I've Tried Over 100 Cult Beauty Products—These 19 Are Worth the Hype

If there’s a buzzy beauty product that everyone is talking about, you’d better believe I’m trying it out for myself. I regularly test out the latest cult beauty products to land on shelves because I want to see if they’re really worth the hype. And as a result, I’ve used my bathroom as the testing grounds to experiment with hundreds of cult beauty products over the years to see if they actually work.

Some have been disappointments. There’s a famous drugstore mascara I’d seen in dozens of articles (and in the makeup bags in plenty of insiders), but when I used in myself, it left a barely-there tint on my lashes that left me feeling pretty underwhelmed. On the other hand, there have been plenty of cult products I’ve loved so much that they’re now a part of my regular beauty routine—as well as those of friends and family I’ve recommended them to.

Ahead, I’m breaking down the cult beauty products that I’ve tested and love and believe truly deserve all the buzz. Go on to shop the holy-grail beauty products I stand behind, from most expensive to most affordable—including the $12 lip balm that never leaves my bag.

Next, see the 13 pieces I’m wearing on repeat right now.

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.