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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 Curl Cream That Defeats Humidity Frizz

This summer has had more stormy and humid days than I can remember and my curls have been so out of whack. While some gals thrive on a little moisture in the air to boost their styles, humidity is not a friend of my curls. It causes my gorgeous, plump curls to separate and frizz out to an undefined strand of poofy hair. Let's just say, it's undesirable. I have been on the search for a styling product that would keep my curls intact because I couldn't stand to wear one more top knot. 

And voila! I was in a random convenience store and saw Pantene Pro-V Style Series Curl Controlling Creme, $6.49. I had never seen this item on the shelf before and I thought I struck gold. The consistency is jelly-like so it moisturizes and acts as a gel with mega-hold. I was so anxious that I washed and styled my hair that night with the creme and it was glory! My curls were hydrated, defined and stayed in place the entire 90-degree day.  Not to mention, my boyfriend is in love with the signature Pantene scent. 

Though summer is almost over, there are still humid days lingering. Head over to buy this budget-friendly styling cream, stat! 



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This Face Mist Is My Dry Skin Savior

On the list of annoying feelings — several notches below a UTI but certainly above a hangnail — is dry, tight skin. It's all the more annoying if you've just finished applying your makeup to airbrushed perfection and witness your face begin to flake off — and your pricey foundation with it. Ugh, gross, and no ... just NO.

Skin Inc Pure Serum-Mist, $55, is my secret weapon in moments like these. Face mists have always seemed like a racket to me — a weak mixture of water and essential oils that leave my skin feeling hydrated for a couple minutes, max. Skin Inc's mist is loaded with glycerin and hyaluronic acid, giving my skin a shot of moisture that lasts for hours without disturbing my makeup. You're gonna love this stuff. — Katie McCarthy

Cover image via @iloveskininc



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This Fast-Absorbing Sunscreen is Practically Perfect in Every Way

I'm a sunscreen fanatic and am always searching for a new one to love... but my requirements are steep! It has to have a high SPF, it has to have broad-spectrum protection, and it has to go on easy without leaving any white residue behind. Which is why I fell instantly in love with Skinceuticals Light Moisture UV Defense SPF 50, $39 — it checks off all my boxes. The white cream absorbs near-instantly, and the formula doesn't make me break out (which is amazing, because so many sunscreens do!). And it protects incredibly well. I've worn it during a sunny vacation in Los Angeles, work days in NYC, and snowy days on a mountaintop — and have yet to turn pink while I'm wearing it. It's also super moisturizing — enough so that I usually just use it as my day face cream.

P.S. I got a sneak peek of the formula early, so I'd been squeezing every last drop out of that little lab sample tube. I'm thrilled to graduate to the jumbo version now! —Alyssa Hertzig



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I'm In Love With a $55 Liquid Eyeliner and I'm Not Even a Little Ashamed to Admit It

Full disclosure, I believe this is the single most expensive eyeliner I have ever used. At $55, I'm well aware of the fact that it's a good five or six times the cost of something similar I could pick up at the drugstore.

Here's the thing, though: With its ease of use, staying power (even on my greasy eyelids and watery, allergy-prone eyes) and longevity (coming up on six months, people), I've begrudgingly come to the conclusion that it's worth it. Here, let me wax poetic in bullet point format:

• This stuff lasts flawlessly through everything from my kung fu classes to my intermittent cry-fests (I'm a Cancer, okay?). Layered over a primer, it's pretty much indestructible, yet it's still easy to remove with oil cleanser.

• The product lasts forever, too. I was ready to write this off as a once-in-a-lifetime luxury until I started noticing how long the pen was lasting. You know how liquid liners are often prone to drying up in a couple of months? I've used this almost every day for six months and it's showing no signs of quitting (though, for hygienic reasons, I probably should consider throwing it away soon).

• It's the easiest liquid eyeliner to draw with that I have ever used (and I've tried a lot of easy-to-use liquid liners). The flexible brush tip is perfect for full coverage swipes along the upper lash line, while the fine tip is great for detail work on your wings. Being Asian American, I have folds and creases in my lids that can be difficult for the average liner to draw over, usually resulting in some unevenness and skipping. No such problems with this liner (maybe it helps that it, like me, is of Japanese descent).

Us beauty editors kind of live in a bubble, true — but it's also our responsibility to shout off the rooftops about the beauty products that we really, really love. And Cle de Peau Beaute Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner, $55, is one of those for me. — Rosie Narasaki

Cover Image via @cledepeaubeaute



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The Sunscreen That Quenches My Summer Skin
I've tried just about every sunscreen under the sun. I can tell you that most formulas leave much to be desired. Whether it's the chalky white cast left behind, sticky, greasy residue or, worse, it runs into your eyes and burns. If you're like me, you want a sunscreen that's going to protect you from the sun, feel comfy on your skin and not break the bank.

When I found out Neutrogena was extending its Hydro Boost line to include Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF, $12.49, I knew I had to try it. See, I absolutely love gel moisturizers and the brand's original Hydro Boost Water Gel is a favorite. Much like the face cream, the sunscreen has a similar lightweight, cooling gel consistency. It also features the same clean, refreshing scent!

Applying sunscreen can sometimes feel like a chore, but not this one. The chilly, soothing sunscreen feels more like applying a favorite body lotion — it sinks right into skin and leaves it soft and smooth — even after a day in the pool or the ocean. Summer has only been here a short while and I'm already on my third tube. If you're looking for a sunscreen that doesn't feel or act like traditional sunscreen, I suggest you give this one a whirl.

To see more of my beauty favorites, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin

Thumb via Instagram @neutrogena

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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