Want to try cult beauty products without spending a ton of money? A lot of our favorite beauty products come in mini sizes.
There are lots of cult beauty products that have been praised again and again. If you just say the words “best primer,” you will have to wait about 2.4 seconds before someone mentions Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer. 99% of the population can wax poetic about a beauty product that doesn’t mean it will work for you. We’re all unique, and what works on someone’s face could make your flare-up. If you want to try a popular beauty product without a major commitment, there are a bunch of cult favorites that come in travel sizes. Mini sizes aren’t just great for travel; they’re perfect to see if a product gets your seal of approval. (Those one-use freebie samples stores sometimes give you tell you nothing.) If you spend $14 on something and decide you don’t like it, you’ll feel a bit better throwing it out than if you spent $38 on the larger size.
(Related: 14 Beauty Products That Make You Look More Awake Than You Feel)
Take a look at 12 popular beauty products you can try without committing to an expensive full-sized bottle:
1. Travel Size Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 In Sand, Laura Mercier
When people discuss the best-tinted moisturizers, Laura Mercier’s always comes up. The 1 oz travel size is only available in two shades for light to medium skin, but if the colors work for you, it’s worth trying it out before you invest in the $44 one.
2. Travel Size They’re Real Lengthening And Volumizing Mascara, Benefit
Benefit has created a lot of their products in travel-friendly sizes. You can get a 0.14 oz. They’re Real! Mascara for half the price of the full-size one. Keep it in your purse for on-the-go touch-ups.
3. Travel Size Iconic Photo Finish Primer, Smashbox
You’re probably going to love Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer, but if you’re not sure whether you’ll like the blemish control formula over the original one, you can get both formulas in minis and see which one you like more. The smaller package will last you a surprisingly long time.
4. Travel Size Take The Day Off Makeup Remover, Clinique
You need a decent eye makeup remover, especially if you wear waterproof mascara. This one was mentioned a lot in our open thread for best makeup removers, but you can test it out for yourself with this 1.69 oz mini.
5. Travel Size Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment, Glamglow
You will probably think that spending $20 on a 0.5 oz skincare product is a bit of a splurge, but this is the wallet-conscious way to test out Glamglow’s popular mask. You’ll feel a lot better handing over your twenty-dollar bill when you realize that the 1.7 oz one retails for $69.
6. Travel Size Eyeshadow Primer Potion In Original, Urban Decay
It can take some experimenting to find the perfect eyeshadow primer. You want one that doesn’t change the color of your shadow, and that stops it from creasing from morning tonight. See if Urban Decay’s Primer Potion lives up to the hype with the 0.16 oz mini. The 0.33 oz regular one will set you back $20.
7. Travel Size Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick In Canvas, Hourglass
Alas, Hourglass’s 0.03 oz mini lip gloss only comes in one color, but you can still get a sense of the formula from the one shade–and it fits nicely in your pocket. The 0.10 oz full-size one is $28.
8. Travel Size HD Microfinish Powder, Make Up For Ever
$19 for a 0.14 oz mini sounds so much better than $34 for a 0.3 oz one. You can see if Makeup For Ever’s translucent powder really is worthy of all the awards with the mini compact. It’s the same great formula but in a clutch-friendly size.
9. Travel Size Divine Oil, Caudalie
Are you still not sure what’s the deal with oils? You can discover it for yourself with this 0.5 oz bottle of a beauty editor favorite. You’ll feel much better spending under $10 than plunking down $49 for the 3.4 oz bottle straightaway.
10. Travel Size Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Clinique
That’s right; you can try Clinique’s beloved moisturizer for $5. Depending on how much you feel like spending, you can get this 0.5 oz mini for $5, a 1.7 oz tube for $14.50, or you can get the big 4.2 oz guy for $26.
11. Travel Size 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil, Josie Maran
Argan oil should be on your beauty ingredient list. There are many benefits to putting it on your face, but you can discover them for yourself with the 0.5 oz $16 mini. If you become addicted, note that there is a jumbo 4 oz size for $96, as well as a 1.7 oz one for $48.
12. Travel Size One Step Correct Primer, Stila
This innovative serum does it all, then some. The package isn’t just pretty to look at. It is a triple-swirled helix serum that brightens, primes, nourishes, and color corrects your face. Start off with the 0.5 oz size for $20, then work your way up to the 1 oz for $36.