Many of us spend hours browsing the aisles of Sephora and Ulta Beauty and spend even longer obsessively pouring over online reviews before buying a product. It can be difficult to cut through the clutter of advertising and influencers to find honest reviews from real women, which is why we turned to “everyday” women across the age spectrum and asked them to single out one product that changed everything for them.
Think of the above slideshow as a cheat sheet. In it you’ll find designer brands, drugstore buys, cult products and niche farmers’ market buys, all of which women swear are life-changing for skin, hair or overall appearance.
[ These Were the Top-Selling Drugstore Beauty Products of 2018, According to CVS ]
Everyday Women on the One Beauty Product that Changed Everything
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Tarte
Creaseless Under Eye Concealer, $26 at Sephora
"Tarte Creaseless Under Eye Concealer is a game changer. I’m a minimalist when it comes to makeup. I put a couple spots (a little goes a long way) of this under my eyes and any other area I want to conceal, tap it into my skin with my fingers and off I go. It’s my favorite way to look rested with minimal effort! Perfect for any gal on the go." —Alexandra, 35
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La Roche-Posay
Micellar Cleansing Water for Sensitive Skin, $19.99 at Amazon
"I love La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water to remove makeup. I was using face wipes before this, but even the sensitive skin kind would burn and wouldn’t get all my makeup off. This micellar water is not oily at all and removes makeup, leaving skin feeling fresh. It’s also affordable and accessible.” —Lindsay, 35
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Fekkai
Brilliant Glossing Shampoo, $20 at Fekkai
"It smells very clean and leaves your hair feeling even fresher. The first time I used it was at a friend's house and I didn't even blowdry my hair, which tends to be wavy and frizzy. I put it up in a bun and it was soft and shiny after drying naturally. It was strikingly better even though I needed a haircut! In short, my hair feels healthier than ever and it is worth paying a little extra." —Sara, 22
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Amala
Brightening Corrective Concentrate, $192 at Amala
"The Amala brightening concentrate works miracles for those times that I go against all advice and better judgement and attack a blemish. [It] refreshes my skin seemingly instantly!" —Susan, 26
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Korres
Guava Lip Butter, $14 at Korres
“I used to have dry and cracked lips all the time, but I never do now with this product! I stock up and have it with me all the time.” —Kristine, 50
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Prime Beauty
Bronzeville, $21 at Prime Beauty
"Before this came along, it was so hard to find bronzers that worked for my skin tone. Most bronzers are the same shade as my skin and this one is just right. The pigment is also great. I love it!” —Bryanna, 31
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Beautycounter
Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage, $45 at Beautycounter
"I had a couple pretty large sunspots on my face. I started using this foundation, and after a few months, the spots were GONE! Like totally gone and my face is the clearest it’s ever been." —Jessica, 35
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Dior
Capture Youth, $95 at Dior
“This provides the perfect amount of lift and creates a beautiful canvas to apply your makeup. I canceled all future facial appointments after using it for just one week." —Mel, 27
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Giorgio Armani Beauty
Luminous Silk Foundation, $64 at Giorgio Armani Beauty
“This was a HUGE game changer for me. I've been using the same matte powder foundation since I was in college, but older, dry skin and powder foundations are not a cute mix. The Luminous Silk foundation evens out my skin — literally, it makes it look perfect — while also taking a solid five years off my age thanks to the dewy, glowy finish.” —Jordan, 37
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Biologique Recherche
Lotion P50, $101 at Shop Rescue Spa
“I’m addicted to Biologique Recherche's P50 product. I've been using it for 8-plus years now and began to see a major difference in my skin within months of starting to use it. I just turned 51, but I look a lot younger. I tend to switch up my products based on new anti-aging developments because, like many of us, I'm obsessed with looking younger, but P50 is the one product that always remains. It's been a game changer. I work often with makeup artists and so many of them use and recommend it to their clients — interesting insider tip!” —Laura, 51
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Yves Saint Laurent Beauté
Forever Youth Liberator Eye Serum, $120 at Neiman Marcus
“I’m 36 years old and 9 months pregnant, so life has been taking its toll lately. I started using the product about 6 months ago and it INSTANTLY makes me look 5-10 years younger and brightens my entire face. So much so that when I use it, my husband always says, ‘Your makeup looks really good today.’ And if the men notice, you know it’s good! I’ve used a ton of eye creams (Chanel, Kiehls, etc.) and never had these type of results. I’m obsessed.” —Vanessa, 36
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Drybar
Triple Sec, $26 at Drybar
“I absolutely LOVE Drybar’s Triple Sec 3-in-1 dry shampoo. It is a dry shampoo that not only refreshes, but texturizes and volumizes hair as well, making it simple to maintain hair between washes and blowouts. The dry shampoo is not sticky but instantly absorbs into hair leaving it feeling lighter and cleaner. I always take this dry shampoo with me. Plus, the fragrance is amazing.” —Ann, 27
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Scrub Me
Powder Mask & Nourishing Serum Pair, $24 at Scrub Me
“It's a two-part product of serum and powder that you blend together to create a face scrub. I love it because it feels and smells fantastic and my skin looks 15 years younger! I'm 50 and have had multiple people ask what I use on my skin. The brand and products were created by a local, female entrepreneur. I feel good about supporting a local, woman-owned business. I discovered the products at a artisan market in June and have been using them ever since!” —Hope, 50
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Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte's Magic Cream, $100 at Sephora
“This is one beauty product that is not only worth the price tag, but changed the look of my skin and my makeup routine. I use it as a base for my makeup application and it keeps my combo skin from breaking out while being dewy and moisturized. Even in the winter months, my skin looks soft and fresh — it's a keeper for sure.” —Stephanie, 34
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Baddie Glow
Raw Honey and Orange Suckle Face Wash, $12.50 at Baddie Glow
“I found this young entrepreneur on Instagram named Jessica Walker who creates homemade, natural, organic skin care products called Baddie Glow. I've been using her products for three months now and I see a significant difference in my skin. People don't believe I am barefaced when I run errands. This product in particular has my face smoother and has given me a brighter complexion. It has faded and reduced acne marks, dark spots and blemishes. All of her products are awesome. I have tossed out my old skin care routine and use all Baddie Glow everything.” —Carla, 33
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Sephora Collection
Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in 01 Always Red, $14 at Sephora
“Sephora’s Red 01 lipstick changed everything for me. I always loved statement lips on other women but never ventured myself; far-from-white teeth from my coffee addiction AND a stubborn embrace of my uneven bite made it seem unattainable. One happy day a makeup artist told me the 01 is an industry secret because it fits every skin tone. She was right! I consider it my woman ‘superpower’ weapon.” —Judith, 43
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Too Faced
Better Than Sex Mascara, $24 at Too Faced
“After buying my first tube a few years ago, I knew the second I used it that I could never go back to a different kind of mascara. A lot of products claim to give you a false eyelashes look, but for me, Too Faced Better Than Sex is the only one that actually delivers that promise. I instantly feel more put-together after swiping on a coat.” —Brianna, 24
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Code of Harmony
Virgin Skin Serum, $49 at Code of Harmony
“I’m in my late 30s, have had problem skin my whole life and started using Code of Harmony products about 1.5 years ago. I no longer break out, have gained clarity and evenness in color and skin tone and now have the best skin of my life! My skin is by no means perfect, but again, it’s in the best condition of my life. Code of Harmony’s Virgin Skin has made me a believer in the benefits of CBD!” —Rachel, 37
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SkinCeuticals
Hydrating B5 Gel, $82 at SkinCeuticals
“This is my jam! [It was] recommended to me years ago by some Eastern European facialist with the most radiant, flawless skin. I'm pretty low-key when it comes to my routine, but throughout the seasons, I find that it's the one product that has worked for my sometimes dry skin. And it doesn't feel too sticky when it dries down.” —Deanne, 43
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Cult + King
Tonik, $35 at Cult + King
“This completely changed my scalp health and it smells amazing.” —Maya, 29
