Most beauty lovers can relate to the constant upkeep (and cost) of replacing your empties. Whether it’s skin care, hair care or beauty, it’s always a relief when you find a product that you don’t need to rebuy every few weeks.
To give you a few options of products that actually last, I asked our NBC Select editors to share their picks for beauty items that we barely have to repurchase. Not only are these tried and true favorites of the shopping experts on our staff, they’re also products where a little goes a long way (which, in our opinion, makes them more than worth the price).
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Our favorite long-lasting beauty products of 2026
Editor’s Pick
Clarins is one of my mom’s favorite brands, and this moisturizer showed me exactly why. After receiving it from the brand to try out, I’ve been using it as a daily daytime moisturizer ever since and after three months, it’s still going strong. It has collagen polypeptides to help firm skin, ginseng to brighten and niacinamide to help even out skin tone, according to the brand. My favorite thing about the cream is its springy, gel-cream texture that makes it easy to spread just a small, nickel-sized amount over my face. The cream’s orange color initially worried me due to my darker complexion, but it ultimately blends out smoothly. - Ashley Morris, associate SEO reporter
Best eye cream
I love how bright this eye cream makes my under eyes look. I have genetic dark circles, so it’s hard to cover them up with makeup. This eye cream not only makes them less noticeable, but it also hydrates the skin so I don’t have dry, crepey skin under my concealer. I use it every day, whether I’m wearing makeup or not. - Mili Godio, updates editor
Best moisturizer
This is my favorite recovery cream, and I heavily rely on it every winter. My skin is prone to getting super dry and flakey, especially when I run outside in the cold, because I use prescription acne medication. To prevent severe dryness in the winter, I slather on this cream over a hyaluronic acid serum every other night and go to bed looking like a glazed donut. The cream has a buttery texture that melts into my skin as I rub it in, so it spreads easily, and I only need to use a quarter-size amount or less for my face and neck. One jar of this cream usually lasts me from November to February. - Zoe Malin, reporter
Best makeup
I like using this blush when I’m doing a full face of makeup because of how pigmented it is. I only need a tiny little dot and it blends out super quickly; it’s truly the most “little goes a long way” product I have. It leaves a vibrant color and lasts all day long. I usually sweat makeup off throughout the day, but this blush stays in place for hours. - Caitlin Cusack, NBC Select associate social media editor
Best daily cleanser
I use this as a daily cleanser because it’s exfoliating but very gentle. The texture is very Goldilocks: not too heavy or too light, but just right. It keeps my skin looking and feeling smooth. And it barely tingles my skin whenever I use it. I need barely a dime size amount to thoroughly cleanse my face. - Nikki Brown, NBC Select senior editor
Best fragrance
I’ve tried several of Glossier’s You fragrances, but this one is my all-time favorite. It has a warm and sweet scent with notes of buttercream, plum butter, iris and sandalwood. Not only does the bottle itself last a long time, but the scent also stays on my skin for hours. I get compliments on it from total strangers almost every time I wear it out. - Morris
Best value
The cream and serum in this two-in-one product are both super rich. My face instantly feels softer and smoother after I used it consistently for two weeks. It also smells so good, and as someone who is sensitive to smells, the scent of my skin care is very important to me. Most days I layer on the serum first, then two minutes later I apply the moisturizer (I don’t play about that absorption). On lazy days or when I’m short on time, I mix them in my hands -— serum on one side, moisturizer on the other — and apply them to my face together. — Shalwah Evans, NBC Select senior editor
Best mask
I use this cleanser one or two times a week, and it gives my skin an immediate glow. If my skin is on the oilier side or if I’m wearing a little makeup, it removes everything swiftly. I need a little less than a quarter size to cover my face adequately and I only need to leave it on for five minutes. - Brown
Best lip care
I use this as a lip mask before bed and as a hydrating lip serum in the morning. I love that it makes my lips look smooth, hydrated and plump, and it’s one of the best lip masks I’ve tried that heals my dry, chapped lips (especially during the winter months). Plus, it leaves the most beautiful, glossy finish. - Godio
Most versatile
I’m a “no-makeup” makeup girl, and my hero product is Jones Roads’ Miracle Balm. It comes in a few neutral, buildable shades that give my skin a little color so I don’t look washed out, plus it leaves behind a dewy, glowy look. I put it on my eyelids, lips and cheeks every single day, and I only need the smallest amount to cover each area of my face. The standard size lasts me over a year, but since it expires a year after you open it, I’ve never actually finished an entire jar (though I get quite close). Because it lasts me so long, I started buying the mini jars. - Malin
Best eyeshadow
I like using this eyeshadow on the inner corners of my eyelids or over the top of my lid if I want to add some sparkles. It’s definitely the best sparkly eyeshadow I’ve ever tried. I don’t usually do colorful eyeshadow looks, but I love to add some sparkles, and it’s surprisingly hard to find a good one that comes in sheer, less brightly pigmented shades. - Cusack
Best hair care
I’ve always been wary of buns and ponytails because I have a ton of baby hairs that love to stand out, making me look actually insane by the end of the day. This styling gel has the perfect amount of hold to keep those baby hairs at bay for hours (usually an entire eight-hour workday for me). I only have to use a quarter-sized amount and brush it through my hair to create that classic, slick-back bun look. I love combining this gel with Ceremonia’s Pequi Flyaway Wand to tame every hair. - Godio
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How I picked the best long-lasting beauty products
As testing experts, we’ve tried hundreds of beauty products over the years. To find the best long-lasting ones, I consulted our staff of expert shoppers who chose products based on how long they last, how much they usually use on a day-to-day basis and the size of the packaging. We looked at the volume of product that each container holds and compared that to how long the product lasts on our shelves.
In order to make sure we’re picking products where a little goes a long way, we avoided jumbos and larger sizes. Instead, we opted for the standard sizes of products that genuinely surprised us with their longevity.
Do beauty products expire?
Yes, beauty products do expire. In our guide to beauty expiration dates, cosmetic chemists told us that, just like food and medication, the active ingredients in skin care products can lose effectiveness over time or expire completely.
How long do beauty products usually last?
Although it differs from product to product, experts recommend these general timelines:
- Body moisturizers: one year
- Body washes: one year
- Cleansers: one year
- Exfoliants: one year
- Eye creams: six months to one year
- Face moisturizers: one year
- Lip balms: one year
- Serums: one year
- Toners: one year
How do you know when a product expires?
You can find a product’s shelf life by looking at the period-after-opening (PAO) symbol, which looks like an open jar with a raised cap over it. You’ll usually find it on the bottom or back of the product, and has a number and an M, which indicates the number of months until it expires (for example, 3M would mean three months).
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering skin care, wellness, home and kitchen, lifestyle and more, including stories on the best acne spot treatments and the best hyperpigmentation products. For this piece, I gathered recommendations from our NBC Select staff on the best beauty products where a little goes a long way.
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