As a beauty editor, I’m lucky enough to test dozens of new skincare, hair, and makeup products each month. I’m constantly surrounded by them, and it’s literally my job to judge them, so I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what’s good, what’s great, and what’s, well, not worth using. It’s only when I personally recommend a product to my friends that I know I really love it.
Two of my closest friends (hi, Ella and Hansi!) love swapping beauty news, info, and recommendations. I can’t even count how many times they’ve gracefully listened to my never-ending monologues on the subject. So when they came to visit over the summer, I naturally told them all about the products I’d been loving as of late, and they did the same. A week later, they left with a list of products to buy (and it’s only grown since). It wasn’t until recently that I realized every product on the list was $50 or less. Ahead, see all 15 products that I’ve recommended to them and learn why I love them so much.