We love a great beauty product. Duh, obviously. That's pretty much what this whole Best of Beauty Awards thing is all about. But nothing endears us even more to an already awesome cleanser, mascara, or conditioner than a mind-bogglingly low price. Sure, we love a splurge too, but a vanity full of three-figure spends isn't exactly realistic for most beauty buffs—and it doesn't have to be in the pursuit of a high-performance routine.
What used to be a category of exclusively drugstore finds has expanded to include brands associated with broader shopping destinations, like The Ordinary, Naturium, and Itk. But don't worry: the names you've always relied on for the best beauty bargains—like Olay, Dove, and Revlon—are still dreaming up award-worthy moisturizers, deodorants, lipsticks, and more.
Even those with unlimited budgets will have to agree that this year's seal-bearing steals could easily be mistaken for high-end formulas. Don't even bother making a shopping list in your Notes app. Just click through and confidently add to cart.
Best of Beauty Awards 2024: Steals Winners
Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's best budget-friendly beauty picks.
Best Body Steals
Why It Won: The only thing we don't like about SheaMoisture Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick is that it took the brand until this year to launch it. To think, we had to wait this long for sweat protection that seems like luxurious skin care! But all is forgiven considering how awesome our underarms feel and smell, thanks to the range of tropical, fruity, and powdery fragrances—each featuring different ingredients like shea butter, vitamin C, and niacinamide.
Tester Feedback: "I didn't know that I wanted or needed my antiperspirant to smell like coconut and hibiscus until I pulled this guy out of my Best of Beauty testing box," says executive beauty director Jenny Bailly. "And it glides on like butter. I haven't used another stick since."
Why It Won: Whether your skin is dull, dry, or—gasp!—both, Vaseline Radiant X Replenishing Hydrating Body Oil is prepared to provide everything it needs for an instant glow-up. Coconut, jojoba, and grapeseed oils unite with lipids to restore moisture without wait-to-get-dressed stickiness. They immediately leave your limbs looking and feeling unabashedly smooth.
Tester Feedback: "After the shower, I immediately pump a quarter-size amount into the palm of my hands and dab it onto my legs and arms," says associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez. "My skin feels softer to the touch and with this price tag I don't feel guilty using too much."
Why It Won: We're not saying Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub is better than walking through a Moroccan rose garden, but consider this: It smells just as good and that garden walk isn't going to leave your skin smooth the way this much more affordable option does with sugar, argan oil, and shea butter. Just something to think about.
Tester Feedback: "I've been loyal to Tree Hut's sugar scrubs for years—I just can't get over the glowy results (and affordable price point)," says social media manager Bianca Richards. "This is one of the only head-to-toe exfoliators that gives my skin an ultra-polished look and feel with the added floral fragrance that lingers long past shower time."
Why It Won: Formulated with the same DHA as traditional self-tanners but with a slow-and-steady MO, this silky, glycerin-enriched body lotion develops a golden glow gradually. In other words, Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer makes it really, really hard to mess up a fake tan (and your sheets).
Tester Feedback: "The formula has beautiful slip for such a thick lotion, which is one of the reasons it's so easy to use—it just blends so nicely," says contributing editor Marci Robin.
Why It Won: With Olay Indulgent Moisture Body Wash, you might think for a moment you accidentally brought a body lotion into the shower. That's how rich, hydrating, and luxurious its vitamin B3 formula and cherry-meets-rose fragrance feel—though the plush lather definitely lets you know that you're getting a great cleanse.
Tester Feedback: "Growing up, I always loved the Olay body washes and still keep coming back to them," says Richards. "This one has an ultra-creamy texture that leaves my skin feeling nourished and smooth right out of the shower."
Why It Won: Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion somehow combines skin benefits, packaging practicality, and a stylish minimalist aesthetic into a single moisturizer. Released through an oddly enjoyable pump, the nongreasy formula feeds skin with omega fatty acids, shea butter, and B vitamins, then disappears before you've picked out your jeans.
Tester Feedback: "I dread applying lotion; it gives me the sensorial ick," says Gutierrez. "Thankfully, this formula is super hydrating and long-lasting, which means after the first application I don't have to slather it on again until my next shower. A little bit goes a long way too—only a few pumps cover my arms and legs."
Why It Won: Method Aluminum Foaming Hand Soap's glycerin and aloe vera make sure skin stays soothed while washing. And in a minimalist refillable aluminum bottle, it looks chic as hell, too.
Tester Feedback: "I have to wash my hands the second I step into my New York City apartment," says Gutierrez. "One big, foamy pump of this Method soap is plenty to go around (and around) my hands, leaving them soft and clean—and rid of any subway pole germs."
Why It Won: Well, isn't this clever: Banana Boat 360 Coverage Sport Sunscreen Mist SPF 50+ lets you switch between a continuous spray for larger areas and shorter bursts for smaller spots. Its chemical filters provide broad-spectrum protection and the lightweight feel will have you looking forward to reapplication.
Tester Feedback: "It has a dry finish, a high SPF, and it's easy to apply—sold!" says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. "And I love how the nozzle has a lock so it won't spray in my bag."
Best Skin-Care Steals
Why It Won: You want glowiness, not greasiness, and Peach Slices understands the distinction. The zinc PCA and green tea extract in their Oil Control Balancing Cleanser reduces shine in its tracks as the crystal-clear formula leaves skin balanced and refreshed.
Tester Feedback: "This is a great gel that foams well and has a light, spa-like scent," says digital art director Ingrid Fowler. "My face feels super fresh and clean."
Why It Won: You gotta love it when a lip balm feels rich but doesn't require being rich to keep one in every bag. The Itk Nourishing Lip Balm is packed with shea butter, vitamin E, and coconut oil to undo existing dryness on contact and lock out future flakes.
Tester Feedback: "When I am without lip balm, I feel like an astronaut without a helmet—scared and in grave danger," says Hunter Lacey, associate director of special projects. "I must have a reliable balm in every bag I own. This one checks all the boxes I require: affordable (I'm paying rent in New York), divinely occlusive (no dry lips for hours!), and in a tube (digging my finger in a tiny jar? I'll pass)."
Why It Won: PanOxyl Overnight Spot Patches may be intended to go on at bedtime, but these thicker-than-average hydrocolloid circles can be stuck on any time you want to protect a pimple from healing-hindering elements like pollution and—admit it—your own fingers. (We totally understand that torturous tendency to pick and these are true skin-savers and scar-stoppers.)
Tester Feedback: "These are the only pimple patches I use that actually stay on and make a difference the next day," says beauty closet associate Edward Horgan.
Why It Won: A brilliant alternative to packing a liquid cleanser in your carry-on, Olay Cleansing Melts start out as a little pad that morphs into a robust lather with some water and a bit of friction. As dirt and makeup disappear, so does any trace of the smarty-pants square you began with—so much less wasteful than wipes.
Tester Feedback: "When I first saw Olay Cleansing Melts in the lab, I was impressed by the idea that all the cleansing power you need is in this little, tiny square," says editor in chief Jessica Cruel. "Once you add water, the lather is silky and voluminous. I was worried the minuscule pad wouldn’t produce enough foam for a thorough wash, but that wasn't an issue at all."
Why It Won: Derived from yeast and ever so much fun to say, the saccharomyces ferment in The Ordinary’s Saccharomyces Ferment 30% Milky Toner smooths skin through gentle exfoliation and ample hydration. And with the help of squalane and glycerin, that hydration lasts well beyond application.
Tester Feedback: "Testing for Best of Beauty in the dead of winter can make for dry, sensitive skin," says Gutierrez. "Thankfully, this hydrating toner made its way to my testing bin, where it was love at first reusable cleansing pad pat. After shaking a generous amount of milky liquid onto the pad, I dabbed the water-like formula all over my cleansed complexion morning and night before following up with the rest of my skin-care routine. I've gone through a few bottles since, and my clear, glowy skin has this toner to thank."
Why It Won: Sunscreen is always the last step in a morning skin-care routine after moisturizer—unless your sunscreen is hydrating enough to be a moisturizer in its own right, like Bioré UV Aqua Rich SPF 50. This hotly anticipated J-beauty import was worth the wait: It offers abundant sun protection as hyaluronic acid and glycerin set skin up for hydration success.
Tester Feedback: "I discovered this incredibly lightweight SPF a few years ago during a trip to Tokyo and promptly purchased three of them to bring back home with me," says associate features director Dianna Mazzone Singh. "Now, you can get the same quick-to-blend formula right here in the US—without the added baggage fees."
Best Makeup Steals
Why It Won: There are so many moisturizing ingredients in E.L.F. Cosmetics Glow Reviver Lip Oil—we’re talking apricot, avocado, jojoba, and pomegranate oils, and squalane—we can't believe there was any room left for color. And yet! The seven shades give lips the most gorgeous, glossy tint.
Tester Feedback: "Its hydrating formula and balmy feel have me smacking my lips together and looking forward to when I have to reapply it," says Calaor, whose go-to shade is Pink Quartz, a translucent rosy hue.
Why It Won: If you gave up on matte liquid lipsticks during their infamously drying heyday, it's time to come back around and give Revlon ColorStay Limitless Matte Liquid Lipstick a much-deserved try. You get all of the intense, long-lasting color (16 of them, in fact) that you expect from the format, plus a surprisingly comfortable feel, courtesy of hyaluronic acid and upcycled cranberry extract.
Tester Feedback: "This will survive the apocalypse on your lips," says senior audience director Lexi Herrick. "It's virtually transfer-proof and not too drying either. The color selection is also excellent, ranging from subtle to bold and vibrant."
Why It Won: Don't get us wrong when we say the sheer yet buildable Wet n Wild Bare Focus Niacinamide Skin Tint is undetectable—you'll definitely notice how well it conceals redness and blurs imperfections. It's just that this skin-care-spiked foundation’s satin finish looks so natural that you'll forget you’re even wearing it.
Tester Feedback: "This is a go-to recommendation for the foundation skeptics in my life—you know, the my-skin-needs-something-but-I-don't-want-to-look-like-I'm-wearing-foundation crowd," says Lacey. "With a hydrating, skin-like finish, and a just-right amount of coverage, this $9 (!) foundation has left $100-plus complexion products collecting dust on my vanity."
Why It Won: L.A. Girl Super Charged Maxed Out Volume Mascara checks all the boxes for everyday glam lashes: fullness, length, definition, lift, and a life-affirming single-digit price tag. With so much going for it, it's destined to become a drugstore classic.
Tester Feedback: "An incredible amount of volume for $7? Yes, please," says Horgan. "This mascara gives my lashes that perfect wispy width that every high-end mascara aims to give—but for about a quarter of the cost."
Why It Won: With its super-slender felt-tip pen format, Nyx Professional Makeup Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner glides on with the ease, control, and saturated pigment you’d expect from a liquid liner three times the price. It's a must-have for cat eyes and graphic looks that need to stay sharp until you break out the makeup remover.
Tester Feedback: "It's super-pigmented with a precise brush tip—perfect for my daily cat eye but also for drawing more dramatic, graphic eye looks," says Calaor. "And it's so affordable. Whenever I run out of eyeliner (a nightmare!), I drive to Target or Ulta to pick up one of these pens for around $10."
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Why It Won: If Makeup Revolution Fluffy Brow Filter Duo's magic ended with just its extra-fine, ideally angled pencil tip and the hair-like strokes it creates, that would be enough. But this overachiever also has a clear, enriching gel wax on the other end to let you shape and set your brows for hours of flake-free hold.
Tester Feedback: "As a redhead, finding an eyebrow pencil is the ultimate challenge. This provides a natural red hue and a fine-tipped end that allows you to draw effortless strokes," says social director Kassidy Silva. "Plus, the dual-sided tube gives you a workable gel with an angled brush to create a simple feathered-brow effect."
Why It Won: Literally baked on terra-cotta tiles, Milani Cosmetics Baked Blush is almost too pretty to use—but think of all of the stunning color your cheeks would miss out on if you didn’t take your brush to these satin and shimmery shades. No matter your level of expertise, the skin-warming shades build seamlessly to give you exactly the intensity you desire.
Tester Feedback: "This blush—specifically, the perfectly peachy, gloriously gleaming, and brilliantly blendable Luminoso—might be the only thing from 2015-era beauty YouTube that hasn't been canceled or gone kaput, and for good reason: It's incredible," says Lacey.
Why It Won: The stunning shine supplied by Flower Beauty Gloss Crush Lip Serum doesn't just reflect light, it also conveys just how damn moisturizing the layer-able formula is. Avocado, apricot, castor, and raspberry seed oils drench lips in comfort and color that feels as good as it looks.
Tester Feedback: "When I need nourishing hydration but still want a glossy effect, this is the best," says associate content manager Hannah Brower. "It's not sticky and it feels super smooth on the lips."
Best Hair-Care Steals
Why It Won: Monday Haircare Volume Dry Shampoo reinvigorates less-than-perky hair by sopping up oil with rice starch and plumping strands with hydrolyzed collagen. It also reinvigorates your senses with a light gardenia fragrance that will have you reaching to spritz your roots even when you don't need to.
Tester Feedback: "For $8, I can buy an iced vanilla latte with oat milk or conceal my five-day-old hair," says associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen. "Usually I go for the former, but now that my blonde highlights are growing out, my hair is a little oiler than I'd prefer, so I've been loving this floral-scented dry shampoo. It not only cuts grease in just a spritz or two but also gives a little root lift—a feat for my fine, flat hair."
Why It Won: Herbal Essences Pure Grapeseed Color Nurture Shampoo and Conditioner act like an insurance plan for color-treated hair. This gentle, softening duo protects vibrancy with grapeseed extract and nourishes with lightweight camellia oil, so it feels indulgent—until you hit the check-out button.
Tester Feedback: "This shampoo and conditioner combo left my hair so soft and feeling very clean," says Herrick. "Pro tip: You only need a dab of conditioner—a little goes a long way."
Why It Won: You know all too well what damaged hair looks and feels like: the roughness, the dullness, the split ends. But with Pantene Pro-V Miracles Miracle Bond Repair Conditioner, you'll get acquainted with what it looks and feels like to restore vibrancy, softness, and manageability. In just one minute, keratin and vitamin E soak into strands to make an undeniable difference.
Tester Feedback: "In the last year or so, my hair has fallen off a follicular cliff," says Bailly. "Like, truly nose-dived. Once thick and shiny, it's suddenly fine and frazzled. As I do for most things in my mid-40s, I am blaming perimenopause—and trying every conditioner I can get my hands on. This one quickly rose to the top, leaving my hair incredibly soft and calming all the frizzy bits better than the rest. (Maybe it contains secret estrogen?)"
Why It Won: Whether your hair has been compromised by humidity, heat styling, or something more sinister (cough, cough—bleach), this versatile formula hides the evidence until your next shampoo. Marc Anthony True Professional Repair Bond +Rescuplex Defrizzing Smoothing Cream can be used before blow-drying to defend against high temps and add shine, as well as on dry hair to smooth frizz and lock in moisture with rosemary oil and vitamin E.
Tester Feedback: "I use this cream both before and after blow-drying," says senior copy manager Leslie Lipton. "It protects my hair from hot tools and smooths any dry ends afterward."
Why It Won: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Smooth & Shine Oil lets you live the dream of adding extraordinary luster to your hair without overwhelming it with oiliness. You'll get a glossy finish backed by nourishing moisture from sunflower seed, castor, and coconut oils, but hair never looks greasy or weighed down.
Tester Feedback: "This hair oil coats without being too heavy," says Fowler. "I have long, fine hair and hair oils can really weigh it down, but this one leaves my hair feeling glossy and hydrated, without taking away any volume and movement."
Why It Won: If you can spare five additional minutes for your hair, by all means, do it right after you step into the shower with Garnier Fructis Hair Filler Inner Fiber Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment. This peptide-packed formula works inside the hair's cortex so the impact is noticeable on the outside, encouraging softer, smoother hair that's like, "Damage? I don't know her."
Tester Feedback: "I'm always on the hunt for a great pre-shampoo treatment for my Everything Shower," says Silva. "With long hair and an oily scalp, it's really easy to develop excess product buildup. This treatment is the best 'hair reset' for keeping my hair shiny while adding just the right amount of hydration and volume too."
Why It Won: As if you needed an excuse to skip washing your hair, Tresemmé Keratin Smooth Weightless Silk Serum promises up to three days of gleaming strands. And considering how vigorously it defends hair while heat styling, that means your blowout can look mindblowing for nearly half a week.
Tester Feedback: “"One pump of this is all you need," says senior visuals editor Lauren Brown. "It really helped smooth out my 3C/4A hair as I was blowing it dry and it felt very soft afterward."
Why It Won: Head & Shoulders BARE Pure Clean shampoo cuts out all the bells, whistles, and sulfates, delivering just what your hair and scalp need to get dandruff under control. That includes zinc pyrithione, a superhero ingredient that reduces fungus-attracting oils to fight flakes.
Tester Feedback: "I love the rich texture of this shampoo," says Richards. "It lathers so well on the scalp for that extra squeaky-clean feel.”
Written by Marci Robin
How we test and review products for Allure Best of Beauty
Ubiquitous with the beauty market's cream of the crop, Allure's little red Best of Beauty seal is known worldwide as being a trusted indicator of the year's top products—and we do not take that trust for granted. Each year, we painstakingly test tens of thousands (yes, really) of products across over a dozen categories, including Hair, Skin, Makeup, Nails, Fragrance, Splurges, Steals, Tools, Breakthroughs, and Sensitive. We employ a large group of testers—including editors, top industry professionals, and other experts— to ensure representation for a wide range of ages, genders, skin tones, and hair textures, as well as dermatological sensitivities and conditions.
How we determined Allure's Best of Beauty Steals Winners
For our Best of Beauty winners in the Steals category, we considered each product's performance across the following categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance (where relevant), and product experience (including texture and wear). We tested over 7,000 products for 24 weeks on different skin and hair types with various concerns. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from relevant experts.
To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Discover more 2024 Best of Beauty Winners:
- Best of Beauty 2024: Breakthroughs
- Best of Beauty 2024: Splurge Winners
- Best of Beauty 2024: Clean Winners
Watch us test our 2024 Allure Best of Beauty winners:
