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What has been the most underrated beauty product you've tried?
What has been the most underrated beauty product you’ve tried? Share!
I think a good brow gel gets missed often (I like Marc Jacobs or MAC’s the most), because it’s such a basic/staple product, and it can seem odd to spend that kind of money on what amounts to clear hair gel. The other product I thought of was Tom Ford’s Blushes, which absolutely are well-loved by those who have tried, but I hear about Tom Ford’s lipsticks all the time and rarely see the same kind of loved showed for the blushes (which I think are more impressive as a formula).
Thanks to reader Polly for today’s question idea Do you have a question idea? Submit yours here.
Toss up between Laura Geller Body Bronzer in Honey or Revlon bronzer. I forgot the name of the Revlon Bronzer but it came in the black case and was tri colored. I don’t know if they still make it.
Lorac’s POREfection Baked Perfecting Powder. This stuff is AMAZING as a powder foundation and it makes for a flawless finish when setting a liquid foundation. It’s everything that I wished Bare Minerals would’ve been and, surprisingly, I haven’t heard any hype about it. #1 HG status.
YES!! I love the coverage and finish of this powder! I use it to touch up towards the end of the day when my foundation has kinda started to fade…this freshens me right up, matt-ifies and gives me a good amount of coverage without getting cakey. I have two colors, I love it so much, summer and winter color ; )
The Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre. People who own it, love it. But there isn’t much hype surrounding it. Its amazing, and so cost effective!
Agreed! Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel’s are my favorite, especially Auburn. It’s the only product I’ve found that has the perfect amount of red to match my hair color – love it!
I’ve said this before but for me it’s Lancome’s Virtuose mascara. I’ve never heard anyone raving about it and it seems all the brand’s efforts concentrate around the Hypnose range but man! Virtuose is the best mascara I’ve ever tried. I’ve tried to replace it but I always come back to it. It’s an all rounder: it curls, holds, adds volume and length. Total winner.
Colour corrector – I use a peach one (Armani) under my eyes and it brightens up my face like nothing else.
I also use a yellow corrector (MUFE chroma fix) to ‘fix’ the undertone in my foundation.
Both correctors make a huge difference and I dare say I look tired and washed out without them.
YSL Top Secrets Natural Action Exfoliator. It’s absolutely lovely
Definitely the Catrice Prime & Fine Loose Translucent Powder. Ever since I discovered it I totally stopped using my MAC powder. But I think it might be about be discontinued… I really hope I’m wrong :-S
For me the most under rated make up is Collection 2000 16 Hour Wear Concealer. Brilliant for highlighting and coverage.
Guerlain’s KissKiss Extreme lipstick, probably. The texture is just wonderful and the color is great.
Some of ELF Brushes I have 3 of them and they’ve been working for the past year and I never had an issue with it. This is underrated just because of the price, as well as Sonia Kashuk brushes, which I personally find to be amazing and deserve so much more credit 😀
Also Maybelline blackest black gel liner and as well as their Fit Me Concealer
I agree about the ELF brushes, the black ones are great!
Mac lustre drops!
Shimmery greys and bronzes are my favourite !
YBF brow pencil
YSL gel liners. You hear about MAC fluidlines and BBrown gel liners all the time. YSL gel liners have spoiled me for the others and I actually dislike BBrown gel liners–so yucky waxy and non-pigmented– to the extent I have pulled every one of them out of my stash and placed in my ignored and stored makeup hoard. I grab fluidlines only due to excellent colour choice (yes, Black Ivy is lovely and unique). I so wish YSL had more colour choices in the formula because I would buy every single one of them.
I will second your vote on TF blushes. I have yet to encounter another that competes on texture and the ability to blend completely effortlessly on the skin. The finish has something really special about it too, just the perfect touch of shimmer.
Finally, Chanel Illusion D’ombre cream shadows. They are a complete pain in the ass to apply, and brushes just don’t work for me so I end up layering with my finger which I find awkward, but in the end sooooo worth it. Eeep Magic so gorgeous. esp..Illusoire and Diapason
Totally agree!!
YEY.. WWendy you have just made my day cause I just ordered Black Ivy today! 😉 whohoo
Yay 😀 I don’t have anything else like it.
Also, I suggest you to try Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow. I have it in Moon River – the shine is similar to Illusion d’Ombre, and application is a breeze.. 😉
I will definitely check that out 🙂
A lot of Lancome products. Blushes especially.
Very true! Lancome Blush Subtil (3 in 1 compacts) are great products. There is a bronzer, highlighter and blush – all in one compact. The formula is really great – creamy, silky texture and lasts all day too.
I agree blush subtil palettes are my favorite. Nectar lace especially. What a divine silky texture they have!
Lancome was once my absolute favorite brand, but ever since they began reformulating most of the products, as well as replacing many altogether, I just can’t bother to stop by the counter anymore…
The only thing that comes to mind is a product I’ve been using almost every single time I’ve worn makeup since it launched (a year or two ago, I can’t remember): bareMinerals neutralizing foundation primer. I’m not sure this qualifies as underrated, but bareMinerals is not getting enough attention in the beauty community. And their eye primer is great, too.
Another vote for BM Eye primer from me! I’ve been testing this against the UDPP (old and anti aging formulas), Lorac’s primer, Wnw Fergie, Milani’s primer and the BM primer has whooped them all on creasing and blend-ability for me. The only down side: pricey considering how much product you get for the price. You get about 1/3 the amount of UDPP and for $22 or so?
Maybe BareMinerals eyeshadow? I know you generally like them Christine, but I don’t hear that much about them (maybe just me though). I love the ones I’ve tried and find they have a good variety and choices in colours and palettes.
Clinique lipsticks. They are my favorite.
Finishing spray! I discovered Urban Decay’s All Nighter four years ago, when I was my sister’s Matron of Honor at her outdoor nuptuals on a 96 degree day. It couldn’t stop me sweating, but any blotting left a clean white tissue; my makeup didn’t budge! And each bottle lasts me a year, so the price isn’t really all that bad.
Second that. I taught summer school one year in a building with no a/c, that was built on a cement slab with no trees around it, when temps got in the 100s. While all the other teachers either gave up on makeup or sweated theirs off mine was fine. I also use the spray mixed with a cake liner or powdered eye shadow as liner and it doesn’t irritate my eyes and makes the liner last and last.
Sephora’s Rouge Shine and Creme lipsticks! They’re Moisturizing with great color payoff at only $12.50, but I don’t hear many people talk about them.
Sephora Rouge shines are nice.. I have a few love them!!
I love them! I gave them a try one day and they are well worth the money! I find they last a while on my lips also.
For me, Illamasqua nail varnishes are up there. Throb is the best red polish I have yet to use. I just do not hear much about the formula outside of people who already are die-hard Illamasqua fans. Also most things Origins. I will not start on that. Oh, and recently discovered Boots No 7 makeup wipes. They are brilliant and can be bought in a value pack for $10.99 (two pack of 30). These fragrance free wipes cleanse, tone, moisturize, and remove eye makeup.
The Boots wipes are my favorite! They actually remove makeup without leaving my skin feeling stripped dry, sticky, or irritated.
One of my favorite products that I’ve haven’t heard much about is the MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance. It is beyond my favorite primer and it gives me an amazing subtle glow. It is my holy grail primer!
Yes, I love it, too. it’s a little pricey but works great and lasts a long time.
I feel like Glitter as well. You can get some smaller size glitter to wear daily and it gives the most amazing pop to a look.
Anastasia Clear Brow gel..there truly is nothing else like it!
absofreakinglutely
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends clear powder – amazing AND cheap
I’d have to go with the NARS Pro Prime Instant Line and Pore Perfecter. I’ve read some bad reviews but ended up trying it for myself and loving it. It really helps fills in fine lines and minimizes the appearance of pores. It really knocks out the shine in my t-zone too! I just wish it was bigger because I can see myself finishing a few tubes
I use mjs brow gel daily. I cant wait to pick up my first tom ford blush (i NEED savage) Jane iredale’s pressed and loose powders need some attention.
Mine is a tool not realkl a product but I have never heard anyone on YouTube ever talk about the Sephora PRO domed crease brush #16. It is the best find I have made all by myself! It just does such a beautiful job and I like my eye makeup so much more since discovering this brush!
Clinique Eyeshadows since they reformulated. Now some of the best on the market at any price point. Dolce & Gabbana Foundations as I had heard nothing about them until trying them for myself about a year ago. Marvelous Moxie lipsticks as they have great pigmentation, hydration, and a very nice, though not extensive, range of shades – all for under $20. Bite Beauty is starting to really take off now, so they are not as underrated, but they have some of the best lipsticks/pencils/glosses on the market. The packaging on some of their products could use some tweaking, but the actual product is spot-on in most cases.
I really like the new Clinique crayon eyeshadows (not sure what they call them). I find too many powder eyeshadows flake all over my face.
I find that Laura Mercier is an underrated brand…it always seems to fly just under the radar and doesn’t seem to generate the hype that other brands do, despite the generally great quality of the products! Same for Misa nail polish.
I agree! Great gel liners and matte eyeshadows.
MUFE eyeshadows and powder pigments 🙂 there aren’t many reviews online nor any hype
apart from shade like 92
I have tried some 10 – 15 pressed eyeshadows and pigments and all of them are more or less great 🙂 and can double up as blush 😀
of course i have seen reviews here but they are are not very popular i guess
and i agree with WWENDY 🙂 YSL gel liners 😀 😀 oh la la … they are wonderfullllll
L’Oreal Polishes and Mascaras. I love them both!
Telescopic is my HG mascara and Voluminous in Carbon Black is great as well.
The Balm Highlighters…I have them all. Betty-Loumanizer (bronze/gold), Mary-Loumanizer (white gold), and Cindy-Loumanizer (pink). I don’t hear them get talked about much. The Balm’s TimeBalm Concealers are amazing too.
Also the blushes from Black Radiance. Toasted Almond in particular. They are pigmented and easy to get at the drugstore.
Clarins SPF 50+ for face! Divine SPF, no streaks, non greasy, non shiny, spreads easily and extremely light – plus it makes a fab base for makeup!
NARS Powder Foundation (SPF 12). This stuff is amazing! I use it as a setting powder and although it’s extremely overpriced to be used to set foundation, it gives such a flawless finish. It’s one of the few powders I’ve used that doesn’t make me look cakey and matches my skin tone perfectly!
I don’t think I have heard or read anyone really talk about MAC’s (or any other brand’s) half lash curler, but this thing is so flipping great for small eyes and grabbing every lash.
Sigma blushes for sure.
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is the best concealer I have ever used!!! Also the KA Airbrush Foundation, and the KA cream blush.
I totally agree! I use the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer as my foundation when I have a night out and want more coverage. I love how concentrated it is, and I just use a wet brush to apply it evenly. Definitely HG status 🙂
Ulta’s house brand nail polish. I work with my hands and most polishes look shabby in a couple of days. Ulta’s lasts as long or longer than anything I’ve tried (excluding gels, which I don’t use) and stays shiny.
I’ve been a big fan of NYX for years and I like Essence I ‘heart’ Volume mascara, which, to me, is as good as any costing 4 times as much.
My budget right now doesn’t include many high-end things.
Bobbi Brown foundations.. the brand isn’t perfect but I am BB girl at heart. Her foundations just give me skin a me but better look and I love how they even out my skin tone!
Laura Mercier eyeshadows especially the matte ones. And I second Wendy’s vote for YSL gel liners. They are the bee’s knees!
NYX cream eyeshadow is my go-to for allergy days. I love the color payoff, and it doesn’t smudge, crease, or run into my eyes, even after a long workout.
Sephora Pro brushes
I agree. The Pro line has some amazing quality brushes.
The Elf small stipple brush and Sonia. Kashuk #205 eyeshadow brush. They are unique in the market. The first is for cream blushes and the second for establishing a crease for mature, hooded eyes or a transitional color between the crease and brow bone. Because they are inexpensive, they are really undervalued.
Jordana liip pencils! Rock N’ Rose is my favorite!
Elf brushes are great. Especially the black ones. And I love the Makeup forever eyebrow pencil and the shu uemura hard eyebrow pencil. Nobody talk about those..!
Laura Mercier Brow definer gel. Beats the brow pencils any day. Urban decay waterproof pencils. Armani Micro-fil loose powder unfortunately discontinued.
Laura Mercier’s caviar sticks. They are long lasting, smooth application, beautifully pigmented. The darker colors are my favorite: blue, jungle (green), plum (purple) and cocoa (brown). They make a great eye liner and creme eyeshadow.
I love Laura Mercier’s caviar sticks I have black and plum. I’m going to pick up brown soon, a good unsung product!
Wet n Wild gel eyeliner (black) is as good as any high end gel I’ve tried (and I’ve tried many). And for a fraction of the price, why not?
Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara comes to my mind. Such a GREAT mascara!
I agree! I love that mascara.
Based on this list, I’m going to have to add more Laura Mercier into my mix! I have only tried their lipstick.
I don’t hear much about Benefit’s Gimme Brow, but it’s literally the only mainstream brow product that works with my color brows. I have dark brown/off-black hair (I’m Asian), and despite being dark brown on the outside of the tube, it’s a wonderful ashy grey-brown, which looks ultra natural and blends with my hair color. All other brow products (Anastasia, I’m looking at you) are way too brown for my hair.
I also love the Physician’s Formula Color Enhancing Eye Trio retractable eyeliners. They are some of the most waterproof/smudgeproof liners on the market. Everything smudges/disappears on me — Armani, Urban Decay, MUFE, liquid, gel, pencil.
Thanks for the tip on the Physician’s Formula eyeliners. I’ve got hooded eyes and most liners smudge on me. How do they fare on your waterline? How creamy are they?
Inglot Gel Eyeliner (black # 77) is it for me, it has this unique texture, it’s very moveable/mobile when I go to put my finger/brush in it, it’s almost a liquid it’s so soft, so it makes application a dream! Once it sets, it SETS. They have an awesome unique color range that I love to use for eyeshadow base as well! Best part? They are $7.
The old eyeshadows (in silver packaging) by The Body Shop were amazing, specifically the shimmer formulation. They got replaced by the Color Crush line a year or so ago, which are good but not as good as the old ones. I remember walking into TBS for the first time in forever, swatching a random eyeshadow and thinking it was a cream shadow, but lo and behold, it was powder. The texture was that good. Great pigment, too. I never heard anyone talk about them, so it’s no wonder they were discontinued. I have found that Lancome’s Color Design singles are similar, which makes sense since they’re both owned by L’oreal. But of course, the TBS shadows retailed for $10 and were pretty much always on sale so you could get them for even less.
Another product that I love that I don’t hear about very much is Bobbi Brown’s Rich Lip Color. It’s really moisturizing, which I didn’t expect from a full-coverage lipstick. It’s got a great cream finish that’s neither glossy nor matte. (I don’t think any of the shades have shimmer.) Long-lasting, but doesn’t feel heavy on. Great range of colors, too. My favorite is Lilac, which is actually more of a pinky mauve.
Missha Cho Bo Yang BB Cream. You always hear about their Perfect Cover BB Cream, and many of the other Asian BB Creams too, but for me, nothing holds a candle to Cho Bo Yang. It has great coverage, physical sunblock, loaded with good for your skin ingredients, much smaller amounts of silicones compared to other formulas, and looks really natural. My skin always feels like it’s improved when I wash it off at night, and it doesn’t feel heavy or like makeup when it’s on, and best of all it doesn’t make my skin breakout like most foundations and bb creams do. HG for me. One of my very best beauty finds. I have to mix #1 with #2 in the summer (I have light, cool undertones NW15-20). When you first put it on, you may get a bit of a greyish cast, but after a few minutes it somehow blends in with your skin.
Bareminerals Brightening Gold Mineral Veil for when I want to use setting or finishing powder on my bb cream. I have Nars Light Reflecting Loose Powder, Guerlain Meteorites, and Hourglass powders, all super-hyped, and while I like them, I don’t like them as much as the BM BGMV. It also feels better on my skin. I imagine the Brightening Pearl Mineral Veil is probably equally as good.
Chanel eyeliner pencil in Clair. It wears well on my waterline (almost nothing else does), but best of all, it adds a brightening to my eyes without being obvious (on my skin-tone). Another HG.
Just thought of a few more:
DHC wipes are fantastic, and a really good value too.
Estee Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser. I had a sample tube GWP a long time ago but never used it since I’m very happy with DHC cleansing oil, but it is travel friendly, so I used it on a trip, and was surprised to discover how well it cleansed and you only need a very small amount.
Kerstin Florian Neroli Water. The. Best. Scent. Ever. I use it whenever I want a mini ahhhhh to rejuvenate, or to mist on face before moisturizer or other skin care treatments. <3
Sephora brand make up. Especially now that a lot of it has been reformulated.
I’d say Illamasqua’s Intense lipgloss in Liaison. It’s an opaque gray that I have never seen done anywhere else. It’s hard to wear, but SO COOL!
Liquid foundation gets all the love in the makeup world, so I feel like powder foundation gets overlooked many times. My current favorite is the Sephora Collection MicroSmooth Baked Foundation Face Powder! I always get tons of compliments on the natural glow of my skin when I wear it, yet I hear very few people ever mention this product in the beauty world. I love it so much that it’s the only foundation I’ve ever finished and repurchased! That alone makes this product AMAZING to me!
An amazing drugstore gem is Wet n Wild Coverall pressed powder. It costs about $3 but there’s something about it that I’ve never found anywhere else. It keeps oil away for hours yet doesn’t look dry, just gives skin the perfect amount of glow.
MUFE Smoky Extravagant mascara. I don’t see tons of people online saying great things about it (or even that much about their other mascaras), but it’s by far my favorite one I’ve ever used thus far in my mascara journey.
I love this mascara!
-Out the door Top Coat, cheap and cheerful and very fast acting top coat
-Nailtiques,nail treatment- expensive but effective
–Lacura-Serum with hyaluronic acid (supermarket line)
-Body Shop oil ( monoi) and some frangrances like Rose Oud and Midnight Bakula and their honey bronzers of course (although these are not really underrated, as they show in top lists of many bloggers)………………….. but the “Cinderella prize” i think needs to go to:
-Coconut oil, most good brands really, as it is a marvel of nature: good as makeup remover, hair, nails, lashes, and cuticle conditioner, all over body skin nourisher… smells wonderful too AND is edible!
Givenchy Noir Couture mascara and Armani undereye corrector for sure
Maybelline XXL Intense mascara. Made me look like I was wearing falsies! Also just got in Armani’s undereye corrector today, good stuff!
YSL Crème de Blush: lovely texture, effortless application, beautiful shades. I prefer them to the new Baby Doll Kiss & Blush.
Diorshow Iconic mascara: this is the only mascara I’ve ever tried that actually curls my lashes.
In general I feel like new products get a lot of press, which is to be expected I guess, but great products just a few seasons old are soon forgotten, although they are sometimes far superior to the newest launches.
Another product I find amazing but read very little about is Michael Kors bronzer.
I think the Rimmel Kohl Kahjal Eyeliners are so good! Creamy, pigmented, and a great price! Very comparable to the Urban Decay 24/7!
1. Rimmel Kate “Kiss” lipstick line and the moisture renew lipsticks are really great, moisturizing and pigmented. give them a try!! at $5-$6 you cant go wrong.
2. Sephora’s Rouge lipsticks (especially the summer collection) whoa…amazing quality and color payoff!! great product and very underrated.
3. Maybelline Full & Soft Thick & Healthy Mascara. Its my HG! I have very long lashes with no life/curl. I curl and then wear this mascara. its amazing.
4. Real techniques makeup brushes.
5. W n W liquid eye liner