8 Popular Beauty Products Worth the Hype Under $15

Sponsored by Walmart. All opinions are my own.

Are you the type of person who buys into popular beauty products that everyone seems to rave about? I always find myself wondering: Can they possibly be that amazing? Are they worth the investment, big or small? Or is everyone just jumping on the bandwagon? After going through my own routine, though, I realized that some of my personal staples are cult favorites deemed as must-haves by other bloggers and editors alike. They’re totally worth the hype, and worth trying out ASAP… because they’re all under $15.

A piece of advice: shop these popular beauty products at Walmart. Out of all the beauty retailers near me, they carry the largest product ranges, typically have all versions of a particular product (shade options, skin type options, etc) and offer the best prices by whole dollar amounts! Plus, I always take advantage of either the free 2-day shipping on orders $35+ or the Pickup/Pickup Today option at my local store.

Keep reading to discover cult favorite beauty products that I think are totally are worth the hype, and that help me achieve my own favorite looks.

1 // I’ve talked ya’lls ears off about Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser a ton here on the blog already. Even when I test out other skin care, I always come back to using this as my go-to face wash. It’s everything I need for my sensitive, acne-prone combination skin. Like the name suggests, it’s gentle and won’t strip your skin or leave you feeling dry. It comes in a huge pump bottle, giving you a ton of bang for your buck. There’s a reason it’s dermatologist recommended, and it has never let me down!

2 // The Neutrogena Hydro Boost formula is incredibly popular, and it’s obvious why! It’s super lightweight and features hyaluronic acid to help plump skin and lock in moisture. They just released the new Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 that has been my go-to for wearing under makeup all Summer. It sinks into the skin instantly and doesn’t leave any residue, so products layer on top easily. Pus, it smells 100x better than most sunscreens.

3 // I absolutely love facial mists in summer— they are an easy way to give your skin a boost, and feel super refreshing when it’s hot. My fave this season has been the Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist. This became so popular so fast this year, and features one of the more recent “it ingredients” in skin care: rose water! It lightly hydrates and soothes skin, and is made with 99% naturally driven ingredients. I use it on top of my makeup if I’m starting to feel a little dry or sensitive throughout the day. I also use it for light moisture before the gym, as I don’t like wearing a lot of face products when I’m exercising and sweating hard.

4 // I mentioned this hair tool briefly on Instagram once, and I’ve been getting questions about it ever since! The Bed Head Curlipops Less Frizz Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Wand is pretty dang impressive for being under $14! This wand works just as well as expensive brands I own, for less than half the price. It’s not just good for an affordable curler, it’s good, period. The wand heats up to 400 degrees which helps style my thick hair quickly, and the tourmaline ceramic technology helps reduce frizz. I can get polished curls or tousled waves with this curling wand. It’s also dual voltage, perfect for traveling!

5 // As someone who only washes my hair once a week, dry shampoo is a non-negotiable in my hair care routine. I’ve tried many, but the one that always makes the top of my list is the Dove Refresh+Care Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo. Why? It’s under $5, does a great job at absorbing excess oil from my hair, and helps revive my look with some bouncy volume. As a brunette, the fact that it sprays on without a white cast is a huge factor of why this is the one I always repurchase.

As far as makeup goes, I don’t know if there are any products more hyped-up than the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara and the COTY Airspun Loose Face Powder.

6 // Lash Paradise is a must-have for any makeup collection to use when you want statement lashes. For me, that’s pretty much every day. It performs just as well— if not better— than similar high-end mascaras, and seriously delivers on length, volume and lift that lasts all day. My biggest tip for using this mascara is to wipe off excess product on the rim of the tube so you don’t over-apply. This will give you the best results, and the look that caused it to become a drugstore sensation.

7 // After years of hearing only the best things about the iconic COTY Airspun Powder, I finally picked it up at Walmart last month when I spotted a new display in my store featuring the product. Even though the old-school scent can take some getting used to, there’s no denying that this powder rocks. It sets my makeup without making it look dry, and smooths out my texture and pores. I have no questions about how this has been popular since the 1930s. I also love how the current packaging reflects the original powder box they sold nearly 90 years ago!

8 // Lastly, a shout out to one of the best drugstore highlighters that rightfully won an Allure Best of Beauty Award. The Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Molten Gold is everything I love: glowy without shimmer, smooth and blendable. I am incredibly picky about powder highlighter because I’m not a fan of glitter all over my face. This particular shade gives a natural-highlight-but-better appearance that you can build up for a super strobe-y effect, and the neutral gold hue looks great across multiple skin tones.

Not only are these products worth the hype, but personal staples from skincare that targets my combo skin to the finishing touches of my makeup routine. Grab ‘em all at Walmart for under $15 and let me know: do you think they deserve their popularity?

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Do you have any beauty favorites that are totally worth the hype? Share in the comments below!