The Best Under-$25 Hidden Gems At Sephora

Sephora is basically a beauty lover's playground — and we all know it's a little too easy to walk in there with plans to repurchase your go-to brow pencil and "accidentally" leave with $150 worth of products that you absolutely needed. However pricey the beauty behemoth is, there are plenty of affordable and highly effective products hidden among the La Mers and Augustinus Baders of the world — you just have to know where to look.

As a beauty writer, I've explored every facet of the industry’s price-point spectrum, from a $5 mascara with almost 230,000 reviews on Amazon to a $235 day cream that invokes the centuries-old healing properties of Eastern-European thermal water. Armed with a pretty good understanding of what makes a valuable beauty product, I rounded up 19 of my favorite under-$25 buys that are worth every penny. Whether you're looking for a reasonably priced cleanser or life-changing eyelash curler, I've got you covered. From Sephora's affordable in-house brands to pint-size versions of luxe products that will still go a long way, there are plenty of ways to squeeze maximum bang out of products that clock in at minimal bucks.

Can you nab a full-sized eyeshadow palette with rich pigment and bold colors for under $25? When it's 50% off at Sephora, you can. Featuring nine matte and six shimmer shades, there's nothing neutral about any look you achieve with this palette.

I'm sure you've seen these Touchland hand sanitizers everywhere, from viral TikToks to that section near the cash register that traps you into spending more money. They're popular for a reason — they don't only look good, but they also smell amazing and don't dry out your hands.

Is it a bottle of hair oil, or an objet d'art? Bread's sweet almond oil and kakadu plum-infused concoction is the ultimate pick-me-up for lackluster strands begging for shine and moisture.

Sparkles, sparkles, and even more sparkles! Expect an insane amount of glitter, vibrant color, and long-lasting shimmer that lasts up to 16 hours with this Urban Decay single eyeshadow in the ultra-popular light champagne gold with silver shade "Space Cowboy."

Perfect for any type of hair (straight, wavy, curly, or coily), this mini detangling brush can be used to style, detangle, and defining curls on the go.

This cult-favorite, apothecary-inspired tinted balm is perfect for adding a hint of rosy flush to lips and cheeks while giving you a boost of hydration and a nice rose scent. At just $7, it’s one of the most valuable beauty buys out there.

Full-size perfumes can be pricey, but those tiny tubes last all of three spritzes. Jo Malone's travel-size cologne truly lets you take a new scent for a test drive and comes in at under $25. This earthy option features notes of ambrette seeds, sea salt, and sage.

Whether it's for foreplay or after-care, soaking has never felt sexier. Featuring Maude's classic scent of amber, cedar, and lemongrass, these Dead Sea bath salts are also nourishing and hydrating to skin.

For wavy, curly, and coily hair with any type of texture, Curlsmith's Curl Defining Styling Souffle Gel is a strong-hold gel that provides moisture, shine, and flexible definition for all types of curls.

Sure, you could pick up a basic eyelash curler at the drugstore, but I can almost guarantee it won't give you the lash-maximizing results that this trusty Tweezerman one does. Plus, let's be honest: The rose-gold finish is nothing short of gorgeous.

Rare Beauty's plush glosses come in the prettiest neutral shades and feel as hydrating as your favorite lip balm, thanks to a trifecta of lotus, gardenia, and white waterlily. Plus, the packaging is a solid 11/10.

From the comb-like wand to the lamination-like effect, Benefit’s clear brow gel blows its competitors out of the water. Plus, it goes a long way — one tube lasted me a few months with near-daily wear.

Thirteen dollars normally wouldn't take you far at Sephora, but The Ordinary's high-performance formulas are a rare exception. A choice winter skin-care pick, this exfoliating toning solution with glycolic acid, amino acids, and aloe vera will leave your skin clear and radiant.

Pro tip: I low-key love mini mascaras since they force you to use them up within a few months' time — which you're supposed to be doing but probably aren't. Ilia's beloved clean formula bestows long, fluttery lashes within a matter of swipes.

The Inkey List's entire product range doesn't exceed $20 per product, so they're a great brand to check out if you're ballin' on a budget. One fan-fave skin-care MVP: This perk-me-up eye cream is infused with caffeine to brighten tired skin.

Sephora Collection offers everything from makeup to skin care at entry-level price points. One of my personal favorites is this extra-gentle gel cleanser, which leaves my skin feeling fresh and balanced — never dry. (Plus, prebiotics in the formula help support a healthy, happy skin barrier.)

Don't be fooled by Innbeauty Project's bright, fun packaging (which is very good). The stuff inside is worth its weight in gold (and not just neon pink): A power cocktail of niacinamide and vitamin C leaves skin feeling bright, supple, and healthy.

A classic. Whether you're going for a subtle feline flick or a dramatic wing to rival Euphoria's Maddy Perez, Stila's ultra-precise felt-tip liquid eyeliner will get you there. (Need some convincing? Look no further than the 372,000 “Loves” that Sephora customers have awarded it.)

Whenever my skin is feeling a little dull or texture-y, these are what I use to get my complexion back on the brightness track. The exfoliation power of the peel can be pretty intense, so I actually love this five-pack, which lasts me for a few weeks if I use them once or twice a week.