Related Articles
Table of Contents
Beauty may thrive on trends, but the most exciting products are the ones that artists, experts, and obsessives return to over and over again. What earns them such loyalty? They perform better than the versions that came before them, and in many cases created a dent in the beauty universe: YSL Beauty created the light-reflecting concealer; La Mer upped the bar on luxury face cream; Calvin Klein made genderless scent the norm. Every fragrance, formula, and shade here is a classic for a reason. Ahead, shop our list of the 100 most iconic beauty products of all time.
— SKINCARE ICONS—
Skin Caviar Luxe Cream
saksfifthavenue.com
$530.00
La Prairie’s iconic caviar-infused cream redefined decadence in the skincare space.
Sensibio H2O
skinstore.com
$14.99
What was once the worst-kept French pharmacy secret is now the most beloved micellar cleansing water you can buy almost anywhere.
The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder
This gentle exfoliating powder leaves your skin so glowy, one might mistake you for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (it’s rumored that she’s a fan).
Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex
saksfifthavenue.com
$105.00
It’s not often we can call a nighttime serum a worldwide phenomenon, but Lauder’s ANR is precisely that.
Soy Makeup Removing Face Wash
Combination and oily skin havers stock up on this face wash, because it wipes away all signs of makeup and oil without leaving skin irritated or stripped.
Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Dermatologists and TikTok agree: This basic, no-frills moisturizer just makes your skin feel so fresh and healthy.
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+
sephora.com
$32.50
The pale-yellow shade, the packaging, the skin-coddling formula—Clinique’s moisturizer for all skin types is a Hall of Famer.
Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover
sephora.com
$32.00
Waterproof mascara and apocalypse-proof lipstick are no match for this genius makeup remover.
Beauty Elixir
violetgrey.com
$49.00
Before setting sprays and skin mists, there was just this: a skin-toning and radiance-boosting mist that feels like a trip to the spa.
Lotion P50
joannaczech.com
$106.00
There are exfoliating toners—and then there’s P50. In a league of its own, Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 resurfaces skin for a major glow.
Crème de Corps
sephora.com
$41.00
Squalane and cocoa butter team up to leave your skin impossibly soft and healed.
Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
sephora.com
$88.00
These peel pads are the next best thing to a chemical peel at your derm’s office.
Daily Facial Cleanser
amazon.com
$11.49
We keep coming back to this classic cleanser because it simply gets the job done. No gimmicks, just results.
Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
The blend of skin-soothing oat extract with dimethicone helps deeply moisturize dry skin and protect it.
Natural Glow +FIRMING Self Tanner Lotion
This gradual self-tanner has had several upgrades and updates over the years, but it’s still our go-to for a subtle boost of color.
Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse
sephora.com
$32.00
Though the brand has an array of innovative formulas, this classic self-tanning mousse from St. Tropez delivers an even, gorgeous glow every time.
The Moisturizing Soft Cream
violetgrey.com
$350.00
La Mer Crème de la Mer leaves skin feeling pampered, supple, in short—expensive.
Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer plumps and lifts.
Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
ulta.com
$24.00
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant can be slathered on lips, cuticles, eyes, cheeks—you name it.
Facial Treatment Essence
sephora.com
$185.00
SK-II Facial Essence is the first step in any skin care routine—the watery lotion is packed with more than 50 vitamins and minerals.
Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner refreshes without drying (and has been doing so for nearly 200 years).
Crème
Slather this on your hands, face, body—wherever you need a dose of serious moisture and TLC.
— FACE MAKEUP ICONS—
Radiant Creamy Concealer
saksfifthavenue.com
$30.00
This iconic concealer lives up to its name: It’s creamy, it’s radiant, and it’s the only tube we reach for when we need to look well slept and alive. There’s a reason it’s the number one concealer in the country.
Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen
sephora.com
$38.00
This sheer, radiance-boosting concealer changed the entire beauty industry for the better. To makeup artists and beauty obsessives, Touche Èclat is a full sentence.
Concealer SPF 25
cledepeaubeaute.com
$73.00
If you’ve ever had a pimple, you’ve probably heard of this award-winning concealer from beloved Japanese luxury brand Clé de Peau. The unique, creamy texture is like Photoshop for spots.
Secret Camouflage Concealer
lauramercier.com
$36.00
The secret to Secret Camouflage’s success is that it offers two shades of concealer, so you can always find the exact hue you need to cover dark marks, spots, redness, and more.
Luminous Silk Foundation
saksfifthavenue.com
$64.00
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is a staple in almost every makeup artist’s kit: It goes on sheer and looks fresh even hours after applying.
Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation
sephora.com
$43.00
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation comes in nearly 60 shades and has unmatched staying power.
Translucent Loose Setting Powder
ulta.com
$39.00
Lightweight, long-wearing, and skin-perfecting, this translucent powder outperforms all the imitators.
Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer
ulta.com
$9.99
This drugstore staple redefined the full-coverage concealer. A few taps and you’ll forget dark circles even exist.
— EYEBROW ICONS—
Brow Wiz
ulta.com
$23.00
Everything we know about eyebrows we owe to Anastasia Soare from Anastasia Beverly Hills. To many beauty obsessives, this is the only brow pencil to exist.
Goof Proof Waterproof Easy Shape & Fill Eyebrow Pencil
ulta.com
$24.00
This fan-favorite pencil has an angled tip for perfect shaping. Plus, it blends out like a dream.
Boy Brow
glossier.com
$16.00
Boy Brow launched in 2015 during the height of our obsession with Cara Delevingne–inspired brows. Unlike other gels that simply set hairs in place, the tinted waxy-pomade texture makes brows appear instantly fluffier.
— MASCARA ICONS—
Hypnôse Volumizing Mascara
sephora.com
$28.00
If length and volume are what you’re after, pick up a tube of this fan-favorite mascara.
Diorshow Mascara
Dior Diorshow delivers volume you can see from the runway, and it won’t smudge or flake.
Great Lash Mascara
ulta.com
$6.99
Maybelline New York Great Lash uses a teeny spiral spoolie to impressively comb through every eyelash.
Voluminous Original Mascara
As the name suggests, this is the only mascara to turn to if you’re after good, clean volume. It’s a staple in makeup artist’s kits.
Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara
sephora.com
$27.00
The name’s a little hyperbolic, but the results aren’t: If dramatic lashes are your thing, this mascara delivers iconic results.
Le Volume De Chanel Mascara
nordstrom.com
$32.00
Volume is in the name, but this mascara also helps define each lash and hold curl.
They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara
ulta.com
$26.00
This mascara is all about length and definition, and the brush helps capture every single lash.
— CHEEK ICONS—
Blush in Orgasm
narscosmetics.com
$30.00
A delicate balance of peach, pink, and gold, NARS Orgasm works on all skin tones (and is just fun to say).
Hoola Bronzer
saksfifthavenue.com
$30.00
This makeup staple delivers the perfect sun-kissed matte color for all skin tones.
Shimmer Brick Compact
sephora.com
$48.00
Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Brick Highlighter has been creating a candlelit glow since before highlighter became part of our standard makeup vocabulary.
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream
violetgrey.com
$50.00
A perennial favorite of makeup artists everywhere, this unique gel-cream bronzer leaves behind the most natural-looking glow.
Bronzing Powder in Laguna
narscosmetics.com
$38.00
Bronzer is its own language. There’s Hoola, and then there’s Laguna, a shimmery powder that blends like a dream.
Terracotta Original Bronzing Powder
sephora.com
$56.00
This oversized bronzer doesn’t just make you glow—it makes you look like you just stepped off a yacht.
Météorites Highlighting Powder Pearls
sephora.com
$64.00
From the handcrafted illuminating pearls to the signature violet scent, this highlighter is truly iconic in every way.
Soleil Glow Bronzer
saksfifthavenue.com
$70.00
Only a bronze icon could create such an iconic bronzer. Silky, soft, and skin-loving, this bronzer makes you feel more expensive with every swipe.
Lip & Cheek Stain Tint in Benetint
ulta.com
$18.00
This stain was originally invented for, um, not your face, but has since become known as the go-to lip and cheek stain.
— LIP ICONS—
Lip Injection Plumping Lip Gloss
ulta.com
$24.00
It definitely tingles, but this plumping lip gloss leaves your lips looking instantly lush.
Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo
maccosmetics.com
$19.00
There’s no other red lipstick in the world that inspires such devotion, because Ruby Woo looks great on everyone.
Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
Black Honey works with the tone of your lips to leave the most gorgeous natural berry sheen.
Juicy Tubes Original Lip Gloss
sephora.com
$20.00
Juicy Tubes are mostly responsible for the lip gloss craze of the early 2000s, but the decadent formula still holds up decades later.
Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire & Ice
This bright-red lipstick has been turning heads since the 1950s, and it still looks gorgeous today.
Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss
saksfifthavenue.com
$35.00
This gloss gets credit for seriously plumping and hydrating without feeling sticky.
Classic Lip Balm Tube, 8-Hour Moisture Cherry
walgreens.com
$1.49
Cherry ChapStick was a classic even before Katy Perry immortalized it in song.
Moisturizing Lip Balm
ulta.com
$3.59
You know a classic when you see one. In the case of Burt’s Bees balms, we see them rolling around the bottom of every handbag we’ve ever owned.
Rouge Dior Refillable Lipstick in 999 Velvet
Other than five, 999 is probably the most recognizable number in the beauty world. The red lipstick from Dior is universally flattering.
Lipstick in Schiap
narscosmetics.com
$26.00
Named after Elsa Schiaparelli’s signature hue, Schiap is the bold lipstick shade you’ve seen on nearly every celebrity.
Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm
amazon.com
$3.00
From the packaging to the formula, Maybelline’s iconic Baby Lips balm is a drugstore beauty staple.
Lipglass Clear
maccosmetics.com
$19.00
Though many clear lip glosses exist these days, there’s only one makeup artists recognize: M.A.C’s Lipglass.
— HAIR ICONS—
Dry Texturizing Spray
violetgrey.com
$48.00
This cult-favorite texturizing spray adds body and volume without weight. When it launched, it kick-started an entirely new category in hair care.
Head and Shoulders Shampoo in Classic Clean
$4.99
This is the only shampoo we turn to when our scalps are irritated and flakes start falling.
Pro-V Classic Clean Shampoo
bedbathandbeyond.com
$6.99
This deliciously scented shampoo gently cleanses to remove product buildup, resulting in your hair looking soft and bouncy.
TRES Two Extra Hold Hair Spray
Chances are you’ve probably owned a bottle of this hairspray at one point in your life. It holds for hours, quells frizz, and can still be styled and brushed for a softer look.
Supersonic Hair Dryer
In the sacred beauty timeline, there is B.D. (before Dyson) and A.D. (after Dyson). The brand changed the way we approach heat styling and damage from hot tools.
Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
skinstore.com
$29.00
The first time we ever heard of oat milk wasn’t in a coffee shop but in this award-winning dry shampoo. It cleanses hair, eliminates grease, and adds texture and volume.
Original Awapuhi Shampoo
ulta.com
$11.50
Nothing tackles serious oil while keeping hair hydrated like Paul Mitchell’s Awapuhi. Plus, it smells so damn good.
Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo
nordstrom.com
$19.00
Micelles and white vinegar purify your hair and scalp, while the (certified organic) rosemary and peppermint fragrance feels like a jolt of caffeine in the morning.
Original Hair Brush in Black
amazon.com
$7.52
Soft, flexible bristles help glide through tangles without tugging or pulling. This brush is an essential in every bathroom.
The Original Detangling Hair Brush
ulta.com
$12.00
For serious knots and tangles, grab the Tangle Teezer. The unique palm-shaped design helps you tackle even stubborn, hard-to-reach knots on wet or dry hair.
D3 Original 7-Row Styling Brush, Gloss Black
This brush styles wet curls flawlessly, but can also be used for detangling and blow-drying.
Moroccanoil Treatment
sephora.com
$44.00
This argan oil-infused serum and its iconic scent have kept our hair smooth, shiny, and smelling good for years.
Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Unscented Hairspray
Once only available overseas, L’Oréal’s Elnett hairspray has been flying off shelves in the United States for years because of its ultra-fine mist and brushable hold.
Nutritive Shampoo Bain Satin 1
sephora.com
$31.00
This shampoo gently cleanses hair, adds shine, and boosts health with antioxidants to prevent damage.
— FRAGRANCE ICONS—
Flowerbomb
sephora.com
$115.00
This warm, sexy scent helped catapult floral perfumes into the modern era.
N°5 Eau de Parfum
violetgrey.com
$138.00
Chanel No. 5’s extravagant floral and aldehydic notes are just part of the reason the eau de parfum influenced the entire beauty industry. Shrouded in myth and Old Hollywood glamour, owning a bottle of No. 5 is still a rite of passage for all beauty fans.
Black Opium Eau de Parfum
saksfifthavenue.com
$104.00
This modern take on a similar fragrance from the 1970s features popular notes of black coffee, white flowers, and sweet vanilla.
Miss Dior Eau de Parfum
Like many icons, Miss Dior is a master of reinvention. The latest iteration features a spicier rose, as well as subtle notes of peach and apricot.
Santal 33 Eau de Parfum
nordstrom.com
$192.00
There was a point in time that the entirety of Manhattan smelled like Santal 33.
Candy Eau de Parfum
Much like candy, this sweet-but-elegant scent is addictive in the best way.
Angel Eau de Parfum
sephora.com
$32.00
The first modern gourmand perfume, Angel set the tone for the so-sweet-you-could-eat-it fragrances that still line our vanities today.
Daisy
sephora.com
$86.00
Fresh and floral with a girlish charm, Daisy is for those who are young or just young at heart.
Shalimar Eau de Parfum
sephora.com
$110.00
In the 1920s, wearing Shalimar meant you had a bad-girl reputation. Today, it means you have excellent taste and an appreciation for fragrance classics.
CK One
sephora.com
$65.00
This deliciously scented shampoo gently cleanses to remove product buildup, resulting in your hair looking soft and bouncy.
J’adore Eau de Parfum
saksfifthavenue.com
$108.00
The bottle, the name, the scent, the advertisements—everything J’adore touches is iconic.
White Diamonds Eau de Toilette Spray
amazon.com
$23.90
You can thank White Diamonds, a sheer floral, for the hundreds (thousands?) of celebrity fragrances that followed after it dropped in 1991.
Black Orchid Eau de Parfum
saksfifthavenue.com
$136.00
It’s hard to pick just one iconic Tom Ford scent, but Black Orchid was the designer’s first release back in 2006. It’s a must-try for fragrance lovers.
Terre d’Hermès Eau de Toilette
sephora.com
$90.00
A classic woodsy scent that anyone can wear well.
— TOOL ICONS—
Iconic Eyelash Curler
amazon.com
$24.00
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler is the only lash curler as far as most makeup artists are concerned; it allows you to get super close to the lash line.
Stainless Steel Slant Tweezer
ulta.com
$23.00
Tweezerman’s superior quality and engineering result in tweezers that will stay sharp and precise for years to come.
Original Makeup Sponge
sephora.com
$20.00
The Beautyblender Original is the perfect shape for buffing foundation into an airbrushed finish. Simply dampen and squeeze before using.
— NAIL ICONS—
Nail Lacquer Nail Polish in Lincoln Park After Dark
This moody, near-black purple is our go-to fall manicure shade.
Solar Oil Nail and Cuticle Conditioner
This blend of lightweight oils helps heal scraggly, dry cuticles within minutes.
Nail Lacquer in Wicked
Another near-black, Wicked is a chic bloodred shade.
Nail Lacquer in Mademoiselle
This sheer pink leaves nails looking glossy and refined without adding much color at all.
Nail Lacquer in Ballet Slippers
Beloved by royals, Ballet Slippers is the prettiest shade of pale pink.
Nail Lacquer Nail Polish in Big Apple Red
Nothing’s more iconic than a red manicure, and Big Apple Red packs a punch every time.
Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Vamp
nordstrom.com
$28.00
This nearly-black red polish hit the scene in 1994 and started a frenzy of similar shades.
Beauty Director
Jenna Rosenstein is the Beauty Director at BAZAAR.com.
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/a37375162/iconic-beauty-products/