Beauty Tools Unique and Useful In All Shapes and Sizes

By Alix Turoff

The thing about being the kind of consumer that advertisers dream about is that whenever something oddly shaped or brightly colored that claims to offer effervescent results comes across the market, we salivate like a kid in a candy shop. There’s little we can do to help from pulling out our wallet and racing home to try it. More often than not, though, we end up disappointed by its inability to make good on its promises. Sometimes, we happen across a miracle product that is both unique and functional. These are the products that we carry around and shamelessly show off to friends, the same ones who call us crazy every time they see us watching HSN.

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We at The Beauty Bean have taken the trial, error and disappointment out of the process for you by sharing our favorite unique (and useful!) beauty products.

1. GARNIER Nutritioniste Skin Renew Awakening Face Massager, $12.99,  amazon.com
After a long day at work or a night out, the last thing we want to do is start washing our faces. We are always looking for new ways to spice up our cleansing regimens that actually make us WANT to scrub down. Garnier’s Skin Renew Face Massager is so refreshing that we rushed to use it as soon as we woke up and right when we got home. All you have to do is gently roll the massager around your face to boost microcirculation, which renews and awakens the skin and smoothes fine lines. After using the massager we noticed a bright, rosy glow and the caffeine in the product definitely helped us look more awake.

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2.  ageLOC Galvanic Spa Gen II, $375 ($290 for readers of The Beauty Bean!), email incredibleme@me.com
Luxurious facials are certainly nice, but who has the time (and money) for a regular spa splurge? While we were initially skeptical of this at-home current-conducting tool that claims to not only enhance the delivery of anti-aging ingredients for up to 24 hours but also boasts of cumulative results, after using it on half of our face we were convinced. The patented system, while pricey, is certainly less expensive than regular facials (or botox injections!) and it really does help smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and rejuvenate your complexion for a radiant glow.

3. Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge, $9.99, Target.com
There’s no question that the unique shape of this product is what initially intrigued us. While we’ve always had a slight phobia of liquid foundation – opting for concealers over that cakey, unnatural look any day – this sponge is the perfect solution. After applying the foundation and lightly dabbing the sponge, it created a dewy look as natural as could be.

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4. Eyeko Magic Liquid Eyeliner, $7.60, Eyeko.com
By far the best investment and our favorite of the bunch, this “magic liquid eyeliner” can transform any eyeshadow into eyeliner. Simply run the applicator over the eyshadow and voila, you’ve created a new eyeliner without having get a new product each time. Liquid eyeliner can to be scary because it is difficult to apply, but after some practice with this Eyeko liner, we are now venerable liquid eyeliner pros.  We can’t wait to experiment with fun new colors—bring on the Gwen Stefani cat eyes!

5. L’OREAL Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour, $11.99, drugstore.com
No girl should ever be without her go-to lip color. L’OREAL’S lipcolour compact is the perfect one to always keep in your bag. The packaging is so cute that it is basically an accessory in itself. First you apply the rich, vibrant color (we love a red lip, but available in 24 shades, you can surely find one that suits you) and let it dry for about 2 minutes. Then you apply the topcoat, which seals in the color and helps it to last for up to 16 hours. Your lips will look smooth and bright for the entire night—drinks and double cheek kisses included.

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6. Zeno HOT SPOT, $39.99, amazon.com
The Zeno HOT SPOT uses heat to increase circulation and help get rid of the pesky bacteria that causes those pimples that always pop up at the worst times (school pictures, prom, first dates, your wedding, etc). We obviously have nothing against facials, but when pimples pop up, we want them gone, STAT, and sometimes a facial just isn’t possible. After using the Zeno for 2 ½ minutes, you will see results. When your body decides to go back to the awkward teen years, this is just the product you want on hand.

7. Np2 Nail Polish, $22.50, np2beauty.com
Nothing is more frustrating than going to get a manicure, only to have it chip the next day (or even worse, before you leave the salon). We’re all about convenience (and suckers for innovative packaging) here at the Beauty Bean which is why we’re loving Np2 Nail Polish. The stackable bottles include a rich colored base coat and a glossy top coat which ensures your mani/pedi won’t chip. With 36 colors to choose from, there’s something for everyone. If you’re not an at-home-manicure kind of girl, why not bring your Np2 with you to the nail salon?

The nail polish color you need now!