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The #ProductEmpties We Loved to the Last Drop

From new finds to longtime favorites, these are beauty products that our editors use until the bitter end (of the tube)
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The Mojito-Scented Natural Deodorant That Actually Works
After getting burned one too many times by subpar natural deodorants, I've been a longtime skeptic. (I've done way too many trial runs of naturals where all seems to go fine for a few days, then suddenly it fails, and you notice at work or in a crowded place, and that's ... embarrassing.) But after hearing rave after rave about Schmidt's Natural Deodorant, $8.99, I decided to give natural one more go. And, wow. You guys, this is the first natural deo I've ever tried that really, really works. Now, if it's really hot or I'm working out, I can sometimes feel a little wetness creep in. When that happens, I reapply and then I'm pretty much instantly fine. But I've never been had any issue with odor while using Schmidt's and that's what really matters, right? Plus, they have the most amazing, appealing scents. Bergamot + Lime -- a zesty citrus -- smells like a mojito and is my ultimate favorite. --Alyssa Hertzig

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The $8 Eyeliner That Changed My Eye Makeup Game
At the risk of having to hand in my beauty editor card, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I'm pretty terrible at eyeliner. Whether I'm attempting a cat-eye or a smoky look, my lack of dexterity often results in me agonizing in front of the mirror while time rapidly ticks by -- inevitably making me more and more late. Thanks to these shortcomings, I hardly ever feel inspired to shell out on eyeliner, opting for a swipe of shadow and a few coats of mascara instead.

That's why I've come to appreciate the oh-so affordable NYX Faux Blacks Eyeliner, $8. Though this eyeliner pencil performs as well as prestige products, at less than $10, it's something I can justify purchasing, even if I'm rarely using it. It glides on smoothly (even given my history of eyeliner struggles) and holds up throughout the day.

Not to mention, I totally dig "faux blacks" concept. Black eyeliner can sometimes overwhelm my face, but NYX's eyeliner, which comes in a range of dark colors that aren't black (think: navy, dark purple, burgundy and deep teal), defines my eyes without swallowing them up. Plus, the colors are incredibly flattering (I love the way the dark purple makes my blue-green irises pop).

While my eyeliner skills remain mediocre at best, having a tool that looks great and is easy to use has made me a little more willing to take the extra time to apply eyeliner. Who knows, maybe a cat-eye will be in my future someday. --Mary Squillace

See all of Mary's favorites on Instagram @msquillace

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The Lip & Cheek Stain Every Girl Needs in Her Handbag
I have no fewer than four lip balms in my purse at any given moment (and don't even ask me to count my lipsticks). But no matter how many lip products crowd my leather satchel, there's only one that I reach for multiple times every day: Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain, $25, in Forever Peach. I'm so attached to it, I own two -- just in case one gets misplaced.

Despite its balmy appearance, the slim stick packs a wallop of pigment that brightens up lips while keeping them hydrated. The stain, which you can also use on your cheeks, sticks around for hours for an easy, no-fuss, weekend look.

Nourishing botanical ingredients like avocado oil, pumpkin seed oil and olive fruit oil keep lips feeling lush, making it the perfect chapped-lip-season accompaniment. --Jill Provost



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The Mascara That Makes My Lashes Look Like Falsies
I am such a stickler when it comes to mascara -- my list of criteria is pretty steep. My motto would be, "go big or go home." For me, a mascara needs to give dramatic length and volume, without being clumpy. I like the consistency to be not too thick and not too thin. It needs to stay put all day but not be impossible to wash off. So many mascaras that I've tried possess some, but not all of these traits and tbh, it's pretty frustrating.

Recently a friend of mine recommended Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara, $15, and I've been wearing it since.

From the moment I first started applying the mascara, I knew it was special. The formula is superdark (just the way I like) and the perfect consistency to coat my lashes without forming any clumps. After applying two to three coats, my lashes explode in volume and length while managing to stay separate and clean. (Can I get an amen?) The shape of the brush even lends itself to catching those hard-to-reach, tiny lashes to coat them with product too.

Also, the formula doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. But best of all, I can go all day without flaking or needing a touchup and when I'm ready to wash it off, my face wash and warm water do the job.

I figure, if I'm going to wear mascara, it better be special -- and Mary Kay Lash Love creates the big, notice-me lashes that all of us crave.

To see more of my beauty favorites, follow me on Instagram @hannah_savin

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The Face Oil That Makes Me Glow, Baby, Glow
I'm pretty ride-or-die when it comes to products that work for me. Case in point: I've been using Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil, $46 for almost two years now. Sure, I've strayed a few times -- but I always find my way back.

Just about everything about it is perfect, from its cheery bright pink bottle, to its ultra-moisturizing formula. It absorbs into my combination skin quite quickly, which means it works well for day and night. Antioxidant-rich rice bran helps protect against UV- and free-radical damage, so I feel good about layering it with my daily SPF. (Read more about why you need an antioxidant here.) And best of all, it imparts a subtle glow unlike any product I've ever encountered -- it's the kind of product that will have you itching to ditch your foundation, so you can show off your complexion.

Now, at $46, it may seem like an indulgent luxury -- but even using it twice a day, every day, one bottle lasts me well over a year. It's a multi-tasking workhorse, and one of the pillars of my skin care routine. --Rosie Narasaki

To see more of my beauty faves, follow me on Instagram @rosienarasaki

Ever had a beauty product you love so much that you shook, hacked, scraped or squeezed its container until you were absolutely positive you had expended all of its precious contents? Rare indeed is the product that elicits that deliciously desperate feeling, especially in beauty editors. So when our team of beauty mavens encounters a rave-worthy product, you know it's the real deal. Herewith, our editors rattle off their "beauty empties," aka the best beauty products that they can't help but use until the last drop. Read on for their best nail polishes, hair products, skin care products and makeup now.
MAR 13, 2020 | SHARES
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