Buying cosmetics on AliExpress is a gamble: you cannot check the ingredients, and fakes do turn up. Tools and grooming accessories are a simpler story. Brushes, curlers, rollers, manicure kit and small gadgets cost a fraction of shop prices here, and you can judge quality from the reviews of tens of thousands of buyers. We have collected 8 of the best-selling ones.
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How we chose
We looked at recent sales and the share of positive reviews. Only items rated 98% or higher with thousands of orders made the list. We almost entirely avoided products that go on the skin. There is one exception, gel polish, which has a huge customer base and predictable results. Prices are as of 23 October and may change with promotions.
Make-up
1. Make-up brush set
The best seller on this list, with more than 30,000 orders. The set has soft, fluffy brushes for foundation, powder and eyeshadow, plus kabuki and blending brushes. At £2.43 (down from £4.87), the whole set costs about as much as a single branded brush in a shop.
Worth knowing: wash cheap synthetic brushes with a gentle shampoo before first use and dry them bristles down. That gets rid of the factory smell and any loose hairs. After that, wash them once or twice a week, otherwise make-up residue and bacteria build up in the bristles.
Price on 23 October: £2.43
Sold: 31289+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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2. Eyelash curler set with pads
A set of 7 or 15 pieces: curler, spare pads, mascara guards, sticks and a brush. The key thing here is the replaceable silicone pads. They wear out first, and once a groove appears, the curler starts to crimp lashes instead of gently curling them. The price is £1.59, down from £3.32.
Curl your lashes before applying mascara, holding the curler at the base for a few seconds without jerking. Buyers often mention in reviews that it takes a little while to get used to the shape of the clamp, especially with deep-set eyes.
Price on 23 October: £1.59
Sold: 3772+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.2%
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Manicure at home
3. BORN PRETTY milky jelly gel polish
BORN PRETTY is one of the best-known gel polish brands on AliExpress, and its milky, semi-sheer shade is consistently a top seller. The bottle is 10ml, the polish soaks off and cures under a UV or LED lamp. Sheer milky shades forgive uneven application, which is why beginners doing their own nails like them. Price: £2.02, previously £4.21.
Gel polish needs a lamp, a base coat and a top coat, or it will not last. If you have none of these yet, work out the full cost of the kit in advance: the saving over a salon does not appear on the first go, but after several sessions.
Price on 23 October: £2.02
Sold: 21111+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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4. Set of 5 nail art brushes
Long, thin brushes for lines, stripes and gel designs. The nearly 16,000 sales have a simple explanation: brushes like these wear out quickly with gel, so people buy them regularly, and expensive ones from salon suppliers make little sense for the job. They cost £1.89 (was £3.78).
To make the brushes last, wipe them with a lint-free wipe after use and store them out of the light: gel left on the bristles cures under a lamp or in sunlight.
Price on 23 October: £1.89
Sold: 15790+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Skincare
5. Face massage set: roller and gua sha
A double-ended roller and a heart-shaped gua sha plate. The seller pitches the set for facial massage at home, reducing puffiness and lifting. A realistic expectation is more modest: regular light massage helps clear morning puffiness faster, and the cool feel is pleasant, especially if you keep the roller in the fridge. It costs £1.41, down from £2.81.
Massage clean skin with oil or serum so the tool glides rather than drags. Work from the centre of the face outwards and downwards towards the lymph nodes in the neck. There is no need to press hard.
Price on 23 October: £1.41
Sold: 8881+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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6. Blackhead removal kit, 8 pieces
Eight stainless steel tools: loops, lancets and tweezers in different shapes. It sells in the thousands because a similar kit costs noticeably more at a pharmacy. This one is £2.12, down from £4.42.
Take more care here than with the other products on the list. Disinfect the tools with alcohol before each use, steam the skin first, and leave inflamed spots alone entirely: that is a direct route to marks and scars. If you have constant breakouts, a dermatologist is a better answer than tweezers.
Price on 23 October: £2.12
Sold: 9431+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Hair and gadgets
7. 2000W ionic hair dryer
The most expensive item on the list, and still inexpensive for a dryer of this power, at £7.49 (was £15.60). According to the seller, it offers 2000W, a negative ion function, fast drying, low noise and steady temperature. Ionisation reduces static, so hair frizzes less after drying.
If you dry your hair every day, check the plug: for the UK you need a UK three-pin plug or a suitable adapter, so choose the right option in the product variants when ordering.
Price on 23 October: £7.49
Sold: 8951+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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8. MLG body trimmer
A portable all-over body trimmer with a T-shaped blade and USB charging. It suits both men and women, for beards, underarms and other areas. Almost 9,000 sales suggest it is a workable alternative to disposable razors, especially when travelling. Price: £7.09, down from £14.77.
It is important to understand the difference: a trimmer cuts hair very short but does not shave to a smooth finish like a razor. In return it hardly irritates the skin, and for sensitive areas that often matters more.
Price on 23 October: £7.09
Sold: 8960+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
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Where to start
If you want to try AliExpress in this category with no risk, start with make-up brushes and eyelash curlers: they are cheap, and the difference from shop equivalents is minimal. For home manicures, gel polish and brushes only make sense if you already have a lamp or are ready to buy one. The hair dryer and trimmer are for anyone who wants simple gadgets without paying extra for a brand. And the blackhead kit needs more care than all the other products put together.
