27 Beauty Products So Easy To Use, They’ll Help You Actually Achieve A 5-Minute Morning Routine

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

27 Beauty Products So Easy To Use, They’ll Help You Actually Achieve A 5-Minute Morning RoutineEven if you only have time to apply some undereye de-puffer.

1. A folding sink topper gives you a dedicated surface when there’s seemingly no room for all your getting-ready essentials. 
Sink Topper is a small biz that specializes in this product.

Promising review: “I love this sink topper. I was concerned it would bow but it is very sturdy. I use it for my hair dryer and products. Opening allowing hand washing is a good size without compromising topper space. Dries fast and is very slim when folded up. My sink is a large rectangle and it fist perfect.” —Shawna G

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two sizes and three colors).

2. SoCozy Curl Spray Leave-In Conditioner is made for kids (and grownups) with curly hair and tender heads. It gives you some picturesque results thanks to its hydrating and detangling formula of vitamin B5, jojoba oil, keratin, and more.
Promising review: “My granddaughters have long curly hair, and this is the first product that actually worked at getting the tangles out! Their hair was soft and no tears were shed while combing through… which to me is most important! The smell is nice, not overwhelming… over all this is just a great product and I will definitely be buying again!” —Danielle Bustamante

Get it from Amazon for $9.69.

3. Crave Naturals Detangling brush glides through your hair without tugging or ripping out your strands. Tangles, meet your match.

Promising review: “Omg!!! This is the best detangling brush ever!! Shampoo bath nights have been restored! I dread ever time have have to detangle my daughter’s hair no matter how much conditioner I used it would end in tears and frustration! My daughter’s hair has super tight curls and I don’t think I have ever really fully detangled it until now! We have used other combs brushes and this one by far was the holy grail! No more tears and I feel confident her hair is fully detangled!!” —Ashlee Gordon

Promising review (for natural hair): “I never write reviews, but I had to for this one. This brush cured my cancer, paid my rent and revived Jesus from the dead. This. is. a. holy. grail. I have the tangliest (IDC if that’s not a word) terribly hard to manage curly, natural hair. But this brush gave me shine brighter than a haole baby’s bottom and glided through my hair with ease. 100% RECOMMEND.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $11.88 (available in six colors).

4. Essence’s Lash Princess mascara makes for a super dramatic before and after. Prepare to get grilled about where you got your eyelash extensions. And lucky for them, you have a list at the ready because you’ve been trolling Yelp reviews to find the perfect spot to get said extensions. 

Emma Lord/BuzzFeed

My colleague Emma Lord is all about this mascara. Here’s what she has to say: “Hello, that is my face above, because I bought into the hype of all the 5-star reviews and now I will never look back!! Putting it on is like giving my eyelashes butterfly wings. It doesn’t get clumpy, it stays put no matter how much you sweat, and you can apply it on very lightly if you don’t want it to look so dramatic, or continue applying for longer lashes each time.”

Promising review: “Saw this product on TikTok and thought it would be expensive looking at the results they got. I am beyond amazed with how my lashes look after about two coats. For around $5 you couldn’t ask for a better mascara! I will be buying this same one when I run out. I was not expecting to like it as much as I do! No complaints.” —Kd

Get it from Amazon for $4.99.

5. LONDONTOWN Illuminating Nail Concealer gives you a no-mani mani that you can quickly brush on before an event.

Promising review: “As much as I would love to have nice, manicured nails, i don’t spend money on manicures. Gels are damaging and regular manicures last a couple of days before peeling. I get regular pedicures bc they last but my hands have looked pretty unkempt for much of my adult life. Until now.

I was definitely skeptical that this polish could be any different from one of the countless neutral Essie shades out there that I’ve tried since the ’90s — Ballet Slippers, Light as Linen, etc., — but I decided to give the milky shade a try and I’m so glad I did!!! My nails look incredible. I’m not even sure how to describe why but they look very natural and clean. It’s been a week of wearing two coats and there isn’t one bubble or lift forming on the edges. One coat actually looks great also. I am sold on this stuff. Hopefully it will never be discontinued. So so happy.” —Jann

Get it from Amazon for $20+ (available in four colors).

6. The SAEM Iceland Hydrating Eye Stick is a cooling eye stick made with *actual* Icelandic glacial water to depuff your tired under eyes. Oh, and it just feels really, really refreshing. 

Promising review: “I have always had serious dark circles and bags under my eyes and this has really changed this for me. The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable. My sensitive skin has not broken out. I never write reviews, but this was so good that I had to write a review. This actually works.” —Ben

Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 

7. An I Dew Care “Tap Secret” mattifying powder shampoo immediately tackles greasy roots without the aerosol formula. I’ve been packing this for flights where I carry on only and this little puff is EFFECTIVE. Like, I went to New Orleans in late May with a blowout I was trying to make last. This kept my oily roots matte! It’s LEGIT. 

Amazon

Promising review: “I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the poof on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn’t have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I’m not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again.” —Teresa

Get two from Amazon for $18. 

8. La Pure Waterproof Eyeliner Stamp I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend it to you because practicing a cat-eye flick is HARD. 

Perhaps you’re like me and don’t feel done up until you have an eyeliner flick. This’ll help!

Promising review: “I am not one to write reviews often, but this product has exceeded my expectations! I normally use liquid liners such as Kat Von D Tattoo, but this has drastically reduced the time it takes for me to create a winged look! I personally prefer a longer wing, but this stamp provides a template to work with and reduces the amount of time to create ‘sister’ wings — they’re pretty much twins now! The eyeliner pen itself it’s a bit broad for me, but the pigment is great!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14.97 (available in two sizes).

9. A hair finishing stick in case you’re going for that sleek look for your quite dirty hair you’re rocking in a high pony for the day. This stuff is basically just a mascara wand you use to brush natural plant oils onto your hair to smooth down everything.

Promising review: “I have super fine hair with lots of breakage. No matter how I put my hair up I have bad flyaways. This stuff is great! So easy and it stays better and looks smoother than stiff hair spray.” —Jill Stilfield

Get it from Amazon for $7.98.

10. A faux puff extention clips into your hair for a quick and easy ‘do for when you’ve gotta look really cute, really quick. 
Promising review: “Quick and easy to use. Hair is soft and similar to my own natural curl patterns. It gives me the fullness that my own puff needed! Will be trying other colors.” —Nad

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in eight shades).

11. OGX Locking + Coconut Curls Air Dry Cream is a great, affordable scrunch-and-go option with legions of fans to back up that claim. This’ll provide more time for hammock reading than hair styling. Win-win. Promising review: “I put some in my hair for the first time today and I’m impressed! I towel dried my hair and then put about a quarter size in my palm and spread throughout my hair, scrunched my hair, and then let it air dry. I think it did a good job at defining my waves and eliminating the serious frizz.” —ninjamommy

Get it from Amazon for $6.97.

12. An ultra-fine continuous water mister refreshes your hair in the morning after you’ve slept on it. Let’s keep that air-dry style looking fresh instead of using more time, water, and hair products on a whole wash!

Promising review: “Used for wetting my 2-year-old’s hair. Could have used it for crafts, could have used it for misting plants, so many things. It’s super durable, I know because she dropped it a million times. You don’t need to refill it every day, it doesn’t use a lot of water in each spritz but it does feel like it. Incredibly smooth. Would buy again (and I will because I left it at my sister’s while traveling).” —Savannah

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four sizes). 

13. A Vaseline balm stick you can use all over without having to wash your hands after. BUT as one derm on IG points out, is great for slugging your cuticles. 
Walmart

Get it from Walmart for $6.87.

14. Living proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray *gently* amps up the volume when your locks could use a pick-me-up. No more crunchy roots from hairspray. Amazon

Promising review: “My hair is flat and lifeless in the winter and this is the first thing that’s actually fixed that. I just use a little on wash days once my hair is dry and I have volume for days. Love it so much!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $35 (silicone-, phthalate-, sulfate-, paraben-, and formaldehyde-free).

15. COVERGIRL TruBlend Undercover Concealer targets most anything you’d like to cover up on your beautiful visage. Psst, you can totally get away with skipping foundation thanks to this super blendable stuff.Promising review: “Not only is the packaging of this concealer cute and classic, but it also provides really great coverage. You only need to use a little bit to get great coverage, the applicator is great, and I don’t have any problems with creasing (although I don’t have any fine lines either). If you’re wanting a concealer similar to expensive brands but at a drugstore price, you’ll like this!” —Kayla Williams

Get it from Amazon for $6.50+ (available in 30 shades). Vegan and cruelty-free.

16. JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream defines and lifts curls. But don’t take it from me, take it from all the reviewers with fine hair who’ve previously had trouble finding products that do just that! Oh, and it helps protect hair from UV damage. JVN

JVN is a hair care line from Jonathan Van Ness (yes, of Queer Eye and other wonderful things on the Internet!) created to help drive change in the beauty industry and celebrate each person’s unique beauty. Cheers to that!

Promising review: “Leaves my wavy slightly graying hair soft, less frizzy and not weighed down. Great for my low maintenance wash and air dry ways. Love the packaging too.” —megawf

Get it from Sephora or JVN for $26 (vegan, cruelty-free, and comes in recyclable packaging).

17. A pair of hair claws with fun prints to give your fourth-day hair a chic little twist. 
Amazon

Promising review: “I love these clips. I have thick curly hair and they actually hold really well AND they’re super cute!” —Lydia

Get them from Amazon for $11.99.

18. A six-pack of scarf scrunchies gives you a one-and-done task of putting up your hair and adding a glam touch even if you have to do some REAL math to figure out the last time you washed it. Tomorrow is never promised. Put off a wash and blow-dry session when you can!

Promising review: “I wear ponytails a lot as I transition to a natural gray with my curly hair. Using ‘unique’ hair accessories helps with making a plain, boring, and simple haircare routine way more interesting, and the material is a welcomed safety to help reduce breakage when wearing ponytail scrunchies. I plan on ordering other colors in the near future. You can’t go wrong with this purchase!” —Tru

Get them from Amazon for $9.99.

19. A Kitsch hybrid scrunchie towel helps your hair dry faster in case you’re someone whose neck can’t stand the mere thought of balancing a wet towel or turban on your head. And with this, you can get away with leaving the house with wet hair without being obvious. 

Promising review: “Best scrunchie ever. I would give this 11/10. I want them in every color.” —Rose D. 

“I ordered this because I was sick of keeping a towel on my head for so long while my hair dried, and if I didn’t have a towel, my shirt was soaking wet from my hair after a shower. For reference, I had very long, thick hair and it takes a while to air-dry — and I’m so happy I found this scrunchie! It’s a lot bigger in person than it looks in the image, which is great because it covers more of your hair to help dry it. No more heavy towels on my head or tight towel wraps.” —Meghan

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $13.19+ (available in eight colors and designs).

20. Bomba Curls Dominican Forbidden Volumizer Oil helps you embrace your natural hair texture and air dry while moisturizing and leaving the most divine scent on your locks. A little goes a very long way, so it’s always the hair product I pack for vacation when I’d rather not clock precious time blow drying my hair. Below I’m on a February trip to Iceland where I knew I’d be wearing a winter hat so I used it to let the little bit of my hair I could see shine in its natural texture. 

Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed, Target

Bomba Curls is a WOC-owned business founded by Lulu Cordero and inspired by her Afro-Dominicana roots. The products are meant to help curly-haired folks naturally boost growth and achieve maximum length retention. This formula is infused with pure coffee seed and castor oil mean to moisturize your hair and scalp, while promoting hair growth and making your strands look glossier.

Yep, that’s me in awe of merely *existing* in the frigid wonderland of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Iceland. Anytime I was outside in Iceland I wore a bucket hat AND had my hood pulled over it. It was that chilly! And don’t even get me started on the wind. So I knew that my skin and hair were going to need some major moisture. Enter the Bomba Curls hair oil. I used this as a leave-in treatment and styler on wet hair, and then let my natural hair texture do its thing. It was an excellent call as it helps curls form so beautifully and ended up being especially moisturizing for my post–Blue Lagoon dry hair. (I had to wash my hair FOUR TIMES post-Lagoon because of all the minerals in the water.) In case you’re wondering, I also pack this for hot, humid trips when I embrace my natural hair texture. 

Get it from Target for $21.99.

21. Etude’s delightfully multipurpose Dear Darling Water Tint, which a lot of reviewers compare to Benefit’s Lip Tint. This smudgeproof formula is designed primarily to be a natural-looking, weightless lip stain, but reviewers use it as a blush as well! 

Promising review: “While I haven’t tried the Benefit Lip Tint, I saw this on TikTok and appreciated the lower price point. I am SO glad I gave this a chance! I only have the Cherry color, but it is the perfect bit of natural color, and can be deepened as desired upon application. There is no sticky residue and it is not drying or irritating at all. Looks great alone but even better with gloss on top. Love!” —Mollie

Get it from Amazon for $6.40 (available in three shades and combo packs). 

22. Or if you want a similar effect with more color options, Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint easily builds to saturated hues and stays put for the long haul…perfect for your iced coffee (even when it’s cold!) habit. 

Promising review: “OMG the velvet perfection. This product applies like an opaque cream velvet lipstick, buttery smooth, not at all drying, and pigmented. The doe-foot is pointed for precision around your cupid’s bow and holds enough product for full lips in one swipe. Looks great without any blotting. Transfer-proof and mask approved! Great for a long-wear look, as the stain is lasting. I like to wear this product as opaque velvet lipstick in the morning and by the end of the day it’s a beautiful natural rosy stain that I can apply balm over for a natural no-makeup glam baddie look. I use a shea butter-based balm but haven’t tested if other balms smudge or move the stain. Stain is mostly removable with regular cleansing balm and completely removable with a gentle lip scrub. Seriously impressed with this product, and amazing price point for under 10. This is the PERFECT lip product imho.” —Kenzie Scout

Get it from Amazon for $9.90 (available in 21 shades).

23. Glossier Boy Brow is the perfect brow-grooming medium if you want to enhance what you’ve got but don’t want to look like you completely drew on your brows. It fills and shapes with its handy little brush and leaves you looking like you wake up with perfect brows every morn. Anamaria Glavan / BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed contributor AnaMaria Glavan loves this stuff and tell us: “This magic bottle is proof that not all heroes wear capes. The creamy formula, which comes in blonde, black, clear, and brown (which is what I used!), goes on smoothly and doesn’t require a lot of product to do the job. I used the wand to brush baby hairs in the beginning/middle of my brow upwards, and then brushed the longer, toddler-like hairs at the end of my eyebrows, sideways. And one coat was more than enough! Boy Brow does exactly what the Glossier brand claims to do; it gives me a filled-in eyebrow that doesn’t look filled in. The finish looks natural, which is exactly what I wanted — my facial caterpillars have never looked better.”

Yep, and it’s cruelty-free! 

Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in seven shades).

24. Maybelline Cheek Heat gel-cream blush in case you’re on the prowl for a cheaper alternative to Glossier Cloud Paint because very opinionated reviews say it’s a super easy-to-use cheek color formula — like, it’s REALLY hard to mess up. Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord says, “I’m a Glossier Cloud Paint stan so I’ll continue to buy it, but I love this affordable alternative, too! It spreads on super easily and can either go on sheer or build for a bolder effect. I got the Rose Flush shade and enjoy it for ~everyday wear~ since it’s so easy to squirt a bit on my fingers, swirl it into my cheeks, and be on my merry way. It lasts all day and looks super natural to boot!” 

Promising review: “This is a great, cheap alternative to Glossier Cloud Paint. It’s less pigmented and blends more easily, so it looks very natural.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $5.98+ (available in six shades). 

25. Broadway long-lasting clear lip gloss set comes in a set of three and often gets compared to the likes of MAC and Kylie Cosmetics in the review section.  

It comes with three different formulas: mint oil that creates a refreshing cooling sensation (perfect for soothing a cracked lip), rosehip oil for reducing fine lines, and coconut oil for deeply hydrating and locking in moisture. 

Promising review: “I have tried so many lip glosses from MAC to Kylie to Shea Moisture and Kiehls and I have to say this is by far THE best lip gloss. It is sooo smooth and glossy and doesn’t have that normal stickiness to it, which is absolutely amazing!” —Paige

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $4.49.

26. CeraVe Tinted Sunscreen with SPF 30 is a sheer formula to make you you glow without feeling like you put on an extra layer. Because sometimes you forgo SPF because it doesn’t blend in so great. Enter: this. 
Amazon

Promising review: “Provides great protection. Doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. Makes my skin feel really moisturized and supple. I use prescription skin creams and am very photosensitive, so I take my sunscreen seriously. This Cerave sunscreen feels better than many high end creams. It’ll be my go-to sunscreen from now on. Highly recommend you give it a try.” —David L.

Get it from Amazon for $13.42 (paraben- and fragrance-free, and noncomedogenic).

27. Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm with SPF 15 I personally vouch for. It’s easy to put on without a mirror, is super moisturizing, and has color that tints your lips for the day. If you’re afraid of lipstick, this is a safe bet. I keep not one, but two(!) in my purse at all times.Amazon

Even on days when I’m feeling sick or have to pull myself out of my bed because I *do* have to earn a living,

Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in five shades).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.