The Top Pick: Merit Clean Volume Mascara
Beauty editors’ favorite underrated products are lesser-hyped, editor-tested beauty products that consistently deliver better real-world results than many viral launches, often becoming quiet cult beauty favorites in professional makeup bags. For most people, the one underrated buy that deserves a permanent spot in your makeup routine is Merit Beauty’s Clean Volume Mascara. It is a clear winner because it combines the best mascara formulas’ lift and volume with a natural-looking finish that works every day. This tubing mascara uses a lightweight formula that lifts and separates lashes while a tiny brush gives precise, buildable volume for up to 16 hours without clumping, and it resists sweat, humidity and water. One editor noted that it adds more curl and flutter yet “still looks chilled-out and natural” rather than like a drama-heavy lash look. At £24, it is the hidden gem makeup find to buy first.
| Spec | Merit Clean Volume Mascara |
|---|---|
| Price | £24 |
| Formula type | Tubing |
| Brush | Tiny, comb-like wand for precise application |
| Wear time | Up to 16 hours |
| Resistance | Sweat, humidity and water resistant |
| Shade options | Brown and black |
Nars: A 30-Year Legacy of Cult Favorites
When it comes to cult beauty favorites, Nars has earned its place over three decades of proven pigment-rich formulas and iconic packaging. Editors still reach for the Light Reflecting Foundation, Radiant Creamy Concealer and that famous blush that made faces more “orgasmic,” along with Laguna Bronzer, which once built a waiting list of 5,000 eager buyers in a single week. One quotable fact beauty fans love to repeat is that this Radiant Creamy Concealer is described as the number one selling prestige concealer and the most searched brand for concealer online, underlining its long-term performance and trust among professionals. Nars launched with 12 lipsticks in 1994 and has stayed relevant by insisting on brilliant, pigment-rich formulas, with its founder pushing chemists hard to get each texture right. If you want heritage-level editor-tested beauty products, this is the range that quietly outlasts trends.
Under-the-Radar Tools and Fragrance Finds
Beyond color cosmetics, experts are championing under-the-radar devices and scents that deserve more attention. One skin expert praises Medicube’s LED Booster Pro, noting it is one of the few beauty devices that has made a clear difference by combining LED therapy with gentle electrical stimulation to tone skin and improve definition. It is priced at £289, but for those who value visible lifting and a fresher-looking complexion, this kind of investment tool can out-perform cheaper gadgets. On the fragrance front, the niche house BIBBI is described as one of beauty’s best-kept fragrance secrets despite being stocked in a major store. Scents like Boy of June and Radio Child, both £225, stand out for musky, subtly spicy warmth and long wear that makes each bottle last for months. These are the hidden gem makeup finds’ counterparts in skin tech and scent.
Lip and Body Essentials That Beat the Hype
For seasonal lip care and body, editors show a clear preference for underrated lip balms and glow-giving body products with functional formulas. One expert has rediscovered Glossier’s Balm Dotcom in the I ❤️ NY version, calling it “as good as ever” because a few swipes give cheeks, lips and eyelids a dewy dry-down and plump, healthy sheen. At £16, it is an easy win for those who want nourishing, multi-use lip care that earns a spot in colder months as well as summer. Rhode’s Highlight Milk at £28 adds non-committal color with a dewy, glossy finish for skin that looks fresh rather than overloaded. For body, the self-tan brand Solskin is praised for a formula that feels comfortable instead of drying while building a soft, believable glow. Together, these quiet performers show that editor-tested beauty products can be subtle yet still outshine many louder launches.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Merit Clean Volume Mascara if you want a tubing formula that lifts, curls and volumizes lashes in a natural-looking way without heaviness.
- Skip the Merit Clean Volume Mascara if you prefer ultra-dramatic, thick lash looks that mimic false lashes every day.
- Buy the Medicube LED Booster Pro if you are ready to invest £289 in a device that combines LED and gentle electrical stimulation for more toned, defined skin.
- Skip the Medicube LED Booster Pro if you dislike higher-priced tools and prefer to keep your routine to topical products only.
- Buy the Glossier Balm Dotcom I ❤️ NY if you want an underrated lip balm that doubles as a dewy cheek and lid sheen with a plumping effect.
- Skip the Glossier Balm Dotcom I ❤️ NY if you prefer matte, non-glossy lip products and do not use multi-purpose balms.
- Buy the BIBBI Radio Child or Boy of June fragrance if you want a niche scent at £225 with musky, subtly spicy warmth that wears for months.
- Skip the BIBBI Radio Child or Boy of June fragrance if you dislike niche, warmer scents and prefer to stay with mainstream perfume launches.
- Buy the Nars classics like Radiant Creamy Concealer and Laguna Bronzer if you want editor-approved, long-standing cult beauty favorites with proven performance over 30 years.
- Skip the Nars classics like Radiant Creamy Concealer and Laguna Bronzer if you avoid established cult products and only want to experiment with new, hype-driven releases.
