These Under-$10 Beauty Tools Will Legit Change Your Life
Whether your go-to look is gym makeup, no-makeup makeup, or Instagram makeup, there are a few beauty tools you should always have on hand. A fully-stocked beauty toolbox is essential, not because we say so, but because it'll make your beauty routines faster, your makeup application more precise, and your skin less prone to breakouts (This is a PSA: Go home immediately wash your makeup brushes). At the same time, it's way more gratifying to spend money on makeup than on tweezers and tiny, wooden cuticle sticks. And since life is difficult and expensive enough without wondering how much cash you should drop on a brush cleansing pad (Spoiler alert: $6, tops!) we've rounded up our favorite beauty tools that cost $10 or less.
Photo Courtesy of Target1/21Conair Shower Comb, $1.99
"I swear by having a wide tooth comb in the shower to run through my curls when they’re super wet and fresh from conditioner. It helps detangle and smooth them without adding frizz." —Sara Gaynes Levy, senior health editor
Photo Courtesy of Amazon2/21Diane 2" Bobby Pins, 1 Pound, $4.01
"A few years ago, I bought an entire pound of bobby pins. It was a beauty gamechanger. I never run out, the package is small enough to be convenient, and I never get that twinge of guilt when I leave a few of them somewhere or use 20 in a complicated updo because there are SO MANY MORE. Seriously, I've been running off the same pack for five years." —Cady Drell, sex and relationships editor
Photo Courtesy of Real Techniques3/21Real Techniques Eye Shade + Blend Brushes, $8.99
"I’m an eyeshadow lover so I always need at least two brushes for applying color and blending. You know, because I’m a serious artist. (That's sarcasm.) I own so many of these Real Techniques brushes because they honestly work. They’re fluffy enough for blending, but apply color like a dream. And they’re so affordable so it gives me an excuse to buy more and never wash my brushes." —Erin Reimel, beauty assistant
Photo Credit: Eric Muetterties4/21Japonesque Solid Brush Cleanser with Scrubbing Pad, $10
"When I do actually take the time to wash my brushes, I make a huge production out of it. I turn some music up and spend a good hour just scrubbing away. This cleansing solid makes it so much easier to wash my dozens of brushes because I can just swirl each one in the soap and lather it up. When I use liquid soap, I feel like I’m wasting so much product, but solid lasts forever." —E.R.
Photo Courtesy of Goody5/21Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins, $7.29
"After a stylist told me not to tie my hair up at night to avoid breakage, I was perplexed. Actually, that's an understatement. I was more, like, full of question marks. How else do you keep curls in shape overnight? Well, with these guys: I use them every single night to put my hair up. Just twist your hair up, spin two pins in, and wake up with perfectly preserved curls." —Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer
Photo Courtesy of Turbie Twist6/21Turbie Twist Super-Absorbent Hair Towel, $7.99
"I’ve used a Turbie Twist for as long as I can remember. It’s super lightweight so I don’t have to balance a giant towel on my head and it’s made of microfiber so water gets absorbed super fast. I only have to wear it for a few minutes and my hair is ready to air dry the rest of the way." —E.R.
Photo Courtesy of Target7/21Revlon Expert Nail Groomer, $5.49
"When I’m in between manicures, the one thing I can’t stand is having messy, overgrown cuticles. I swear by this little guy's flat end to push my cuticles back so I can skip getting them trimmed at a salon." —E.R.
Photo Courtesy of L'Oreal8/21L'Oréal Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender, $7.99
"I've gone on about L'Oréal's Infallible Blender before, but I'll do it again: it's the best! It somehow swells up with water immediately, meaning you don't waste precious morning minutes standing by the sink squeezing your sponge like a dope. It's as good at foundation as any other sponge, but I actually love it to apply powder—it gets rid of any cakiness and makes your skin look blurred but natural." —R.N.
Sephora9/21Invisibobble Original the Traceless Hair Ring, $8 for 3
"Every once in a while something funny happens in the beauty industry, and every single editor shows up to events with the exact same thing—and that's what these double-duty hair ties are right now. In demand. Luckily, they're cheap and in bountiful stock at Sephora. Find them in the bins by the register and never struggle with hair dents or misplaced ties that camouflage with the bottom of your bag." —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor
Photo Courtesy of EcoTools10/21Ecotools Makeup Brush Cleaner, $7.99
"This is, hands down, the most thorough and gentle brush cleanser I've ever encountered—it's like baby shampoo for your makeup brushes. A single bottle lasts about four months at a time if I clean about ten brushes once a week. Even under the duress of a weekly wash, my most delicate brushes don't fray, shed bristles, or lose their shape during an Ecotools shampoo. It's also great for other products that need a regular scrub down like cleansing brushes and mitts." —Amber Rambharose, beauty editor
Photo Courtesy of Real Techniques11/21Real Techniques Single Pocket Expert Organizer, $8.99
"As a beauty product hoarder and apartment dweller with next to zero storage space, I couldn’t live without this stick-on pocket. So thank you insight, and thank you, innovation: with this Real Techniques mirror stick-on, I can continue to collect all the brushes I definitely, really, truly, need. Really." —R.N.
E.L.F.12/21E.L.F. Facial Massager, $4
"When this first landed on my desk I joked that it looked like a sex toy. Well, I promptly ate my words because the relaxing face massage it gives you is no laughing matter. I use it at my desk when I need a 30-second brain break and my eyes are tired from staring at a screen." —L.S.
Photo Courtesy of Forever 2113/21Forever 21 Foldable Lash Comb, $3.90
"My mascara preferences are heavy, dark, and defined. We're talking a maximal lash. That typically also means clumps, so I swear by lash combs, the most genius invention in the land. Go about your business and load your lashes with as much mascara as you want, then give a swift death to any unwanted clump action. If you like mascara, you need this." —R.N.
Photo Courtesy of I Dew Care14/21I Dew Care Silicone Mask Brush, $8
"A face mask brush might sound indulgent, but they end up saving you from wasting product and making a mess. Instead of bristles, which tend to clump together or drip everywhere, this silicone mask brush has a single ridged head. It's easy to use, even easier to clean, and works with any type of face mask.” —A.R.
Photo Courtesy of Target15/21Neutrogena Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes in Pink Grapefruit, $5.29
"OK, so these maybe aren't a tool per se, but these wipes save my life when I’m traveling. The natural citric acid ensures I don’t break out without being overly harsh or drying out my skin. I also keep them on my bedside table for those late nights when I’m too tired to wash my face." —Jessica Kantor, west coast editor
Photo Courtesy of Ulta16/21ULTA Mani-Pedi Sticks, $6
"As an at-home manicure kind of gal, I've gouged myself with a sharp metal manicure tool more than once. At the same time, I can't really tolerate how dull and mushy wooden cuticle sticks can get, so I love these plastic mani-pedi sticks. They're tough enough to be effective, but the dual ends won't draw first blood while you're trying to whip your nail beds into shape." —A.R.
Sephora17/21Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Dear Brachiosaurus Blotting Paper, $8
"First off, hi, how cute is this little dino town drawing on the front? Second, see that sponge? It sticks to your blotting papers so you never have to rip off a sheet and inadvertently use up all its oil-soaking powers on your fingers instead of your face. This is an always-keep-in-my-bag must." —L.S.
Photo Courtesy of J.Cat Beauty18/21J.Cat Beauty Silicone Brush Cleaner, $4.99
"Whether you prefer your makeup brush cleanser in shampoo, solid, or spray, it helps to have a tool handy to—gently!—get between brush fibers for a truly deep clean. Makeup brush cleansing mitts and pads are having a moment, but I have seen some shocking price tags attached to flimsy pads that are awkward to handle. This little silicone tool fits right in the palm of my hand and gets into all my brushes' nooks and crannies." —A.R.
Photo Courtesy of Earth Therapeutics19/21Earth Therapeutics Charcoal Vegetable Body Sponge, $6
"I take a lot of bubble baths which means I'm well aware of how often good loofahs go bad. This sponge is like a loofah on exfoliation-boosting steroids. It leaves my skin ultra-soft, but isn't abrasive so I can scrub down without feeling like I'm sloughing all my skin off. Full disclosure—it does contain charcoal (good) which takes the form of slippery, almost-oil (bad, maybe, if you don't enjoy the detoxifying powers of charcoal)." —A.R.
Sephora20/21Nars Pencil Sharpener, $6
"Usually with pencil sharpeners, you get what you pay for. And that typically means a flimsy piece of plastic that (a) doesn't have a chamber for shavings or (b) has one that pops off and spills eyeliner remains all over your bag. Not so with this: It's sturdy, dependable, and not a penny more than I want to spend on a sharpener." —L.S.
