The Best Amazon Prime Day Deals Under $25 on Everyday Essentials
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $8 ; street price: $10
What we like: The best lengthening drugstore mascara. Delivers long, perfectly delineated lashes (but not in a fake way). Nimble, bendy applicator brush is precise. Satin-slick formula evenly coats lashes. Affordable and available in multiple colors.
Other things to know: Formula can be messy and isn’t particularly thickening or volumizing. $8 is a buck more than the better deals we’ve seen of late.
Read more: The Best Mascara
Innisfree Daily UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 36 — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $13 ; street price: $18
What we like: A creamy, fragrant Korean lotion we like. Thick and hearty at first squeeze, then quickly disappears into skin. Contains chemical UV filters avobenzone, homosalate, and octisalate. Botanical ingredients “make you look glowy,” says editorial director Leta Shy.
Other things to know: Has a very subtle sunscreen smell — but to be honest, some of our testers noted that as a positive, since this product otherwise feels and behaves so much like a lotion.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
OPI RapiDry Nail Polish — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $8 ; street price: $10
What we like: Our favorite drugstore quick-dry nail polish. Low-cost. Broad color selection, even coverage, 60-second dry time, and five to six days of wear time.
Other things to know: Some testers described the color selection as “a bit offbeat,” another found them underwhelming.
Read more: We’re in a New Age of Quick-Dry Nail Polish. But They’re Not All Created Equal.
Round Lab Birch Moisturizing Cleanser (8.11 Ounces) — Staff Pick
Costco deal price: $15 (Costco membership required); street price: $25
What we like: A larger size of 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. Deal is for the larger 8.11-ounce size. Costco membership required.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $7 ; street price: $10
What we like: A nourishing hair oil we like in our drugstore beauty guide. A lightweight blend of 19 botanical oils. Smooths split ends and flyaways. Leaves your scalp more hydrated and hair shinier. Creates optimal environment for healthy hair growth.
Other things to know: Based on our testers’ experiences, regular evening application on a dry scalp makes hair feel thick and glossy. In one 2015 study, rosemary oil (the third ingredient in this hair oil) performed comparably to the hair growth agent minoxidil.
Read more: The Best Drugstore Makeup, Skin Care, and Other Beauty Products
Ouai Detox Face Cleanser — Best For…
Amazon deal price: $24 ; street price: $60
What we like: Our splurge facial cleanser pick for normal/combination skin. Rich, effective, mildly buffing gel with upgraded ingredients including glycolic and citric acid, as well as vitamins C, E, and niacinamide. Subtle scent with herbaceous notes. Testers loved the shatterproof, understatedly chic bottle.
Other things to know: Among our spendier picks. On first use, some testers had to depress the pump repeatedly, but then it worked fine.
Read more: The 8 Best Facial Cleansers
Beauty of Joseon Daily Relief Sunscreen (US Version) — Staff Pick
Amazon deal price: $13 ; street price: $18
What we like: The FDA-approved US version of a sunscreen staff pick in our guide to the best Korean skin care products. Specifically made for the US market, with FDA-approved ingredients rather than Korean filters. Small, minimalist-chic tube stashes easily in a bag.
Other things to know: Requires frequent reapplication. SPF 40.
Read more: The Best Korean Skin Care Products
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water — Guest Pick
Amazon deal price: $4 ; street price: $6
What we like: A guest pick face cleanser that doubles as a stain remover from Broadway dresser. Safe to use on most fabrics. A fantastic quick fix for makeup stains on fabrics.
Other things to know: You’ll still need to fully wash most items for best results. Deal is for the 3.4-ounce bottle.
Read more: How a Broadway Veteran Tackles Stains, Snaps, and Rips Backstage at ‘Boop!’
Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer With Sunscreen SPF 30 (2-Pack, 2.5 Ounces Each) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $20 (pack of two, 2.5 ounces each); street price: $30
What we like: Our top pick for the best combination sunscreen for your face. Very moisturizing. Smells only slightly sunscreen-like. Thicker consistency without being streaky or too heavy. Contains skin-calming niacinamide. Quickly absorbs into the skin.
Other things to know: Takes a bit more effort to rub in, and may leave a white cast on dark skin. Some testers said this formula left an oily feeling that never quite went away throughout the day. Deal is for a pack of two 2.5 ounce bottles.
Read more: The Best Sunscreens for Your Face
Banana Boat Light As Air SPF 50+ Sunscreen (6 Ounces, 2-Pack) — Top Pick
Amazon deal price: $14 (6 ounces, pack of two); street price: $20
What we like: Our top pick for the best chemical sunscreen. Lightweight and easy to apply. Not greasy; rubs in with a dry, transparent finish and appears nearly colorless on skin. Oxybenzone-free.
Other things to know: Tropical fragrance isn’t overpowering, but may not be for everyone. Water-resistant up to 80 minutes. Not reef-safe. Deal is for a pack of two 6-ounce tubes.
Read more: The Best Sunscreen
Sebastian Shaper Plus Extra Hold Hairspray — Guest Pick
Amazon deal price: $16 ; street price: $25
What we like: A guest pick in our article about how the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders achieve a sweat-proof look. Veteran cheerleader Victoria Kalina uses Sebastian Shaper Plus Extra Hold Hairspray for finishing touches on a done ’do.
Other things to know: A good second-layer spray that doesn’t look gluey or feel tacky. Deal price is for the 10.6-ounce bottle.
Read more: How the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Achieve a Sweat-Proof Look, Even Through Scorching Performances
