12 weird but useful beauty products that people swear by
Don’t knock them until you try them.
Credit:
Bawdy / Schick
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Imagine the public's reaction to the world’s first handheld hair dryer or tube of lipstick or eyelash curler or flat iron, and so on. When people first laid eyes on these innovations, they likely looked too futuristic or made claims that sounded amazing but implausible. Plenty of beauty contraptions may seem odd but can make everyday routines better or even easier. From a ring you wear to keep your nail polish from spilling to an in-shower head massager, these weird beauty products are actually helpful, if you give them a chance.
1. A foot peel to shed dead skin
Get rid of flaky skin with the Baby Foot Exfoliation Foot Peel.
Foot masks of any kind are strange—who wants to walk or sit around with sock-like booties on their feet? As it turns out, plenty of people do, including our own reviewer, who tried the popular Baby Foot Exfoliation Foot Peel. The peel claims to “rebirth” your feet using fruit acids that remove dead, callused, and cracked skin through exfoliation. If you want baby soft feet, these are an easy at-home solution—albeit time-consuming, as you leave the masks on for 60 minutes.
“I rarely take the time to write product reviews but, honey, this stuff is the real deal,” one Amazon reviewer writes. “If you are the kind of person who loves peeling skin and wants to see a drastic difference, you should buy this stuff. I love it so much, I want to buy it for people. Even people I don't like.”
Get the Baby Foot Exfoliation Foot Peel on Amazon for $25
2. A bottle of “second skin” to avoid nail polish errors
Give yourself a professional-looking manicure when you use the Magique Nail Art Liquid Latex Barrier to clean up mistakes.
If you’re asking yourself, "what in the world is 'second skin?'” allow me to explain. This nail polish bottle is filled with a pink “liquid nail tape” that acts as a barrier between your skin and the nail polish you’re applying. You sweep it onto the skin around your nails, so if you color outside the lines while giving yourself a mani or pedi, you can peel away the latex solution and the misplaced polish comes with it.
One Amazon reviewer raves: “I rarely paint my fingers and toes because I have the artistic ability of a drunken toddler. But this product made my pedicure look like I went to the salon. No polish on my skin, no overcorrection with polish remover that smudges all my hard work. Just my usual haphazard, color-outside-the-lines paint job I normally do with a two-second clean-up and beautiful results!”
Get the Magique Nail Art Liquid Latex Barrier on Amazon for $11.99
3. An ice roller to de-puff and cool your skin
Depuff your skin with the Esarora Ice Roller.
If you tend to wake up with a puffy face, whether it’s due to allergies or a lack of sleep, this ice roller from Esarora is a must-have. It’s similar to a jade roller, which is used to massage in facial treatments and increase blood circulation, but it packs a chilly punch. In addition to feeling good on the skin and reducing puffiness, cooling products like this are said to reduce the signs of aging.
One Amazon skeptic is now a fan: “I wasn't sure how [this product] was much different than putting any other frozen thing on your body. I'm beyond pleasantly surprised. I've used it for sinus pain, migraines, swollen neck glands, under-eye bags, inflamed acne, TMJ pain, etc. Not to mention, when used on my face, it leaves my skin feeling tight and wakes me up in the mornings.”
Get the Esarora Ice Roller on Amazon for $14.99
4. A butt mask to smooth your booty
The Bawdy Butt Mask claims to improve the texture of your skin.
There is a mask for everything now. The Bawdy Butt Masks all boast different ingredients and promises, but share one common goal: to make your post-mask butt look and feel better. This one, cheekily called “Slap It,” uses caffeine and claims to improve your butt skin’s texture and tone.
“I will definitely be investing in more of these masks,” one Amazon reviewer writes. “I was a bit skeptical to try a mask for my butt, but I actually felt it work! I felt the firmness and detox! I would recommend trying it, [and] I will be purchasing more for sure.”
Get the Bawdy Butt Mask on Amazon for $9.95
5. A cloth that “erases” your makeup
You can skip tradition makeup removers and help the environment with the Makeup Eraser.
One easy way to eliminate waste is by choosing a makeup remover that doesn’t come in a plastic bottle and require cotton rounds or isn’t a package of disposable wipes. This reusable cloth seems like magic, but it’s actually simple. After soaking the polyester Makeup Eraser in water, wipe your face in circular motions using the side of the cloth with short fibers, which claim to adhere to the makeup to “gently pull it up and out of the skin.” Voila, your makeup is gone! Plus, the cloth is machine-washable and can last up to five years, which the company claims eliminates 3,600 makeup wipes.
“Everything from waterproof mascara to false eyelash glue to lip stains just melt right off with a few gentle glides across your face,” one happy Amazon reviewer writes. “I have sensitive skin and even mildly abrasive things, like certain makeup brushes, will cause irritation. This is the most effective makeup remover I've ever used and it is so soft and gentle. I'm giving every girl in my life this for Christmas.”
Get the Makeup Eraser on Amazon for $20
6. A lipstick that changes colors to make your perfect pink
The Winky Lux Flower Balm gives you your perfect shade of pink lipstick.
If you’ve swatched every shade of pink lipstick in your local Sephora and still can’t seem to find that perfect shade, the color-changing Winky Lux lip balm could be the miracle you desire. The balm, which looks like a typical lipstick, applies clear and reacts with your skin’s pH levels to create a custom shade of pink for you. It’s like sorcery!
One Ulta reviewer swears by it: “I bought this on a whim, and not only does it leave the perfect pink tint on my lips, but it also 100 percent solved my chapped lips problem when nothing else would!”
Get the Winky Lux Flower Balm at Ulta for $16
7. A cream that uses snail mucus extract
The Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream uses snail mucus to improve your skin.
The idea of putting mucus from any creature on your face may seem a little too weird, but hear us out. This Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream, which consists of 92 percent snail mucus extract, claims to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, blemishes, acne scars, and pores. Plus, snail mucus has actually been used for centuries.
“This cream is absolutely amazing. After just two applications, my skin looks and feels healthier,” one Amazon reviewer raves. “I have red, sensitive skin along with sun damage from years of worship. The redness has almost completely subsided and the sun damage is fading. I wake up with great-looking, young skin and I am 51. It provides a great base for my makeup. Fan for life right here.”
Get the Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream on Amazon for $16.90
8. A ring that holds your nail polish
Never spill your nail polish again with the Tweexy Wearable Nail Polish Holder.
The balancing act of holding a bottle of open nail polish in one hand while trying to paint the other is always tricky, and occasionally disastrous. Luckily, there’s a product for this exact scenario. The Tweexy Wearable Nail Polish Holder resembles a giant ring, with the top forming a silicone holder large enough for a bottle of nail polish, so you can wear your bottle of nail polish on the steady hand as you paint the nails of it with the other.
One Amazon reviewer writes: “So nifty! No more worrying about knocking over the bottle or dripping nail polish off the brush onto the floor or table. If you paint your own nails often, this is a must-have.”
Get the Tweexy Wearable Nail Polish Holder for $9.99
9. A heated eyelash curler to maximize your lashes
Give your lashes a boost with the WU-MINGLU Heated Eyelash Curler.
If your lashes don’t hold a curl no matter what mascara or lash curler you use, you need to try this product. The heated curler claims to perfectly fit the curve of your eyelashes and give them a long-lasting curl using a thin, heated wire. The product is lightweight, slim, and charges via USB—all without singeing off your delicate hairs and skin.
One Amazon reviewer is sold: “After using this I can’t believe I’ve been using a traditional eyelash curler all these years. This is the best thing I’ve discovered, beauty-wise, in a long time. I can’t believe it took me this long to try a heated eyelash curler, and now that I have, I will never turn back.”
Get the WU-MINGLU Heated Eyelash Curler on Amazon for $20.99
10. A set of mini facial razors
Skip the razor and try the Schick Silk Touch-Up Multipurpose Tool for eliminating peach fuzz.
If you shave your face with a traditional razor to eliminate peach fuzz, unwanted upper-lip whiskers, or stray brow hairs, there may be a better product out there for you. This set of dermaplaning tools claims to remove hair and exfoliate the skin’s surface to eliminate dead skin. Gently pull your skin taut and glide the tool over the face to see instant results.
One Amazon reviewer writes: “I love this product. I have tried multiple razors and other devices for removing the peach fuzz on the face, and this is by far my favorite. I can get more precision for areas like around my brows and my upper lip than I can get with a traditional razor. It’s small and lightweight, which makes it easy to drop in my makeup bag for travel. This is all I need for removing unwanted facial hair.”
Get the Schick Silk Touch-Up Multipurpose Tool on Amazon for $4.99
11. A head massager for a better, soothing shampoo
For a thorough shampoo, use the Maxsoft Hair Scalp Massager.
When your scalp has a buildup of product and needs a deep cleaning, this in-shower head massager is a huge relief. The scalp massager uses thick silicone bristles to stimulate blood flow to the area and physically exfoliate any dead, flaky skin for a thorough cleaning. Of course, it also feels amazing.
“My arms are way less tired in the shower and my hair and scalp feel great and very well cleansed,” one Amazon reviewer gushes. “It's super gentle and soft. I can't believe I haven't had one of those until now!”
Get the Maxsoft Hair Scalp Massager on Amazon for $7.98
12. A stamp that helps you get perfect winged eyeliner
Winged eyeliner has never been easier with the Kaja Eyeliner Stamp and Pen.
Learning how to do winged eyeliner is black belt-level makeup application. If you don’t have the steadiest hand, this stamp from Kaja takes the frustration out of the process. Position the stamp pen, which is filled with liquid eyeliner, on the outer corner of your eye and firmly press down. From there, use the regular eyeliner pen to draw a line from your inner corner to the base of the stamp.
One Sephora reviewer writes: “I was very skeptical at first but this really works for everyday use. Nothing dramatic, and that’s what I wanted. It’s perfect for beginners to ace makeup artists! Anyone can use it, as it creates a perfect winged eyeliner with no effort and perfectly symmetrical!”
Get the Kaja Wink Stamp Wing Eyeliner Stamp and Pen at Sephora for $25