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When your taste says "luxury" but your bank account says "frugality."

When your soul is craving some luxury, but your wallet is craving a budget, it can be hard to resist the temptation of your wish list. Fortunately, I found some budget-friendly products with results so good, they'd still be worth the splurge if they weren't so affordable! Treat yourself to an under-$10 nail treatment, a teeth-whitening pen with jaw-dropping before-and-after pictures, an under-$20 knife that'll level up your slicing skills, and other fab finds that will upgrade your life but won't break the bank.

Promising review: "Better than Clinique! I bought this one on a whim but never liked the real Black Honey Almost Lipstick by Clinique, since it tends to run red on me. This shade, in my opinion, is exactly what Black Honey SHOULD be, as it looks more like Black Honey in pictures. For the price, it can’t be beat, so I’m buying more." —HAC 

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (also available in the pink honey and nude honey versions).

Fellow BuzzFeed Shopping writer Heather Braga is a huge fan of this spray: "My 1-year-old is a big ice pop fan, so I've got a long life ahead of me to be filled with stain removal. I held her while she sucked down a red ice pop on a 90-degree day. Naturally, it dripped all over my white tank top (note to self: stop wearing white around these kids). I was actually kind of excited because it meant I got to put my newly purchased bottle of Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray to the test! I followed the directions on the bottle that said to dampen the stained area, spray it with the stain remover, then pop it into the washing machine as usual. What do ya know — it really worked! Completely cleared away all the red stains! Not sure what witchcraft has been used to make this product, but I'm here for it." 

Promising review: "My 1-year-old has taco meat stains ALL over the sleeves of his shirt. The stains were 2–3 days old, too. I sprayed the shirt, let it sit for about 15 minutes, and then washed the shirt with regular laundry soap. Almost every bit of the stains came out. Definitely buying bulk in this product!" —Sloan Avery

Get it from Amazon for $7.97 (available in three sizes and multipacks).

Promising review: "First, let me start with the price. My favorite thing about this product is its price vs. its quality. Most times, we find a low or responsible-priced product...well, let's say you get what you pay for, so usually you're left disappointed, BUT this stuff is wonderful. The smell, the de-tangling ability it has, plus I love how soft my hair is and my curls. No stiff hair and, on the days I want a little more hold or crispness, I just mix some of my firmer hold mousse in with this in my hands before I apply it. Wish I knew bout this product sooner. Thanks, TikTok." —Angelia Taggarrt

Get it from Amazon for $4.22 (also available in a pack of two).

Promising review: "I love the overall quality and the way it turned my overly dry skin around my finger nails to soft and healthy looking in just two applications. I saw results after first application but after the second one it was like I never had the issue. The size is adequate as you only need a small amount and very easy to apply. Once applied, it soaks in quickly and feels lightweight. The scent isn’t offensive or too strong." —Dmlyle

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes and two packs).

I've tried quite a few subtle, sheer nail polishes and "concealers," and this is my favorite of the bunch. One coat of this gives me perfectly shiny nails that catch the light like a diamond (and make them a compliment magnet), while two coats build it up to a sheer baby pink that provides a "my nails, but better" hint of color. Also, this dries FAST — it totally lives up to its 45-second dry time claim.

Read more about nail care, including how nail strengtheners may help nails, at Mayo Clinic.

Promising review: "I am very happy with this polish.... It actually dries very quickly, doesn’t chip easily, and looks like gel polish even though it isn’t. The color is buildable and very shiny. It is better than many similar products I have used that are way more expensive." —Kristin S.

The brand recommends applying twice a day for best results. Read more about how Q10 benefits the skin from the National Library of Medicine.

Promising review: "I’ve been using this for a few years and love it! I had loose skin after losing weight, and this gel has been a game-changer, with noticeable improvement in my skin’s texture and firmness in just a few weeks. I use this gel on my thighs, stomach, and underarms. I pair it with Nivea’s body lotion for the rest of my body. A little bit goes a long way, so the bottle lasts a while. I switched over to another gel for a month a bit ago, and I noticed my skin returning to uneven firmness and texture. Once I went back to using this product, I noticed improvements within a few weeks again. So, this isn’t a cure, but with continuous use, results are maintained to keep my skin firm, moisturized, and even textured." —Morgan

Check out a TikTok of the acne-banishing body spray in action. 

Promising review: "This body spray has helped clear up stubborn back and shoulder breakouts better than anything I’ve tried. The 360-degree spray makes it super easy to apply, even to hard-to-reach spots. It dries quickly, doesn’t stain clothes, and has a clean finish. After a couple of weeks of consistent use, I saw smoother skin and fewer breakouts. It’s also lightweight and doesn’t feel sticky. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with body acne." —Rosiemelisa

Promising review: "I saw this product on TikTok and decided to try it out for myself. The name doesn’t lie — spray it on, shut the bathroom door, and in a few hours, the shower is 100 times cleaner. Usually, I’ll let it sit overnight, and by morning, the visible grime on the shower is gone, including soap scum. I’ll usually let the shower water rinse the residue out and then will take a bucket just to get everything off the shower walls. It is a bit slick if you try to get in the shower without rinsing the residue, but otherwise, it’s a worthy cleaning staple in my house." —Tara D. 

Get it from Amazon for $20.98+ (available in two scents and two sizes).  

Promising review: "I’ve tried a bunch of teeth whitening products in the past, and they’ve always left my teeth feeling sensitive. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried a whitening product, and I was skeptical about trying another one, but after searching around, I decided to give it a try, and I am happy to say that I have not felt any sensitivity at all! The instructions say to use it 2x a day, but for now, I’m just using it 1x a day as I want to see how my teeth feel and adjust. I’ve been using the product for about a month now and I have been able to see some results, but only after I took a photo did I realize it has been working so fast. I have pretty white teeth, so I’m pretty amazed how well it works. It may take longer for those with darker teeth." —Adam

Promising reviews: "I love this product and have noticed a huge difference when using it consistently. I am on the younger side and don’t have the worst under-eye bags, but on those occasional mornings when my eyes are puffy with somewhat visible dark circles, this product definitely does the trick! Honestly love all the Good Molecules products." —Hayden Smith 

"Saw this on TikTok and decided to give it a try since the price was amazing. OMG, buy it. I’ve always had dark circles under my eyes and now fine lines and crow's-feet. While this doesn’t completely eliminate my dark circles, the fine lines are really diminished. It wears extremely well under makeup and doesn’t feel cakey or like there’s a ton of product on." —K. Grant 

Promising reviews: "Anyone with dark under eye problems like myself needs to have a brightener! I used to spend $40 on Becca, but this one is better in my opinion!! It’s very pigmented and covers blue hues in the corners of my eyes. It can be worn alone, but I prefer it under my concealer. It blends incredibly well, and it's very creamy and easy to apply. It will probably last me six months — a little dab goes a long way. It’s extremely buildable, too. I am just so in love. I’m a sucker for saving money, and this purchase just saved me over $30. I will recommend to all my friends and family. Just BUY it!" —Caitlin Newcomb

"Bought this after seeing an influencer use it on TikTok. This works really well. I can instantly see a difference when I use it under my eyes. For the price, this is a win-win. I had never heard of this brand, but I will be using their products more often." —Kerry C

Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades).

This is a mildly abrasive cleaning paste, so use it with care and go slowly when testing on new surfaces. Simply apply it to the surface with a damp sponge or cloth, give it a few scrubs, and then rinse away with hot water.  

Promising review: "I had tried everything to get the hardware stains off my shower. CLR, metal scrubbing pads, vinegar, and many other things. I thought I'd end up having to replace all the faucets. I saw this in a BuzzFeed article and thought, no way it's THAT good... It's that good. It's better than good. It's wild how good it is. My shower looks better than new. It took rust stains off the tile. It took years of hard water scale buildup off in seconds. It is literally a miracle product." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $5.97 (also available with a scrubbing sponge and in a two-pack).

Promising review: "Don't hesitate, just buy these. I was using the Real Technique sponges for years and bought these on a whim after seeing several TikToks praising these. I love these sponges and the price. I apply liquid foundation with a damp sponge and these work better than Real Techniques. They are dense but soft and 'bouncy.' I wash mine between each use and these hold up very well and much better than the RT. Very happy with my purchase and the price. Will definitely continue to buy." —chris

Get a set of five from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in five sets).

BuzzFeed editor Heather Braga swears by it. Here's what she had to say:

"After reading about how necessary it is to actually clean your makeup brushes (I know, I KNOW, I should’ve been doing this for years) I was super grossed out and motivated to order the right supplies to do the job. I’ve heard good things about Ecotools makeup brush cleansing shampoo so I figured I’d start there. The Amazon listing also suggested buying a silicone makeup brush cleaning pad to go with it, so I figured... why not? Well, now I’m patting myself on the back because ordering these two items was a GAME CHANGER!

I could not believe how much residue came off my brushes in just one cleaning. You only need to use a little dab of the shampoo, so one bottle will definitely last a long time. The silicone pad made it super easy to thoroughly lather the brushes without leaving my bathroom sink in shambles. I also loved how each section was labeled with which brush should be cleaned in each area. My brushes look brand new! Don’t hesitate like I did — buy both the shampoo and the mat ASAP."

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in two sizes).

You can place one in the detergent tray and run a normal cycle. An additional tablet can be added to the bottom of the dishwasher for a deeper clean. You can also use it while cleaning dishes by placing a tablet in the bottom of your dishwasher when running a normal cycle.

Promising review: "Definitely worth trying! I moved into a new place and discovered the hard way that the previous tenant was a disgusting slob — and I mean GROSS. About 6 weeks in some random grease clog happened somewhere in our plumbing/something went wrong and my sink and dishwasher began emptying (unbeknownst to me at first) into my downstairs neighbors kitchen. Long story short, everything was replaced and repaired but my dishwasher smelled horribly rotten and seemed to just make dishes dirtier. Oily and stinky, somehow, no matter how much prewash/soap/good old scrub the dishwasher on your knees I did. It was beyond useless, it was making my kitchen stink. My landlord was unconcerned at this point because the problems had *technically* been fixed. (Yeah, one of those). THIS PRODUCT WAS WORTH, FOR ME, 3X WHAT I PAID. One tablet worked wonders, and a second was probably not needed but I did one anyway, and I'm just absolutely amazed. It's better then it was when I moved in. If only this could fix up the rest of my apartment for me!!?!" —Mirwonderful

Get a pack of six tablets from Amazon for $8.99 (also available in a two-pack of six-count boxes).

The metal on the comb is anti-rust and easy to clean and comes with a protective cover for maximum hygiene.

Promising review: "As a pro makeup artist, this is an excellent tool to have in my kit. Excellent for removing mascara clumps." —Lady Marina

Promising reviews: "I saw this on YouTube and immediately wanted to try it. I have curly hair which I love but sometimes I just want to put it in a ponytail and go on with my day. This is a time saver for all those little hairs that tend to stick up or don't want to stay in place. I’m not a fan of hairspray, and this even smells nice. I believe it’s a light coconut smell. Overall satisfied, and you don’t need to use much. I took it with me on vacation, and it saved me time in the evening from having to deal with bad hair days." —Blanca Perez

"I have 4a–4b curls. When my hair is straight, there are a few spots that are a little frizzier than others which to me, isn't a big deal. Some flyaways however were the biggest reason why I got this. It lays the baby hairs and is a little bit of a heavier product. I will say, you just have to be careful if you're not used to using heavy product. The first time I used it, I just put a little in my hands and then put it where it was needed." —Jay

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (also available in multipacks).

Just a note that you don't have to lay your edges, but this is great if you do!

Promising review: "The quality of this product is simply just amazing. It will lay those 4C edges for all day up to 8 hours coverage. The smell is not as pungent as other products I have tried. This product is thick must use edge control brush, and the ease of use is use it as you would any other edge control. Apply a little to the brush place it on those edges tie it down, let it dry, and walk away. The price point is amazing. The size of the container will last quite a while depending how much you use. Can't go wrong with Ebin." —ms. jackson

Get it from Amazon from $7.97 (available in five sizes).

Promising review: "My dry neck and the annoying itchiness I used to experience have completely gone away after using this cream. It’s not only soothing, but it also feels like it’s really nourishing my skin. The firming benefits are a bonus! I highly recommend this product to anyone dealing with dryness or discomfort in their neck and chest area. It’s become a must-have in my skincare routine." —JAcosta

Get it from Amazon for $11.97 (also available in a two-pack).

Promising review: "This product is amazing! It makes cleaning so much easier and takes way less time! I used to hate cleaning my baseboards, but this product has made cleaning it so easy that I actually don't mind doing it anymore! It is also great for blinds as well! Definitely worth it!" —Julia

Promising review: "I rarely review products, but this little sponge literally changed my life! It picks up EVERYthing in one swipe! Hard water marks on your bathroom mirror, no problem! Hair clippings on your sink and counter, one swipe and they are gone! Dusty blinds? Swoosh, swoosh, swipe! And ala-presto ka-bam, like magic, they are perfect and dust-free! I just need one of these for my floors! I love, love, love how the sponge picks up everything, and with a little running water, all the dust, hair, muck, and guck just rinsed away! This will not disappoint! Thank you!" —DayDreamer

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 for a pack of four (available in six color packs and also in packs of two and eight).

Promising reviews: "Can I just say... this stuff is now my HOLY GRAIL!! This scar gel has been by far the best I’ve ever tried. I have a lot of acne scars on my face. I just assumed they’d be there forever. Until I found Derma-e. It doesn’t sting, it feels great on my face, and super moisturizing at the same time. I’ve been using this for about three days and I’m already seeing results." —Laura

Promising review: "I had a hideous wart on one of my left toes that just wouldn't go away. I tried cutting it off and applying a peeling solution to it, but it came back with a vengeance. It was a cause of irritation and embarrassment that I couldn't even wear slides or flip-flops over the summer. Until I found this product. Without even a month of using these medicated pads, the wart is gone! I have no complaints about the adhesion because it was completely intact after 48 hours of putting it on, despite getting it wet a lot ( I shower twice a day). Within a week of using these, the tough top of the wart started to peel off with the medicated pad. I decided to continue using the medicated pad to ensure the roots of the wart go away as well. Now, there are NO traces of the wart at all! I am super happy about this product and recommend it to whoever needs to get rid of an embarrassing wart." —Elaine Corpin

Promising review: "These patches have really helped with the comfort of my feet! I hate that I get corns, but the quality of these patches have truly helped! My calluses and my corns have definitely gone down from using this product! The is great for the amount of money spent!" —Iva

Get three packs of six from Amazon for $14.97 (also available in various bundles).

Psst! This is hand-wash only but, hey, nobody's perfect.

Promising review: "I love this knife! I stumbled upon a description when I was shopping for a sushi knife. It was so cheap that I decided to take a chance. Wow. It is such a great little knife. Yes, it works perfectly on soft tomatoes. But, to be honest, I use it for many other fruits and vegetables. It is amazingly sharp, the serrated edge is very effective, and it has a great feel in my hand." —Jane S. 

Get it from Amazon for $16.25 (available in two colors).

Although, gray hair is honestly pretty fierce, so feel free to let those silvery strands shine!

Promising reviews: "This product is awesome. Covers the grays/roots. Stays on all day. Also, if you have thin hair, it will fill in the spots nicely. Comes with a sponge that you unscrew off the bottom. This will last a very long time. This is much easier to use than the spray that doesn't always get the right spots and tends to get on your clothes. A good selection of colors. Great price. Will re-order when the time comes." —Amazon Customer

"LOVE! so easy to use and perfect for helping my thinned hairline from postpartum hair loss. I tried a more expensive brand and liked this one more. Definitely recommend it for helping the hairline look fuller. I toss it in my makeup bag and apply quickly ." —Catie B.

Get it from Amazon for $17.95 (available in two sizes and 14 colors).

Promising review: "When I travel, my lips get so chapped! It's painful. I found this product when I searched for something for extremely chapped lips. I've used other O'Keeffe's products so I trusted the brand. I used this as directed in the morning and before bed and my lips healed up faster than ever. Also, on the next trip I went on, I took it with me and used it daily. My lips stayed healthy and didn't get chapped at all. This stuff is magic, and I won't go anywhere without it now." —Anna C. Adams

Get it from Amazon for $11.48 (also available in a pack of two).

Promising reviews: "Love this! In my opinion, better than Laneige at a fraction of the price. A bit thicker, which I like. Even though it’s a sleeping mask, I use it throughout the day to keep my lips moist and soft. Will keep ordering again and again." —Michaela

"This is the most moisturizing lip treatment on the market. When my lips started getting dry due to the cold season, I was thinking of buying the Laneige lip mask, but it’s soooo expensive. This is a fraction of the cost and feels just the same. Very good product." —Riya

Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.90 (available in five scent combos). 

Reviewers with straighter hair types say the foam helps add voluminous waves to their hair, while those with thicker, wavier hair types say this helps add a bit more definition and shine.

Promising review: "I've tried many products out there to tame and hold my natural waves (learning to "embrace your natural locks"), and they've always let me down by either leaving me with poofy hair, stiff hair, or sticky hair. This product holds and defines natural waves without any of that. And I love that you use it to let your hair air dry as I hate blow drying - that was a big selling point! I've tried both by applying just this product on wet hair as well as first applying a smoothing serum followed by this product, and while the outcome was a little better with the two steps, using just alone gave great results as well. Definitely making this my go-to from now on!" —Gus

Promising review: "Didn’t think it would work, but it DID with no scrubbing!! My husband didn’t think our grout was originally white, but I knew better. I put this on before bed on a section of grout in the shower, and woke up to gorgeous and bright white, no scrubbing at all the next morning. Just rinse it off. Absolutely buying another bottle. It wasn’t quite enough for my entire shower, but to be fair, we have a lot of small tiles. I think two bottles will get the whole shower floor. Bravo on a great product." —thekuan

Promising review: "Since trying this product, I will never go back to anything else. For years, I’ve been using Better Than Sex by Too Faced, and I absolutely loved it. But as you know, it’s at a higher price point. I was looking for a cheaper option that worked the same, if not better. I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this. For me... THIS WORKS BETTER! I’ve tried both the black and brown options as well as the waterproof options and [I'm] blown away by every one of them!! This is my new favorite mascara! Makes my lashes look like I had them professionally done." —chela1389

Get it from Amazon for $4.97 (available in black or brown and as a three-pack).

Promising review: "Necessary tool to clean your cast iron pots and pans. Perfectly contoured to the rounded corners used by Lodge in their pans so you'll get any food stuck to your pan off easily. The plastic is sturdy and malleable but not so much that it will deform. Been using them for a couple months now, and I haven't had them break. And since I still can't get a properly seasoned coating on my pans, I have a lot of food that sticks (my fault), but these scrapers get pretty much everything off easily." —JGtz

Promising reviews: "I have used Moroccanoil for years and decided to give this a shot. This is better than Moroccanoil and I will be buying again. It keeps my hair soft and smooth even in summer humidity. Great product." —Caitlin K.

"This product is a legit alternative to the Ouai hair oil. They smell identical, they feel exactly the same, and they left my hair shiny and soft. And most importantly it saved me some money for the future." —Brianna Reed

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in packs of two and four).

Promising reviews: "I’ve tried just about every eyebrow gel on the market, from high-end to drugstore. This is not only [an alternative] for Benefit's brow gel and Glossier Boy Brow, it’s better! So much better and way cheaper." —Amazon Customer

"OK, I was skeptical as I love my ABH Brow Freeze. But a friend did my makeup and used it and I was really impressed. So, I got some and played with it on my own. It is so much smoother to glide through my brows. I work it through back and front, then again with a clean spoolie. I LOVE the results. It also washes out really well (even if I don't use a makeup wipe)." —Miss Jordan

Get it from Amazon for $9.97 (available in four shades).

Just presoak your feet, apply the gel, let sit for 5–10 minutes, and rinse! It's recommended you go back in afterward with a foot file just to make sure no residue or dead skin is left behind.

Promising review: "I have the driest heels, and this is the ONLY product that has ever worked. Before I used this, my heels had some pretty deep cracks, and now they're almost baby-soft again. BUT please follow the directions...left it on my super-dry, thick-callused heels for only three minutes, and the calluses were literally melting off! Wonderful product! So glad I don't have to go soak my feet in those tubs at the nail salon anymore." —Kiki

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three formulas and a pack of two).

According to reviewers, this cream will add a slight bit of volume to thin, fine hair or enhance the waves in those with thick, curly hair.

Promising review: "I'm so grateful that I found this product. My hair is wavy and frizzy. Every once in a great while, my waves resemble curls, but the frizz is always there. I've only used this product one time so far and I never want to be without it. I put some on after towel drying (no brushing) my hair, and my waves actually resembled curls! It wasn't instant, so I was skeptical, but after about 15 minutes, I caught a glimpse of my hair in the mirror, and I was amazed. It looked styled rather than a ratty mess. I slept on it, and it still looked great in the morning!!!" —mich0610

Get it from Amazon for $8.96 (also available in a pack of two).

Promising review: "This stuff is amazing. It has light to medium coverage. It lasts all day. The oils in my skin usually breakdown foundation but this one stays in place and after a little blotting looks good as new... I just recently purchased the Fenty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint in 6 and like it, but I actually prefer the Wet N Wild Tinted Hydrator better. You can buy six of these for the same price as the Fenty. I’m so happy I tried this." —Nancy

Get it from Amazon for $5.47+ (available in eight shades and also in packs of two).

Reviewers with hair textures from type 1a (stick straight) to type 4c (coily) have left 5-star ratings for this bottle of magic. Those with straighter hair say it helps smooth flyaways and add volume, while those with coily hair say it enhances their natural curls and adds shine.

Promising review: "I don’t usually do reviews on products, but for this one, I absolutely have to. I have 3c-type hair and struggle with a lot of breakage, unmanageability, and moisture. When my mom mentioned this product to me, I didn’t take her seriously because of the simple fact that we have two completely different hair textures. I never would have thought this brand would work on my hair ... I have never in my 22 years felt my hair like this. I feel like I have a completely different head of hair. This product is so amazing, and I will FOREVER be using this product in my hair regimen." —Theressa Hailey

Just spray and wipe — or leave it on for up to two minutes for caked-on messes.

Promising review: "Wow! A degreaser that actually works! I love the foam, which starts to work immediately on my stove top as well as cookware and other kitchen surfaces." —P. Webb

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two sizes and a two-pack).

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Daniel Boan is a Shopping Editor who uses his passion for hitting "add to cart" (and his 8+ years in media) to curate the best products on the web — he's particularly passionate about finding the best beauty products, which probably stems from his days of working at Lush Cosmetics, where he learned about effective skincare ingredients while getting covered in bath bomb dust every day.

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.