25 Cheap Beauty Basics to Buy When You’re Bored

Scrolling through Amazon’s beauty department has quickly become
one of our favorite pastimes. Obviously, we’re not alone in this,
as evidenced by the thousands of reviews available for any given
product. From stalking hard-to-find international
beauty mainstays to scouring the aforementioned reviews for
the top-rated
goods, we could spend an obscene amount of time and money on
the site. (Well played, Bezos, well played.)

What a relief it is that getting our hands on some of the most
beloved and ingenious beauty products from this gargantuan e-tailer
can actually be quite the inexpensive endeavor. Some of our
all-time favorite beauty finds actually cost less than the
overpriced salads we can’t stop ordering for lunch.

So in honor of the cheap beauty finds Amazon has to offer, we’ve
curated this handy list of the 25 best under $25. Get into
it.

When
all else fails, this mascara will not. More than half of the 4256
reviews of this OG mascara are five-star ones.

For
the days when you can’t commit to a full makeup-brush wash day,
this quick-drying, rinse-free formula is the perfect remedy for
gunky brushes.

This
contraption is an absolute game changer for your makeup-brush
washing routine. The silicone keeps your beloved tools secure as
they dry in the optimal position—upside down.

No
more dropping falsies lined with wet glue all over your clothes.
This handly little tweezer-adjacent tool makes applying strip
lashes so much easier.

Burt’s
Bees lip balm is an OG essential, but this lightly tinted version
makes is even more of a must-have.

Dry
scalp season is upon us, so keep your dome moisturized with
this vitamin- and antioxidant-rich oil. You’ll have fuller, more
luscious-looking locks by spring.

The
thick, soft scrubbers in this manual shampoo massager not only
promote blood flow to the scalp, but they also help exfoliate it by
sloughing away dead skin cells. For the curly and natural beauties,
it also makes it so much easier to make sure you shampoo is
actually reaching your scalp.

Whether
you’re still recovering from the pencil-thin eyebrow trend from the
2000s or trying to achieve great lash lengths, this serum is for
you. Two different keratin peptides, green tea, saw palmetto, and
nettle root all work overtime to strengthen weak hair and encourage
growth.

This
effective formula is a winning cocktail of 20% pure vitamin C, 1%
vitamin E, 1% hyaluronic acid, and 0.5% ferulic acid. The smell is
a little funky, but it’s totally worth it for plump,
healthy-looking skin.

The
French broke the mold when they made this magical cleansing water.
There’s a reason practically every celebrity makeup artist on the
planet keeps it in their kit.

This
French pharmacy-grade vitamin A ointment can be used for treating
fine lines, refining pores, and firming the skin. It’s strong, so
caution should be exercised, but the reviews don’t lie—this stuff
really works.

Look—acne
happens. These hydrocolloid patches are thin enough to appear
nearly flat on top of a blemish but powerful and soothing enough to
zap that zit fast. With so many other similar products on the
market, the more than 2000 five-star reviews speak volumes.

Everyone
and their mother (and over 17,000 Amazon customers) use this iconic
clay mask. Beauty editors have touted its magical powers for years,
and in terms of dramatic results at such an affordable price point,
it just can’t be beat. Pro tip: Mix the mask powder with apple
cider vinegar instead of water for a pH-balancing deep clean.

This
prescription-strength retinoid banishes breakouts fast by
penetrating deep into pores to clear out any bacteria and also
reduce inflammation.

This
little-known cream has thousands of five-star reviews, many
commenting that it holds its own against much more expensive
products. This retinol cream is great if you’re looking for a
strong anti-aging treatment that also contains soothing ingredients
like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea, shea butter, and
jojoba oil to minimize the likelihood of typical retinoid-related
irritation.

These
soothing mists are wonderful for a quick moisture boost whenever
you need it. Plus, two bottles for only $14 is almost too good to
be true.

If
you’re not freezing your face off with an ice roller, I’m here to
tell you it’s time to start. All you have to do is pop the frozen
roller head into the lightweight plastic handle and get rolling all
over your face. It relieves pressure, shrinks pores, calms
inflammation, and we heard a rumor that it also does your
laundry.

This beloved
skin salve reached holy-grail status long ago, and for good reason.
It’s an actual cure-all for any dryness or irritation anywhere on
the face and body.

This
K-beauty favorite is the perfect little hand moisturizer to throw
in a gym bag or keep at your desk. Shea butter, coconut oil,
macadamia oil, and a generous dose of banana extract make it super
moisturizing. Plus, it’s insanely cute.

Hyaluronic acid
and vitamin C are two of our favorite active ingredients, and this
little baby houses both of them. Get ready for supple, glowing
skin.

Look
alive, girlfriend. This OG eye cream delivers a ceramide- and
hyaluronic acid–packed moisture boost to brighten dull-looking
under-eyes and reduce the look of dark circles and puffiness. Even
if you’re brand new to eye cream, this is a solid place to
start.

To
quote Coach Taylor of Friday Night Lights, “Clear eyes, full
hearts, can’t lose.” These drops will help with the clear eyes
part.

It’s
officially fall, and this charcoal-toned nail polish is the perfect
shade for a Halloween-inspired manicure that doesn’t scream Hocus
Pocus.

Set
yourself up for at-home manicure success with this heavy-duty,
ultra-shiny top coat. Reapplying it every couple of days will help
to keep your paint job looking fresh.

While
you’re at it with the DIY manicure, why not add a few of these
teeny-tiny flowers for a fun 3D pop? It truly doesn’t get any
cuter. Up next, I tried Tracee Ellis Ross’s new haircare
line—here’s my honest review.