These 42 Essential Beauty Items Are So Affordable I Own Multiples

Are we ready to talk about shaving our faces yet? No? Okay, cool. Well, these handy little shavers are great for removing peach fuzz from whichever areas you're least embarrassed to admit.

A curved brush with sturdy bristles makes for a prime separating and lengthening mascara situation. At just $5 a pop, this one from Maybelline is a great option to buy in bulk to keep in your gym bag, in your desk at work, and anywhere else where you might need to touch-up.

Pimples happen, but as long as you have a hefty supply of these blemish-banishing patches, they don't have to stick around for long. 

This popular hand cream is more like a salve, and it coats your hands to protect them from drying factors like extreme weather, water, and other forms of skin-harming manual manipulation. Buy a few to distribute throughout the house to keep your hands moisturized in every room.

The perfect cat-eye doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

This device's silicone prongs are just firm enough to make an impact but also soft enough that they'll never cause abrasions or irritation. Pro tip: Keep one in the shower to help get to your roots while shampooing your hair, and one in your nightstand for some relaxing head massages before bed.

Not only are these muslin cloths wonderful for providing light exfoliation and elevating your overall face0washing experience, but they can also replace single-use makeup remover wipes if you're looking to make your skincare routine more sustainable. 

If you're struggling with weak or brittle fingernails, this strengthening cream is a must. 

You don't have to visit the nail salon to achieve vibrant, glossy nails. This topcoat is seriously like magic when it comes to making your manicure look expensive.

This OG toner is great for removing residual makeup debris and excess sebum while minimizing the look of pores. It's always wise to keep at least one extra on reserve.

This clay mask is the truth. Ask your mom, she knows what's up.

I'm not too proud to admit that single-use hair treatments may feel a little excessive in the packaging department, but they sure do make for excellent portion control. Especially for those with thick and textured hair types, an individual portion like this is great for ensuring that you don't accidentally use half a jar of a *very* expensive treatment all at once. Keep these on deck for those instances where you want to treat yourself to a luxe deep conditioning. 

Seriously, you can never have too much lip balm.

This multi-use salve is well worth its affordable price tag, and even more so since it offers so much utility. As demonstrated by countless makeup artists and skin whisperers, you can apply it literally anywhere, and it's sure to offer soothing moisture from head to toe.

What's better than one soothing facial spray? Two soothing facial sprays, of course.

This silky micellar water is great for removing makeup or conducting a refreshing waterless cleanse. It's the perfect partner for those muslin cloths you were eyeballing above.

When it comes to holy-grail beauty buys, this French pharmacy staple tops just about every list out there. It comes in so many different sizes that you should be able to stash it just about anywhere you can imagine.

Looking to round out your French skincare routine? It would be utterly incomplete without the beloved, gentle cleanser.

You never realize how much you need a collection of portable, LED light mirrors until you're stuck touching up your makeup under the harsh fluorescent lights in the office, or worse, in your dark car. Keeping a couple of these on hand might just save you some unfortunate makeup mishaps.

Did I mention that I'm obsessed with facial spray?

I wasn't kidding.

In a world where $300 HA serums exist, having a $16 option that actually gets the job done is a real blessing. This one has more than a thousand five-star reviews on Amazon, so I was fairly certain it would become one of my favorites even before I tried it out.

Don't let the price tag fool you: This powerful little potion is legit. It contains a very similar antioxidant blend to a beloved (and much pricier) version that graces the vanities of just about every beauty editor I know. Being that this one is so inexpensive, I love to travel with it, so that in the event that the bottle breaks, or it gets confiscated by TSA, I won't be quite as devastated.

This gorgeous lip tint is like two products in one. On the one hand, it's a soothing and deeply hydrating lip balm packed with hyaluronic acid and active botanicals. And on the other, it's a beautiful lip tint that imparts the perfect amount of flush. You'll want a couple of shades and maybe even the clear version for your collection.

Remember that one time MAC discontinued Ruby Woo? It was bananas. In the event that the brand decides to pull a stunt like that again, I'd suggest keeping a backstock of this popular shade.

Victoria Beckham is a fan of this tubing mascara, so I'm also a fan of this tubing mascara. The reviews don't lie: It's truly smudge-proof.

There are so many luxurious facial oil blends on the market, but sometimes it's nice to get back to basics with individual oils you know will interact well with your skin. Rosehip oil is incredibly soothing, moisturizing, and plays nicely on most skin types. It's also a great carrier oil, if you want to mix in essential oils or other nutritious skin ingredients to make your own tailored treatment oil.

This iconic liquid eyeliner will set you back a bit more than its drugstore counterparts, but it's still decently priced. Although I rotate through a curated lineup of eyeliners daily, I can't be without this one.

So $25 isn't exactly cheap, but this clean body wash is so worth the extra coin. It's loaded with all the good stuff our skin loves, like vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as marula, cacay, and meadowfoam oils to keep your entire body feeling clean but not stripped. It lasts longer than you might think based on the size of the bottle. (Or maybe the price tag just inspires a subconscious conservation effort.)

You just can't get a proper full-glam beat without this OG makeup artist favorite. It locks in concealer and brightens up the face like you wouldn't believe. You might not think $26 is cheap, but I should also mention that I've only ever had to re-up on my supply of this world-class product a handful of times over the course of the last decade.

Microfiber hair towels really are the only way to go if you're looking to minimize frizz and tension breakage. Just like any other towel, you need a few to keep in rotation, just in case your laundry and hair-washing schedules don't line up.

From makeup artists to editors, this fragrant face cream is yet another French pharmacy favorite you'll want to keep in ample supply. It's wonderful under makeup or on its own, and a dime-sized amount will leave your entire face and neck feeling supple and smooth.

Our forever motto: SPF, every day, no matter what. Don't run out, fam.

This multitasking face and body gloss is truly instant glow in a tube. It's not exactly cheap, but just a dab goes such an incredibly long way. I have it in two shades and truly believe that I'd have to cover my entire body several times over just to empty my supply.

This dermatologist-approved sunscreen is perfect for everyday wear since it's lightweight and oil-free. Protect that face at all costs, and keep a backstock so you're never vulnerable to sun damage.

These fashionable scrunchies offer more than just aesthetic appeal. They're also make of silk, so they're super gentle on your hair without sacrificing security.

You're pretty much getting four lipsticks for the price of one in this heavenly lip palette.

Ever since I learned that J.Lo is a fan of this face cream, I became a fan of this face cream.

An enzyme peel from a facialist could cost you hundreds of dollars, so by comparison, this at-home version is a steal.

Sheet masks are one of those skincare practices that feels extra indulgent, because you can't really do anything else while wearing them. You're forced just sit there and soak up the luxury. What a life. Keeping multiples in your beauty collection will help you slow down and treat yourself a little more this year.

This modeling mask is an important part of my Sunday evening ritual. The box contains four treatments, so they really only cost about $5 a piece. Considering how incredibly plump and hydrated they make your face look and feel, I'd say that's a few bucks well spent.

This adorably chic hand lotion pod is a piece of the iconic heritage brand you can buy without putting a savings plan in place first.
Up next, 11 skincare brands French girls never stray from.
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.