What do Orgasm, Boy Brow, and Better Than Sex have in common besides cheeky names? Cult status, thanks to their ability to inspire lust in beauty lovers across the country. Products don't wind up in the Hall of Fame without seriously proving their worth, and the 10 ahead are true legends.
But good things often come with price tags that are not so good for our bank accounts. At the rate we go through a bottle of Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, we'd be broke if we constantly replenished it. But you don't have to downgrade your champagne tastes just because you're on a drugstore budget. We've found amazing alternatives of the all-stars for a fraction of the cost. They may not be the exact same thing (otherwise the originals wouldn't be so special), but they come pretty damn close if you ask us.
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You can bet that if someone is spending the cost of a fancy bottle of wine on a tiny stick of concealer, it's damn good. But, now that we think about it, Veuve Clicquot is gone in an hour — and this will last you months. Months of full, flawless, non-creasing coverage.
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, $70, available at Nordstrom.
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On first swipe, this creamy concealer doesn't give the total, Photoshop-effect coverage of its counterpart, but it builds easily without caking — so dry skin types will love it.
Revlon PhotoReady Concealer, $10.99, available at Ulta.
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Victoria's Secret Angels always name-drop this highlighter when we ask them about their favorite products, probably because it gives "a dewy sheen that makes your cheekbones pop," according to beauty editor Maria Del Russo, who is also a fan (but not a VS model — yet!).
RMS Beauty Living Luminizer, $38, available at Sephora.
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Swipe this pretty highlighter on with your fingers for a major glow (or use a brush for a fainter glimmer). The faint flashes of pink, gold, and silver flatter just about every skin tone.
ColourPop Highlighter in Stole the Show, $8, available at ColourPop.
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You know the story by now: This pink blush mimics the post-sex blood rush, giving cheeks the rosiest, most natural flush. Plus, it's got hints of shimmer running throughout, so you can skip highlighter.
NARS Blush in Orgasm, $30, available at NARS.
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This $3 powder matches the NARS version on just about every level. Except the name — sorry, nothing beats "orgasm."
e.l.f. Blush in Tickled Pink, $3, available at e.l.f. Cosmetics.
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"Every makeup artist I have ever interviewed keeps this in his or her kit. It makes the skin look perfect and smooth — and not in a 100-layers-of-foundation sort of way," says beauty director Cat Quinn. "You can barely tell when I'm wearing it, but you can definitely tell when I'm not."
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $64, available at Giorgio Armani Beauty.
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This light liquid sinks in like a serum and delivers on its promise of feeling weightless, while still covering everything you want it to cover.
Essence Pure Nude Make-Up, $4.99, available at Target.
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The Rolls Royce of hair brushes — enough said.
Mason Pearson Hair Brush, $205, available at Barney's.
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"Most hair textures can benefit from a good, boar-and-nylon brush in their kit — and this one is shockingly similar to the cult Mason Pearson brush," says West Coast beauty editor Lexy Lebsack. "Both create soft, touchable texture, all while distributing oil and making your hair look crazy-healthy."
Sonia Kashuk Hair Brush, $15.99, available at Target.
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The itsy-bitsy brush allows you to get ultra-precise with your application, and the formula stays in place through a workout. (But, unlike many brow gels, it doesn't feel like hairspray.)
Glossier Boy Brow, $16, available at Glossier.
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The gel formula is spot-on and finding your perfect shade couldn't be easier: There's one for blondes, three for brunettes (are you ashy, reddish, or chocolate-y?), and a rich black.
NYX Brow Mascara, $6.99, available at Ulta.
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Considering how wild people go for all of Kylie's Lip Kits, you can bet this shade, the top seller, is pretty damn flattering on a range of skin tones.
Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit in Kristen, $29, available at Kylie Cosmetics.
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If you love the idea of Kylie-esque lips but would rather skip the liner, pick up this tube. It couldn't be easier to use, and the rich, matte results make it look like you spent way more time on your lips than you actually did.
Maybelline Vivid Matter Liquid in Nude Flush, $6.69, available at Target.
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There's no quicker way to get big volume and cool-girl, piece-y texture than a generous misting of this hairstylist-and-editor favorite.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, $44, available at Oribe.
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This spray has a bit more heft than the Oribe, so it's ideal for holding updos and braids and delivering that romantic, windblown finish. Just go a little lighter on the application.
Garnier Fructis De-Constructed Texture Tease Dry Touch Finishing Spray, $4.49, available at Walgreens.
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It's not quite brown, not quite plum. It's not metallic, but it's not matte, either. It's a neutral, but more exciting. And it magically works on everyone.
MAC Eye Shadow in Satin Taupe, $16, available at MAC Cosmetics.
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For work, we blend this shadow across our lids using a dry brush for a slightly sheer wash of color; at night, we wet it for a deep, earthy-amethyst eye. (And we get compliments on both, all day long.)
Shea Moisture Mineral Eyeshadow in Ametrine, $5.99, available at Shea Moisture.
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No, this mascara isn't exactly better than sex, but it does make our lashes look super long and fanned-out, upping our confidence (a known aphrodisiac).
Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, $23, available at Sephora.
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If you want lashes with a capital L, it's all about the brush — and this one is nearly identical to the Too Faced one. Be sure to wipe the excess formula off the wand before applying it though; too much, and things can quickly go clumpy.
Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara, $4.99, available at Target.
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