You know you’ve heard of them – those same few beauty products that are always featured in fashion magazines, get rave reviews online, and might even count a few of your friends as evangelistic fans. But if you’ve ever tried some of these cult products for yourself, you probably know that the hype is sometimes just that – hype. (Maybelline Great Lash Mascara comes to mind!) These cult products sadly don’t always work as well as their reputations would suggest.
But sometimes, these cult products really do live up to their own hype, and really do perform miracles! Curious as to which ones are actually worth the money? Here are the top 5 cult beauty products that deserve all the hype they get.
Table of Contents
1. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion – $20 at Sephora
This product is a must-have if you wear eyeliner or shadow on a daily basis – it will keep your eye makeup in place and looking flawless all day long!
I actually stayed away from this product for a LONG time because I didn’t believe anything would stop eyeshadow from creasing on my oily lids, but this totally does. I was honestly shocked the first time I tried it, and I’ve been a total convert ever since. This product is truly non-negotiable – if you want your eye makeup to look amazing and STAY looking amazing, this is one product you have to invest in.
2. Rosebud Salve
Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve – $6 at Sephora
Rosebud Salve is a miracle lip product that will have even the most chapped lips feeling smooth and soft all day. It comes in a cute vintage-style tin and smells amazing. Even better? It’s only $6 for a huge tub that will last you months. While Chapstick and Carmex don’t work for my winter chapped lips, I swear by Rosebud Salve all year long. I don’t know what I’d do without it: no other lip balm comes close.
3. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler – $21 at Shu Uemura
Say what you want about other eyelash curlers, but there’s not one that beats the Shu. Maybe it’s because of the specially curved pads, or the ergonomic design, but I’ve had noticeably better results with this curler in comparison to the drugstore brands I’ve tried.
Yes, $19 is a lot for an eyelash curler, but it’s worth it because you will use it every day and it really does make a huge difference in how your eyes look. Don’t believe me? See this before and after to understand why curling your lashes is so important.
4. Batiste Dry Shampoo
Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo – $5.99 at Target
If you’ve ever woken up with 5 minutes to get ready for class and no time to shower, you need Batiste Dry Shampoo!
Dry shampoo is the ultimate time-saving hair product for girls on the go and works like a charm to rid your hair of greasy roots and leave your strands freshly scented. At $5.99, Batiste’s dry shampoo is pretty affordable and so worth the cost for the time it will save you in the morning. As a bonus, it doesn’t contain harmful chemicals like talc.
5. Tweezerman Tweezers
Tweezerman Slant Tweezers – $23 at Ulta
I know some people think all tweezers are the same, but these really do make a difference. At $20, Tweezermans are definitely expensive, but worth it because they cut your tweezing time in half. There’s no more struggling to grasp a hair, worrying about the tweezers slipping, or trying more than once to tweeze the same hair. Tweezerman gets the hair without fail, every time. Even better, these tweezers are SO cute in your makeup bag.
What do you think?
Are there any cult beauty products in your repertoire? Which cult products do you believe deserve their hype? Which cult products are NOT worth trying in your opinion? Sound off in the comments!
Rosebud salve is my favorite beauty product of all time! I absolutely love the scent (it is unique though) and it works miracles! I first tried it my freshman year of high school and have been hooked ever since. Also, Tweezermans definitely beat all other tweezers. I always carry mine in my purse because I hate getting ready at my friends house if they don’t have one!
I’m not crazy about the Shu Uemura curler! I’ve tried so many eyelash curlers over time, from fancy to cheap, and my favorite is still the cheapest one they sell at walgreens – I think it’s by Studio 55? No other curlers fit my eyes at all! I do love Tweezerman tweezers – I actually bought all of my friends a pair for Christmas from TJ Maxx for about $10 each! As far as dry shampoo, I prefer Oscar Blandi – I love the light lemon scent, and when my roots are showing, it even makes them blend in more (I have blonde hair). It’s expensive at $11 for 1 ounce, but so worth it!
My favorite beauty splurge is Ultra Bland Cleanser from Lush! I used to bounce from drugstore brands to Clinque stuff, but this oil based cleanser does wonders for my skin. I’m so obsessed with it – my boss even noticed the other day that my “face looks more smooth and stuff” (oh, boys).
I agree with Natalie about Maybelline mascara! I love DiorShow!
Oh, and about the eye primer – I used to use that stuff all the time, but then a friend turned me on to Monistat Anti-Chafing Creme. Yeah, the yeast infection people. In that same aisle you can find this cream that is supposed to be used if your thighs rub together and chafe – but it works AMAZINGLY well as a makeup primer. Seriously. Try it. it’s something like $6 for a big tube that lasts forever!
Heather – Really? I tried to look up info about that and couldn’t find anything.. could you send me a link? I had no idea – hope it’s not true!
Shannon – Hmm, never tried Shiseido but I have heard good things as well! I think so long as you don’t get a drugstore brand eyelash curler you’re probably good. The Shu is just the best one I’ve tried!
Sam – Too bad about the scent bothering you! I love it but I can totally see how some people might not. Glad you still found a use for it, though.
Natalie – I don’t know! I hate that stuff – it doesn’t do anything good for me at all and I really don’t understand why people love it so much… maybe because it’s just really basic? I don’t know.
I have been using Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer for the last 6 years (and I’m only 19, so that’s saying something) and it’s never failed me even once. I remember agonizing over my eyeshadow going downhill throughout the day and found it online. I make special trips to Sephora every couple of months just to make sure I have some!
I just started using Urban Decay’s primer potion and I love it! I dont have to worry about that ugly crease showing up in the middle of the day.
A product that I love that I cant live without is CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm Stick. Everytime I breathe its minty! Its like a quick easy breath freshener when you need it ;D They have a gloss but I’m not much of a glossy lips person.
Ashley – Wow, never heard of the anti-chafing stuff! Sounds kinda gross but I guess if it saves money and works the same, that’s pretty good! Just have to make yourself forget it’s an “anti chafing cream” haha.
Erin – Good point! You definitely pay for the packaging and the scent – I just love how cute it is though and I’m addicted to the smell. I’m sure vaseline would work just as well though.
Heather – Wow, that’s good to know! I’ll keep looking into it – I definitely don’t want to recommend (or use) something that isn’t safe. Thanks for the info!
Adrianne – Oh yeah! Totally forgot about that. Yet another reason Tweezermans are the best. 🙂
Rebecca – Aah, I wish I had jumped on the bandwagon sooner. I never bought it because I don’t wear a lot of eyeshadow – but totally didnt realize I could use it for liner too! Makes my life SO much easier now.
diorshow mascara, buxom lash, and nars orgasm blush are other cult favorites of mine. you won’t be disappointed!
i have all of these things except for the dry shampoo…i use a diferent brand. they are all great, though!! funny you should mention great lash mascara…i have a friend with GREAT eyelashes that uses it and i could not believe it when she told me it was greatlash! WELL i tried it again because of her, and she must have natrually amazing lashes underneath because i STILL hate the stuff haha.
Great article!
I love the salve…although I had to get used to the smell…lol
I have a cousin who always has the most amazing makeup even after we go out and party for hours…. I finally asked her how … & sure enough she said it was all due to the primer. Haha…
I’m not really a makeup person..but I have been experimenting & the UDPP is amazinggg.
I love anything from LUSH. They opened a store in a mall nearby almost 2 years ago, and I’ve been going there ever since a friend told me about it. I love their handcreams and lip balms. The only downside is that it’s pretty pricey. My sister has extrememly dry skin and she only uses the cream when it starts to dry up and it works miracles. There are other creams she’s tried which sting and LUSH doesn’t. Also, all you vegans out there, they have great vegan products all around the store (:
I love the beauty blender! It’s a little pink foam egg — you wet it and you can get amazing, airbrushed looking results easily. I’m not even that good at applying makeup but with this thing it’s almost impossible to goof!!! Target had some similar items but in purple. I bought both of the ones they had left. I’ll never buy another applicator sponge again.
Verge – Yes, the BeautyBlender is amazing! Totally want to feature it here sometime soon. It really does do wonders if you wear foundation!
I have a Shu and a MAC eyelash curler, and I like the MAC one better. However, the Rosebud Salve is amazingggg.
I’m a big fan of Helena Rubinstein mascaras, though the prices are ridiculous.
I also hate Maybelline Great Lash. There are so many better mascaras out there! (Even drug store ones!) My favorite drug store mascara used to be Max Factor’s Lash Lift. And then they stopped selling in Canada (about four years ago!). So i was buying them online. And then they stopped selling in the states!
I did not know that you could get the rosebud salve at sephora. I have never seen it?
I totally agree on the primer potion. But I just love anything urban decay though. I find their eyeshadows stay on pretty well without the primer!
I love my MAC paint pot and its almost out, and I mentioned this to the girl who was helping me out last time I was at Sephora making another purchase and she mentioned the Urban Decay Primer. She said she’d used the MAC one I have and the Urban Decay, and Urban Decay is way better. Now especially after seeing it here on College Fashion I’ll definitely be trying it out next (not to mention its cheaper than MAC) :). I just bought some Rosebud Salve a few weeks ago and I love it, although I haven’t noticed yet if it works much better than my other lip balm. It definitely IS good though, and with the great smell, cute tin, and nice tint of colour its definitely something I can see myself buying over again!