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The 16 most iconic American beauty products you should have in your bathroom cabinet
It may seem as though the beauty industry is full of trendy items you won't use again after a few months, but a handful of products have endured. You know, the ones you've used for years or those that have been recommended to you by your mom or grandma. Of the thousands of products released by America’s leading beauty brands, we found 16 that stand out as truly iconic. From Calvin Klein's genderless perfume to Maybelline's bestselling mascara, these are the quintessential American beauty products.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser
Coppertone Sunscreen SPF 50
Dana Love's Baby Soft
Thayer's Witch Hazel Facial Toner
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
Lip Smacker Flavored Lip Balm Trio
Calvin Klein CK One Eau De Toilette
Burt's Bees Moisturizing Lip Care
Nivea Creme
Old Spice High Endurance Original Scent Deodorant for Men, 3 Pack
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
Noxzema Original Deep Cleansing Cream
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
Johnson's Baby Oil
Ivory Soap, 3 Pack
Elizabeth Arden first released its best-known product, Eight Hour Cream, back in 1930. The balm has infinite uses and can be applied to your lips, eyes, elbows, cuticles and more. The head-to-toe cream has been known to treat windburn, tame hair and apparently help frostbite, according to Prince Harry.
Pond’s cold cream has been popular for decades because it’s a multitasking product that removes all traces of makeup and moisturizes skin at the same time. It's dermatologist tested and can be used on all skin types.
The Coppertone baby is synonymous with summertime, as is the sunscreen’s classic scent. These days, the sun-protection cream has been given an upgrade and will block up to 98% of damaging UV rays while being heat-, sweat- and water-resistant.
In the 1970s, ads for Love’s Baby Soft perfume said, “Because innocence is sexier than you think.” The long-lasting fragrance still comes in the classic pink spray bottle, complete with its signature powdery-sweet scent.
Thayer’s Witch Hazel toner has been around since 1847 and is still as popular as ever. The alcohol-free product refreshes skin without drying it out. Even better, it’s made with certified organic witch hazel that is grown and harvested exclusively for Thayers on a family farm in Connecticut. It uses certified organic aloe vera so you can feel good about what you’re putting on your skin.
Maybelline sells 20 million pink and green tubes of its beloved mascara every year — and it’s easy to see why. Along with being ophthalmologist tested and hypoallergenic, the lash-doubling formula both lengthens and thickens lashes without leaving any clumps or bumps behind.
Lip Smacker products are often a pre-teen’s first foray into the beauty world. The brand is known for its delicious-smelling lip balms that moisturize lips instantly. The most popular scent, Dr. Pepper, was discontinued, but you can still get classic scents like watermelon, cotton candy and strawberry.
CK One hasn’t been around for as long as some of the others on this list, but it still counts as an all-American classic. Per the packaging, this unisex perfume has a clean, refreshing fragrance with notes of bergamot, cardamom, pineapple, papaya, amber and green tea.
Another well-known lip balm, Burt’s Bees uses all-natural ingredients like beeswax, vitamin E and peppermint. The balm hydrates and nourishes dry lips and even comes in eco-friendly packaging: Each tube is made with 70% recycled and plant-based plastic.
Nivea cream is another multitasking hero. It can be used anywhere on your face or body that needs a boost of hydration. The cream is safe to use on all skin types and will intensively moisturize even the roughest patches of skin, including your elbows, knees and hands.
When you think of men’s deodorant, you think of Old Spice. The manly smelling odor buster provides sweat protection for up to 24 hours. Even better, it’s still super-affordable. You can snag a three-pack for as little as $17 — that’s less than $6 a pop.
Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipsticks have been popular since the 1950s, including its most iconic shade, Fire and Ice. The vibrant lippie is infused with vitamin E and avocado oil to hydrate lips, plus microfine pigments to provide long-lasting color. No wonder it has upwards of 24,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.
If you’ve ever suffered from acne, you’ve likely tried Noxzema at some point in your life. The deep-cleansing cream removes dirt, oil and makeup without drying out your skin. You can actually feel it working — it makes your skin tingle as you rub it in.
Clinique has updated its bestselling formula a few times over the years, but it still smells, feels and looks the same as it did when you first tried it. It quickly penetrates to deliver long-lasting hydration on all types of skin, and it leaves you with a glowy complexion.
Used by shoppers of all ages for over 100 years, Johnson’s Baby Oil is still a staple in many homes. Not only is it hypoallergenic and pediatrician approved, but it’s gentle, locks in hydration and leaves behind a soft smell and non-greasy finish.
The first bar of Ivory soap was sold in 1879, and it is still known for being so pure it floats. The gentle soap is free of dyes and perfumes, so even people with the most sensitive skin can use it.