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The #ProductEmpties We Loved to the Last Drop

From new finds to longtime favorites, these are beauty products that our editors use until the bitter end (of the tube)
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The Scrub That Keeps Me Glowing All Winter Long
As the temperatures drop, I find my oily skin in need of serious exfoliation. Between product build-up, the dry chilly air and the perpetual L.A. sun, I find my pores congested and my complexion duller than usual. When dry flaky skin peeks through my foundation, I know it's time to slough off a layer. Rather than reaching for a scratchy physical exfoliant or a harsh chemical one, I turn to NeuRadiance Instant Cell Exfoliator, $79, and my skin has never looked or felt better.

This exfoliant is a gentle mix of physical and chemical exfoliation including sodium bicarbonate, pearl powder and bromelain. I love that it's free of parabens, preservatives and those aluminum and plastic beads that harm the environment. The scrub starts out with a pleasant warming sensation, but as you add water and work it into the skin, it turns chilly and invigorating. The skin-softening scrub hydrates as it exfoliates, but does not leave any hint of oil on the skin. It will leave you with baby soft, glowing skin that is perfectly prepped for makeup. Flakes are a thing of the past — foundation goes on so smooth and even.

If you're looking for a gentle exfoliant that works and won't over-dry skin or leave you oily, I suggest you give this one a whirl — it's worth every penny. To see more of my beauty favorites, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin



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A Natural Mineral Deodorant That Doesn't Stink

I remember noticing Crystal Deodorant on my mom's bathroom counter when I was a kid. Although I'm a natural deodorant fan, I didn't try Crystal until recently for superficial reasons. I didn't understand what everyone loved about rubbing a rock on their armpits; also the packaging absolutely reeked of the '90s.

However, not only has Crystal totally prettied up its packaging, I discovered their deos are available in a variety of formulas. Crystal Mineral Deodorant Roll-on in Chamomile & Green Tea, $4.75, is legit one of the best-smelling deodorants I've ever encountered, not to mention vegan and free of aluminum, parabens and phthalates. More importantly, it feels super light and dry on your pits — nothing like my old fave natural deo with its crumbly, greasy coconut oil base. Try it and you'll be converted. —Katie McCarthy

Cover image via @crystaldeodorant



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The Foundation That Gives Me Good Skin Days, Every Day

My skin has plenty of redness, dark circles and dark spots, so personally, I like a foundation that's a true foundation. (Descriptors like "sheer" or "tinted moisturizer" make me nervous in this context.) Some girls like their foundations airy and barely there, and that's great, but I like coverage, ok? So, quite honestly, I didn't have high hopes for something that bills itself as a "skin tint." But, despite the odds, Lancome Skin Feels Good Hydrating Skin Tint, $35, has become my go-to. It's amazing! The moisturizing, hyaluronic acid-infused formula is light and it doesn't look makeup-y at all, but it still manages to magically cover everything I want to hide. What's more, it's so easy to apply. I just squirt it into my hands and rub it on with my fingers. I guess this is how the other, perfect-skinned half has been living? Well, I'll take it! — Alyssa Hertzig

Image via @lancomeofficial



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The Delicious Lip Mask That's Saving Me From Serious Chapping This Winter

I have the most chapped lips ever. No matter what I do, they're perpetually dry. It's kind of just become a fact of my existence that I've resigned myself to.

One thing that's been helping a lot lately? Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask, $26. Its texture is thick and occlusive, so it really locks in moisture and stays on lips for hours without warranting reapplication (without ever feeling sticky or uncomfortable). It's honestly one of the few things that's been able to keep my lips hydrated, especially as we move into winter.

It comes in several flavors, but I'm especially enamored of the Maple variety — it really does taste just like maple syrup and the bronzey tint adds a gorgeous glow to bare lips. The new Candy Cane variety (special for the holidays) is also quite nice, with its wintry flavor and subtle shimmery pink hue.

It's a bit on the pricey side, sure, but it's worth noting the mini-sized tube I've been generously applying for the past few months is still going strong. And it really is one of the best lip treatments I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot). — Rosie Narasaki

Cover image via @bitebeauty



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This Portable Hair Tool is a Godsend for My Frizz
Since my teens, I've had what you might call "high maintenance hair." My natural texture is a mix of wavy and curly and it frizzes when exposed to any humidity — combine that with many years of coloring and heat damage. That said, I've never been able to just let my hair air dry. In fact, my next best option to the laborious process of blow-drying and heat styling is to put it in French braids. I'm all about tools and products that speed up and simplify the smoothing process, so when I discovered Lunata Wireless Rechargeable Touchup Iron/Styler, $150, I knew I had to try it.

Lunata's wireless styler is a game changer. It's cordless and has a rechargeable lithium ion battery so you can take it with you anywhere. Each charge lasts up to 45 minutes and it heats up to 400 degrees in a flash. The one-inch floating titanium plates need just one pass through the hair to leave it smooth, shiny and frizz-free. I love that I can straighten, curl or get subtle bends in my ends with just one tool. It's even great for bangs as it doesn't leave those annoying little crimp marks on the supershort baby hairs.

The charger itself is small and minimalist in design, so it looks neat and chic perched on my vanity. I just insert the pretty white and rose gold iron into the charger and take it with me to the gym, in my overnight bag or my purse in case my hair starts misbehaving while I'm out and about. It comes with a silicone heat protectant cover that you pop on after using so it doesn't burn you or anything inside your bag. Typically, I use two to three irons to achieve my ideal hairstyle, but Lunata is like having three irons in one. And for that reason, I'm bringing this baby with me to Hawaii next month! To see more of my beauty favorites, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin



Ever had a beauty product you love so much that you shook, hacked, scraped or squeezed its container until you were absolutely positive you had expended all of its precious contents? Rare indeed is the product that elicits that deliciously desperate feeling, especially in beauty editors. So when our team of beauty mavens encounters a rave-worthy product, you know it's the real deal. Herewith, our editors rattle off their "beauty empties," aka the best beauty products that they can't help but use until the last drop. Read on for their best nail polishes, hair products, skin care products and makeup now.
MAR 13, 2020 | SHARES
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