Maybelline Great Lash. Aveda Shampure. NARS Orgasm. These names have all become synonymous with one phrase and one phrase only: Cult Beauty Products. These, along with a select group of others, have made the list of products screaming, "It's been around for years and makeup artists swear by it and so I must get it immediately." But are these products worth the hype? Do they really stand up to the scores of people saying they're absolutely amazing? Should you really run right out and spend your hard-earned cash on a $25 blush or $35 moisturizer? We dig deep to tell you which cult faves should be in your vanity -- and which are better left on the store shelf.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
Makeup artists swear by it. Magazine editors rave about it. No matter where you turn, this pink-and-green tube seems to be at the top of everyone's list. Well, we're here to tell you that it is totally worth it. Not only is the price unbelievable (it's only $4.49 on drugstore.com), this mascara will make your lashes look absolutely out-of-this-world unbelievable. They'll be longer, thicker, curlier, lusher ... you name it, your lashes will be it. We're partial to Blackest Black, which in only one coat takes our lashes from barely there to positively huge. Best of all, the waterproof version never smudges -- even if you're crying your eyes out over a fight with your boyfriend.
NARS Orgasm Blush
A blush that looks good on all skin tones? No way could this be possible, we thought. How could one color look good on light skin and dark, tanned or fair, pink cheeks or white? It just couldn't be done. But we were willing to try it out for the sake of discovering whether it was true. The shade itself is quite pretty -- a peachy pink with a subtle hint of shimmer. But unluckily for us (our skin is so pale it looks Casper-like in certain light), it made our cheeks look clownish. But we will say this ... we have so many friends who think it's the most amazing shade ever! It's even spawned a lipgloss, nail polish and one of NARS's many Multiples. So maybe we're just the anomaly.
$25 at sephora.com
Kiehl's Creme de Corps
Beta-Carotene provides richness and suppleness to the skin. And with fans being excited over this lotion since 1851, we'd say it should definitely be a staple in any self-respecting beauty gal's arsenal. We're totally in love with the formula, which is keeps skin from drying out yet isn't overly greasy and totally sinks right into the skin. (Case in point: we wrote this literally right after applying it to our moisture-quenched hands and our fingers didn't slip all over the keyboard!) Kiehl's claims that 10 days of use will make your skin look better than ever before. We don't know if that's true, but we know that even one use improves it beyond all measure.
$8-$70 at kiehls.com
Smith's Rosebud Salve
We're going to be perfectly honest here. We stayed away from this product for a loooooong time. We're not exactly sure why -- the hype was good, the price was amazing (only $6!), and the tin that looked like we could have bought it in a general store certainly intrigued us. We were just convinced that it couldn't really be worth all that. But then we finally bit the bullet, shelled out the $6 and got to work rubbing the salve all over our lips, chapped hands, unmanicured nails, you name it. And we'll be darned if it didn't make every area it touched look absolutely amazing! Our skin was softer, our lips were smoother, and the rose scent definitely made us smell fantastic. It's now found its way as a permanent fixture in our purse and makeup bag -- we literally can't imagine life without it. All in all? We'd say you should buy this one in bulk -- you'll never want to be without it.
$6 at sephora.com
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Long, curled, to-die-for lashes? They don't call this an icon for nothing. Even our lashes -- which are pretty lush and thick by comparison -- saw the magic of this baby. We haven't found another curler that accurately grabs all lashes, regardless of size or shape, and makes them so utterly long and luscious. End of story? It's precise, it's accurate and it's totally chic.
$19 at sephora.com
La Mer Creme de la Mer
The most talked-about selling point for this product -- other than the fact that it's completely amazing, that is? Jennifer Lopez reportedly slathers her entire body with it. The brand's patented Miracle Broth, which has been around for years and years, helps to keep your skin youthful, firm and free of wrinkles and other unsightly damage. We will say this -- it definitely takes some getting used to. This cream is a lot heavier than other moisturizers we've tried and loved, so at first we were weirdly against the product everyone has on her must-have list. But after a few days of applying just a dime-sized dab, we were totally sold and completely head-over-heels in love. It's rich and luxurious, and it makes us feel so special every time we unscrew the cap. While it doesn't come cheap (1 oz. is $125 on cremedelamer.com), it's just so, so worth it.
Lancome Juicy Tubes
Those adorable little squeezy tubes of lipgloss you see everywhere? Lancome was most definitely the first to come up with the idea. Back when all glosses and lipsticks were in stationary pots and tubes, Lancome created the squeeze version and voila! A craze was born. Soon L'Oreal, Maybelline and all the rest followed suit, and the rest is history. But Lancome's version takes the cake -- not only because it was the pioneer, but because the color and staying power are seriously the absolute best. New colors are introduced every season (like this year's World Tour glosses, co-created by designer Christopher Kane), and the shades available are simply astounding. Our fave has always been Miracle -- a light pink with just the subtlest touch of sparkle that really adds shimmer and definition to your pout. So go ahead, squeeze away.
$18 each at nordstrom.com
Aveda Shampure Shampoo
Maybelline Great Lash MascaraMakeup artists swear by it. Magazine editors rave about it. No matter where you turn, this pink-and-green tube seems to be at the top of everyone's list. Well, we're here to tell you that it is totally worth it. Not only is the price unbelievable (it's only $4.49 on drugstore.com), this mascara will make your lashes look absolutely out-of-this-world unbelievable. They'll be longer, thicker, curlier, lusher ... you name it, your lashes will be it. We're partial to Blackest Black, which in only one coat takes our lashes from barely there to positively huge. Best of all, the waterproof version never smudges -- even if you're crying your eyes out over a fight with your boyfriend.
NARS Orgasm BlushA blush that looks good on all skin tones? No way could this be possible, we thought. How could one color look good on light skin and dark, tanned or fair, pink cheeks or white? It just couldn't be done. But we were willing to try it out for the sake of discovering whether it was true. The shade itself is quite pretty -- a peachy pink with a subtle hint of shimmer. But unluckily for us (our skin is so pale it looks Casper-like in certain light), it made our cheeks look clownish. But we will say this ... we have so many friends who think it's the most amazing shade ever! It's even spawned a lipgloss, nail polish and one of NARS's many Multiples. So maybe we're just the anomaly.
$25 at sephora.com
Kiehl's Creme de CorpsBeta-Carotene provides richness and suppleness to the skin. And with fans being excited over this lotion since 1851, we'd say it should definitely be a staple in any self-respecting beauty gal's arsenal. We're totally in love with the formula, which is keeps skin from drying out yet isn't overly greasy and totally sinks right into the skin. (Case in point: we wrote this literally right after applying it to our moisture-quenched hands and our fingers didn't slip all over the keyboard!) Kiehl's claims that 10 days of use will make your skin look better than ever before. We don't know if that's true, but we know that even one use improves it beyond all measure.
$8-$70 at kiehls.com
Smith's Rosebud SalveWe're going to be perfectly honest here. We stayed away from this product for a loooooong time. We're not exactly sure why -- the hype was good, the price was amazing (only $6!), and the tin that looked like we could have bought it in a general store certainly intrigued us. We were just convinced that it couldn't really be worth all that. But then we finally bit the bullet, shelled out the $6 and got to work rubbing the salve all over our lips, chapped hands, unmanicured nails, you name it. And we'll be darned if it didn't make every area it touched look absolutely amazing! Our skin was softer, our lips were smoother, and the rose scent definitely made us smell fantastic. It's now found its way as a permanent fixture in our purse and makeup bag -- we literally can't imagine life without it. All in all? We'd say you should buy this one in bulk -- you'll never want to be without it.
$6 at sephora.com
Shu Uemura Eyelash CurlerLong, curled, to-die-for lashes? They don't call this an icon for nothing. Even our lashes -- which are pretty lush and thick by comparison -- saw the magic of this baby. We haven't found another curler that accurately grabs all lashes, regardless of size or shape, and makes them so utterly long and luscious. End of story? It's precise, it's accurate and it's totally chic.
$19 at sephora.com
La Mer Creme de la MerThe most talked-about selling point for this product -- other than the fact that it's completely amazing, that is? Jennifer Lopez reportedly slathers her entire body with it. The brand's patented Miracle Broth, which has been around for years and years, helps to keep your skin youthful, firm and free of wrinkles and other unsightly damage. We will say this -- it definitely takes some getting used to. This cream is a lot heavier than other moisturizers we've tried and loved, so at first we were weirdly against the product everyone has on her must-have list. But after a few days of applying just a dime-sized dab, we were totally sold and completely head-over-heels in love. It's rich and luxurious, and it makes us feel so special every time we unscrew the cap. While it doesn't come cheap (1 oz. is $125 on cremedelamer.com), it's just so, so worth it.
Lancome Juicy TubesThose adorable little squeezy tubes of lipgloss you see everywhere? Lancome was most definitely the first to come up with the idea. Back when all glosses and lipsticks were in stationary pots and tubes, Lancome created the squeeze version and voila! A craze was born. Soon L'Oreal, Maybelline and all the rest followed suit, and the rest is history. But Lancome's version takes the cake -- not only because it was the pioneer, but because the color and staying power are seriously the absolute best. New colors are introduced every season (like this year's World Tour glosses, co-created by designer Christopher Kane), and the shades available are simply astounding. Our fave has always been Miracle -- a light pink with just the subtlest touch of sparkle that really adds shimmer and definition to your pout. So go ahead, squeeze away.
$18 each at nordstrom.com
Aveda Shampure Shampoo
Rich in botanicals and organic extracts, this shampoo has
made its way onto list after list of favorite products. And it's easy to see
why - its gentle formula refrains from stripping hair of its natural oils and
maintains rich color even if you use it twice a day! Not only that, it smells
absolutely fantastic. It's minty without being overpowering, sweet without
being cloying, invigorating without being bracing. Best of all, this shampoo is
perfect for all hair types, from thick and wavy to thin and pin-straight. We'd
say this is totally worth the hype.
$9 at aveda.com
Today's Craving
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