CosRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence (Two-Pack) — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $23; street price: $29
What we like: Two bottles of a staff-liked clear snail mucin concentrate that smooths and soothes, from our guide to Korean skin care. Made of 96% snail-secretion filtrate. Thicker than a watery essence, more like a serum. Absorbs quickly. One or two pumps hydrates and primes skin, creating a glassy K-beauty complexion. Doesn’t pill under makeup.
Other things to know: Yes, this is the sticky stuff secreted by live snails. Studies suggest it may improve skin’s overall hydration, texture, and elasticity. Gloopy texture and animal origins may be turnoffs for some. Deal is for a set of two 3.38-ounce bottles with a retinol mini-sample, which we have not tested.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $35; street price: $44
What we like: Our facial moisturizer pick best for reliable moisture with a few extras. Contains many of the preferred hydrators in our other top picks, including glycerin, glycol, and squalane, as well as dermatologist-recommended avocado and jojoba oil. Airtight pump is hygienic and easy to use. Refillable matte glass bottle feels high-end.
Other things to know: The formula may strike some as not special enough to justify the expense. Not the lowest price we’ve seen, but within a couple bucks.
Read more: The Best Moisturizers
Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Cleanser (5.07 Ounces) — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $12; street price: $14
What we like: A mellow and moisturizing cleansing gel we like. Gentle, colorless, and effective. Formulated with ingredients like glycerin, humectant hyaluronic acid, and birch sap, so it soothes as it cleanses and leaves no tight-skin aftereffects. Good for dry complexions.
Other things to know: Multiple testers also liked the matte-finish, illustrated packaging, which seemed more in line with that of luxury products, not a relatively inexpensive cleanser.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (3-Pack) — Staff Pick
Woot deal price: $43 (free shipping for Prime members); street price: $72
What we like: The prettiest, giftiest cult-fave lip balm staff pick from our Korean skin care guide. Had more fans among Wirecutter’s staff than any other item in that list. A yummy, luscious daytime gloss. Comes in a handful of irresistible, playful scents. Contains ingredients like soft, hydrating shea butter and antioxidant vitamin C.
Other things to know: Its smooth, satiny texture strikes us as too sheer to earn mask status. A little goes a long way. Deal for three pots of the berry flavored lip balm, which gives lips a pretty pinkish cast. Free shipping for Prime members.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment (Any Tint, Add Four) — Staff Pick
Fresh deal price: $78 with code WIRECUTTER4; street price: $104
What we like: A tinted lip balm staff pick that we also like as a gift for teens. Glides on smoothly with a sheer flush of color. Long-lasting wear (about five hours). Light, pleasant scent. Luscious and hydrating beeswax formula. Sturdy twist-up metal tube.
Other things to know: A former pick in our lip balm guide, and a variant of one of our current picks. Available in over a dozen tints. Pricey, even on sale. Add four to cart (any tint combination) to get the deal price and free shipping using promo code WIRECUTTER4.
Read more: Fresh Sugar Lip Balm Is Expensive. But It’s Great.
Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Toner (Two-Pack) — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $19; street price: $22
What we like: A duo of our refreshing exfoliant staff pick for acne-prone skin, from our guide to the best Korean skin care. With a fresh minty fragrance, this mildly exfoliating, water-based toner gently treats acne and whisks away dullness. Contains surface-buffing citric acid (AHA), pore-excavating salicylic acid (BHA), and brightening lactobionic acid (PHA).
Other things to know: Also contains gently soothing components like witch hazel and niacinamide. If you prefer acne-fighters with a strong smell and skin-firming aftereffects, this may be too gentle. Deal for two 5.07-ounce bottles.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF50+ (Add 3) — Staff Pick
YesStyle deal price: $43 with code WIRECUTTER20 (free YesStyle account required); street price: $75
What we like: Our sunscreen bar we recommend from our guide to the best Korean skin care products. Works over makeup, doesn’t pull on skin, and doesn’t leave a film. Uses five chemical UVA and UVB filters for SPF50.
Other things to know: Includes a couple botanical extracts, like tea, aloe, and cucumber. Add three to cart and use code WIRECUTTER20 to get the deal price. Free YesStyle account required to input promo code.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
Dr. Jart+ Every Sun Day SPF 50+ Sunscreen — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $30; street price: $40
What we like: Our slightly splurgy mineral sunscreen pick from our guide to the best sunscreens for your face. Well-balanced and light-feeling. Our testers liked its light citrus scent and ability to rub in easily without being sticky, oily, or drying (a feat for mineral sunscreen).
Other things to know: One of our more expensive picks. Not overly moisturizing. Sets with a matte-like finish. A couple bucks more than we see during Black Friday, but still a decent value.
Read more: The Best Sunscreens for Your Face
Coola Original Liplux Lip Balm Sunscreen (Three-Pack) — Best For…
Nordstrom deal price: $21; street price: $36
What we like: The best smooth and invisible lip balm with SPF, in a three-pack. Lightweight, with no white cast or terrible taste. Formulated with moisturizing oils and three chemical sunscreens to hydrate and protect lips. Sturdy metal tube. Colorless and can be worn over lipstick. Beachy scent.
Other things to know: Uses FDA-approved filters avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene. Some of our staffers disliked the SPF-synthetic-induced aftertaste and stopped using it. As with most sunscreens, reapply every two hours for full sun protection.
Read more: The Best Lip Balms
Hero Force Shield Superlight Sunscreen SPF 30 — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $12; street price: $20
What we like: Our top pick for an unobtrusive mineral formula face sunscreen. Easy to rub in. Doesn’t feel chalky or leave a white cast. Reef-safe. Well-designed bottle dispenses just the right amount.
Other things to know: Green tint is marketed to reduce skin redness, but doesn’t seem to do anything. Not great for those with facial hair. Matches lowest price we’ve seen.
Read more: The Best Sunscreens for Your Face
Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 (18 Ounces) — Top Pick
Supergoop deal price: $54 with code WCPLAY; street price: $68
What we like: One of our top chemical facial sunscreen picks, available in bulk. Good for face and body. Rubs in easily and is nearly transparent once applied. Light, pleasant scent. SPF 50 rating offers a high level of protection. User-friendly pump bottle.
Other things to know: Some testers noted it left them feeling greasy. The 18-ounce jug is the most affordable size on a per-ounce basis. Use promo code WCPLAY to get the deal price and free shipping.
Read more: The Best Sunscreens for Your Face
Supergoop Glow Stick SPF 50 (Two-Pack) — Gift Pick
Supergoop deal price: $50 with code WCGLOW; street price: $60
What we like: A stocking stuffer set we love for a sun-safe, dewy glow. It rolls on easily and doesn’t leave slimy residue behind, so even the most reluctant sunscreen wearer won’t mind it.
Other things to know: Two-pack of tubes that are small, but sized for travel or stuffing in a stocking. Use promo code WCGLOW to the get the deal price and free shipping.
Read more: 50 Wirecutter-Approved Stocking Stuffers for Adults
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $28; street price: $35
What we like: Our pick for an upgrade facial exfoliant with a range of strengths. Fragrance-free and concise formula delivers a 2% dose of salicylic acid without a long list of potential irritants. More than any other BHA serum we tested, this made us feel like it was really getting in there to lift away oils and grime.
Other things to know: Some may find the price too high, even on sale. Testers were split on the tingling sensation, but all appreciated how smooth it left their skin and noted they could feel it working. One said it could be a bit irritating. 4-ounce bottle.
Read more: The Best Exfoliants
Real Techniques Ultra Plush Blush Cheek Makeup Brush — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $7; street price: $9
What we like: One of the best cheap makeup brushes that punches above its weight. The brand’s distinctive bristles are matte and grippy. Its full-size weighted metallic handles feel high-quality and durable. The dome shapes are unique and sculptural. For the quality, the price per brush is impressive.
Other things to know: The brand’s bundles include some oddly shaped and redundant tools, and we recommend buying individual brushes for your specific needs. We especially like this brush designed for applying powder products to the cheeks. Recurring deal.
Read more: The Best Makeup Brushes
Jenny Patinkin Sustainable Luxury Powder/Bronzer Brush — Best For…
Nordstrom deal price: $34; street price: $40
What we like: Our pick for the best bronzer and powder brush. Has sophisticated matte bristles and a pretty metallic handle with a satisfying heft. Dome head is silky-soft and fluffy, with an elegant taper. Brush made entirely of recycled materials.
Other things to know: Performs perfectly whether you want just a whisper of powder or a sharper look. Pricey. Typically, costs $40 for one brush.
Read more: The Best Makeup Brushes
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brush 12 — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $13; street price: $19
What we like: Our do-it-all eyebrow brush pick in our guide to the best makeup brushes. Dual-ended. Deftly serves all brow types, adding precise, hairlike strokes with the sharp angled tip or combing through thick, tangly hairs with its long, grippy spoolie. More versatile and high-quality than cheaper options we tested.
Other things to know: Our testers found themselves using this brush beyond their brows, such as laying down thin bands of eyeliner and shadow or using the spoolie to declump mascara.
Read more: The Best Makeup Brushes
Panasonic Nanoe Compact Quick-Dry Hair Dryer — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $70 in black; street price: $85
What we like: A folding hair dryer staff pick. This little dryer runs on a cooler temperature and has an oscillating head to distribute heat more evenly for quick rough drying. Lightweight and quiet. Folds down into a tiny rectangle.
Other things to know: Doesn’t come with any attachments such as a diffuser or concentrator, limiting style options. Not dual-voltage, so you’ll need a converter to use it abroad. The cooler tech probably won’t work for every hair type.
Read more: Hotel Hair Dryers Are Notoriously Bad. This Travel Dryer Is Better.
Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $7; street price: $10
What we like: A hair oil we recommend in our drugstore beauty guide. Lightweight. Smoothes split ends and flyaways. Leaves your scalp more hydrated and hair shinier. Creates optimal environment for healthy hair growth.
Other things to know: Regular evening application on a dry scalp makes hair feel thick and glossy. Two-ounce bottle.
Read more: The Best Drugstore Makeup, Skin Care, and Other Beauty Products
Kitsch Rice Water Shampoo Bar for Hair Growth — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $11; street price: $14
What we like: The best solid shampoo bar for most hair types. Lathers and rinses easily. Citrusy-scented, with only eight ingredients. Leaves hair clean, soft, and moisturized, but not weighed down. Fragrance is pleasant but not overbearing. Grooved S shape makes bar less slippy.
Other things to know: None of our testers experienced extra hair growth, nor did we expect any to. Not moisturizing enough for everyday use on curly strands. Contains added fragrance, which some people avoid because of the link to certain health concerns, such as migraines.
Read more: Our Favorite Solid Shampoo Bars
HiBar Soothe Solid Shampoo — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $11; street price: $14
What we like: The best shampoo bar for itchy, sensitive scalps. Made our testers’ hair look and feel clean for days. Contains salicylic acid for mild exfoliation of flaky scalps. Unique teardrop shape (with a flat bottom and an angled point) helps the bar sit upright and dry faster in the shower. Lightly honey- and citrus–scented.
Other things to know: Those with serious skin conditions may prefer an even more neutral formula. A couple testers found this bar easily slipped out of their hands due to its shape and size. Not tested on animals. Contains a honey derivative, so it’s our only pick that isn’t vegan.
Read more: Our Favorite Solid Shampoo Bars
I Dew Care Tap Secret Mattifying Dry Shampoo Powder — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $13 with code 06R3OOWC; street price: $18
What we like: The best dry shampoo for on-the-go touch-ups. Supremely silky and fine powder. A little goes a long way. Relatively easy to apply, even when you’re on the go. Comes in a range of colors. Tinted powders don’t stain, and the pigment brushes away readily.
Other things to know: Be careful how you open it, or it’ll spill everywhere. Pigment can transfer to the hairline and fingertips. Refillable, but only in the original translucent, not the colored versions. Precise applicator isn’t great for covering large areas, at least not quickly.
Read more: The Best Dry Shampoo
