it doesn’t budge at all during the day. Oh, did I mention that it retails for less than $4?! This truly is a quality product, and, for less than a grande latte, what’s not to love?
3. Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner
Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner- $9.99 at drugstore.com
While Luxurious Color’s cousin, Colorstay, seems to get all of the attention for its staying power and pigmentation, Luxurious Color is one of the best ‘beginner’ eyeliners out there. It glides on so easily and delivers a rich, deep color. It’s also error-proof: the smudge brush at the end forgives practically any mistake.
This product is great for those of us who don’t like harsh, precise eyeliner, as it’s great for the ‘smokey eye’ effect. The first time I used it, I found my eyes looked great for hours-even the next day, after I’d forgotten to wash off my makeup. Honestly, this is one of the best pencil eyeliners available in drugstores that should be featured in more magazines!
4. CoverGirl CG Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer
CoverGirl CG Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer- $6.49 at ULTA
Ladies with dry skin: listen up. You guys probably share my plight in finding a foundation/tinted moisturizer that provides coverage without an icky product build-up. Everything- from Bare Escentuals to liquid foundation, leaves some kind of obvious residue on our skin. No matter how much I exfoliate or moisturize, almost every foundation or tinted moisturizer I’ve tried looks cakey on me, and I know you readers with drier skin know what I’m talking about!
CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer is your answer. It makes skin look dewy and radiant while providing good redness and blemish coverage, and offers an SPF of 15. Best of all: when I put this on, it doesn’t look like I’m wearing anything at all. At around $7, it’s definitely one of the best tinted moisturizers for dry skin on the market.
5. Cotton Swabs
Q-Tips-500 for $4.99 at Drugstore.com
I know you guys are probably like did she really just include q-tips on this list, really? Yes, I did. That’s because Q-Tips (earwax sticks, cotton swabs- whatever you call them) need to be a part of your makeup case, now!
These guys do everything: correct eye makeup mishaps, apply spot treatments, clean out pesky earwax, work as lip and eyeshadow brushes, remove makeup, etc. Many of my friends didn’t understand why I always had so many of these until I showed them the myriad of ways they can be used. Personally, I use them the most with liquid eyeliner. After applying it with a heavy hand, I wet the swab and run it over my eyelids to get the perfect line, every single time! Seriously guys, these are the most practical tools ever, and at $5 for 500 of them, there’s no reason not to have them in your beauty bag.
What do you guys think?
What are some other severely underrated products? Which of your favorite products is not yet a popular fave? Have you tried any of the products I mentioned? Let me know in the comments!
Posted on on December 30, 2009 / Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: Beauty, Beauty Products, CoverGirl, eight hour cream, Elizabeth Arden, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner, Makeup, Q-Tips, review, Revlon, Rimmel, Tinted Moisturizer
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shablog
Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil 2-in-1 (about $11)
http://s.ecrater.com/stores/87779/4ab9d7868efc2_87779n.jpg
I stocked up on a couple of bottles of this before coming home from Hong Kong. This is a one step cleanser that removes every kind of makeup…even waterproof. You apply it on your face before using water, then once you get your makeup off, you rinse with water, and the oil instantly changes into a soapy consistency. It’s the only product I’ve tried that gets waterproof makeup off so easily. Too bad they don’t sell it in the States…
Meghan
I’m so happy Aqua Smoothers made it on this list! I’ve been using it for about a year and I love it. It’s hard to find tinted moisturizers, especially in drugstores. Days when my skin is clear it provides enough coverage by itself, and other days it is perfect underneath mineral powder foundations (which dry out my skin).
Bonnebell lip products are underrated! Nothing tastes better than a classic Lipsmackers. Plus it brings some nice nostalgia with it that always makes me smile. :)
Jennifer
I would love to be able to use the CG foundation, but the colours are just too dark for my skin tone. I do absolutely use a ridiculous amount of cotton swabs though, due to my recent fascination with liquid eyeliner and the numerous mistakes that come with that fascination.
Marisa
I have Q-tips everywhere! My mum doesn’t understand why I buy them so often, but I use them for so many different things. So I totally agree they should be on this list!
Blaire
I love that you put Q-Tips on the list! Everyone looks at me like I’m insane when I shove some in my clutch when I go out–but they’re amazing for touching up eye-makeup and when you’re done you can just pitch them (not to mention they’re so much smaller than a full size brush!).
I love these articles–keep them up! :)
Jess
I love that you added Q-Tips to the list. I take at least 4 with me when I go out. I use them by adding water to them to grab the mascara flakes that develop during the day. I also use them for my liquid eyeliner just like you said.
I am going to try the eyebrow pencil. For less than 4 dollars, why not?
ChiCityFashion
Love The Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream. Been using it for years. NARS undereye cream is my favorite under rated product. Best I’ve ever used. Amazing.
Meghan
i adore Redken eyeliners they last forever and stay put!
Chiana
i agree with the q-tips and the tinted moisturizer :). i always use q-tips when i mess up with my liquid eyeliner.
but a great makeup remover that I use is Pond’s Deep Cleanser and Make-up Remover in the cool cucumber classic. It works great and leaves my skin feeling really soft and smooth.
&& i also love the Covergirl Lip Slicks (tinted lip balm). it gives good moisture and doesn’t look too made up like lipstick. i love it.
Lindsay
Q-Tips are amazing except one thing. . . you should never stick things down your ears. It can seriously damage your eardrums and most of the time you won’t realize that it is too late.
Noel - Columbia University
Q-tips! So simple and so brilliant. I almost didn’t know how to function when I forgot to bring a box to college with me. I mean, before I went to the drugstore and bought a pack.
Jen
SO TRUE about #4. It’s the only tinted moisturizer I use. It’s perfect for me since my skin tends to be a bit dry so I put on my regular moisturizer then apply the CG one afterwards and it works great. Plus it’s not heavy so it looks natural on me.
Janell Necole
Q-tips!! Yes! Finally some love. I loved them and I keep a few in my bag when I am on the go. My friends laugh at me but I use Q-Tips so much it’s a shame… for make-up mistakes and cleaning up my face… I tell you what, they may laugh but my eyeliner is flawless! :D
Alea
I. LOVE. LUXURIOUS COLOR EYELINER. I used it for the first time about half a year ago and I fell head over heels. Such rich color! It was a huuuge improvement from my previous eyeliner. I’m so thrilled you added it!
Something I adore is L’oreal Volumizing mascara. It makes my eyelashes thicker and look about 20 miles long. I literally can’t leave the house without some on – I’m addicted!