Let’s hear it for all of the times we’ve tried a new beauty product in vain only to realize it completely falls flat in the efficacy department. Product fails are par for the course in any beauty lover’s life, but if you follow along with us here on Who What Wear, hopefully, the cycle of tries and letdowns will steeply decline. Of course, plenty of beauty products are designed to take time and demand days, weeks, sometimes even months of patience before you’ll notice any kind of results, but there are just as many formulas in the realm of hair care, skincare, and devices that can make marketable improvements almost instantaneously. Oh, and if you’re really lucky, those products that gift you with a potent dose of instant gratification will also be putting in the legwork for long-term results, too.
Quick-fix items in the beauty world can often tread gimmicky, but if you stick with us—product-vetting editors who try practically everything under the sun—you’ll be in safer hands when deciding where to invest your money. So, to show you just what we mean, we spent hours scrolling the digital “aisles” of Nordstrom’s beauty department to hand-select 15 products that can truly work wonders in seconds, minutes, or just a few days. Keep scrolling to see for yourself!
Look, there’s nothing wrong with darkly circled under-eyes, and if you’re like me, you might even have a little bit of puff and redness thrown into the mix, too. There are days when I’m perfectly fine sporting my sleepy eye area in all of its glory, but other days, I want to look like I’ve never clocked less than eight hours of sleep in my life. (Lol…the thought!) It’s easy to fall into the filter trap—I won’t lie—I do it, too—but this brilliant eye cream from Sunday Riley tightens, brightens, and lifts without the help of editing apps or Instagram.
There are a lot of fancy skincare products that can effectively de-clog and iron out bumpy skin lickety-split, but many of said formulas will cost you big bucks. Like, upwards of $100. This beloved exfoliating potion from Moon Juice boasts all of the right players to quickly achieve a softer complexion, (i.e. glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids) sans sticker shock. Oh, and just in case you need further convincing, beauty editors everywhere claim it’s the best dupe around for Biologique Recherche’s cult-loved Lotion P50.
Here’s a confession: even though I’m intimately acquainted with Lancôme’s makeup and fragrance offerings, I was a complete newb to their skincare lineup until a couple of months ago when I started using this fancy-schmancy serum, and let me just say, it truly does it all. It transforms rough, dry skin into a silky dream, and I swear my skin became significantly softer and brighter after just one use. The glow-inducing results have improved at an exponential rate, and it’s also staved off my breakouts. I blame the strategic melding of Bifidus prebiotic—which provides a healthy environment for the good bacteria on your skin to flourish in—plus an ample dose of hyaluronic acid for hydration, vitamin C for antioxidants, and ceramides for a plump, dewy texture.
111Skin’s Biocellulose sheet masks are most definitely investment pieces, but if your budget can handle the plunge now and then, your complexion will 100% thank you. They have different options to address practically every type of skin concern, but this is my personal favorite and the one I recommend most often for anyone seeking immediate results in the hydrating, tightening, and de-puffing departments. I love it before (or after) a big night out, especially.
It’s really hard to choose a favorite Olaplex product, but I find the brand’s No.6 Bond Smoother to be the easiest formula to incorporate into my daily routine so I can benefit from all of its blessed perks 24/7. It acts like a leave-in styling cream that helps hydrate, de-frizz, and protect hair from inevitable wear-and-tear simultaneously. Unlike so many hair products that only give you results for a few hours max, it can be used daily on wet or dry hair, and the effects will last up to 72 hours. In other words, you don’t need to keep re-applying. It also happens to smell glorious, so there’s that.
The first time I heard about this product was during a meeting I had with the peeps over at Drybar (a very fun perk of my job is getting the how and why behind product development firsthan), and they warned me in advance that this stuff is almost too good. Translation: a little goes a long way, and your hair will literally feel and look three times its natural thickness. If you’re someone who has fine for thin hair like me, you’re going to freak for this.
You really have to try this nourishing hair balm to believe its enchantment, but I’m fairly convinced it’s witchcraft. In fact, it transformed my dry, dull, snap-prone strands after just one use. Expensive? Yes, but the unparalleled results are worth every penny. Essentially, it’s a pre-shampoo treatment you’ll apply to dry strands. (Thirty minutes is fine, but the longer you let it marinate, the better!) Then, the velvety botanical oils will go to work nourishing, restoring, and rebuilding dilapidated hair fibers. Rinse and then shampoo and condition as you would normally.
There’s a reason this botanical-base treatment is a bestseller and has won countless awards, it just plain works—an all the more miraculous feat. considering lots of scalp-targeted products leave something to be desired when it comes to legitimate results. If you use it regularly, long-term results include healthy hair growth, and in the short term, you’ll notice less build-up, and a soothed, amply hydrated scalp. I recommend stowing it in your bathroom all year long.
One part lotion, one part body makeup, this cult-favorite elixir epitomizes the term instant gratification. I love to smother my limbs with this stuff whenever I need a hit of self-confidence as it blurs away imperfections, imparts a light-reflecting glow, and even gifts your skin with high-quality organic ingredients for extra moisture, too. Basically, your body will look airbrushed and ethereal, and who doesn’t want that?
Why is it that no matter the season, our feet just never look good? Or is that just me? Unless I’m two seconds post pedicure, my feet perpetually look like they’ve seen better days which is where this pro-level foot treatment peel from Patchology comes in. It helps progressively dissolve dead skin on your feet using a powerful blend of acids. Within three to seven days your feet will look reborn.
It wasn’t until I tried a few really, really nice body wash formulas that I realized not all body wash formulas are alike. Take this new exfoliating formula from Kosas, for instance. Aside from the dreamy smell (Kosas, make it into a perfume, would you?!) It utilizes a clean mix of AHAs and fruit enzymes to gently slough off dead skin cells and bump- or acne-causing bacteria while simultaneously indulging thirsty skin with the perfect hydration quotient.
Now, everyone is different, and I always hesitate a little before recommending supplements, but this one has worked so well (and fast!) for me, and after consulting friends and colleagues, I’ve heard enough rave reviews to feel confident you’ll notice the benefits too. So here’s the tea: popping one of these babies before I eat lunch and dinner is my not-so-secret secret for evading unwanted bloating post-meal. I’ve tried other digestive enzyme supplements, and this one by far has worked the best for me.
I know, I know. The price tag is a sucker punch to the gut. But if you have the means or are able to treat yourself, it pays itself off in the long run. Ever since I started using this mask regularly, my acne has pretty much vanished—along with any acne-related scaring—fast. Don’t believe me? Peep my before and after photos! I also haven’t felt the need to get any expensive facials or skincare treatments. If you’re into skincare and have specific concerns like acne, scarring, age spots, wrinkles, loss of collagen, etc., this is a super-smart splurge you won’t regret.
This brilliant new launch is a miniature version of the original Dermaflash tool and is officially my saving grace for 24/7 smooth skin. Plus, without the buildup of fuzz and flakes on your skin, your face winds up looking instantly snatched and sculpted. (Your makeup will also apply better!)
Essentially, this travel-friendly, palm-sized device—think a far chicer version of a Mac mouse—delivers the same benefits of an in-office electrical nano current facial from the comfort of your home. Using nano currents (think teeny electrical currents that sync to your body’s own frequency) the device actually communicates with your skin cells to generate more collagen elastin (plumpness!), decrease the onset of breakouts, boost circulation, accelerate wound healing, and heal and repair compromised skin tissue. Oh, and just one use will pretty radically lift and contour your face. It’s a splurge, but one you truly won’t regret. Up next, I Gave Sephora’s Beauty Director My Credit Card and a $400 Budget—Her Picks Here
