Things That Make You Look Better With Almost No Effort, Say Experts

Celebrity makeup artist Judi Gabbay recommends the super-fine tip NYX Microbrow pencil. “Using this pencil is a quick and effective way to create facial symmetry and fullness in your brows,” she explains. “The fine pencil tip mimics hair-like strokes, filling in sparse areas with ease. Just a few minutes with this pencil will give your brows a beautifully defined appearance.”

This brow pencil features a creamy formula that seamlessly adds fullness and dries to a natural matte finish. Plus, it comes with a handy spoolie brush for easy blending and a retractable design that protects the fine tip, making it a must-have in your beauty routine.

According to Gabbay, “ELF’s monochromatic sticks are highly pigmented and buildable, making them easy to store in your purse and suitable for eyes, lips, and face.” This compact color stick is incredibly user-friendly — just unscrew the tube to dot and blend wherever you desire a shimmery finish. It’s formulated with shea butter and vitamin E, adding nourishing hydration to your skin.

Gabbay recommends the Wet n Wild loose highlighter for its unique powder formula. “Mixing a bit of this highlighter into your favorite face or body moisturizer can instantly enhance your skin’s glow,” she advises. “Apply it to the inner corners of your eyes for a brightening effect and on your cheekbones for a luminous lift.”

Grab your preferred moisturizer and this buildable, reflective highlighter. It functions similarly to a loose-setting powder you may already be familiar with, providing a stunning glow. You can brush this vegan, paraben-free formula directly on top of your finished makeup for an extra pop.

“I absolutely LOVE Maybelline’s Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara for a quick application that lifts and separates lashes beautifully,” Gabbay shares. “Apply it on both top and bottom lashes to create a doe-eyed effect. The small heart-shaped brush layers mascara perfectly onto each lash without flaking.” This innovative design features a larger side for coverage and a precise tip for defining each lash, ensuring you achieve a stunning look effortlessly.

Ghanima Abdullah, a hair expert and cosmetologist at therighthairstyles.com, suggests trying the Janyun silicone curlers. “I love the person who created silicone curlers,” she explains. “These curlers are incredibly comfortable for sleeping, allowing you to avoid heat damage in the morning. They’re easy to use and create the perfect amount of volume without making your curls too tight.”

These flexible silicone curlers are a game-changer compared to traditional overnight styles that can be uncomfortable. Their lightweight design is gentle on your hair, and the pop-on feature means no pins are necessary, making them easy to use and washable.

Abdullah suggests trying a high updo with a few tendrils left out in the front, stating that “if you’re struggling with your hairline, the tendrils will help draw attention away from it. This look balances your face and emphasizes the delicacy and color of your jawline and neck, especially when paired with a bold lipstick.”

This easy updo can be effortlessly created using a set of nylon hairbands designed to keep your hair secure. Their anti-damage design allows you to pull out strands without creating bumps, and they’re free of annoying metal clips that can tug on your hair.

NYC-based celebrity makeup artist Suzy Gerstein recommends the Babe Original brow filler, which “adds instant definition and weight to the brow without stiffness or flaking.” For optimal results, she suggests using a slightly lighter shade than your brow hairs to soften their appearance, creating a more balanced look. “I use Taupe for blondes and brunettes and Dark Brown for those with black hair,” she adds.

This brow filler not only enhances your brows but also nourishes and softens them with biotin and peptides. The gel formula glides on effortlessly, ensuring your brows look healthy and full, while the full-coverage spoolie allows for precise application.

Laura Roncagli, co-founder of MyBeautik and a professional makeup artist and hair stylist based in Italy, recommends the Bed Head wax stick. “This hair wax won’t leave your hair feeling sticky or stiff; it effectively tames flyaway hairs that can make ponytails look messy,” she explains. “Controlling those tiny hairs elevates your overall look, and it takes less than a minute and under $20!”

This hair wax stick allows for a mess-free application, as you can apply it directly to your hair. The alcohol-free formula is versatile, managing flyaways while also providing definition. Plus, it leaves a pleasant lavender scent in your hair.

Beauty expert and award-winning esthetician Gregory Dylan reveals a little secret: “You can create your own sheet mask.” How? He explains, “These dehydrated paper masks expand and absorb your favorite hydrating or brightening toner, essence, or serum for a personalized skincare experience.”

These tiny face masks are product-free, allowing you to soak them in a small bowl filled with your preferred serum. Made from non-irritating cotton, they’re compatible with all liquid skincare products. Plus, they’re compressed and individually wrapped, making them travel-friendly.

Dylan also recommends the MoValues gua sha set. “I encourage my clients to dedicate time to care for their skin between treatments and indulge in a mini ‘at-home’ facial,” he explains. “Use the brush to apply your favorite mask, tone and energize your skin with the gua sha and your favorite facial oil, and achieve optimal product penetration and de-puffing benefits with the roller. You’ll notice a radiant glow!”

This gua sha facial set minimizes product waste since it includes a skincare applicator brush, ensuring no serum is wasted on your hands. The 100% amethyst gua sha and roller enhance product absorption, while also providing a calming and soothing experience.

Celebrity makeup artist Neil Scibelli recommends his favorite serum for achieving even skin tone, the Neostrata vitamin C serum. He emphasizes the importance of starting with a great base, as this fragrance-free serum contains 15% vitamin C to enhance skin brightness and radiance. Additionally, it features green tea for added antioxidant protection, along with feverfew extract to shield your skin from drying pollution.

Scibelli also swears by his “longtime quick lip go-to,” the lightweight LANEIGE lip balm, which provides a glowy finish and a touch of color while deeply hydrating the lips. “It includes murumuru and shea butter as nourishing conditioners, but I also love the sheer pink tint it offers, making it an all-in-one product,” he adds. Plus, the compact squeeze applicator makes this hydrating lip treatment mess-free to apply.

This Neutrogena multi-use makeup stick is a favorite of Scibelli, who describes it as a “beautiful eye, cheek, and lip product infused with hyaluronic acid that provides a natural flush.” The hyaluronic acid not only hydrates but also ensures a smooth finish. This buildable balm is perfect for adding a sheer tint to makeup-free skin and comes in a compact tube for easy application on lips, cheeks, or eyelids.

Scibelli recommends the hydrating innisfree sunscreen, which offers a sheer SPF of 36 without leaving a white or gray cast while providing a dewy finish. Its unique formula includes nurturing jeju green tea for hydration and calming cica, along with moisturizing sunflower seed oil, all in a lightweight texture. With its water-like formula, it’s quick and easy to apply, making it ideal for daily use.

Professional hairstylist and founder of the Hair Spies blog Allyson Carter states, “The essential tool everyone needs is a roll brush dryer,” and her top pick is the one from Revlon. This uniquely shaped oval brush is bristle-covered, ensuring no tangles while you brush, style, and dry simultaneously. Carter’s tip? “Once your hair is nearly dry, simply brush through while blow-drying to achieve a salon-quality blowout in minutes.”

Carter also recommends the cult-favorite Olaplex No 6 Bond Smoother, suitable for all hair types. “I suggest this to clients who feel their hair looks dull,” she says. This formula strengthens and hydrates hair while reducing drying time. Simply incorporate this cream into your damp hair routine after showering for optimal results.

Additionally, Carter shares that the treatment can be used as a mask or a leave-in conditioner, smoothing your hair beyond your expectations. A pea-sized amount goes a long way, ensuring it lasts for a while despite its small packaging.

“For those with curly natural hair, I always recommend the MoroccanOil Curl Defining Cream,” Carter states. This cream is infused with argan oil, providing essential nourishment. Its formula contains vegetable protein that coats the hair to prevent frizz while moisturizing the scalp, making it suitable for everyday use.

“It revitalizes lost curl patterns, leaving your hair looking full of volume and bounce,” Carter adds. “This cream is the perfect addition to any curly hair routine, ensuring your curls stay hydrated and defined.”

Emmy-nominated celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks calls the Kevyn Aucoin liquid highlighter an “all-time favorite.” This glowy product is incredibly versatile, allowing you to apply it directly or mix it into your moisturizer or foundation for a more subtle effect. It’s also fantastic as an illuminating highlighter over your makeup or on your legs and arms for a radiant glow.

“Glowing skin gives a fresh appearance, and it’s a simple one-step process to achieve a youthful, radiant look,” Sheriff-Kendricks explains. Additionally, it comes in multiple shades suitable for various skin tones, providing a lightweight, hydrating finish for a glassy complexion.

“Mascara can dramatically enhance your look with minimal effort, especially if it doesn’t run or smear. An amazing mascara that thickens and lengthens lashes can help achieve that effortless ‘I woke up like this’ look,” says Sheriff-Kendricks. “Opt for a fiber mascara that builds both length and volume with each application. KL is a brand I adore for its effective mascara system that mimics the look of false lashes.”

This set includes a 3D mascara and a fiber lash extender, which easily layers on top for added length. The mascara provides a waterproof coating over the lash extensions for lasting wear without the hassle of traditional false lashes.

Sheriff-Kendricks also recommends the Haus Laboratories demi-matte lip liner for her lipstick hacks. “Using lip liners close to your natural skin tone or a shade or two deeper creates an illusion of volume. Top it off with a gloss in a fleshy lip color, and you’ll have plump lips without any discomfort,” she suggests.

This creamy pencil is perfect for all lip ideas, gliding on without tugging the skin, even when overlining. The cruelty-free, vegan formula allows you to fill in your lips completely with one of the 16 shades available, while the precise tip and water-resistant finish make this lip essential worth trying.

Gina Rivera, celebrity stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, advises investing in stylish headbands, as they are both classic and trendy. This pack includes various fabric-covered styles such as velvet and satin, all designed to be gentle on your hair. Regardless of the fabric you choose, each headband features a fashionable knot detail on top, making them perfect for dressing up any outfit, whether it’s casual, date night, or office-ready attire.