The best of Amazon beauty: 100+ editor-tested picks that live up to the hype

I work in the editorial space, majorly on the beauty beat, so I have a full repertoire of lotions, potions and the like waiting for me in my bathroom vanity and makeup drawer. Make that drawers.

With each buzzy new body lotion launch or newly minted nude lipstick, I’m always the first to slather and lather, try and apply. Now, the ultimate edit of the best Amazon beauty products we reviewed has landed — and I’ve recruited some editors at Post Wanted to share their favorites, too.

Below, find the swoon-worthy smorgasbord of the best haircare, skincare, makeup and more to shimmy into your Amazon cart. Whether you’re eying e.l.f. Cosmetics or Sol de Janeiro or tinted SPF, consider this your treat-yourself purchase. Or purchases.

Best Amazon Skincare Products We Reviewed

EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40 Tinted Face Sunscreen Moisturizer

Quality sunscreen is a non-negotiable skincare product that everyone needs, and EltaMD continues to be highly recommended by derms, celebs and editors because it really is that good when it comes to protecting from dangerous UV rays while remaining lightweight and breathable. The brand has numerous formulas, such as its UV Clear Face Sunscreen, which is great for those preferring a physical sunscreen (aka mineral sunscreen), minus the icky white cast, but we also like the Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer for the pop of color correcting coverage it provides.

Page Six Commerce Report, Hannah Southwick, has gone through a few different bottles of EltaMD. “

“After trying it out myself, I can see why the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” stars use it to get camera-ready; it blends in like a dream and doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin, ideal for layering with makeup and setting spray on a hot summer day,” she said of the UV Clear formula. “While I tend to have pretty sensitive skin, it’s never made me break out.”

Since it’s summer, we’re recommending EltaMD’s Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer. It’s a nicer alternative for those who want light coverage but can’t deal with a face of sunscreen and foundation. However, you really can’t go wrong with anything from the brand.

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Best Amazon Haircare Products We Reviewed

Keranique 2% Minoxidil Topical Solution

According to the Cleveland Clinic, 30 million women experience hair loss at some point. If you’re part of this group, there are options, including Keranique Hair Regrowth Treatment. The 2% formula is gentler than the 5%, and its long nozzle makes it easier to target hard-to-reach spots on the back of the head.

“I have telogen effluvium, a condition brought on by stress,” Holly J Coley, commerce updates editor, shared. “It makes your hair thin and fall out — obviously, very stressful! I tried this 5% minoxidil foam product, and it works. Unfortunately, it caused my scalp to itch and flake, so I had to stop using it. When my hair began thinning again (minoxidil is a lifelong beauty commitment), my dermatologist said I could try a 2% solution to see if it would be less irritating.”

Coley went with Keranique’s because one, it was on sale at the time, and two, she didn’t love how drying the foam was. “I was experiencing the most hair loss around my temples, and some sections of my part, so I liked how the long applicator made it easier to target those sections,” she added. “It was also less messy than the foam.”

It’s recommended to use every day, but since Coley already had some regrowth from when she was using the foam, she only applied the spray a few times a week. “Recently, I noticed that when I put my hair up, I couldn’t see as much of my scalp, which is huge. I also use the shampoo and conditioner, which I like, but I’m fairly certain the spray is where all the magic is. I need to be more diligent with it, but there’s a definite improvement.”

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Best Amazon Makeup Products We Reviewed

Julep Eyeshadow 101 Crème-to-Powder Waterproof Eyeshadow Stick

Eyeshadow sticks have been all the rage lately, and what better way to try out the latest trend than with Julep’s Eyeshado 101 stick? The now-$16 swiper is available in nearly every color under the sun and leaves a beautiful finish on your lids.

The Julep Eyeshadow Sticks are ones you should definitely not skip out on. When I’m in a hurry to catch the morning bus for work, I always reach for all of these because you can literally swipe them on — that’s it!  There’s no creasing throughout the day like some powder eyeshadows, making it an extremely practical buy. For the price, grab yourself a champagne color, a light brown shade, and then thank me later.

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How we tested

I’ve been using the best beauty products I can get my hands on for years — even before I became a full-time commerce reporter. I’m well-versed in how to assess if a product *truly* works, so I abide by the skincare patch test, checking in hour-by-hour for makeup longevity and reading up on the best ingredients for certain hair concerns.

That said, I recruited some members of the Post Wanted team to share their favorites, too (after all, product recommendations live on our Slack channel and are already a part of our office banter). Here’s how we tested:

• Formulation: Whether it’s a haircare, makeup or skincare product, we looked into the ingredients of each product, how it is applied, and if the overall end result was effective and worth a purchase.
• Versatility: Some products are multi-taskers (think: heat protectants and frizz reducers), so we took this into account when curating our list.
• Comparative notes: Of course, we know a product is really good if it exceeds the results of other products we have tried in the past. Throughout this guide — and infused within our other beauty reviews — we factored in characteristics that stood out above the rest.

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This article was written by Victoria Giardina, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best vitamin C serums on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos of 2025. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.

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