Holy grails — according to my friends and (beauty) lovers
With many beauty products released every day, there are very few that earn the title of Holy Grail.
It's all trial and error, of course. A little less so with some help of a friend, or 15. In order to find the never-fail stalwarts (many of which will arrive at your doorstep in two days flat), I consulted the beauty aficionados in my life. They did not disappoint.
Ilse, 27
Kiss Me Heroine Make Long & Curl Mascara Advanced Film
A staple in J-beauty, this mascara promises to elongate and hold up straight lashes without smudging, imitating the look of eyelash extensions. Since it is a Japanese brand, it works on hooded and monolid eyes — especially those that get oily.
Kiss Me Heroine Make Long Up Mascara Super Waterproof
The most updated version with the yellow packaging is one of the few reformulations loyal Heroine users are loving at the moment. After using it, eyes look more awake and lashes stay up with more definition all day. For people who wear contacts and get teary eyes constantly, this mascara is the best to avoid having panda eyes.
Etude House, Dr. Mascara Fixer for Perfect Lash
If waterproof is not your thing, don’t worry! This mascara primer coats your lashes evenly for perfect application, conditions your lashes with black bean extract, prevents smudging, and holds the curl. Just swipe on the clear formula before mascara. (Don't worry — it's not chunky like some other lash primers.)
Heimish All Clean Balm
Vegan and plant-based Heimish cleansing balm is the ideal balm to melt your problems away! With shea butter and coconut extract, it glides on the skin to deep clean your face without causing sensitivities. Perfect for everyday use and won’t leave your eyes cloudy.
Lily, 23
NYX Epic Wear Liquid Liner
By far, this is a tried-and true-eyeliner for any eye shape. With a strong pigment and a fine tip, it creates clean strokes for all-day wear.
He-en, 21
MIssha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++
Everyone who has been personally victimized by foundation, raise your hand. If you don’t like the feeling of a heavy foundation on your skin, consider this BB cream an extra step of your skincare routine. It’s medium to full coverage with a glowy finish. Note: this is a K-beauty product, so there’s a limited shade range.
Janelle, 23
IT Brow Power
The waxy consistency allows you to create eyebrows as thin or thick as you like them, allowing you to draw your natural eyebrows with detailed strokes that imitate your real brow hairs.
Tiffany, 27
LANEIGE Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer
The milky toner has a lightweight consistency that is easy to absorb into the skin without leaving a sticky residue. With white tea leaf water, it provides amino acids to repair the skin barrier, perfect for dry and sensitive skin types.
Farmacy Honey Halo
The ceramide-packed moisturizer can be used both day and night to repair the skin barrier. With its main ingredients being honey and fig fruit extract, it helps calm any flare-up or sensitive areas while leaving the skin plump and bouncy.
Christine, 38
Hanskin Real Complexion Hyaluron Essence
This multi-purpose product works as a toner, essence, and moisturizer. With hyaluronic acid, elastin, collagen, and Zostera Marina extract, it hydrates dry and fatigued skin making it look more plump, dewy, and elastic. Consider it a fabric softener for your face.
Christina, 25
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
Laneige sleeping masks have experienced a second resurgence in popularity — for a good reason. Besides the cute packaging, the formula has Vitamin C and berry extracts to provide a mild chemical exfoliation while moisturizing your lips.
Mel, 21
COSRX Snail mucin essence
The essence, composed of 96.3 Snail Secretion Filtrate helps repair the skin barrier the gentle way. It helps moisturize the skin and can work as an alternative acne treatment by simplifying your routine to face wash, essence, moisturizer, and SPF during the day.
COSRX Facial Pads
These pads come in three different versions for every skin type and concern; The red packaging for acne-prone skin, the blue packaging for all skin types to provide hydration, and the green packaging for oily skin with calming and oil-controlling ingredients.
Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream
The name perfectly describes this plant-based product. Made for the most sensitive skin, it can be used after pore care, shaving, laser treatment, and sunburn. Formulated with Centella Asiatica (a.k.a Tiger Grass) it heals irritation and prevents further scarring.
Anonymous
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
For our anonymous contributor, the buzzy aquaphor healing ointment was “a savior for her crustry, dry, skin.” Using it after a shower helps lock in the moisture and keep the skin soft. “You’ll thank yourself.”