The Most ICONIC Beauty Products Of All Time!
For a product to be crowned iconic, it has to meet a certain criteria. First of all, it has to the bomb.com, aka a product that you’d recommend to everyone and anyone. It also has to be a beauty staple, as in, you couldn’t imagine the beauty industry without it. Once it ticks all of these boxes, you have to ask yourself; ‘But is it iconic?’ Here are the 25 most iconic beauty products of all time; from makeup and skincare to beauty tools and fragrance, these are the ones that have won over the hearts, faces, and hair of HB HQ and the world!
The Most Iconic Beauty Products OF ALL Time:
1. The OG Micellar Water: Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 Micelle Solution, $15
Source: Bioderma
We swear by the Bioderma Micellar Water: our nighttime skincare routine wouldn’t be the same without it. It was the OG micellar water that sparked the trend, leading everyone else to follow, and this gentle formula is one of our faves. It easily removes makeup while also lifting away any dirt, sebum or impurities from the skin without stripping away any natural oils. Just soak a cotton pad in micellar water and gently wipe it across your face and use it as the first step of your nightly double cleanse.
2. THE Fragrance: Chanel No. 5 Eau De Parfum, $105
Chanel No.5 redefines the word iconic. Everything about it is utter perfection, from the diamond-shaped bottle cap, which was inspired by the geometry of the Place Vendome, to the scent made up of over 80 notes. You cannot think of fragrance without mentioning the famous No.5. Oh, and if you’ve ever questioned ‘Why No.5?’ Well, it was Coco Chanel’s lucky number, and it was the fifth sample she received.
3. The Household Staple: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, $4
Source: Vaseline
Can you imagine life without Vaseline Petroleum Jelly? We definitely can’t, and that’s probably because it’s been around since 1859! Whether you use it as lip balm or for cracked heels, Vaseline works by creating a barrier on the skin, thereby locking in moisture to speed up the natural recovery process. It’s also suitable for all skin types, as the patented jelly has been purified three times to remove impurities. Check out why Reddit users can’t stop talking about it here.
4. For Good Hair Days: L’Oréal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray, $15
Source: L’Oreal
This hairspray is legendary. If you ask any celeb hairstylist what product they use every single day, it’s probably the Elnett Hairspray. The ultra-fine mist leaves hair with a lightweight hold that lasts all day long, and the mist is so fine it disappears with one brush stroke for super easy styling.
5. The Serum of Serums: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Complex II, $100
Source: Estee Lauder
Who hasn’t heard of this one? The serum helps us (and thousands of others) wake up with brighter, more radiant skin. It was actually the first-ever serum to launch and the first product to use mega-hydrator hyaluronic acid. Because of the insane formula and amazing ingredients, it achieved cult status back in 1982 and has remained popular ever since.
6. The Skincare Solution: Clinique 3-Step Skin Care System, $48
Source: Clinique
Clinique was one of the first brands to provide a simple skincare regime in one easy purchase. Clinique’s founding dermatologist, Dr. Norman Orentreich, identified four skin types when formulating the 3-Step System: Very Dry to Dry (Skin Type 1), Dry Combination (Skin Type 2), Combination Oily (Skin Type 3) and Oily (Skin Type 4). The kit essentially organizes a skincare regime according to your skin type that will cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize the skin. It doesn’t get much easier than this.
7. The Do-It-All Cream: Nivea Crème, $6
Source: Nivea
This all-purpose cream has been a handbag essential since, well, forever! You can use it on any dry skin on your body, face or hands. It’s super moisturizing, free of any nasties, and is super gentle so it works for everyone, even children.
8. The Drugstore Anti-Aging Cream: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Anti-Aging Cream, $11
Source: Olay
The iconic red jar needs no introduction, so we’ll get straight into the ingredients! The formula is filled with some of the most important anti-aging ingredients, like vitamin B3 and wrinkle-smoothing amino-peptides, plus hydrating hyaluronic acid that’s designed to penetrate the skin 10 layers deep. It might not have a high price tag, but that most definitely doesn’t mean this anti-aging moisturizer isn’t amazing! Read our full review here.
9. For Bad Hair Days: Batiste Dry Shampoo, $4
Source: Batiste
Batiste Dry Shampoo saves us on a daily basis. You know the drill… You hit snooze one too many times! We love it because it instantly leaves your hair feeling clean, and the powdered formula will soak up any oil that’s making your hair look greasy. It also adds insane volume, plus it contains L-arginine, an amino acid that strengthens your hair.
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10. Skincare’s Most Luxurious Product: La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Cream, $180
Source: La Mer
La Mer Soft Moisturizer is the ultimate beauty luxury. It’s a celeb and beauty-editor fave due to its skin-saving ingredient list, which includes the famous cell-supporting Miracle Broth. This signature elixir is formulated with sea kelp and other nutrients and minerals that support the five facets of natural healing: moisture, regeneration, soothing, smoothing, and radiance. In short, it will give your skin a new lease of life. And yes, it’s insanely expensive, but it’s VERY good.
The Most Iconic Makeup Products OF ALL Time:
1. The Only Undereye Solution: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Pen, $35
Source: YSL
The Touche Eclat was the first concealer on the market to be infused with brightening pearls, which is why YSL patented it for 15 years (until 2007) explaining why it was an instant sell-out. In fact, one is sold every 10 seconds – dark under eyes be gone! If you’ve yet to experience the magic of a Touche Eclat, it’s a light coverage luminizing pen that you can use to brighten and conceal. If you prefer a full coverage finish, they now have a medium to full-coverage sister that we’re equally as obsessed with.
2. For Sunkissed Skin: Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, $30
Source: Benefit
If you’re looking for a summer glow year-round, you need the Benefit Hoola Bronzer. The uber-flattering bronzer has a pure matte finish helping you achieve a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow. The buttery powder applies like a dream and is easily buildable making it great for contouring or bronzing. Each bronzer comes with a built-in mirror and compact brush so you can touch up throughout the day. They also recently added three new shades to the line for lighter and deeper skin tones.